Christa Hook painting

I was very excited on Friday when the original painting of the Downshire Irish Militiaman that is on the front cover of my new book, arrived in the post. Christa Hook has done a fantastic job in painting this and the vibrant colours and layering has really given depth to the image. I can't wait to get it framed and hanging in pride of place in 'The Mess.'

Irish/ Scottish Tower House in 28mm

I've never lost my childhood fascination with castles, and after a trip to a clan reunion in Ireland a fews years back where I managed to visit a few, I was determined to try to scratch build a simple fortified tower house. I wanted to be able to use it for table top fighting in Ireland and Scotland, so something generic was what I was trying to achieve. During the 2021 lockdown in New Zealand I decided to have a crack at making one using artist board and cardboard. I did cheat a little bit by getting a resin portcullis doorway printed off at work and I bought a roll of vinyl brickwork from our local Christmas shop for the floor of the parapet. This tower is loosely based on Dunguarie Castle on the shore of Galway Bay. I may have made it a bit too big, but I had to be able to have single figures on 30mm base defending the parapet. The following is a series of photos taken through the building process. This is only stage 1, as I intend basing the tower surrounded with a barmkin (defensive wall) and a couple of out buildings, such as a stable and small forge. So this is still a work in progress.

Thanks for taking a look. Until next time.

SYW French Infantry Regiment du Dauphin

Well, the end of the year has arrived and it has certainly been interesting around the world. Sadly, many people have lost loved ones and the pandemic has affected all of us in some way. The silver lining to the lockdowns is that there have been more opportunities to delve into our hobby. That said, I still didn't get as much painting done as I had planned. I am slowly building up a couple of 28 mm SYW armies to fight each other in the Western theatre in Germany. The attached images are of the last unit I completed in 2021...the first battalion of the Regiment du Dauphin.

The figures are Front Rank and the superb flags are from GMB. Wishing everyone a safe and happy 2022. Until next time.

New book - British Army in Ireland, 1793-1815

I'm very proud to announce that my latest book, 'Rebellion, Invasion and Occupation: The British Army in Ireland, 1793-1815,' (published by Helion and Company in the UK) has finally been released. Covid has certainly played a part in the delay, but hopefully readers will find it interesting and that it fills a gap in the historiography of the period. It's based on my MA thesis, but minus all the academic argument which would have bored the general reader. Helion have done a great job with the maps and Christa Hook has made a superb job of the cover artwork...which I have managed to purchase off her to adorn a wall in my wargaming room, 'The Mess.' In the appendices I've also added orders of battle for the main engagements, along with uniform details for the Irish Militia, yeomanry and fencibles. For those interested, it can be purchased online directly from Helion and Company (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/rebellion-invasion-and-occupation-the-british-army-in-ireland-1793-1815.php?sid=a817cf0c9182597c57c77ceaee78b0a1), or via the Book Depository or Amazon. It appears that W.H. Smith will also be stocking it for High Street purchasing in the UK.

SYW British Cobham's 10th Dragoons

I've had these 28mm Front Rank British SYW Cobham's 10th Dragoons waiting to be finished for some time...I think I undercoated them last Christmas! However, they are finally finished and ready to parade with the force I'm slowly putting together for my Seven Years War and '45 Projects. Along with Lord Mark Kerr's 11th Dragoons, Cobham's 10th Dragoons played a prominent part in the defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden, out flanking the enemy and ruthlessly pursuing Prince Charles's army when it routed.

Although I like the detail of Front Rank figures, which make them easy to paint, these dragoons in the rest pose are not as dynamic as the Flags of War SYW British dragoons that I currently have undercoated. I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare once painted. As ususal, I have used a GMB flag for this unit. Thanks for taking a look. Until next time.

FIW Virginia Provincials

It is with some shame that I post these images of my latest unit to be dispatched from my painting table. I had these Warlord 28mm Provincials undercoated way back in the Christmas holidays, but it is only now that I finally got around to finishing them. The blokes who I game with (the Southern Strategists League of Gentlemen Wargamers) here in Christchurch are big on skirmish games, so that is why I have based these individually. I also have a similar sized unit of Warlord Highland infantry that was undercoated at the same time still waiting for completion. Maybe now that New Zealand is back in Level 4 Lockdown I will get a chance to polish these off as well.

Medieval 3D Buildings Project

In continuation of a push to increase my 28mm terrain stock, a few months back I took the opportunity of utilizing the new 3D printers at work to produce a couple of medieval European buildings. I snaffled the files free from Thingiverse and the good staff who operate these modern marvels kindly printed them off for me. The townhouse and tavern/ hall were just what I was looking for to use as multi-period pieces. The printing wasn't perfect and I've had to use a bit of filler here and there when basing these up, but I'm happy with the way they've turned out. There was a muck up with the sizing of the townhouse roof piece, so I ended up making my own using polystyrene, Balsa wood and cardboard. You can tell when you have a closer look. I think these will see lots of action in my medieval, English Civil War and Seven Years War battles.

Thanks for taking a look.