Bally Martians Again!

Egad! There I was researching the recent Martian invasion for my magnum opus on my Babbage Engine when I came across this chronophotographic scientific romance adventure for young boys set fifteen years into the future after the First Martian War! Looks a jolly wheeze one must say but I think the bally war elephants are a bit strange, though I would have liked one up Whereizitstan when one was fighting the dirty fakirs I can tell you, what!

"Dam the Torpedo's and Full speed Ahead"

Any VSF fan attending Salute 2011 could not have been but inspired by the jaw-dropping Aeronef game being run by Arbuthnot's Aeronautical League of Gentlemen.

"Dam the Torpedo's and Full speed Ahead" was a surprise attack by Imperial Japanese forces on the American coaling and R-matter station on the Solomon Islands.

The game featured many beautifully painted and super-detailed aeronef models, many being rigged and a number had anti-torpedo net booms.

Additionally a number of the aeronef were conversions including an exquisite American aeroplane carrier. Apparently there are a couple of Japanese mega-carriers (converted from 1/700th kits) to be introduced at shows later this year.

The terrain was equally fantastic with some beautiful islands and a scratchbuilt refuelling station that made a great target for the Japanese. A nice touch was the flashing LED lights under kapok smoke, that twinkled like fires after the Japanese had bombed targets.

Unfortunately my photos aren't fantastic and don't really do the game justice and it is worth going through other people's Salute photo albums to see more photos of this excellent game.

Truly inspiring, "Dam the Torpedo's and Full speed Ahead" should also receive run-outs at Colours and SELWG this year...

Shock and Surprise!

A usual, TMP has a bunch of polls going. One of them at the moment is [what is the] "Most Popular Painting/Wargaming Site Besides TMP?" Well blow me down if I didn't find this blog listed there as one of the selections!

And not only that, but 4 people (OK, me and 3 other people) voted for YIAWWS - Huzzah!

Make your vote count, whatever it may be, here:
http://theminiaturespage.com/polls/1792421011/

EDIT - Well blow me down thrice because YIAWWS totalled 13 votes for 2% of the overall vote!

New Portable Babbage Engine

What ho chaps! Just found out that some clever boffin chappies have made a portable Babbage Engine that is just perfect for talking on expeditions up the Congo and to Waziristan. This moving picture show illustrates what a jolly clever device it is eh?!

G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium - the video!

G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium

Exciting news - if you aren't already into GASLIGHT, read this:

Chris Palmer and I recently completed the cover for the upcoming G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium. It is ready to go to the printer by the end of the week. We are just giving it the last once-over and review.

The G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium meets all your VSF and Pulp needs, from skirmish and roleplaying to large battles and airship fleet actions.

Victorian Science Fiction (VSF) gaming is set in the world in which the predictions and visions of men like Jules Verne, HG Wells, and H. Ryder Haggard are true. In G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T., Main Characters and Extras battle in a world of steam-powered vehicles, fantastic weapons, lost worlds, and terrible creatures. Pulp gaming pits steely-eyed, flint-jawed, barrel-chested, two-fisted, deadeye, tough as woodpecker lips, stud among studs, no kidding, stuff-of-legends hero-type guys against colorful, charismatic, egomaniacal, dastardly, nefarious villains and their mindless minions. The G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium has rules for the creation of characters, the construction of vehicles and weapons, and the generation of fantastic creatures. This open-ended approach is one of the reasons G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. has been so successful over the past eleven years.

The G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Compendium includes material from four books: G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (for skirmishes), Battles by G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (for larger battles), Adventures and Expeditions by G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (roleplaying), and To Be Continued… by G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (Pulp). All the systems are completely consistent, allowing players to tailor their G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. VSF or Pulp games. In addition, The Compendium includes new rules for airship fleet battles and more detailed rules for aerial vehicles in G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. or Battles by G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. The vehicle hit charts have been revised and combined, and there are specific vehicle hit results for walking, driving, flying, and legged vehicles. The record sheets used during game play have been completely revised. The book is 190 pages with color throughout.

