Tunnies Terrain Trees

Hello There! I have recently been asked about the Trees that I supply from my business. These include various sizes of items intended for a number of scales. However the question, 'How big shold a tree be?' means that they could be used equally well for a number of figure sizes.

Here are the largest trees in the range. As with all in the range they are made using Woodland Scenics products. Clump foliage is soaked in PVA and water then glued to armatures which have a larger base. When dry the clump foliage is airbrushed a lighter yellow/green shade to represent reflected sunlight.

For scale some Perry's mounted and dismounted Confederate cavalry are shown. I have used similar for wargaming purposes over a number of years now and am happy to say these items are much more 'wargamer proof' than many of the other items on the market. 

I have found by painful experience that the only part of clump foliage that will stay glued to a tree is the part that is physically touching the adhesive. Over a period of time that clump foliage just ends up in the bottom of the box that you are using to store said trees!

The materials from our Railway modelling brothers use the same materials but their hobby is set up in a loft space or a club and does not need to be transported from home to club and back again or repeatedly set up then put away again. this means that wargaming products need to be much more harder wearing.

The above are priced between £14 and £16 plus postage.

These are the next part of the range. Again, using Woodland Scenics products, these conifer trees can be used for 10mm sized figures upwards. Based on two pence pieces this provides a bit of weight to stop them toppling over.

They are priced Small - £2.75 each, Medium - £3.25 each and Large - £3.75

Here are the deciduous versions made in the same way. The prices are the same as for the conifers.

Please contact me through this blog if you are interested in making a purchase.

A New DVD for me! 'The Duellists'

Hello again. In line with the eclectic style of this blog I have a recommendation for any Napoleonic wargamer.

After a comment off the cuff with a wargaming colleague at my wargaming club I mentioned the above film. It occurred to me that I had not seen this film on the television for years, probably decades even. I remember as a young child seeing this film and it fuelled an already growing interest in military history which was living through constant loans from the local library.

Please excuse the poor picture as the reflective cover on this DVD box was a major challenge for my poor photography skills!

I took the opportunity to purchase this film on DVD and the first chance to watch it. For the first time in years I was able to just sit and watch this film without a tablefull of figures calling to me to paint them! I must have been looking forward to watching it?

Directed by Ridley Scott the film maintains a true 'Napoleonic' flavour. Wonderful uniforms and dramatic action, although I wish it had included a cavalry charge.

However the atmospheric scenes from the Retreat from Moscow makes up for this and you feel cold too!

Filled with accomplished British actors it also includes a number of metaphors for the period.

The last shot of a defeated and brooding Harvey Keitel looking over the French countryside wearing a bicorn hat in the style of Napoleon himself easily transferred to the 'great' man himself.

I can highly recommend this film to anyone interested in the Napoleonic wars with the caveat that the resulting interest in wargaming may seriously damage your wealth! 

Refight of Waterloo

This refight recently took place at the New Buckenham Historical Wargames Club. Here are a few pictures from the games preperations.

Here is a picture of the clubs version of Hougoumont. The buildings are from Hovels while the garden and the trees to the right are made by me. I searched the internet for some illustrations of the garden here and on a visit to the battlefield had a close look at the area covered. I took a pen drawing of the garden made just after the battle. I hoped it was a true representation!

I also had to keep the overall size to a minimum as the footprint of the total model could be overwhelming for the table.

Here are two further close ups of the garden manned by Nassauers.

On the other side of the building defenders made the most of the walled cover. The garden patch in the top picture is also an addition by myself. It consists of rows of cabbages and other crops.

On the far side of this bastion the French advanced around the far flank with a combined cavalry and artillery force.

In front of these advancing troops the British  awaited their fate.

In the middle of the battle field the British defenders had blockaded the main road next to the clubs representation of La Haie Sante and Pictons troops look at the oncoming attack by D'Erlon. The French Grande Battery can just be seen. Having visited the battlefield and seen the crest that the French sited their guns this is a fair view.

The British commander and staff look on at the preparations and positions.

Here are some pictures of the 'Fluff', as people at the club say. These are all behind the French lines and are various manufacturers.

An impressive view of the Guard waiting for the order to advance.

A closer view of part of D'Erlons Corps arrayed behind the Grande Battery.

The Emperors Coach awaits its owners.

The final picture is the start of the British artillery.

Further pictures can be viewed here

Southwold Visit

On a visit to Southwold I found this plaque on one of the buildings in the town. The building was the headquarters for the British forces during the period of the Dutch war 1665 - 1672.

The Battle of Sole Bay took place off Southwold. There is a 'Sailors Museum' further down the street, overlooking the sea, which also has a number of naval exhibits. Although set in a small room it is packed with naval and nautical memorabelia.

The building itself has a small memorial to the event.

From the outside it is a very unassuming building but has a great history.

Table Top Teaser, The Bridge at Kronstadt

Hello Again! Here is a game Adrian and I played in January. With a mutually free day between us Adrian arranged a scenario and put on a 'Sun King' game.

The scenario came from issue two of Battlegames magazine. The table top teaser, 'The Bridge at Kronstadt' is a bridge demolition scenario where one side was to hold off a larger advancing force from a bridge while the defenders retired over the bridge before destroying it.

Without this prior knowledge I took the attacking side, the far side of the table on the above picture, and wanted to try and advance as quickly as possible as the attacking forces were very large and they needed the space to deploy.

The opposition held a screen of defence across the bridge extending out to either flank. The defenders had their cavalry force on their left which they used to great effect to prevent the attackers deployment.

Ahead of the defenders line stood an artillery unit behind gabions. This also  caused problems on the day!

As the attackers filed onto the table they began to be threatened by the enemies cavalry which deployed well forward.

The defenders unit, screening the bridge approach looked on at the deployment problems of the enemy.

A large cavalry battle ensued which slowed any further attacking deployment. The battle swung to and fro. Eventually the defenders were driven back and the attackers neared the defence line.

As the cavalry battle progressed the defence line masking the bridge came into sight.

A small contingent of cavalry managed to reach the defensive screen but to no avail as they soon bounced off the defenders.

The attackers passed the forward artillery battery and continued forward.

The attackers forward line continued advancing but as per the original scenario the defending forces had plenty of time to withdraw and demolish the bridge.

This was an exciting scenario and I feel it is well worth flicking through old editions of Battlegames magazine for further Table Top Teasers. In this case this provided an absorbing game with both sides able to claim honours well divided and enjoyable.