Sunday 29 January 2012

Princess Elisenda crosses the border into the Duchy of Fenwick

After Princess Elisenda and her party left the palace they spent a couple of days journeying north, they stopped for a short spell to stretch their legs by investigating the old roman ruins at Karsdorf.
Then on they went till they reached the border town of Harrusbrücke . A small escort of Fenwick horse grenadiers prepares to lead the convoy on ...

Saturday 28 January 2012

Zomverre V Monrovia: Withdrawal Ordered ...

King Francis I of Monrovia has been discussing the situation of the army in Zomverre with his military advisors. Since the defeat at Pomeroy and the narrowly averted destruction of the army at Dornitz there had been much talk in court circles. The King was told of the current state of the army, supply problems, difficulties with communications and the poor weather. They also told him of the strength of opposition and the involvement of hired troops from the Duchy of Fenwick. None of the advisors would make a clear statement on the course of action to take next.

The King sat in his chair and thought for a while.. He then stood up and said:
King: Count Malpurgo Belladona
Count: Yes your majesty ?
King: Count, you will take control of the army in the field, you are now the Field Marshal, you will relieve Stricknein of his command. Bring the army back.
Count: Yes sire ...
Get them home !

King Francis spent a fretful evening worrying about the army; unable to sleep he donned his favourite suit of medieval armour and wandered the royal apartments ...

40mm: Saxe-Jarlsberg Dragoons

The Saxe-Jarlsberg dragoons (Prince August home casts) have been reformed and re-equipped for the upcoming campaign season, here they are on parade ...
they march past Count Pottensdorf ....

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Princess Elisenda departs ...

After a late breakfast the Princes and her companions prepare to leave Wittenberg palace; the King and Queen have come to wish them a safe journey ...
The Princess will take the route north through the Duchy of Fenwick, avoiding Monrovia and then onwards to her next stop on her journey to France.

Monday 23 January 2012

Princess Elisenda's last day at the Palace

After organising the packing of her things in the morning, in the afternoon she took a walk with her companions and some members of the court in the palace grounds so she could see the llamas..
In the evening she attended a musical soiree held in her honour, she enjoyed the company of the court and the attentions of many young men seeking a chance to dance with her later on ...
The evening continued late into the night with much dancing ...

Saturday 21 January 2012

Princess Elisenda goes for an unusual ride ....

The court inventor Georg Cantor has invited the King, court and local notables to a demonstration of his new invention. The King has given permission for the demonstration to take place in the palace grounds. As the invitees assembled they saw Cantor directing his men unloading a number of carts ...

They layout large reams of fabric and a large basket, then connect it via a long tube to some huge barrels (which contain the new gas Helion, recently discovered by Cantor). As the numbers of spectators increased they watched the fabric inflate and then after few minutes a large ball shape object floated off the ground, held by a tether.  A wave of consternation and fascination surged through the spectators ... "Your Majesty, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen a balloon for flying up into the sky" announced Cantor.
Everyone is astounded and amazed, Princess Elisenda turns to the Marquis and can only say "Truly Amazing ..."
Cantor then asks, would anyone like to go for a short flight. There is a short pause and the King steps forward - "Yes Cantor I will ascend to the heavens with you ..."; before she knew what she was doing Princess Elisenda ran forward and joins the King - exclaiming  "I'll go too !". They climbed aboard the balloon and Cantor let go the tether and up they went. They saw a nice view down one of the parkland driveways ...
They then ascended higher and higher....
While Cantor kept control of the balloon the King and Princess marvelled at the view to the north
and looked down on the parkland below ...
After a few minutes Cantor slowly let helion gas from the balloon and they descended slowly to the ground and landed with a slight bump. The ballon was a secured and the King and the Princess and those assembled returned to the palace and talked endlessly about the afternoon's events.
  
It would not suprise you to know that later on in the day in private the King was scolded by his wife for taking such a risk with his life in one of Cantor's flakey inventions; Princess Elisenda was also reprimanded for her impulisve behaviour by the Marquis, the Princess didn't care as she had such an exhiliarating experience.

Thursday 19 January 2012

Princess Elisenda attends a shooting party ...

Josep Antoni the Marquis of Rubí is invited to do some game shooting in the palace grounds. Princess Elisenda, Antoni Folc de Cardona the Archbishop of Valencia (still in a monks garb, I wonder why ?) and their manservant accompany the Marquis.

The participants blast away merrily at the game flying from the woodland (the beaters are being kept busy) ..
Princess Elisenda watches as the Marquis tries to pot some game, even the Archbishop is taking part (apparently he  used to go shooting with his father in his youth before taking holy orders).

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Princess Elisenda goes on a small boat trip ...

The members of the court and visitors to the Palace enjoy a walk in the grounds by the lake. Suitable entertainment is provided by the palace musicians in the pavilion. A boat is provided to take those who wish on a little sailing tour ...
Princess Elisenda and her manservant enjoy their little cruise ...

