Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Fast Times from Pastimes (on the Square)

 As I was setting up the table for my 1st Battle of Newbury ECW game (see the preceding post), I realized that I didn't have nearly enough hedgerows, still! Fortunately, I had saved the tags from one of the packs of hedges I bought at the dealer's area at Historicon 2019. They came from an outfit called "Pastimes on the Square" in Palmyra, PA. 

The tag had a website, which lead to the listing at the end of this post (they are in the process of developing a new website). The listing didn't include any ordering information, so I used the contact information, and emailed Pastimesorder@aol.com enquiring as to their status and the availability of their products. I got a prompt reply from Steve, who also informed me that the same "Buy 2 get 1 free (of equal or lesser value, need not be identical or even from the same section, as further correspondence clarified) deal that they offered at Historicon was also available for mail order, and, even better, that orders over $45 would be sent post free (* within the US, of course)

Six packs of their "large" hedges, 4 x 5" sections per pack; three each plain green and "red and green "Berry" hedges for a little variety. With the deal that came to a little under $40.00 I need to spend more to get that free shipping... and of course, whatever additional I buy has to qualify for that 3 for the price of 2 deal, right?  RIGHT!


As you can see, these are basically very well done, classic "scouring pad" hedges. The "scouring" bottom actually works great on my felt table coverings, keeping the hedges upright and in place. Could I make them myself? Almost certainly yes, but probably not as well, and that price, why would I want to?  Besides, I wanted them for this game... and they were shipped out a few days after our initial correspondence, on Friday, and arrived here Monday (today). Payment as made via Paypal. 


Their line of hills and ridges looked interesting, so I decided why not try a few (namely, 3 different packs, LOL!). This one is "Smooth/Rough Combination Ridgeline Hills, 18x6, 12x6 – 1 each in 2” Height – $15.45"


Here's the 18" ridgeline (2" tall and roughly 6" wide). They obviously make them locally from foam insulation sheeting, and Steve explained that to make the rough ones they cut down and finish existing smooth ones, so that would take a day or two.


Here's the other side of the18 incher. I think I may dry brush this a little to make the rock color a little warmer and not so straight grey, but it looks good, and the flocking is much better and more adherent than I have been able to do for myself. 


Here's the 12 incher, face one...


and face two. Once again, could I do it myself? Probably, but not as nicely, not in a few days, and for that price, why would I want to? 


The second pack I got was "Smooth Ridgeline Hills 12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1" Height – $8.95" 
Very nice, really. I had our Snappy Nappy "Campaign in a Day" events especially in mind for these pieces. They would also make great "folds" in the ground" that might block line of sight without otherwise effecting combat.  


The final  pack was a set of three 1" tall Smooth Round Hills, approximately 6" diameter, 3/ 8.95. With the deal, that's about $2 each! I had "To the Strongest" especially in mind for these; they would work nicely with a 6" or 8" grid. You'll notice they are all slightly different. As you will see below, they make them in a number of other colors as well. 


I found the huge variety of plants intriguing, so I decided to get three of the "Assorted Jungle Plants" 


Now, obviously these are essentially cut up aquarium type plants, based. and flocked. This was exactly what I was expecting, no surprise there. Nothing I couldn't do myself... but once again, at 40cents each, why would I want to?


I already have tons of palm trees but some of the other types of plant life Pastiomes supplies look intriguing for future consideration. These are slated for my future "Darkest Africa"/Congo project, for which I have been quietly acquiring items for several years now. 


    If you peruse the listing below, you will see that they also do roads rivers, fields, swamps, vineyards, canals, several different kinds of walls and fences, and chevaux de frise. They even swell flack at very competitive prices. It's hard to beat their good products, outstanding service, and superb value in my book. I doubt that this will be my last order from Pastimes on the Square!


TREES – BASED – ALL 9.95

MICRO BANANA (20)              MICRO PALMS (15)

SMALL PALMS (12)              MEDIUM PALMS (18)

COCONUT PALMS (18)              LARGE PALMS (9)

MICRO PINES (15)       FLOCKED MICRO PINES (15)         

SNOW MICRO PINES (15)           15MM PINES (10)         

FOREST PINES (8)              SPRUCE TREES (12)

SMALL PINES (16)              MEDIUM PINES (15)

LARGE PINES (12)                JUMBO PINES (5)

SM JOSHUA TREES (8)        MED JOSHUA TREES (6)

MIDRO SHADE (15)          FALL MICRO SHADE (15)                               

SMALL SHADE (8)            FALL SMALL SHADE (8)

MEDIUM SHADE (8)                LARGE SHADE (8)

MICRO OLIVE (15)                SMALL OLIVE (8)           

MICRO FLOWERING (15)        SMALL FLOWERING (8)            

MICRO APPLE (15)                SMALL APPLE (8)

MICRO ORANGE (15)              SMALL ORANGE (8)              

MICRO PEACH (15)                SMALL PEACH (8)              

MICRO POPLAR (15)              SMALL POPLAR (8)             

MEDIUM POPLAR (8)               WILLOW TREE (8)

DWARF PALM (10)               FOREST STANDS (5)

