USS Olympia

  While in Philadelphia we went to visit the USS Olympia.  This cruiser from the Spanish American war served as Admiral Dewey's  flagship at Manila Bay.

Because it was off season there were no interpretation on the ship and everything was self guided.  Much of the ship is not available to walk through . Just the main deck inside and a little top side.  But what is open is well maintained and interesting.  Best of all how often do you get a chance to walk the deck of a ship of this time period.  Very inspiring and highly recommend.

Looking forward towards the 8" gun turret

 Looking aft

5" gun

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Looking down into the engine room

Must be good to be an officer!

Museum of the American Revolution

 In planning my trip to Cold Wars this year I set aside time to visit the new Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.  I am very glad I did.

On entering on the museum there is a delightful diorama of the Battle of Trenton.  Buildings are well done as is the terrain.  The figures are collector type 54mm figures and really nicely painted.

   After paying our admission we looked about to get our bearings.  On The first floor is the book store (more later), a restaurant and a locker room where you can lead your coat and bags.  There is a introduction movie which we skipped due to the large school grouos.  Instead we moved up the stairs to the exhibit halls.

  We started by watching a movie about The history of George Washington 's tent.  It was well done and tied The tent to the museum story.  At the end the curtain lifted and you got to see The tent itself.

   The exhibit hall was well played out and progressed in a logical manner.  The pre war and rise ofrevolution.  How the American colonies went from loyal empire members to fighting for independence.  There are numerous exhibits with portraits and artifacts that complement the text. It then followed the campaigns to the end of the war.

   One outstanding item was the life size dioramas scattered throughout.  The clothing on the models are outstanding and reflex The latest research.  Clothing is well sewed and tailored.

   There are numerous portraits many of which I have never seen. While I have been a serious student of the period and the war during my time with The National Park Service I thought I was well read.   Here I saw numerous portraits and artifacts I had no idea existed.  It blew Me Away.

  One exhibit I found was a panorama painting of the British fleet in New York harbour in 1776.  Especially interesting were the barges landing soldiers.  I had seen this before.  But when blown up the details of the soldiers and The uniforms was amazing.

One of the most dramatic exhibits occurred near the end as you turn a corner.  You are confronted with members of The British Legion riding you down.  Very effective!

  Another interesting items were colors from The period.  The so called Foster flag and The Monmouth color were in display.

The museum store is very well lighted, and items placed with care. There is enough room to move about without feeling crowded. There are evan a few benches to relax on.  Items are chosen to appeal to all ages and tastes.  The selection of books is wide and broad and just outstanding.

If you get the chance to visit the MAR please do so.  The museum is outstanding.  It is well layed out, interesting and a joy to visit.  Exhibit cases are not over stuffed with items. They are carefully chosen and add to your knowledge.  For the long time student of the war there are new and exciting items.  I cannot recommend this museum enough.  It was an exciting experience and I look forward to going again.

Cold Wars 2018 part 2

 We arrived on Thursday to register and were pleasantly surprised.  The Lancaster Host has been bought by a new owner who is renovating the old building.  Yes there is construction going on.  New walls, wiring and carpets.  Rooms being given a face lift.  Next year this place will be unrecognized.

  And so too was the convention.  A new board of directors has shaken things up and improved things.  Registration was a surprise.  There was a small army of attentive volunteers who helped direct you where to go.  If you are registered there was a kiosk to print out your badge.  Next to it was a table where friendly people handed out handbags of goodies for attending.  The entire procedure took two minutes instead of the usual fourth five minutes.  Outstanding!

Old registration

New registration

  The dealers area was likewise changed.  I liked the main building for the dealers hall.  The hall was large, well lighted and bright.  Not too noisy;  you could be heard without shouting.  Plenty of room to walk and not get knocked over.  Dealers were friendly and talkative.  Very nice! No pictures, too busy to much to see!

Games were abundent.  And all looked good.  People were having fun.  Could be me but it appeared to be very few fantasy type games and more historical.

WW1 game .Great visual of a artillery bombardment.

Someone is having a bad day!

War of 1812 game.  British raid in the Chessapeak.

I really like these landing barges.

Great looking farm. I would like to add items to my table.

Beautiful 6mm game.  Italy 1859.

Beautiful Rev War game ruined by the beer bottle.

Love little details on the board.

WW2 game.  Nice terrain!

The flea market Friday night was held from 9:00 on to midnight .Again I liked the new room.  Lots of room to walk and still see everything.

  All in all a wonderful  weelend!  My compliments to management. They have improved Cold Wars. We have booked our rooms for  2019 and are looking forward to next year.

Cold Wars 2018

 

   Oh joy! Oh rapture!   Yes folks, it that time of the year again. The annual trip to Cold Wars.  This is the third of the trioka of the Historical Miniatures Gaming society's conventions.  Because it is held in the off season it usually has a slightly lower attendance then the other two events.  This translates into a calmer and more relaxed atmosphere which I like. It also does not interfere with family vacations. It is a time to indulge myself and enjoy all that is wonderful about this great hobby.  Fun, games, shopping, socializing and learning.

     Each year myself and my friend George take time off to drive down for the long weekend. We have been doing this for I cannot remember when.  This year we are leaving early (Wednesday) to get there and get settled. Then we will take in the New Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelpia for a day.  I have heard it is incredible and have been looking forward to visiting.

