Tag: graham darby

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Book Reviews Mid 19th Century Wargaming Military History new additions Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

Vienna Treaty Wars: Book Cavalcade

My current preoccuption with european wars in the post Napoleonic era have been fuelled by some book buying.

the most recent arrival – this old book is interesting because the illustrations are highly selective. The text explains why – to support a narrative concerning the evolution of uniforms rather than trying to show what each country chose.
Lucy Riall is a very well respected modern author and focuses on the themes of what the Risorgimento means and to whom.
This is a great dip in book full of easily accessed facts and provides the framework of what can be a confusing time in Italy.
This book has lots of anecdotes which I plan to use in my imaginations campaigns.
Having already devoured the South German War by the same author I have just started this book. The small actions around the lakes just cry out for a skirmish ruleset.
Old but still full of useful information and given only limited interest today, means a dearth of current publications on 19th century Italy, these booklets are very worthwhile.
I have a feeling this ruleset may being hooking up with Michael Embree’s Radestky Marches book for a skirmish or two.
A quite unexpected catch. I really like the Funcken style and this book delivers it in spades. Lucky for me it is right on the dates and although it ends just before Crimea it does cover the crucial 1848 revolutionary year.
Another recent acquisition – I like the grid rule set and it comes with handy campaign and solo rules all integrated as you desire. It even has naval rules. actually it does modern, fantasy and sci fi as well – not that I need them for my VTW – Vienna Tratey Wars

So my period is called the Vienna Treaty Wars and the era roughly covers 1815 to 1871.

Currently I have been painting quite well although right now a campaign beckons. I never thought I would be doing anything post napoleonic – thank you again Mr Renaissance Troll!

Categories
1/72 scale figures Mid 19th Century Wargaming new additions wargaming

The Supply Chain and the end of the year 2020

“The Supply Chain” is a bit like “hospital beds” a term overly used and missing out the crucial part – “people”. No hospital staff and well beds are useless. The same goes for all suppliers, despite the digital/AI/automation hype, people are still the crucial aspect of suppliers and the services they operate. Their work, largely hidden, is what makes our modern world go round.

Even my hobby activities rely on supply chains, as I do not make my own figures or write books I want to read for that matter.

right now I am gathering some reading material about Italy in the mid 19th Century

My supply chain for wargames has been of necessity online for about 10 years. Although when I think about it I was “online in the 1970’s because if you wanted certain figures you could not buy them at your local store.

I remember back then you could buy the “centre companies napoleonic british infantry” provided that was roughly 5 of each in advancing pose only (hinchliffe I believe) – that was all they had.

So I discovered direct postal sales long before “online” was even dreamed of. And in those days I did not go to shows either, having no means of transport. And anyway I don’t think I was even aware of them as a shopping opportunity.

I bought all my Warrior Miniatures by post in those days. and I still have a few.

So this is a big thank you to all the “people” who provide my miniatures, paints, scenery, brushes, books and the like. Either at shows (remember them) or by post (online).

In some ways nothing has changed although I seem to remember the cost of postage was truly massive to my mind back then – and I was trading in metal too.

superb service from Hannants to drive my latest project – the unification of italy…..

In alphabetical order some of my popular “suppliers” have been

  • Abe books – various out of print book editions
  • Antics online – for 1/72 plastics
  • Colonel Bills – for coat d’arms paints mainly at shows
  • Coritani (Magnetic Displays) – scenery, paint brushes mainly at shows
  • e Models – for 1/72 plastics
  • Hannants – for 1/72 plastics
  • Irregular Miniatures – 1/72 metallics
  • Lancashire Games – 1/72 metallics, scenery, rulesets
  • Models for Sale – for 1/72 plastics
  • Model Hobbies – for 1/72 plastics
  • Pendraken Miniatures – for mdf bases
  • SHQ – 1/72 metallics
  • Too Fat Lardies – rulesets
  • Warbases – for mdf bases
  • Wonderland Models – for 1/72 plastics and kits
  • World books – various out of print book editions

Tirelessly working to give their customers great service.

Currently reading this great summary of a complex story – needless to say garibaldi looms large yet the story is kaleidoscopic!

So thanks to them all for allowing me to pursue my hobby even in the midst of a global pandemic.

wishing every one a safe and secure christmas and a better year for all in 2021