Sunday 15 January 2012

Princess Elisenda meets the King ..

Princess Elisenda and her companions Josep Antoni the Marquis of Rubí,  Antoni Folc de Cardona, Archbishop of Valencia (travelling in a monks garb) and their young manservant wait to be introduced to the King and Queen,

They are introduced to the King and Queen by Count Hermann ...
The King and Queen are delighted to meet the young princess and invite her to stay for a while to enjoy the diversions and facilities in the palace and its grounds, with an open invitation to afternoon tea.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Princess Elisenda arrives at Wittenberg ..

Princess Elisenda and her party after having crossed the border into Wittenberg (see here), have finally reached Wittenberg late in the afternoon; after a stayover in Reichenstadt (the capital of the province of Gerundia), waiting for the roads to be passable again following the cold weather and snow during the Xmas period.

The Princess's convoy arrives at the palace gates (rebuilt since the visit of the Reich Duke of Beerstein), as the uhlan escort moves off, an officer from the King's chevalier garde arrives who will lead them up to the palace...
The princess and her party are greeted by the palace chatelain ...
The wagon carrying the baggage is being directed to the 'servant's entrance', the chevalier garde officer informs the princess's escort where their quarters will be and where they will be allowed to go in the palace grounds and the city of Wittenberg ...
The chatelain leads the princess's party through the main entrance hall to show them to the suite of appartments they will use during their stay ....
They settle in for the evening, taking a meal in their rooms. They have been informed they are to be presented to the King the next day.

to be continued ...

A cast of ...


A shot of the bulk of the the figures seen cavorting round the Palace of Wittenberg (there are some seated figures not shown here).  A slow accumulation over the years of various figures from various suppliers. A mix of Minfigs, Jacdaw, Foundry, Front Rank, Willie, Old Glory, Redoubt, Blue Moon.

I haven't got any of the Perry civilian AWI range; are there any more ranges that anyone can think or ? The hunt for more suitable figures goes on...

Thursday 12 January 2012

40mm: Mornin' campers ...

Tent makers have finished their work and all is now finished at the campsite.( I made 7 ordinary tents plus one larger officers tent.)
Forge and blacksmith at other end, supplies and visiting water cart...

Tuesday 10 January 2012

40mm: Some tents for the big fellas ..

I received a pack of 10 white hankerchiefs for Xmas, hmm I thought they could be useful for something (apart from their normal function).  Material for tents ! I needed some tents for my 40mm collection, so I scaled up the cardboard former I used for making my 30mm tents. One former ready to try out the hanky sourced tent ....
A hankerchief was cut in quarters, I used one piece and glued/stretched it round the former. Then cut the ends and glued them down, final touch I used a black fine marker pen to indicate the ties on tent flaps.
Looks OK to me, an order for more has been made to the tent-maker ..

Saturday 7 January 2012

Some new fence and wall sections ...

I bought a couple of pack of Games Workshop fence/walls to provide some variety in my scenic accessories. What you get in a box is two sprues as shown below..
I based up the walls and fence sections; reworking some (eg used the gate from one of the wall pieces to add to a fence section)

Completed signposts (blank awaiting naming depending on scenario)
Some 40mm jagers in amongst the fencing ...
28mm figs this time ...
Walls finished with 28mm and 40mm figs shown ..
A closeup of the 28mm's ...

Tuesday 3 January 2012

40mm: Wittenberg Army - Zinzendorf IR No 2

My main Xmas hol's painting project is now complete ...
The men of the infantry regiment no. 2 from the province of Zinzendorf (recently inherited by the King) muster ready to prepare to march to join General Waldebeck's force in Vanderhof. The 1st regiment is also being made ready (i've some casting to do for these).

[figs are mostly Creartec cast figures with Sash & Sabre heads; except standard bearers, foot officer and drummer from Front Rank AWI range]

Sunday 1 January 2012

Stages of a Siege (tracking down a picture)

 ! Happy new year everybody !

A few months ago I bought this nice coloured engraving of a siege in a charity shop for £5, (the engraving is about 16 by 9 inches). It seemed familiar but I couldn't place it.

We had some visitors today and I showed them the picture which is in our hallway, we talked about it - then I remembered the skyline - in C.Duffy's Fire and Stone book there is an illustration showing an engraving of siege - same skyline. A bit of digging on the net revealed there were a set of six, by J.Rigaud published in 1732 of the siege of Barcelona ( I have no. 3 in the set one from a later coloured english edition). So I did some further net searching and got images of all 6 of the original english edition, here they are for your enjoyment (click to englarge):

1- The opening of the Trenches

2 - Sallies defended and repulsed

3-Attack and Lodgement on the covert way

4 - Attack on the two Bastions

5 - Assault on the main body of the place

6 - the place given up to plunder