I played my first Napoleonic Wargame in years today... thank you Alumwell and WMMS.

I've been running this blog for ages but have not gamed for years.  That changed today :-) Hurrah 

My wargames partner died a few years ago and it took me at least two years to get painting again and I've felt odd about getting the figures out.

I know there is lots of ways to wargame but I really wanted a big Napoleonic game experience. If you look back on this site you'll find quite a few 28mm figures  I had - had painted but also sold.   I have lots of 188mm AB Figures that we used to game with.. and soon I'll use again.

But thank you WMMS and the Alumwell Show - and especially the Pheonix Wargames group for arriving with a 28mm Plancenoit participation game. 

It's why we do it.

I walked around for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could play - I loved it - four turns on the Prussian side (always been a collector of Prussians)  - fast, simple and clear club rules - and a feel for the period, plus friendly people and wonderful figures. 

Hurrah - just what we do. I had that feeling of being absorbed and sucked into what's going to happen,... it's why we game. 

So it's the first time in years. Thank you.   Here are the few pictures I took... and further down some other photos and reflections from the first proper shows of the year in the Midlands...

20mm is the true scale for WW2

I know most of the modern trends are that you game in 15mm or 28mm - but I've always thiought 20mm the perfect balance... and today reinforced that for me... 

This is the battle for Bras - part of Operation Goodwood... Rapid Fire rules... sorry I didn't catch who but a brilliant game.

Shows are for anyone to get their toys (models) out... 

It was Fab to see personal games, not just clubs....

Two stuck out for me - the first this WW2 game from a one man show - he wasn't there but his son told me this was his Dad'd hobby, he painted at home, had loads of fads and this late WW2 colelction was just one of them.  This was his yearly sharing of his passion.... 

and I loved this game of Torgau - a battle I didn't know with an incredible flank march - and those old school Minifigs - complete with blacklining and yellowing polyurethane varnish. Thanks for gthe loveley chat too. 

Printed figure companies and cast companies are becoming alike....

I noticed this company Imperator Models  that does printed figures - selling just as the traditional cast companies do...

Loved the show - thank you all.

Stephen Summerfield's Prussian Landwehr of the Napoleonic Wars - first look. - Fabulous - I'm so happy!

This is a very quick review of first impressions. The book arrived today from Ken Trotman and it's fantastic - it's gives colured illustrations of all the uniforms and gives the dates when uniforms changed and evolved, as well as details of equipment. This is exactly how uniform books should be - whether for the modeller or the wargamer.   I know it was published a few years ago, but this is my first site of it. 

Thank you Stephen and I hope you find time to publish many more of these :-) 

Buy it direct from the Publisher here:   https://kentrotman.co.uk/newbooks/prussian-landwehr-of-the-napoleonic-wars/

Here are some of his other books - and here.    I've roderd some others so will share those when they arrive.

Prussian Battle Flag from Leipzig in 1813 - Landwehr? Something Else?

I spotted this flag for sale.  It appears to have been white (or gold?) with embroidery and to have hung vertically.

The seller says it Prussian and from Leipzig in 1813 but doesn't give any explanation of why?  Does this flag ring true? Which service would it be?  More details here.

28mm Prussian Napoleonic Line Infantry - Elite or Calpe?

I wish I paid attention when I painted things (probably in 2003/4. This is a definite 1813 regiment, but I can remember which.  The Flag is a bought one and the  figures are either or Elite or I think more likely to be Calpe.  I painted them using this book.