Mark and George on the way to Cold Wars 2018

Mounted Militia

  Ohhhhhh, shinny!!!!

   About this time last year, just before the Seven Years War convention Jim Purky of Fife and Drum Miniatures mentioned he was going to put on the Battle of Cowpens as his convention game.  He needed mounted militia for his American order of battle.  So he converted a number of figures into mounted militia. You can do this if you are talented and you own the miniature company.    They looked outstanding, and I said if he ever put them into production I would buy them.  Well, be careful what you wish for.

   Just weeks ago Jim released these new figure.  All casted and new and shinny.  And Jim's siren like voice called to me. "Look Mark, what wonderful new figures I have.  You really need these Don't you.  You just have to have these and your armies will not be complete until you have them.  And look, I made special packs at a special price."   Yup, and like a fashion model at a buffett I couldn't help myself.  In record time they were in my mail box and on my painting table .

  These are wonderful outstanding miniatures.  Each figure is very different and conveys the image of militia.  For American Rev War armies in the southern campaign 1780-81 these figures are a must have.  Many militia regiments were mounted in the South.  This gave them extra mobility and a will o the wisp quality.  In addition there were a number of regiments which acted as mounted battle cavalry. See the mounted militia at Cowpens who served with Washington's Dragoons.  These units created all kinds of problems for the Crown forces.   There extra mobility ment they could turn up where you  least expected them. If the Battle was not going well they could retreat to their mounts and escape to fight another day.  British General Charles O'Hara mentioned this as one of the reasons why fighting a conventional campaign there was doomed.  One side was playing chess the other checkers.

  In my American army I have my militia organized into brigades.  These include two battalions of infantry, one rifle and a mounted militia cavalry regiment.  I have three such brigades.  Each provides a good size command for a player and is based on a historical order of battle for the commands of Pickens, Sumter and Davies.  In addition to provide uncertainty in one off games players roll once for moral the first time a unit comes under fire.  It can then be rated regulars,  second class, militia or poor levy.  remember that militia in the South of her contained many continental soldiers, ex continental and very long term militia.  This rule  reflects the quality of militia much better historically during the campaign.

Works in progress and new paints

  March is turning into a very productive month.  My bathroom project in the basement is moving ahead great guns.  Shower and most water pipes installed and now time to put up dry wall.  But that is not why you visit here!  I am working on new regiments and have started using new paints.


  Again, after my great painting splurge of 2017 I find my self with lots of dryed out empty paint tins.  While I use craft paints for terrain, I needed to buy a great number of new paints for my present projects.  I had tried the Reaper brand of paints at the Cold Wars Hobby University and liked them.  Bottled similar to Vallejo paints they appeared to have a better quality to them. They also dry flat.  On the Fife and Drum miniatures forums William19 dang their praises and have given me a lot of advice on why he uses them.   I sent off for a bunch of colors I could use.  Reaper included a very nice box to store them in.  Good service here people.  I will be a repeats customer.   So for this year at least I am a Reaper painting fool.

  What is on my painting table?  I am working on two small regiments of mounted militia for the Rev War.  These are brand new castings from Fife and Drum miniatures.  As with all their figures these are great.  A wide variety of poses, and clothing and equipment. In other words they look like militia!

  I have also primed and started Maxwell's Grenadier battalion.  These were the Grenadier companies from the six British Minden regiments.  Again, Fife and Drum and Minden miniatures are all sculpted by the same individual.  These will fit in nicely with my mid eighteenth century armies.  While most of the figures are simple to paint, the grenadiers caps are extremely detailed and will take a lot of hard work.  But they will be a thing of beauty to behold when done.

  Oh, and the count down to leaving for  Cold Wars in March 15!

Diwrnod david sant hyfryd

   A special day for your humble blogger who celebrates his 61st birthday.   Which I will spend with a day off from work but installing a new shower and bathroom in our basement.  A long project I have been working on and now nearing competition. My present will be Later in the month with our annual visit to the Cold Wars miniature gaming convention. More to follow!  Later tonight I will be having a lovely dinner with my dear wife Janine.

To all today I wish a Happy Saint David's Day to the Welch, and to all Royal Welch Fusiliers both past and present!


1st March 1775;  This being St. David's Day the officers of the 23rd Regiment, or Royal Welch Fusiliers, dinned together according to the custom.  All the General & Staff Officers, the Admiral, and several other person's were invited to dine with the Regiment...."
From the diary of Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie.

The "custom" was on each Saint Daivid's Day following dinner the regimental goat with the drummers and fifers are led around the mess table.  The drum major has a silver plate with raw leeks and the mess sergeant carries a loving cup filled with champagne. They halt by the newest joined officer who then stands on his chair with his left foot and places his right foot on the table and eats a leek while the drummers play a continuous roll.  Once he has consumed the leek he is handed the loving cup and before drinking toasts "And Saint David!"  All present who have not eaten a leek, including guests are expected to do so. Similar ceremonies occurs in the sergeants and the other ranks mess.  This custom, described as "ancient" in 1775  is still observed in peace and during war time up to the present time.

Reenactment of Battle of White Plains 1976 with your humble blogger in the ranks of the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers.