His Majesty's 58th Foot

Hello again.

I trust the snail's pace at which I am getting through my French & Indian Wars project will improve as the daylight hours lengthen now it is British Summer Time, but I have now at least finished His Majesty's 58th Regiment of Foot. The main source I have used for this regiment is the colour plate in the Osprey "British Redcoat vs French Fusilier" title in their Combat series, number 17 of that series to be precise. To be even more precise, the aforementioned plate is on page 59 of the book and the regimental flag on age 65!

This now makes three of the planned seven regiments of British foot completed and the fourth is now underway. I will not spoil that by announcing which regiment that is, but will, of course, post some pics when it is done.

As before, the majority of the figures are Eagle Figures, but I have mixed in a couple of Redoubt command figures to ring a few changes. The stockier build and bigger hats make them stand out somewhat, as you will see in the attached photos. The flags are my usual hand painted on calico affairs attached to brass wire poles.

I was working on this project with no real anticipation that these figures would see a games table any time soon, but Nephew Nick has confirmed his availability for the Barrage Show in Stafford on 8th July, we have met up to determine exactly what we need to do to put on the first game (build terrain, paint some more units, rope in a couple of other players, etc), so I now fully expect them to see the light of day for the first time at that show on that date.

So, without further ado, here are the 58th.

G

HM 58th Regiment of Foot, c.1758

The gold writing on both standards was achieved with a gold-coloured fine nibbed pen courtesy of Daughter Eleanor's art materials. I shall certainly be using it again!

One of the Redoubt command figures, the other one carrying the black, regimental standard

I have to say that I find painting British infantry more difficult than their French counterparts, with the exception of the drummers. The Eagle Figures casts have cast-on, raised lace, whereas I am forced to largely paint on the Livree du Roi for the French drummers.

Not quite what I had hoped for

Hello again.

Well, the much anticipated West Midlands Military Show has come and gone and, as the title of this piece states, it was not quite what I was hoping for.

The weather. The good, old, unpredictable weather. You see, we had a cold snap and that put paid to the efforts of a lot of traders, gamers and punters to make the effort and get across to Wolverhampton for a day. It was a little confusing, as the likes of Pendraken and Eagle Figures made it down all the way from Teesside, yet others could not make a far shorter journey it seems. Hm.

Walking into the venue, the effect of the weather was clear from the start. A lack of people in enough numbers to make me feel like I knew where I was, the rows of empty tables and the general lack of hubbub all gave full voice to the fact that this year's show was not going to be the usual cornucopia of sights and sounds (and, unfortunately, smells...Why do so many wargamers venture out into polite society with not a crumb of soap having garnished their particulars for some time beforehand???)

I did take my camera, however, and it was charged. I even took a few photos. But, to be honest, so few games meant there was a lower chance of something really catching the eye and I spent far more time chatting to people and basically forgot to take many photos at all! There were a few things to tempt me to open the wallet - the new version of "By Fire & Sword" (in a handy A5 paperback format) and the Imperialist miniatures to go with the same very nearly saw me hand over some cash to Roland Hynd, formerly of Stafford Games fame and now back as an online trader. I was also sorely tempted by Bicorne Miniatures and the chance to boost my dormant Thirty Years' War figure collection. And the chance to obtain some French and/ or British cavalry for the Seven Years' War was forsaken, so Ian at Eagle Figures got nothing from me this time either.

I needed paint, steel paper and some more 10mm Crimean War figures and had intended getting nothing more. What I actually bought was:

• the required paint
• a copy of "Gaslands" by Osprey, the new car wars rules
• some mdf figure bases for when I finally get my 10mm ACW collection up and running
• yet another Crimean War army pack from Pendraken, bringing my quantity of Russian infantry available to 600 figures, artillery pieces up to around 15 with crews and neatly rounding off my Dragoons brigade to the sort of size at which I want to field it
• a Crimean War Highland Brigade pack from Magister Militum
• a brigade pack of Rebs for the ACW from the same source

and..............................

....a fair selection of 10mm Sassanid Persians, also from Magister Militum, as it is high time I actually owned the army I like better than any other!!! I knew I would never get together a Sassanid army in 28mm, especially as I like to field both sides in any project, but I think it highly plausible I will get one together in 10mm, together with suitable Roman opponents.

So, to finish, just a few photos that I did take of a couple of games I did like. Apologies to the team putting on the Sino-Japanese War 1937 affair, which looked rather good, and to some of my old Stafford Games chums with their Battle of Oudenarde display, but I did not get the relevant photos. Sorry.

G

I do not often see a Brummbar on the tabletop, so had to take this one. I simply do not know who put the game on, but 28mm WW2 done pretty well I thought.

Everyone should have a Panther

Ant those pesky Typhoons need a swift reminder to stay away now and again

A nice Peninsular War clash which caught my eye but, again, I do not know who did it

A nice little model

Very nice bit of modelling

WMMS Time!!!

Hello again.

Just a quick reminder to any who might need it that the West Midlands Military Show is on this Sunday, 18th March, at the Aldersley Leisure Village, Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 9NW. According to the advert in the March issue of "Wargames Illustrated" (issue 365), entry is a paltry £4 for adults, half that for Concessions and free for children, so get yourself along to spend BIG at upwards of 40 traders, enjoy games of various hues, both participation and demo, and enjoy the ambience of what is undoubtedly one of my favourite shows of the year.

It is with a little sadness that I must report that we at the "Wyrley Retinue" will not be laying on a game this year, as life has sort of got in the way of things, but I shall be there as a punter and will have a sum of filthy lucre in my sweaty mitts that I will be my usual eager self to part with. It is the first time in around six or seven years that we will not be there with a game, but we WILL BE BACK!

Whatever your gaming persuasion in whatever scale, I am certain you will find the vast majority of your desires at the show, just as I hope to.

So, get yourself along there this coming Sunday. I will post some photos of my day there assuming:

a) I do not forget my camera, as I seem to do all too often, and,
b) it is actually charged when I come to use it!

See you there!

G