More Blackhawks Down!

My mate Owen, who came up for CANCON, has posted more pics of the Blackhawk Down demo game we played in. You'll find them at his new blog; the Predator's Lair...

http://predatorlair.blogspot.com/

Karsten's Aeronef Fleet

A gentleman is as good as his word, and have no doubt that Karsten is that.

As promised on the weekend, he has sent me some pics of his German Aeronef fleet (figs by Brigade) click for larger images

Thanks Karsten, they look great. I especially like the Digs and the WW1-esque cam scheme.

International Conference scheduled

Envoys from the Home Office and the Colonies will convene a seminar next week in London to discuss a coordinated strategy to simulatenoeusly defeat the Russian menace in Asia, pacify the Turks, insult the Swiss, ignore the French, titter at girls and sneer at the Prussians.


Indications are that these discussions will be followed in quick succession by the inaugural inter-Regimental drinking competition with the winner awarded large estates in Africa and a gunboat flotilla armed with Nordendfelts and crewed by local lovlies- it should be a cracking good time!

The Officers of the 3rd Saxon-Wantabees Dragoons Regiment are anticipated to come dead last in the forthcoming Guiness boat-races competition and be forced to endure the humilating de-bagging ceremony in the Mess

No doubt the envoys will also discuss matters of little lead men and exchanges of goodies will be done - Who know what else else can happen when Tas finally makes the personal acquaintance of Ogrefencer!

CANCON 2008

A quiet weekend from me with no posts from me for two good reasons:

1. Jan 26 is Australia Day, our National Birthday and great cause for BBQ, Beers and celebration; and

2. This weekend was the premier Australian Wargaming convention, CANCON, organised by the Canberra Games Society and held just a few Kms from my house http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl7cnm/Flyer.pdf


Long time subscribers may recall that I went last year and had a ball with the kids http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/01/cancon-splendid-day-out.html). I was just reading that post and saw my comments "Sadly my mate Owen, who had planned to come up for the weekend and the Con, had to cancel at the last minute. There is always next year though right?". Well this indeed this year was the year and he did made it up for a cracking great time.



There wasnt much in the way of VSF, though I did spy a nice Boxer Rebellion style game. Owen and I played in a great demo scenario of Mogadishu in 1994, as famously portrayed in the movie "Blackhawk Down!". The terrain, figs and vehicles were fantastic, and the rules were fast and quick playing. We did even worse than the movie writers thought the Americans did and had a ball doing it. And yes, more than one Blackhawk crashed, as unlikely as the odds were for that!



Over the weekend I also met up with friends old and new, including Nic of Eureka Miniatures (http://www.eurekamin.com.au/), Mike of Battlefield Accessories (http://members.optusnet.com.au/carolynparker/mmmain.htm), Mick from Mick's Metal Models (http://www.micksmetalmodels.com/), who among other ranges is the Australian distributor for Peter Pig, and Greg of Cannon Fodder miniatures (http://www.canfodmins.com/) who made all the Somali gunmen for the demogame (and they were good shots too!). Needless to say, money was spent and goodies were brought home...

I also was reacquainted with Karsten whom I met last year and who has promised me pics of his and his mates' newly finished Aeronef fleets!

So a great weekend of gaming, gaming shopping and seeing my mate - thanks for coming up buddy!

Cheapsiders...

I've been pondering thrift in wargaming of late and have these notions to offer:

For smoke stacks and piping, consider black drinking straws. They come in three basic sizes — sipping, standard, and jumbo. The precise diameter of the latter depends largely on the manufacturer.

Sipping:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/pty-01-stir-black-2000?
2000 for $6.95.

Standard:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/PTY-04-STRAW-BLACK-700?
700 for $6.95 US.

Super, Jumbo, Mega...
http://www.westernplastics.net/index.php

And, while on the subject of "drinking accessories," prehistoric terrain can be supplemented with palm tree stirrers.

http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=20830&cat=314&page=1
Pillars in temples and government buildings can be represented by wedding cake decorations. The resin bits that some companies offer are more or less the same design but usually quite a bit more expensive.

http://www.bakedeco.com/dept.asp?id=242

I have long thought that land mines can easily be simulated by spent hearing aid batteries. Of course, unless you have a device that uses them, collecting a good number of them may require a bit of resourceful thinking.

Simiarly, the flint wheel in disposable lighters is — in essence — a gear. Both the battery and gear can also be used to add detail to vehicles and robots.

And this last idea isn't mine (and, to be honest, I forget to whom it belongs) — but I have heard of someone using dried fruit and beans to add "nodules" and mounts to spacecraft models.

Scratchbuilt Aeronef Fleet

Eli has posted pics of his home designed aeronef fleet which he scratch built predominantly from balsa. I think he has done a cracking job!

Actually, now I think of it they remind me a lot of GZG's New Swabian League ships from their Full Thrust Sci-Fi range.

Great job Eli!
http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2007/12/fleets-gather.html

King Solomon's Mines

Here is the 1 hr 20min version from 1927 - free download!

http://www.archive.org/details/king_solomans_mine

Paul's Aeronef Page

A fantastic recent discovery by Joe of the silly 15mm VSFers (http://vsf15mm.blogspot.com/) is Paul's Wargaming site:

It seems Mssr Hooper and his merry bunch inspired pals have been busy playing, amongst other genres, Aeronef. They have amassed an impressive collection of models including some extensive scratchbuilds, including Portigese, Swiss and Barbary Pirate Fleets! And dont forget to check out the Spanish floating dock either (now there is challenge for you Mssr Vanvlak!)

Paul has also compiled some scenarios, home rules modifications, and a neat campaign map for you would-be Conquerors of Europe...

http://web.mac.com/phooper/Aeronef/Aeronef_Menu.html

Thanks for the insipring Fleets Paul&Co - I look forward to even more in the future!

20,000 hits!

It was only 2 months ago that WWS celebrated 10,000 hits and that milestone doubled this week to 20,000! I guess all that Chrstmas holiday time gave everyone a chance to do extra surfing :-)

I'm still rather stunned at the amount of traffic flowing through here and I'll take it as a sign that the team here are doing a good job - Huzzah and Thanks to All!

Tooth and Claw scenario

Jim at the Lost World Safari group writes:

For all potential Tooth and Claw gamers...The latest edition of WI has a scenario for Toth and Claw by Chris Peers titled "Into The Jaws of Death":

http://wargamesillustrated.net/shop.asp?sid=0&ssid=0&cid=0&id=428

I haven't had a chance to read through it yet but it looks pretty good, being designed as an introductory game for several players. I'll post a review once I've had a chance to read the scenario through properly.

Thanks Jim!

Garnet Joseph Wolseley

"La Coloniale" of the silly buggers Brigade at 15mmVSF Blog, has entered this stirling chap in the esteemed White Wine Sauce Hall of Esteemed Gentlemen!

You can read his biography at that blogsite here:

http://vsf15mm.blogspot.com/2008/01/garnet-joseph-wolseley.html

Victorian Era Naval Reference

While searching around for information on Admirals Hewett and Cowan, I came across this excellent resource. While its not a full record, it lists the history of various Victorian era Royal Naval vessels and their Captains.

http://www.pdavis.nl/Background.htm#BIO

20,000 Leagues under the Sea

I know this isnt the first film version of Verne's aquanef classic (which incidentally has never been publically released) but this version (1hr 39mins) does includes the first underwater filming. Its a very liberal interpretation of both 20,000 Leagues and its sequel Mysterious Island.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8365304564615414619

The Lost World

A copy of the 1925 film - complete and available for free download - a great find by Mssr Vanvlak!
1 hr and 8 min of nostalgic fun:

Explorer Professor Challenger is taking quite a beating in the London press thanks to his claim that living dinosaurs exist in the far reaches of the Amazon. Newspaper reporter Edward Malone learns that this claim originates from a diary given to him by fellow explorer Maple White's daughter, Paula. Malone's paper funds an expedition to rescue Maple White, who has been marooned at the top of a high plateau. Joined by renowned hunter John Roxton, and others, the group goes to South America, where they do indeed find a plateau inhabited by pre-historic creatures, one of which they even manage to bring back to London with them.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8853771651097696497

Vice Admiral Sir Nathan Hewett

Further investigation into some 'Fighting Admirals' of the Victorian era has revealed this man:

Vice-Admiral Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett VC KCB KCSI
b.1834, entered RN 1848, d. 1888

Aged 20 and but 8 years after entering the Royal Navy, William Hewett was awarded the Victoria Cross for services during the Crimea War.