We are looking for a July release, in time for Historicon. The book will also be available as a PDF download.

http://theminiaturespage.com/news/363264/
http://bucksurdu.com/blog/?p=441

HML Leviathan Test Shot Miniature photos

Dont walk- RUN -to check out these pics!

http://monstersinthesky.com/2011/03/30/hml-leviathan-test-shot-miniature-photos/

Austro-Hungarian Land Ironclads revealed!

Those chaps at Brigade Models aren't men, they're production-line machines themselves!

Following hard on the heels of the Belgian and French armies, the Austro-Hungarians expand the wars of Land Ironclads into south-eastern Europe.

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Salute%20Releases.html 

Burpa Revolt Footage

What ho chaps! I was browsing the old Babbage Machine after a bit of tiffin and came across this chronophotographic footage of the recent Burpa rebellion involving my old fag from Eton, Sidders. Looks like he managed to fight the bally Pandees off with the brave lads of the Third Foot and Mouth. Jolly good show what?!

The Ides of March

Good advice - ignore Soothsayers at your peril!

Today is "Idus Martii" - take care and cancel any Senate tours or visits you may have planned...

Vincenzo Camuccini, Mort de César, 1798.

Allez Les Bleus!

More Goodies from Brigade Models: they are really on a roll at the moment!

Hot on the heels of the Belgians (aren't they always !?) come the next great nation in our Land Ironclads range, the French. Packed full of Gallic charm, wearing berets, carrying a string of onions* and ready to
do battle with anyone else that comes close ! There are five ironclad models, two contraptions and a host of packs available to order now.

VLI-401 Detendu Ironclad £3.50
VLI-402 Immuablement Ironclad £2.50
VLI-403 Vengeance Ironclad £1.25
VLI-404 Glorieux Ironclad £1.00
VLI-405 Blockhaus Roulant Ironclad £0.75
VLI-420 Char St Maxim £1.75
VLI-421 Char Mazerey £1.75

VLIP-401 French Light Ironclad Battalion £14.00
VLIP-402 French Medium Ironclad Battalion £22.50
VLIP-403 French Heavy Ironclad Battalion £35.00
VLIP-404 French Contraption Battalion £13.50
VLIP-406 French Infantry Regiment £12.25


*We would like to apologise to all our French customers out there, Tony's just come back from a weekend away in Paris and has got rather carried away by the experience ...

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/LandIronclads/France.html

Belgian LIs: Rolling Hot!

OK, I'm getting my VSF and Hammers Slammers mixed up, but you get the point: the Belgian LI range is now available from Brigade Models!

Positioned between the mighty powers of France and Germany, Belgium often ends up caught in the crossfire. Recreate the fight for survival of the plucky Belgians with our new range of Land Ironclads models. 

There are five models in total - three ironclads, two contraptions, and a pair of battalion packs.
 http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/LandIronclads/Belgium.html

Turkish Delight

New goodies from Brigade - more Turks at last!


After several years stuck in development hell, we can finally announce the release of the twin-hulled dirigible Ottoman battleship Barbaros Hayreddin. This floating behemoth will certainly add steel to the forces of the Sultan in the Middle-East. 

As if that wasn't enough, the scheming Grand Vizier's engineers have modified the design to carry a flight deck and hangars and created the Abdulmecid class fighter carrier. Both models are available individually or in two new fleet packs, along with the new Turkish Grand Fleet Pack. 

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Aeronef/Turkey.html

WOTW Artwork

Just one example of lonesome crow's excellent WOTW artwork here: http://lonesome--crow.deviantart.com/gallery/#

  

Artwork by Martyn and Roger Dean and Richard Clifton-Dey originally intended for Jeff Wayne’s 1977 War of the Worlds album, but never used

While this piece was used for a Signet paperback of the book...

Heath Advice for the Fairer Sex

Ladies: Do you have feelings of inadequacy?     Do you suffer from shyness?      

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. It can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Sauvignon almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had.

Stop hiding and start living.

Sauvignon may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use it. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing orbecoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss ofvirginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister!

WARNINGS: -

* The consumption of Sauvignon may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

Please feel free to share this important information with as many women as you feel may benefit!

Now Just Imagine What You Could Achieve With a Good Dry Merlot!!!