2 ¼” SHADE (8)                    2 ½” PALM (9)

2 ½” TREE FERN (8)               2 ½” PINE (12)

1 ½” SHADE (12)                 1 ¼” SHADE (10)

3” SNOW TREE (7)               4” DEAD TREE (5)

2 ½” CHERRY BLOSSOM (5)            3” PINE (12)

2 ½” SHADE (8)                   3 ½” SHADE (6)

MICRO FLOWER TREE (15)         3” FLOWERING (6)

2 ½” FLOWERING (9)    2 ½” YELLOW FLOWERING (7)

2-3 ½” MIXED PINE (9) 2 ½” PURPLE FLOWERING (7)

2-3 ½” MIXED SHADE (9)  2 ½” PINK FLOWERING (7)

2” SCRUB TREE (16)         3” PINK BLOOMING (8)     

 

 

 

 

PLANTS/UNDERGROWTH – BASED – ALL 9.95

GIANT CACTUS (5)       MICRO SAGURO CACTUS (30)

SM SAGURO CACTUS (25)    MED SAGURO CACTUS (15)

LG SAGURO CACTUS (6)      MED FUZZY CACTUS (15)

MICRO BARREL CACTUS (20) PIPE ORGAN CACTUS (15)

MED BARREL CACTUS (15)    SM BARREL CACTUS (20)

SMALL BUSHES (20)          ASSORTED BUSHES (15)

LARGE BUSHES (15)             FOREST FERNS (20)

GROUND FERNS (20)              SHORT FERNS (15)

ELEPHANT GRASS (15)     SHORT JUNGLE GRASS (15)

TALL JUNGLE GRASS (15)         LEAF PLANTS (20)

LARGE LEAF PLANTS (15)          POD PLANTS (20)

MICRO CORN (30)                 SMALL CORN (30)

LARGE CORN (20)          TALL JUNGLE FERNS (15)

WEEDS (20)                 WEEDS AND REEDS (20)

JUNGLE WEEDS (20)            MICRO VINYARD (30)

SMALL VINYARD (20)             MICRO BAMBO (15)

THISTLE PLANT (13)             WILDFLOWERS (15)

SMALL COTTON (40)            MEDIUM COTTON (30)

LARGE COTTON (20)               SUCCULANTS (15)

UNDERBRUSH (15)            SM YUCCA PLANTS (15)

LG YUCCA PLANTS (10)              POPPIES (15)

MEDIUM TABACCO (20)           WHEAT FIELDS (30)

MED WHEAT FIELD (30)        SM GRASS TUFFS (30)

JUNGLE SUCCULANTS (15)     MED GRASS TUFFS (20)

FLOWERING BUSH (15)           DESERT GRASS (15)

MICRO HAY PILE (15)        MICRO HAY ROLLS (15)

SMALL HAY PILE (6)          PUMPKIN FIELDS (15)

WILD FIELDS (15)                WILD BRUSH (15)

TALL WEEDS (15)                      VINES (15)

TREE STUMPS (15)              ROCKY FIELDS (15)

MELON VINES (10)                  CUT CORN (15)

MIXED JUNGLE (15)              MEDIUM CORN (24)

SMALL RICE (15)               DESERT WEEDS (15)

JUMBO BUSH (8)             SM PLOWED FIELDS (2)

BRAMBLES (15)             MED PLOWED FIELDS (1)

RIVER BANK (15)               PINK FLOWERS (15)

LEMONGRASS (15)                    BOXWOOD (20)

SM IVY (10)       MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS (10)

BAMBOO GROVE (12)                   BAMBOO (10)

JUNGLE PLANTS (15)          SMALL HAY ROLLS (8)

ASST MICRO DESERT (15)          SUGAR CANE (10)

YELLOW WEED (14)               PURPLE WEED (14)

