Monthly Archives: January 2012

Is history important?

No matter how entertaining I find history, I wrestle with the idea that I should find history important. I enjoy history as a pursuit, as an entertainment. I love reading historical books, researching my armies, watching historical movies etc etc. … Continue reading

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Filed under Thoughts of the day

Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men

I’m begging you to vote for my son’s entry in a competition on our national news website to design a costume to wear at the forthcoming Rugby Sevens tournament in Wellington! Oli and his mates designed and sewed costumes depicting … Continue reading

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‘Colonial New Zealand Wars’ book seeking good home

Over the weekend I bought a first edition Colonial New Zealand Wars book in an online auction at a very reasonable price.   I actually already own a copy of this book,  so I bought it purely to pass it on … Continue reading

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Filed under Books, Colonial New Zealand Wars

Toying with ‘toi-tois’

A Māori warrior brandishes his weapon from a grove of toitoi bushes. This is another progress shot of my work on my New Zealand plant terrain.  I think that it is starting to really get the look of the New Zealand … Continue reading

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Filed under Colonial New Zealand Wars, Empress Miniatures, Terrain

YouTube on making New Zealand trees

Here is a YouTube clip from Graeme, the maker of the New Zealand plant kits: I was fascinated to see his laser cutter in action.  But, more importantly, the video shows how you roll the leaves.  I should’ve watched this … Continue reading

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Filed under Colonial New Zealand Wars, Terrain

Pictures of a New Zealand Wars scene with my plants

Here’s some photos of my first experiments with the New Zealand tree kits I mentioned in my previous posting.  Posed with the Perry farmhouse and an Empress civilian, I think the scene looks very … well … New Zealandish! So … Continue reading

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Filed under Colonial New Zealand Wars, Empress Miniatures, Perry Miniatures, Terrain

New Zealand tree kits available

Further to my posting yesterday about an excellent range of New Zealand trees for use in NZ Wars wargames, I’ve bought some more, this time in kit version. These Right Track kits are available for sale to New Zealand buyers … Continue reading

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Filed under Colonial New Zealand Wars, Terrain

Excellent range of New Zealand trees

One trouble with wargaming the New Zealand Wars is that the bush in New Zealand has so many different plants from those found in other countries.  To add a real kiwi flavour to such games, you need to have at … Continue reading

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Filed under Colonial New Zealand Wars, Empress Miniatures, Terrain

Why does my painting look so terrible in photos?

I’ve noticed for a while now that when I photograph my figures, they look terrible.  The detail looks like it was painted on by a real ham-fist, the shading is blotchy, and the overall job looks messy.  This despite my … Continue reading

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Filed under Foundry, Napoleonics, Warlord Games

Napoleonic naval landing party of sailors and marines

Lt Oratorio Porngrower RN (left) leads ashore a party of sailors and marines.   Keeping up with my return to painting ‘Big Men’ to lead my troops in skirmish games using the Too Fat Lardies’ Sharp Practice rules, I’ve just completed … Continue reading

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Filed under Brigade Games, Britannia Miniatures, Foundry, Napoleonics