Recruiting for ACW Shenandoah Valley game

 

We interrupt our Travelogue coverage to announce that Martin, the Arnhem game host, is putting together his own American Civil War campaign game set in the Shenandoah Valley.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577104145093

If you are keen to take part, please drop the MarauderS an email and we will work to connect you.

viperbbb@gmail.com

Travelogue XI: Birmingham GAME of Arnhem

 After a drive to find, I met with a most excellent gamer that I had done some play-testing of rules for last year.  We had a fun Tex-Mex dinner, then settled in for a bit of WWII at Arnhem.

Flipped a coin for who commanded what, I ended up with the Paras.

Martin has a game set in progress, with many buildings and the bridge section in advanced stages, we chatted about terrain and ideas during the game.

our battlefield for the night

The rules set is a work-in-progress, having first been put into print in 2019.

We had some lively exchanges about the morale effects, especially 'cobbled together' companies of the second rate troops that much of the German forces were at Arnhem (the Luftwaffe 'infantry' that were formerly mechanics and drivers) also the determination of the armored forces of the Germans, though they would also not move forward without infantry support - especially in the urban 'Built Up Areas' BUAs.

some inspirational reading associated with this battle

this road was the critical terrain
for the Paras to hold on to
(any future supply must cross it)

wonderful terrain that would be expanded
upon in the near future

the play mat made moving a cinch

models were all well painted and on flocked bases

Martin's game system used four different
coloured dice for the controls
then the 'blue & red' die would be
re-rolled often for combat effects

Game was a straight forward hold area defense
vs line attack - sadly the Germans failed to get
their artillery to do much before or during the
attack and this left their armour vulnerable

All in all it was a fun day out, though it did mean I would have to drive back to Glastonbury in the dark and some rain.  Thankfully the diversions were all shut down for the night and I had easy access to the M2.

many thanks for my hosts Martin and his bride

Travelogue X: FOUNDRY in Nottingham

 

yours truly in the FOUNDRY factory store in Nottingham

So I was off on a solo adventure into the Midlands, driving a stick shift manual transmission on the opposite side of the road (from what I am used to) and there were so many diversions!  I was out into little hamlets with tons of roundabouts and could not get onto the A2 because of construction in the primary area I wanted to connect.

along the way I managed to get behind a larger
'lorry' and followed it quite a ways
along the diversion path ...
the roads were so close, these two trucks
nearly kissed mirrors

the factory and store was in a church

located near a historic battlefield

I was amazed as the simple mass of minis available.  Essentially everything on the website could be found here.

my view upon arrival

So while I searched for some specific models I wanted, I also took many photos.

there are loads of painted models
sort of a reference collection in many
of the eras that FOUNDRY has

old Warhammer?

there were so many collections

they were in double-sided glass cases (to keep down dust)
and were used as 'room dividers'
between the different sections of the store

then there was this amazing METAL
castle wall and towers setup

apparently this was from a foam set
that was first made in the 1980s
the wooden original had disappeared

then one day this METAL copy appeared
looking like it had been made from a mold
based on the wooden original

then there was another little room
dedicated to only the
painted models

My purchases were mostly related to ECW (some 'wounded' and 'disorder' markers), a few dismounted dragoons, a Scottish frame gun and crew and I also stumbled upon a Cromwell and King Charles set that I had not seen before.

Added in a highwayman and woman set.  Along with a charging Napoleonic Hussars set(s) so that we can re-create "The Duelists" horseback duel.  (more about duels stuff coming)

I also wanted to have the 'sandwich board' man from the Victorian era, and found a protest woman with a sign as well (in sets).

Expect a follow up on all of these once painting progress can be returned to - summertime has made the painting time more limited along with various multiple house(s) that need repairs/updates/changes - having to sell a house and still keep up one while searching for a bigger replacement brings all sorts of issues.

the cases were mirror backed

you could almost track the styles of painting
back to the 1970s

then it was time to leave ...
finding the shop is just past this 'gateway'
at the end of the post code roadway
going too far takes you into pastures
that were the old battlefield

Then I was on my way to meet up with a gamer that I had only met via our email connection after conversing on FB.

dinner in Birmingham!

Travelogue IX: Glastonbury D

 A special Beltane fire:

We were invited to a private property to the north of the Tor and partook in an intimate Beltane fire as the day wound down.

a fire-poi dancer was on the Tor

some neat skyline shots presented themselves

a last view of the Tor before we turned in for the night

we gathered some fresh water from the Lion's Head
in the chalice well gardens for use on
our next day's travels

Up next:  FOUNDRY in Nottingham!

Travelogue IX: Glastonbury C

 Then came the Avebury road trip.

Unable to stop for Stonehenge, we were told that Avebury would be worth the visit as the stone were in a much larger circle and still available to touch for visitors.

wonderful stained glass in a Glastonbury Chapel

equally amazing art on the wall of the chapel

Then on the road!

the stones

are in

all sizes

The weather was fantastic for such an outdoor location, indeed there were groups picnicking among the stones.

loads of photos, so I will spare you and share this simple one

a neat little shop at the side of the monument
indeed the foundation of the building was possibly
made from some of the stones before they
had been identified as a prehistoric monument

 Lunch was at the pub we were recommended to go to:

It was located near the center of the circle of stones and made for an excellent dining experience.

more of the white 'sparkly' quartz rocks
and gravel that made up the soil and tracks
in the area

all too soon the shadows were growing long
and we needed to get back to Glastonbury
for the special intimate Beltane fire