The Constantinov Regiment

Whilst I have, for the most part, 'moth-balled' my Classic Wargaming collection over the past few years, occasionally I get the urge to dip back into it. This normally happens when I catch a glimpse of "Charge!" on my bookshelf, or when I'm in email correspondence about the hobby and nostalgic thoughts of simpler times are opened up.

Recently, when this happened, I decided to finish up a regiment that has been in a 'work-in-progress' box for quite some time.

I did the first company of this regiment many years ago. I always intended it to be just a 2-company regiment, so I have no idea what took me so long coming back to it.

But, anyway, such is the life of the wargamer.

Without further ado, I present The Constantinov Regiment, comprising two 'Charge-style' companies, a CO and standard bearer, all from the Stadden range of figures. The Colonel is the Poniatowski figure, if I remember correctly. The flag is hand painted on aluminium sheet.

These pictures are merely quick 'snaps' on the workbench, and in due course I will take proper photos of the regiment in action on the tabletop of course.

I also have a couple of cavalry regiments that are in the stockpile for the next time I want to dip back to the Classic Collection... which may be sooner than one might imagine...

Until then, all the very best

Sittangbad - the layout that launched a thousand games

Last weekend, as many of you will know, Laurence and Tricks celebrated the many Partizan wargame shows by sharing, along with others, many photos and other 'stuff' from the past. You see, it was due to be the Partizan show on Sunday, but of course...

Henry Hyde did a mammoth video piece on YouTube all about the Sittangbad and Mollwitz games we created and displayed in 2006 and 2007 at Partizan.

It got me all misty eyed, particularly about the Sittangbad layout.
In many ways, it was the terrain design that launched a thousand games since then.

I remember coming up with the design, the green boards, the place on terrain, and so on, and wondering what the Wargames world would think of it.
Up till that point, whilst I had held this vision in my head for quite some time, there wasn't really a 'classic' / 'old school'  look out there.
I'm delighted that this particular vision has been taken on and seems to be the 'go to' look for bloggers in the old school genre.

The full story of the Sittangbad game was on my old Warcabinet website where I did regular updates which were the. Collated into an article for Battlegames magazine.
If you'd like the shortened version, click on the Sittangbad tab above and go to that page.

Enjoy!

Tribute to Stuart Asquith

Whilst it is not news that we have recently lost one of the hobby's best-known figures this past week, I thought it would be appropriate to add my own tribute to Stuart Asquith here, following the numerous others that have appeared on the various blogs and forums that make up the online wargaming community.

For many years, like so many others, I had been aware of Stuart, always admiring his writings and his 'take' on the hobby, and especially his editorship of Practical Wargaming. It wasn't until 2007 that I met him for the first time when we did the refight of The Battle of Mollwitz (see the page set aside on this blog for this event).

Following the demo game of Mollwitz, Stuart and I stayed in touch, but it wasn't until 2009 that we met again in person. This was a weekend of wargaming that is pretty well unrivalled... we began with a refight of the battle of Minden, on the 250th anniversary of the battle (1st August), hosted by Charles S Grant at his home in Perthshire.


Above: Stuart and Charles with Minden set up in Charles' wargames room, August 2009.

The following day saw us all attend the Claymore Wargaming show in Edinburgh. Then on the Sunday, Stuart and Charles both visited my home for dinner, with their respective wives. Between courses we sneaked off to my wargaming room to peruse the shelves and talk hobby.


Stuart was good enough to sign a few copies of the many books of his on my shelves, along with some issues of Practical Wargamer.

In the years that followed, Stuart and I maintained a steady correspondence of letters, emails and phone conversations, sometimes of quite some length. Stuart was always ready with a fresh idea, or a point of interest from his vast experience in the hobby. And it wasn't just hobby stuff we discussed. Stuart was so proud of his family and they were always foremost in his mind.