PINK WEED (14)             ASST COLOR WEED (14)
SMOOTH ROUND HILLS

HEIGHT       1/4”       1/2”       1”         2”___

A D     1” - 6/ 3.45    -------    -------    -------

P I     3” - 3/ 3.45    3/ 3.95    3/ 4.45    -------

P A     6” - 3/ 6.95    3/ 7.95    3/ 8.95    -------

R M     9” - 3/ 9.95    3/10.95    3/11.95    -------

O E    12” - 3/12.95    3/13.95    3/14.95    -------

X T    18” - -------    -------    -------    1/14.95

I E                Combination Packs

M R 6/3/1 1ea – 3.45      -----      -----    -------

A   9/6/3 1ea - 6.95       7.95       8.95    -------

T  12/9/6 1ea - 9.95      10.95      11.95    -------

E    12/9 1ea - ----      -----      -----      13.45

SMOOTH RIDGELINE HILLS

All Combination Packs

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1/4" Height - 6.95

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1/2" Height – 7.95

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1" Height – 8.95

18x6, 12x6 – 1 each in 2” Height – 13.45

SMOOTH/ROUGH COMBINATION ROUND HILLS

HEIGHT       1/4”       1/2”       1”         2”___

A D     1” - 6/ 3.95    -------    -------    -------

P I     3” - 3/ 3.95    3/ 4.45    3/ 4.95    -------

P A     6” - 3/ 7.95    3/ 8.95    3/10.45    -------

R M     9” - 3/11.45    3/12.45    3/13.95    -------

O E    12” - 3/14.95    3/15.95    3/16.95    -------

X T    18” - -------    -------    -------    1/16.95

I E                Combination Packs

M R 6/3/1 1ea – 3.95      -----      -----    -------

A   9/6/3 1ea - 7.95       8.95      10.45    -------

T  12/9/6 1ea -11.45      12.45      13.95    -------

E    12/9 1ea - ----      -----      -----      15.45

SMOOTH/ROUGH COMBINATION RIDGELINE HILLS

All Combination Packs

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1/4" Height - 7.95

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1/2" Height – 8.95

12x3, 9x3, 6x3 – 1 each in 1" Height – 10.95

18x6, 12x6 – 1 each in 2” Height – 15.45

 

 (#/ INDICATES NUMBER OF HILLS IN PACK)

ALL HILLS AVAILABLE IN DESERT TAN and GRASS GREEN

COMBINATION PACKS AVAILABLE IN DESERT TAN,

EARTH BROWN, GRASS GREEN AND WHITE SNOW

 

HEDGES,WALLS,FENCES,MISC. – ALL 9.95

10” X-LARGE HEDGES             20” LARGE HEDGES

30” SMALL HEDGES          30” SMALL SNOW HEDGES

24” MICRO HEDGE        20” LG HONEYSUCKLE HEDGE

30” SM HONEYSUCKLE HEDGE      20” LG PINK HEDGE            

30” SM PINK HEDGE            20” LG BERRY HEDGE

30” SM BERRY HEDGE           20” LG LILAC HEDGE

30” SM LILAC HEDGE       ROADBLOCK AND BARBWIRE

30” SAND BERM            MICRO STONE WALL (24”)

SM STONE WALL (24”)        MED STONE WALL (24”)

LG STONE WALL (24”)        STOCKADE FENCE (20”)

LOW WEAVE FENCE (20”)    HIGH WEAVE FENCE (20”)             

RAIL FENCE (20”)         SPLIT RAIL FENCE (20”)

SMALL CHEVAUX (10)           MEDIUM CHEVAUX (8)

LG CHEVAUX (6)         MICRO CEMETARY (2 PLOTS)

SM CEMETARY (30 STONES) LG CEMETARY (18 STONES)

3” TELEPHONE POLE (10)   1” TELEPHONE POLE (12)

RIVERS,ROADS,LAKES – ALL 19.95

RIVERS

½” – 12’     1” AND 2” – 10’     3” AND 4” – 8’

GREEN, TAN, WINTER, JUNGLE, WADI

 

CANAL (8’)

 

LAKE AND SWAMP OR LAKE AND OASIS (1 EA) (15”)

 

ROADS

½” – 12’     1” AND 2” – 10’

DIRT, CONCRETE, BLACK TOP, DESERT, WINTER

GROUND COVER

STATIC FLOCK (16OZ) BROWN, GRAY-----------2.95

FINE ROCK – BUFF (8OZ)--------------------2.95

MEDIUM ROCK - TAN (80Z)-------------------2.95

RUBBLE – RED, TAN-------------------------2.95

SAND (8OZ)--------------------------------1.95

BROWN    BROWN/BLACK    TAN    LIGHT TAN  

STONY TAN    GRAY    REDDISH BROWN

FLOCK (16OZ)------------------------------4.95

LIGHT GREEN   MEDIUM GREEN   DARK GREEN   GREEN BLEND

LIGHT BROWN   MEDIUM BROWN   DARK BROWN   BROWN BLEND

LIGHT TAN   MEDIUM TAN   DARK TAN   FOREST FLOOR

 

14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I was very happy with my hedges, and really hadn't paid much attention to the other items at Historicon 2019, but they make a LOT of items at very attractive prices. Obviously, a new website where they could display product images would be a big boost, especially as on site retail sales have to have been devastated by Covid-19.

      Delete
  2. That's quite a variety there and all very well-priced as you say, Peter. It reminds me I must get around to organising my terrain, to see how much I have stored away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While investments in terrain are rarely misplaced, it dopes become increasing easy to forget exactly what you have on hand!

      Delete
  3. Quite a good review on a company of interest. Indeed, at those prices......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Joe. They are well worth checking out, and trial order of $45+ for free shipping is a darned good deal!

      Delete
  4. Top looking terrain pieces Peter. The hill with the cliff is a particular beauty. Good to see some non-European plants too.
    Regards, James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, James; as I have said, I was very pleased with the quality, service, and value!

      Delete
  5. Good looking and useful hedges, need loads for ECW, I ended up making mine because I wanted messy. Sounds like great service!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ian. I have some "messy" ones, too. Overall, I prefer the very regular ones, but both have their place. Hopefully I have enough now!

      Delete
  6. Congo project? Sounds like you may be painting Khaki uniforms if you’re not careful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, but my project uses Portuguese for the Europeans! Nice practical dark blue uniforms for the tropical sun!

      Delete
  7. Seems like a good product at a reasonable price - not so common these days, so worth supporting!

    ReplyDelete