I'll add some more images of my Swiss army soon - I need to do some additional touch-up washes on them and also get a better camera, it seems. My iPhone camera is just not up to the task - I have a better one, but don't use it much; I'll have to see how well it can handle close-up shots.

For my initial batch of Swiss, I wanted to keep things simple; i.e., easily recognizable Schwyz contingents with lots of red and the obligitory white crosses. Many of these are Tumbling Dice metals, which mix in perfectly with my 1:72 plastics, including some LW Swiss Mercenaries. I base most foot figures 5-to-a-stand [3/2] 60mm x 40mm - offset so as to look denser from the front. Also saves me a singe figure per stand. Skirmishers with crossbows and handgonnes are in looser order with 3 to a stand. This feels right to me, since I think they would need a little more room to load and operate.

I haven't really even started getting into my MiniArt Swiss Pikemen and the boxes of Ultima Ratio Swiss that I picked up last year. I'll be sure to get them painted up in the colors of some other Cantons to make things look a little more varied. As for my painting style, it's pretty basic - I wish I could paint as well as is done on Paul's Bods http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/ but I have not the time or inclination; if it looks good from a couple of feet away, that's good enough for me. I may add a dark wash to bring out some detail, but I'm not doing dry brush highlighting on small scale figures like these.

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The work required to finish a plastic model varies widely.

I do not consider myself a modeller--as in, I don't really enjoy the process of cementing dozens of tiny bits together to make a plastic scale model. Now as long as the model--whether it's an aircraft, a tank, or something else--has been designed in a straightforward manner with an economy of pieces, I am OK. What drives me bonkers is when the designer breaks the model down into multitudes of itty-bitty pieces that could have been combined and molded into a single, easy-to-handle part.

This is particularly exasperating with small models in 1/72-20mm scale, since the parts are so tiny and difficult to work with. It's not an issue with most resin, metal and especially 3D printed models, as they are mostly created as a single piece, or with a couple of add-on parts. But plastic kits can be another matter, and the results vary widely.

I've fiddled with plenty of Airfix and Matchbox WWII models, and they are not too bad; some are easier to assemble than others. It's the "quick-build" versions from some manufacturers that get me thinking. I got a couple of Opel Blitzes from Pegasus that really were easy to build and for the most part, required no cement at all. The Armourfast Cromwells I recently assembled weren't too bad, but I'm not quite sure why the turret had to be broken out into five separate pieces, with four separate parts applied to the exterior that could have just been molded into the turret and made into a single part. The same goes for a couple of parts applied to the hull, which could have been molded directly into its body.

A 3D printed WWII Chaffee in 20mm scale. With some minor work, not badd. Would be even better in resin.

I have yet to try any of the Plastic Soldier Company offerings, but I looked at an assembly diagram of a truck online and it looked like the body was broken down into a half-dozen bits--something Pegasus provides as a single molded part. I guess there is "quick-build" and "relatively easy build."

I know lots of you see this as a simple rant, and I admit it is. Honestly, I think the way to go today is to get a resin 3D printer, buy some files and go to town. The end products can be beautiful and highly cost effective if you need a lot of them.

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When I had seen how long it had been since I had posted on this page, I could hardly believe it. But as one gets older, time goes by so fast it's harder to keep track, To be perfectly honest, I am blessed/cursed by having multiple interest and a number of hobbies. Every few years, the level of interest shifts between wargaming, slot cars (Scalextric), book publishing projects and home DIY projects. As a result, I may "disappear" for months (or years) at a time while I indulge my other pastimes. It is what it is, and I make no apologies. I am hoping that in a couple more years I can retire, and not burdened by daily work tasks, can spread my time out more evenly among my many areas of interest.

In any case, I have taken the last few weeks to get caught up on some much-delayed purchases. I did a similar thing last year with my slot cars, buying many of the cars that had come out since my last "buying binge." So I have sought to fill some holes in my arsenal, adding various 1/72 plastic figures and some vehicles that I felt I needed.

About halfway into this effort, I realized it would be helpful to take stock of exactly what I already had, which meant pulling dozens of boxes out of their basement shelves and going through them, making lists of what I had. Tedious, yes...but rather eye-opening, as I found a lot of things I had forgotten about, including many boxes of figures from time periods I may never find time to indulge in. The basic realization here is that I will likely never have time to paint up large Ancient Roman and Barbarian Armies, 30YW or ECW armies, or WWI armies using the boxes of figures I have. Likewise, some of the rules and reference books may have to find a new home, with the result that I can devote more time (and space) to those periods where I already have a solid start.

And I need the time. I'm pretty good as WWII tankage goes; I could use a few auxiliary vehicles (AA, armored cars, etc.) and trucks. You can never have too many trucks, I guess. A fair amount still need to be painted, as do figures--as most of the "play ready" groups I have are German and Soviet. While I have about 80 bases of 1/72 (20mm) medievals painted up, I have scads more to organize and prep as well. I also need to figure out a better way of storing my finished stuff, as the shallow cardboard shipping boxes are outliving their usefulness.

As an admitted procrastinator, the challenges ahead will not only include handling those tasks but also sorting and selling most of the figures, books and other items I will never use--probably posting them on eBay or on someplace like TMP.

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Like a lot of people over here in the States, I am lucky enough to have a decent-sized home that includes a large enough basement to accommodate my hobbies and interests, which are many. As an old advertising guy, I do have some regular freelance jobs and publishing work that I take on from time to time, and I need space to devote to these activities as well as a fairly large library that I've accumulated over the years.

Most of that work takes place in the upstairs office where I keep my better computer (still several years old) while my hobby-related web surfing and writing gets handled in the basement, where I use another PC to handle those tasks at a desk area where I can also do figure painting, research and other jobs that don't get too messy. [see the 1st photo]  One other nice thing about this space is that it allows me to multitask; if I am not listening to music or a podcast, I have our old projection TV on so I can catch a football game or some other show as I work.

