Monday, March 23, 2020

New Arrivals...

    Yesterday we celebrated the occasion of my 65th birthday in low key, Covid-19 style, with just the three of us at home (and me being on call). Thankfully it was much less busy than Saturday, when among other things I had to tell several people that they tested positive for the damned virus. Anyway, there were still some fine gifts to be had. I certainly won't lack for things to do during my off time during this unusual period!


The Danish Army of the Napoleonic Wars has been an interest of mine for many years. The limited availability of quality information on this important force,. even in Danish, has been a challenge. This is the book I would have written and more. To say that it is detailed would be a gross understatement. If there is anything you wanted to know about the about the organization, uniforms, weapons, etc of the areas covered, the answers are pretty much here ( a second volume presumably covering the Cavalry, Artillery, and Militias is planned, and it looks like even a 3rd volume covering the Norwegian Army is planned.) I will have to update my existing blog posts on these troops based upon the information here. There are more than FORTY color plates in the book, in the "Peter Bundy" style as far as the depictions, although evidently the author is also the illustrator. I''ve read half the book already. It's not cheap but hardly outrageous for the quality, and Helion has frequent deals and discounts, and many other excellent titles). Very highly recommended if you have any interest in the topic! I've already read half of it since yesterday! 


While I am very set on Field of Battle as my Horse and Musket era rules (the 3rd edition was just finalized and should be available shortly),  enough wargames e-friends like them that I thought I would get a copy. Even if I never run them myself, I might want to play them at a convention (if and when they return), I couldn't find a copy at Historicon last year, and it took more than 3 months to get this copy (it was on back order). I am looking forward to reading through it! 


While looking for other items, I found these 25 mm siege Siege mortars, something I have rarely seen anywhere. So I picked up 2 packs of them (I took one as my Army Card renewal freebie). They will enhance my Vauban's wars set up.  


Another discovery browsing the extensive  Old Glory on line  Catalog were these items - a bag has 2 Pontoon wagons, each with 4 horses, and the other bag has 6 pontoons and 4 deck sections with 16 support pieces. Just what you need when confronting a crossing of the mighty Danube, or the lesser Isar!


These additions will allow me to use existing leftovers to raise another 4 units of French line  in the early uniforms (bicorne), plus a unit of converged Grenadiers to round out the Division


With existing lead on hand, these packs will allow me to add another 3 ECW Horse units, and another 3 units of Foote. 


I needed these command sets to raise the bulk of the "300 Austrians" - enough for 10 more units. I already ordered the required flags from Adolfo Ramos, and they are on their way here. Am I crazy or what? :-)

31 comments:

  1. Happy 65th Birthday, Peter! You made quite a haul with your celebratory gifts.

    Stay well, my friend!

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  2. Happy Birthday! I bought the Danish army book and it is a splendid read.

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    1. Thanks for the good wishes. The book is everything a book of this kind should be, but often is not. Want to know what the shabraques looked like for mounted officers of an infantry regiment - it's in there! Rank distinctions (which underwent major changes) - it's in there, too/ Plus some very interesting new information about flags and standards.

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    2. I am really looking forward to the next two volumes...

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  3. Wow! That is quite the haul! Happy Birthday sir!

    My problem is that I have to buy my own birthday presents when it comes to hobby, or dropping subtle, not usually picked up, hints to family. May I ask if you've found a secret you can share with us other war gaming men to help us with our families? ;)

    Cheers
    Kevin

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    1. Nothing very clever, I'm afraid, Kevin. I just order the stuff and dole it out to family members as needed/appropriate. I still count it as expenses, though. Sometimes my wife will say... "Father's day is coming up; why don't you order some toys for me to give to you?" or something like that, LOL!

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    2. My MO is a bit different but gets the job done.

      I maintain an Amazon Wish List and have a listing of shops for which Gift Vouchers can be ordered. My youngest daughter ALWAYS picks off one or two books from Amazon for holidays. My wife has been going the gift certificate route. The others are a mixed lot. Oldest daughter often goes the extra mile for researching my needs for "tools of the trade." One year I received a laminator (I use this all of the time for QRS) and for my birthday this year, I received a very handy painting lamp!

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    3. Kind of like a wedding registry, LOL!

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    4. That's pretty much how it runs here, shoot I was hoping for that golden bb.

      But Jonathan that's not a bad idea, "stroking beard going hmmm..... that just might work"

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    5. Yep, the "wedding registry" isn't a bad concept! :-)

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  4. Nice article, great book on the Danish Army. Get those pontoons painted. :-)

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    1. hanks, Joe! the Mortars will be first. The listing says there are three per pack, but... there are four per pack in fact!

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  5. What a brilliant pick up Peter. You will definitely enjoy the GdA as I think its right up your alley though, as you mention, you have a favorite set well and truly in the stable presently. Love your pick-ups from Old Glory and I am keen to see how you model and paint your pontoon set being the proud owner of two packs myself which I had purchased around the time you were celebrating your 50th birthday! My how time flied...oh...Happy Birthday sir!

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    1. Thanks, Carlo. The Pontoons etc are on the prep table now...

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  6. Happy Birthday Peter, and a lovely meaningful haul on it too! Not surprising given your brilliant system for gifts ;) Great post on Charles also! :)
    Stay safe and best wishes

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    1. Thanks, Mark. Stay safe and be well yourself!

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  7. Yes, happy birthday Peter and please make sure you're looking after yourself in the excellent work you're doing.

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    1. Thank you Lawrence. It is likely to be challenging very shortly.

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  8. Happy Birthday Peter! Keep up the great work that you are doing and your marvellous blog posts too!

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  9. Many happy returns and wish you another year of great gaming!

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  10. Great additions to the lead collection, like the pontoons, must add them to my collection

    Cheers
    Matt
    French Wargame Holidays

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  11. Thanks, Matt. I am looking forward to deploying them for our next campaign in a day. They'd also make a good objective for a number of scenarios, too!

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  12. Love those siege mortars and hope to see them in action in July!!! Mostly working on RJW and SYW here. Vauban's Wars is nearly finished. Cards are printers, and I should be able to finish more PaperTerrain so that I can make better photos for the rules. Once that is complete, they will be off to the printers! Woot!

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    1. Thanks, Eric; it turns out that there are 4 per pack, so I have 8 all told! They are nearing completion on the painting table now.

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  13. Belated happy birthday! Nice haul!
    Best Iain

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