Lest we forget

This week there are remembrance days in whole Europe, the Commonwealth and the United State. The beginning was yesterday Commonwealth Remembrance day, today is Veteran's Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Belgium and France and next Sunday will be Volkstrauertag in Germany. No matter which actual day it is, for us all a chance to think of those who gave their lives to create the freedom we're all make use of day by day:

 

We are blessed that our generation doesn't have to undergo the cataclysmic horrors of the wars that devastated our continent a hundred years and again seventy years ago. We grew up in a time of understanding and cohesion. We experience this every day when we exchange email, blog entries or Facebook posts with kindred spirits cross-border. In my view this is a result of the combined efforts of the so-called 'free world' and thus let me take a moment to mention all those who gave their lives to afford us this luxury.

Lest we forget !

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

Ronald Reagan

Monty on tour: Crisis 2015 (2) - Gorgeous tables and charming encounters

Missed part 1 of my review?

Look here.

 

Of course our table wasn't the only one in Antwerp. This year the show was again larger than the year before and there were countless clubs bringing excellent table for nearly each and every period and kind of warfare. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take pictures of all the tables and unfortunately not all the pictures I took turned out well but here's a small selection that might give you an idea how many efforts our hobby fellow put into their boards:

30-years-war in 20mm from the Hamburg Tactica club

Alde Garde with 28mm 9-years-war

20mm Operation Market Garden

A view to one of the landing zones.

Monty on tour: Crisis 2015 (1) - Our Plancenoit game

What a weekend! What a show!

Last weekend Crisis 2015 in Antwerp took place and the organisers from the Tin Soldiers of Antwerp performed an excellent job once more. The show itself was organised as perfect as ever and it seems that it has grown once again. The selection of traders and clubs who gave themselves the honour of occuring there was even better than the years before. Although some traders avoided the journey to Antwerp their places where taken by interesting newcomers without loss of quality.

Once again yours truly had the chance to be part of the show again since our club was presenting the Plancenoit game we've been preparing for more than a year under guidance of my chaps Bernhard and Holger. Alltogether we had a L-shaped table of about 5m x 4m on which we created the small village where French and Prussians clashed in June 1815.

The table in all its finery. Please ignore the folder on the field on the right.

We employed more than two dozens of buildings and roughly 1,500 figures to recreate this epic afternoon. Everaything is in 28mm scale and most figures are from the ranges of Perry Miniatures, Calpe and Front Rank.

The centre of the battlefield: The church of Plancenoit.

The buildings were a mixture from different manufacturers or buildings. Some are from Grand Manner's and Hovels's excellent ranges and some from a WW2 range with pre-painted buildings. Unfortunately I don't remember the company that made them. Some buildings came from a Canadian modeller who is specialised on 28mm wargaming buildings, others were made from MDF kits and two were built from the scratch by our club's most talented architect Michael. Yours truly was lucky enough to contribute two ruins from Stronghold Terrain and a converted estate by Grand Manner.

A wonderful vignette by our fellow Michael.

Crisis coming! Estate finished... Finally!

Two days until Crisis 2015... Huzzah!

Yours truly is keen on this show. A trip with some good friends, good Belgian beer and the most important wargames show on the European continent. I'm really looking forward to see some chaps from the UK who are coming over. Mostly traders but some other hobby fellows as well.

As I mentioned a couple of time before our club is preparing a 28mm game featuring the battle of Plancenoit meaning the Prussian advance towards Waterloo in June 1815. Since neither Prussians nor French are my cup of Napoleonic tea I agreed to prepare a couple of buildings for the table. Now I finished the largest one... Finally:

The model itself is by Grand Manner. A wonderful piece from Dave Bodleys gifted hands but rather too modern since it came from his WW2 range. Thus I removed some parts of the estate as mentioned earlier here.

Last weekend I painted roofs and sealed my humble work with two coats of varnish. Afterall I'm really satisfied with the result. It was an excellent chance to improve my building skills and thus I'm planning to make more terrain during winter time.

In case that you'll be in Antwerp please let me know or just come by our table. We'll be near the main entrance just behind Magister Militum and Caliver Books.

Santa's Little Helper (2) - Ideas for 'Secret Santa' venture

My apologise for the absence of my usually regular weekend update. I'm still working on the Plancenoit houses and since Crisis will take place at the next weekend I'm in a rush now. Thus I didn't manage to take photos and post them here. I'll catch up on that later.

But besides the upcoming show there's another thing occupying my mind. As last year I'm participating in the 'Santa Clause' campaing as well as in the 'Secret Santa' venture run bei Ian and his dear wife Cath. The latter asked us participants to post some kind of whish list to help our generous donor. Thus here's what yours truly might be in need of: