Commando Comics with a Napoleonic theme.....

Earlier I posted about a Commando Comic called The Regimental Spoon. There followed some comments on this Blog and so after searching through the attic, I have put together this montage.

Each one is either fully set in the Napoleonic Wars or has a foothold in the Napoleonic Wars.

One of the earliest I have is Turncoat (No. 2825) which is surprisingly well illustrated.

The Indestructibles (No. 3631) follows the Renshire Rifle Brigade from the Napoleonic Wars through to WW2.

Days of Daring (No. 3765) and Return to Duty (No. 3770) follow the adventures of Luke Benson and his Cousin through the Peninsular War. Possibly the best of the Napoleonic Commando stories and very difficult to find!

Deadly Deception (No. 3978) and Retreat to Victory (No. 3985) another two-parter starts in Spain and travels across Europe to the outskirts of Moscow.

King of the Mountain (No. 4074) it is difficult to comment on this story without giving too much away. Read it and see what you think.

The Fighting Brothers (No. 4146) sees some battling brothers from Switzerland enroll in the army of Napoleon, another well illustrated comic.

The Regimental Spoon (No. 4579) has already been featured on this Blog. here but I thought it was worth posting these images and summaries.

Tony

Birthday Books.....

In addition to two birthday cakes, a Polo shirt (Holly), a giant tub of sherbet filled flying saucers (Gary and Beckie) and loads (I mean loads) of sweets and chocolates, I had this selection of books and magazines for my birthday. At heart I'm still a big kid!

Hobby Japan and Toys & Models from Holly in Thailand with the three smaller books from Sue.

The Immortality Engine is another by George Mann. I read the first book The Affinity Bridge some time ago. Once again a gift from Sue.

Mum has sent me a practical knife sharpener and a voucher for WHSmiths. I'm sure I will find something to buy with the voucher!!! While my Mother-in-Law, Flo bought me another practical gift of M&S jeans.

The day has started slowly, there was some snow last night and it is still very cold. This evening Sue and I are going out for a Curry and Skittles night - a big grudge match in Worcester.

Tony

Building Wargaming Terrain - update

Work on my book - How to build Wargame Terrain continues. This weekend I spent ages, converting the articles and page layouts to PDF format. I am now amending the layout and checking the text prior to having a test book produced. (Page numbering is proving a bit difficult).

The page count is now up to 98 pages with a word count over 15,000 words.

I would like to say that it is ready for viewing  but I think there is a great deal of additional work to be done before that can happen.

Currently there are thirteen chapters, with tutorials going from simple scenics to a full 'start-to-finish' structure. I will keep this Blog updated with developments, but layout and checking is taking longer than I had expected.

More soon. Hopefully very soon.

Tony

WMMS 2013 Alumwell Wargame Show - part three

Part Four shows some of the exhibition games that caught my attention or had buildings and terrain that I thought were worth recording.

Tony

Tarragin for Flash Gordon - part three

Part Three and as you can see the painting has progressed well. I found once I started painting this miniature that it moved-on very quickly. It might have been that I was listening to The Film Review with Kermode and Mayo and the time flew by.

The down side is that there are no work-in-progress shots! I have painted the body with GW Dark Blues and highlighted with Mid Blue. The rest was painted, highlighted and washed in my usual style.

The final image shows a Graven Images Cliffhanger Ming soldier alongside for comparison. I think the Exodus Wars Terragin work well with my 40mm Flash Gordon miniatures. I might have to get another one or two and build up a small squad.

In my next update, I'll have a varnished and flocked figure for you.

Tony

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I'm a little late to the party with this review. The Graveyard Book was published back in 2008, won the Carnegie Medal in 2010 and according to the internet there have already been a number of failed attempts to adapt it for the big screen. I found the paperback book at a second-hand book store in Worcester last week and thought it was worth the £1.49 asking price. How right I was.

Although targeted at  at older children, the characterisation and story were flowing and engrossing. I sped through it from-cover-to-cover in less than a week of relaxing reading.

Like many of Neil Gaiman's stories what you first expect is not what you ultimately get. He has an uncanny ability to turn the common-place upside down and have you looking at a tale from the other end - a bit like looking down the wrong end of a telescope.

It is difficult to write a review without giving away the story, the back cover has these notes;
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts.

I really enjoyed the story and was disappointing when I finished it, always the sign of a good book.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (beautifully illustrated by Chris Riddell)
Published by Bloosbury.
ISBN 978-0-7475-9480-2
List price £6.99
Further details can be found at;
www.thegraveyardbook.co.uk

Tony

WMMS 2013 Alumwell Wargame Show - part two

Part Two features displays from the IPMS and Figure Modelling clubs. For a more wargame centered report try this photo link that I have seen on Blogspot.

Tony