Directly behind this space is my "workshop" room, where I have a modest workbench area that I use for larger-scale projects such as scenery, other items that require more room for assembly, or things that will require the use of spray-adhesive, hot-glue, spackle, flocking and other messy stuff...or the use of cutting or electric tools that just can't be accommodated at my desk. [see 2nd photo]  Though the room is big enough for most of these jobs and to hold my wargaming items, there's not a lot of extra room either - since the space is also used as a book storage overflow space and repository for Christmas decorations, as well as "the room where dad keeps all his stuff" - including all my 1:32 slot cars (Scalextric, etc.) and other models, old toys, computer equipment and other odds-and-ends.

This setup works out pretty well for just about all my hobby activities and scenery-making. [see photo 3] What I don't have is a dedicated wargames table; that would require me to take over the entire basement - and that is not about to happen any time soon. Besides, it's not as if I could leave games out for long-term play (we have a bad cat who loves to play with my stuff) - and I have portable tables that I can use with terrain boards or ground-cloths. There are other options, too: I've play-tested some rules on my workbench, and I've had some formal games with my friends upstairs in the dining room...so it's not a problem.

I've always enjoyed seeing what type of solutions that other people come up with in terms of developing a "hobby space" -  especially when limited room is an issue. It amazes me how creative some folks are at meeting those challenges. If you want to share your space, please drop us a link in the comments.

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One of the last groups I've been working on for the Medieval period is a group of Irishmen that I'll use for various engagements-- these are mostly foot soldiers, armed primarily with axes abut also with spears, glaves and other assorted pole-arms. You can see by the single base how I mount most of my foot; three in front with two in the second rank, offset between the others. The base is a pretty standard 60 x 40mm, since I mount most of my soldier on pennies, they fit perfectly on this size base, and the offset gives a thicker (though slightly less regular) appearance to the units. In a pinch, I could remove the individual  troops if needed, and the pennies offer some heft to the plastic figures. I still need to add some flags or pennants on some of these stands, though I haven't settled on any specific designs yet - if anyone has some suggestions for appropriate heraldry, please pass it on.

I cut the bases out of basswood--as I was taking the photos I noticed that the basing paint and "grass" is quite a bit darker that I thought it was--at least in comparison to the terrain boards, which I made some years ago. I'll explain a little more about how those were constructed in a future post.

I am still brushing up on my photography skills - I have cameras that are just fine for the job, but my available lighting needs help and I hope to supplement that as time goes on.  I will also be adding to this battle group very soon, as I recently acquired a package of Redbox Irishmen for the Wars of the Roses; they look very fine indeed, and should fill out this range quite nicely.  For now, I have put these in the box (to protect them from the cat) and returned to getting my work/hobby area better organized. More on that very soon.

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Having followed Henry Hyde's work and admired his dedication to the hobby for some years now, I've been looking forward to getting my hands on The Wargaming Compendium.  As everyone else has noted, it's big. Very big. But sheer size alone is not what makes this such a valuable addition to any wargamer's library. It is easily the most comprehensive book about the hobby ever produced, and takes such a thoughtful, fair-minded, friendly and fun  approach to wargaming that I feel it cannot help but attract more people to the hobby.  For this reason alone, I'd strongly urge all wargamers to contact their local library and suggest that they add this book to their collection...something that I'm sure would make Henry (as well as Pen & Sword) very happy.

Looking at the Compendium, I am so well reminded of the effect that Don Featherstone's Battles with Model Soldiers had upon me when I first found it on a library shelf many years ago—and how even those old black and white photographs stoked my imagination and interest. Henry's book really puts into perspective how far the hobby has come over the past forty to fifty years; I'm quite sure if I had seen this book when I was thirteen years old my head would have exploded!

Yes, I know some people out there are loath to approve of anything that is colorful, attractive and well-designed—preferring  the dodgy text, pasted-up layouts and fuzzy black-and-white halftones of days gone by. I get it. I have a stack of old MWANs in my basement that I still like to peruse from time to time. But as a part-time book designer and old ad guy myself, I think Henry has done a particularly fine job here—the design is attractive and tidy, the type is set at an easily-readable size, and the lack of distracting graphics allows the many color photos (which are very good) to take pride of place. For a book of this size and scope, these elements are subtle, but very important.
                   
I have to admit I was rather pleased to open the introductory chapters and see photos and descriptions of well-known wargaming books from the past—many of which are on my own bookshelf.  I'm also sure that The Wargaming Compendium will have pride of place among these other books as the years go by. That said, it is difficult to compare this new book to others that have come before, since there has really been nothing quite like it before—nothing so comprehensive, well-rounded and  exhaustive in scope.  But how could there be? Having a half-century or more of hobby history to build upon is a great help, and I'm sure Henry would agree. He has taken advantage of the sum of all that cumulative knowledge to create a book that I'm sure will remain the hobby's great reference work for many years.

In scale and intent, if nothing else, The Compendium is really a different sort of book than those memorable works produced by  Charles Grant, Peter Young or even Featherstone.  They are all products of their place and time.        

Since it will take me some days, or even weeks, to finish reading it, I will refrain from an in-depth assessment of the rules that are included in the book—specifically for gladiatorial combat, a Wild West skirmish, and horse-and-musket era battle; I know Henry likes his rules Old-School and easy to use, and I look forward to trying them out, especially the horse-and-musket rule set.
                           
In the end, I might suggest that much of the positive response to The Wargaming Compendium results from the fact that it really holds a mirror up to the hobby, and in doing so—it offers a very agreeable image. That is always a good thing.

You can add it to you bookshelf HERE.   

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