Fathers Day came and went several weeks ago here in Godzone – aka New Zealand. von Peter himself managed to obtain two hobby related items. Undoubtedly The dear readership are desperate to hear what those two hobby related items were so …
Hobby item #1: Murat’s Army. Spotted on an email from Naval & Military Press for the princely sum of £3.99. What could go wrong? Oh yeah …. the £6.35 postage from the UK to New Zealand! Bought as a curiosity really. The official blurb …
Although its crown was initially given to Joseph Bonaparte, the brief history of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Naples will be forever best associated with the reign of King Joachim Murat, Napoleon`s famous and flamboyant cavalry commander, from 1808 to 1815. Known more for the splendour of its uniforms than the achievements of its troops, Naples under Murat nevertheless became a major, if short-lived, player on the Italian Peninsula.
This book is based around a series of 99 plates from the work of the military illustrator Henri Boisselier covering the army and navy of the Kingdom of Naples, reproduced with the kind permission of the Anne S.K. Brown Collection. Each plate is accompanied by a commentary on the figure, comparing Boisselier’s depiction with the actual state of the army at the date of their portrayal. The accompanying text details the strength of each corps of the army (royal guard, infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, command and staff officers, and civilian para-military organizations) including uniform details, badges of rank, inter-company distinctions, flags and standards. The battle history of the units is also recounted, along with a brief history of the kingdom.
Hobby item #2: Young Oak/Beech Trees x 4. These are 4Ground Trees that you can’t actually get direct from 4Ground currently. There have been corporate machinations and 4Ground are currently rebuilding themselves and their website. von Peter himself has a taste for the 4Ground trees and not seeing them on the new website he enquired as to their potential future availability and received the polite reply …
“Thank you for your enquiry. We are not currently selling the trees, but hope to be selling them again in the near future”.
4Ground may not be selling the trees but Mighty Ape here in New Zealand are as they still had some stock. Fortuitously von Peter himself had a discount voucher for the Ape and so the trees were got.
A table for Christmas perhaps
For those looking to get organised early for Christmas then perhaps the Hobby/Game Table from Deep-Cut Studio will provide that loving gift.
The blurb explains …
Hobby / game table in a most purified form. It serves as a standard house furniture in a size of a dining table, yet transforms into a functional hobby area in a simplest way possible. You can enjoy your activities, close the lids when you are done without having to tidy up and resume from where you left later on.
– Manufactured from recycled laminated A grade plywood. Weights over 40 kg (80 lbs), which makes it exceptionally sturdy and robust
– Size: 112 x 142 cm ( 44 x 56 inches) surface, 83 cm ( 33 inches) height to upper tabletop and 70 cm ( 28 inches) height to bottom
– Special upper tabletop construction grants stable surface, smooth connection of both halves and does not allow dirt or crumbles fall into the inner area
– Upper tabletop halves easily taken off without excessive use of strength and stored in a specially designed space under the tabletop. These halves can be hidden completely behind the inner surface or serve as extra space for any activity, private area or as shelves for additional or temporary materials, manuals, etc.
– Transforms into a table with 91,5 x 122 cm (36 x 48 inches or 3×4 feet ) inner surface dimensions, 10 cm ( 4 inches) deep
– Sold unassembled and grants the joy of putting it together with all the parts, tools and manual included. Challenge rating: low, fun factor: rewarding
– Available in black or white laminate colours
– Same or next day dispatch, delivery in 4-5 days to EU
Available in white or black and currently priced at 490.00€.
Too small for the games von Peter himself likes to play so he will be passing. Others may find it more to their liking. And thanks to Deep-Cut Studio for unknowingly supplying the photos.
What’s happening at Front Rank Figurines?
It seems like aeons since Front Rank Figurine’s last release. That was the latest in their later Napoleonic Prussian range – Generals & Staff. Since then all has been quiet with the News section of the Front Rank site giving no clue as to what the future might hold. Happily the friendly folks over at the Lead Adventure Forum have provided a whiff of what may be in the Front Rank future as collateral damage in this thread. The important wording is …
Hi James,
Hope all is well with you, yes there is truth in the rumour I have been working on Brunswickers however it seems like I get less and less time to do designing so they are taking a while, I may have the first releases available during the Autumn/winter.
What’s not happening at Front Rank Figurines?
As an aside please note that von Peter himself does not want to say that the Front Rank Generals & Staff are the last release in their Prussian range. Where are the limbers and caissons that a dedicated collector of Napoleonic Prussians would desire? Of course the same question could be asked of Front Rank regarding their Austrians, Russians etc. Without actually checking – a simple case of idleness – it seems that only the French & British are provided with such luxuries which surely is not fair, right or even equitable. von Peter himself suspects that the problem is that the anticipated sales of Austrian, Russian etc limbers and caissons are not anticipated to reach the level required to make their creation and sale economically viable.
Whatever the reason von Peter himself pines for limbers and caissons for his Napoleonic Russian and Austrian armies both of which are mostly provisioned using Front Rank figures. Perry Miniature’s limbers and caissons are an obvious alternative but are too small and slight in the eyes of von Peter himself to be a suitable match.
Of course for the Prussians Calpe Miniatures can provide limbers and caissons – and obviously the rest of the Prussian Army 😀 – in a similar style and heft to the Front Rankers.
Above: life really is easier with limbers! “Forward By Bricole!” by Keith Rocco
Jimbibblieblog Plancenoit
What better way to end but with another miniature architectural marvel from Jimbibblyblog / Oshiro Models. This time it’s a Plancenoit. Check your history of the Battle of Waterloo if this means nothing to The dear reader. What could be more soothing than the wonderful model of a place of mighty endeavour and no little carnage?!
See Plancenoit for many more pictures of the models – there are two pieces that can be arranged together in several ways or individually – as well as some words on the church.
The two photos from the Jimbibblyblog blog.
Enough.
Until we meet again …
Salute
von Peter himself
Above: My co-gamers as they appeared in September 2006. Murray (fellow Allied commander) mingling with Rhys and Roly (French hooligans both). Very deliberately there is no clicking through to a larger image for this picture. von Peter himself has a humanitarian side after all!! Absolutely no one benefits from the inclusion of this image but it tickles von Peter’s fancy to include it 😃