“CETERUM CENSEO 

CARTHAGINEM 

ESSE DELENDAM”

However, I think that Carthage should be destroyed

April 3rd 2021. Holydays essentials: nice weather, cheerfulness and a merry wargame.

A pitched battle between Rome and Carthage can’t go wrong. The setup, the same as the recent on-line game from Dirk, only a week and a half ago. Read; Rome for France and Carthage for the Saxons. No artillery pieces and a (slightly) different set of rules, About Caesar was used in favour of the ancient plastics. 

Photographs below are not in chronological order. Hat figures were used but both generals (Britains) and the Roman Staff officer (Reamsa).

the Bengal Lancers relieve force..

A few weeks ago I launched a request for Airfix or Del Prado Bengal Lancer 54mm figures. This iconic 54mm figure from the historics series of the British firm, was never in my hands before but always had this appealing grasp on me. Now, building several field forces for the North West frontier and British India in general, my urge to own some, revived again.

In the Netherlands, where I reside, this question was put forward in several media concerning toy soldiering.

A reaction from a 83 years young, former modelling enthousiast, only reached me about a week ago.

Here’s what he send me, arrived today:

Some twenty pieces, some customised very nice and precise. Fabulous painting. A sourcebook by Osprey and some metal foot figures along with a load of plastic Airfix and Historex parts. 

It’s my Happy Easter present.

Napoleonic "Corona online" game in 54mm :1806 battle French against Saxons

Inspired by Nick and my friends of the Stipsicz-Hussars. I made a first test with players attending by a Messenger meeting. As Marcel from the Netherlands attended, it became even an international game. Apart from Marcel, Steven and Siegfried were present. To avoid to lose time working with a ruler, I did add "dots" on the carpet replacing hexagones. The dots being seperated by more or less 22 cm.

Each side had 6 units of infantry, one artillery battery and two units od medium cavalery.a general and 4 offiers. All the french were veterans, and had had one unit of légér, also one aide de camps. Marcel took the lead The Saxons had one unt of grenadier - veteran and Leibgarde grenadiers being elite. Steven decided to lead the Saxons The Saxons defended a crossroad with village.

The game started with Marcel advancing his first row line infantry in an oblique move to his left. The leger unit advanced on the village in skimish. Also the French dragoons avanced slowly. The advancing French lin infantry started to take some casualties from musketry and artillery fire, then swithced to line formation. The second row of line infantry also advanced. Fearing the effect of the leger unit on his infantry in the village, steven moved his grenadiers to the left. By now, the french line infantry also started with musketry, als inflicting casulaties on saxon line infantry. Then, Steven saw the moment come to lauch a cavalery attack with his cheveaux leger regiments. The French dragoons failed to counter charge, so it looked Stevens' moment had come. However this turned horribly wrong. Only inflicting one casualty, and receiving three, his charging unit was destroyed , his attached officer also lost. Also his charging infantry was thrown back. Suddenly Stevens' right flank was in deep trouble, his reserves being on his left flank. Now the French attacked. The Saxon chevaux leger stood firm, but lost half his stength. But Steven lost one unit of line infantry. To avoid distruction of his force, Steven had to admit the battle was lost and retreat was the only option. A two hour game, everyone very happy to have able to do a wargame. Marcel's view

A Few More Alamo Photos

 If you'll indulge me, my friend Alan sent me some very nice photos of the Alamo game taken with his digital camera. He was able to get close up to the action in some shots.