In 1854, he was serving as Acting Mate on HMS Beagle but was commanding a Naval Brigade detachment manning a Lancaster Battery at Sebastopol. being threatened by the enemy. Through a misunderstanding he was ordered to spike his gun and retreat. The lieutenant, however, took on himself the responsibility of disregarding the order, shouting 'Retire? Retire and be damned! Fire!' He then pulled down the parapet of the battery and with the assistance of some soldiers, slewed his gun round and poured on the advancing enemy a most destructive and effectual fire until the Russians retreated. For this exploit and for further great bravery during the battle of Inkerman, that he received the Victoria Cross.

A slightly different account of his actions:

Among all the acts exhibiting gallantry, coolness, and judgment, one performed by Mr N.W. Hewett, then acting mate of HMS Beagle, stands conspicuous.

On the 26th of October 1854, the day after the battle of Balaclava, he was in charge of the right Lancaster battery before Sebastopol, with a party of bluejackets under him, when the Russians made a desperate sortie from the walls against Sir De Lacy Evans’ division. The advance of the Russians placed the gun in great jeopardy; and their assault was so vigorous that their skirmishers had got within 300 yards of the battery, and were pouring in a sharp fire from their Minié rifles. By some misapprehension the word was passed to spike the gun and retreat; but Mr Hewett, taking upon himself to disregard what he heard, answered, “That order did not come from Captain Lushington, and till he directs us to desert the gun, we’ll not move.” This proceeding was hazardous, for at the time the gun was in an ineffectual position, in consequence of the enemy advancing on its flank. With the assistance, however, of the seamen with him, and of some soldiers who came to his aid, he got round the gun into position; then, blowing away the parapet of the battery, he opened on the advancing column of the Russians so effective a fire, that they were completely staggered, and their progress was stopped. Seconded by his companions, whom his spirit animated, again and again he discharged his death-dealing gun, till the enemy gave way and retreated.

A story is current that he actually did receive an order to abandon the gun, and that afterwards, while he was reflecting what might be the consequences of having disobeyed it, his commanding officer inquired,
“Mr Hewett, were you not ordered to spike that gun and retreat?”
“I was, sir.”
“And you chose to disregard the order, and fight the gun?”
“I did, sir; but I am sorry if—”
“Well, then, you are promoted.”
Sir Stephen Lushington brought Mr Hewett’s conduct before the commander-in-chief, and he received from the Admiralty, as a reward, his lieutenancy, which he so well merited. At the battle of Inkermann his bravery was again conspicuous, and he was soon afterwards appointed to the command of the Beagle gunboat in the Sea of Azov.

He was promoted to Commander on 13th Sep 1858, Captain on 14th Nov 1862 and Rear-Admiral on 14th Nov 1862, spending much of his career at sea commanding a number of RN vessels, including some of the first ironclad warships. He also commanded the Naval Brigade in actions in West Africa, Egypt and the Sudan, gaining in the process a reputation as the Navy's finest exponent of Combined Operations.

Sir William Hewett rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in 1884 before retiring from the Navy in 1888 and died the same year.

Vice-Admiral Hewett was awarded the following medals:
Victoria Cross
Knight Commander of the Bath
Crimean War Medal
Turkish Crimean Medal
Crimean Medal 'Al Valore'
India General Service Medal
Ashanti Medal 1873–74
Egypt Medal 1882
Khedive Star 1882
Order of Mejidieh 4th
Class Legion of Honour 5th Class