Bidekker takes command ....

The two new river galleys for Wittenberg's river fleet near completion.. the Katerina has just been launched at the shipyard and the Leopold moved to Vanderhof ..

Captain Ernst Bidekker had just completed his breakfast when a note had arrived to inform him the Leopold was out of the shipyard and was now docked by Vanderhof lower wharf, at last a chance to see his new command up close. He donned his uniform and headed out ....

 down the street then turning left towards the wharves ...

 after cutting through an alley he reached the wharf,  getting his bearings he headed to the harbour masters office ....

 the harbour master showed him the way to where the Leopold was docked ....

 Bidekker talked to one of fitting out crew, to find out what remained to be done, meanwhile the harbour master has gone forward  to ask one of the crew to tighten up the mooring ropes...

There is much to do, basic fitting out to complete, oars for the galley are awaiting delivery. Once the basic fit out is done the Leopold will be moved to the wharf at the river marines' base for installation of ordnance - then river trials followed by a inspection by the King .....

Ships for the River Oudear ... a couple of add-ons

To increase the options for use of the ships I've made up a couple of bowsprits and some detachable oar banks so they can be setup as galleys.  The oar banks are made from cocktail sticks pushed into some thin foam, which will be attached to the side of the ship with blue-tak, then over that goes a cover

Ships for the River Oudear - build completed

Sterns added, plus some trim using cardboard strips

The ships have been painted a basic brown, with lighter brown for the decks. Some simple sails have been fitted using plain white paper. The stern has some windows; these were printed on paper, cut to  size and stuck on. Stern view with 28mm figs

 side on view with some 40mm figs

the ships will do for both 28mm and 40mm figs.

Monrovian Army Refurbishment (4)

Some other items that have been refurbished (mostly just paint jobs for the bases)....

Generals with aides (from left to right): Count Malpurgo Belladona (army commander), General Stricknein, General Zeinite and General Warfarin.

 and staff vignettes

Pontoon train (used by either side, so generically painted)...I've added an extra pontoon wagon (Reiver Miniatures)

Monrovian Army Refurbishment (3)

Two more infantry regiments completed, these use my own home-casts for the rank & file. Officers/Command are from a mix of sources. They have nominal uniforms of SYW Hesse-Kassel: IR 2 Haudring (at the front) and  IR 4 Prinx Ysenberg...

Ships for the River Oudear (WIP)

Finally got round to building some 'small' ships for the river Oudear.

I had some saved foam style packaging that was sort of shaped right, so I followed my usual scheme make up a half hull shape template, then using the template to mark out and cut the base and deck sections ...

 the foam was packaging cut to size then stuck onto the base and the deck piece stuck on top

 then added a fore and aft deck ....

 then some steps up to the decks, a basic ships wheel, some masts out of hibachi skewers and some basic hull sides out of thin card

looking somewhat like a ship, more detail to add ....

An unexpected arrival at Wittenberg Palace ....

An ambassador from Begovia, has arrived at the court and is being presented to the King ...

the ambassador said he has come to make overtures for a truce (or even a treaty) to bring an end to hostilities between Wittenberg and Begovia.