When I began the Classic Wargamer's Journal in 2010, Stuart was in the vanguard of support, submitting articles and encouragement. It was very kind of him to provide material for the fledgling CWJ venture, and it was support that I really appreciated. Notably, in volume 1 issue 1, he was my castaway for the regular feature, Desert Island Wargaming. I was delighted that he agreed to do this, and the article makes very interesting, and revealing reading. I wasn't aware, until that point, of his fixation with the 1066 campaign, or Warrior Miniatures, for example. I may reproduce the article here in due course for those who haven't seen it.
Of course, we all know his primary love in his later years was for the 54mm figure, and Britains in particular.

In my cabinets, I have a few individual figures from wargaming luminaries, and during our years of correspondence, Stuart kindly gave me one of his own... a lovely Stadden hussar officer to add to my collection of sundry officers, ADCs, and the like.


Of course, now in particular, this is a treasured possession.

Stuart often spoke of how he had created a new life for himself and Beryl in the Cotswolds, or "leafy Gloucestershire" as he called it. He was immensely proud of this life, and of the fact that he had time to contribute to the local community. He loved Northleach dearly, and we often mused when I lived in Scotland that one day I would visit and we'd enjoy a lunch at one of the tempting hostelries in the village. That never happened, sadly. However, ironically, I did get to see Stuart only a few weeks ago, in Northleach at the Cotswold Wargames Show, hosted by Keith Flint. A good day was had, and here Stuart is presenting myself and Steve Gill an award during the prize-giving. It was especially important to see Stuart and Steve's acquaintance thrive again as they had corresponded for many years and had met up a lot over that time.


I hadn't really been in touch with Stuart for a couple of years at that point (in fact, we had last spoken at length on the telephone about an article he had had published on wargaming The Back of Beyond, amongst other topics), but I'm so glad we had one last chance to chat over the tabletop at Northleach. 

He will be missed by many in the hobby, myself included.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and those who were probably closer to him than I.
No longer will "the Emperor and Elector be at odds" on Stuart's wargames table. But up there, somewhere, along with the likes of Featherstone, Grant snr, and Peter Young, there will be a terrific game taking place.

RIP Stuart Asquith.

Blasthof 50th Anniversary

The immortal words:
"You must destroy the bridge at Blasthof. Failing that, you must prevent it's capture by the Imperial Army until nightfall on 26th September 1767."
Orders given to Soubise, "Charge!" Page 29.



Now, I've no idea whether the game was played on 26th September 1967, but the little I know and have gleaned of the Brigadier's nature suggests to me that it may well have been that date.
And so, today is possibly/ probably/ almost certainly the 50th Anniversary of the Action at Blasthof Bridge.

Raise a glass...

 

A Treasured Letter

I never met him.
But, a couple of years ago, when I produced The Classic Wargamer's Journal, I received a personal hand-written letter from him congratulating me, and encouraging my efforts, and saying how pleased he was to receive the journal.
It's correspondence I will treasure.

You know who I'm talking about of course.

All any of us can wish for is to live a life that is significant.
And the legacy we leave is testimony enough to that.

Do not mourn that Don Featherstone has passed away.
Do not mourn his death.

Celebrate his life.
And give thanks for his significant legacy.

Paint a figure. Read one of his books. Have a game. Or simply raise a glass.
That's what Don would have done; I'm sure of it.

Gallery page added

In order to put a few pictures of my favourite Classic Wargaming units into one place, for ease of reference for visitors to the blog, I have created a Gallery page... see navigation bar above.

 

Toy soldiery, marching about. What's not to like?!

Thank you to those who have commented on this flurry of posts and updated pages of late. Your interest and friendship is most valued.
Best regards.

Phil
 

Spurlash Down

Here is an action played out as a Demo Game at Claymore in 2010.
It was one of the most enjoyable day's wargaming I've ever had - a small, simple, engaging little scenario. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is a perfect scenario to aim for if you are starting out building two balanced Classic armies of Horse, Foot and Guns.

See navigation bar, and click to go to the full report...

There's still more to come over the days ahead...