The League of Augsburg
Derry's walls part 8 -tragedy,triumph and the use of interior lighting
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| coffee stained concept sketches probably done in an airport |
Well, with one serious piece of real estate to complete I ran into the long grass. I have been keeping my options open all the way through this project but with the last building I had several make or break decisions to take.
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| The Big Hoose before all the joins are cemented in |
These included whether to have an elevated main doorway requiring...
Ireland book Vol 1 : Personalities : King James II
I have a bit of a soft spot for old Seamus of the Dung. I think over the years he has suffered from some smearing (pun intended). Perhaps it was a mid life crisis. Perhaps it was the pig headed stubbornness of the Stuarts.
Whatever it was all his good works seem to have been more than cancelled out by his reputation post 1685. I can't help but think much of that is a production of 17th century...
Awakening Derry from hibernation
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| taking shape now but still plenty to do on the ground work |
The nature of this project and too many conflicting priorities over the winter months meant that my Derry- Building went into stasis for a while.
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| Lots of work to be done on the ditch and drawbridge |
With a couple of weeks at home, Tactica behind me and some new ideas in my head I took inspiration from the non hibernating family of squirrels...
Ireland book Vol 1 : Personalities :King William III
This iteration of King William I have done in a far more ' Kingly' pose than the triumphalist rearing horse with wounded soldiers around him. although I like that vignette this is more understated.
I use the colour scheme of another grand painting of the man. He is wearing a rich yellow coat, red English sash and this time I spent much longer on the face than the previous rush job.
I have used the...
Storming the Schellenberg 1704 Diorama
These shots show a nice diorama which resides in the Guards Division Museum on Birdcage Walk.
I thought blog followers would enjoy the construction on the defences and the interesting combinations of figures used in the diorama.
There was not a lot of information of who made it, when it was made and what make the figures are but it is a super piece of work.
The attack on the Schellenberg took place...
Ireland book Vol 1 : Personalities: Justin McCarthy, Lord Montcashel
Justin McCarthy who was to become better known as Lord Montcashel was known for many things including his involvement with the famous Wild Geese in French service, the disaster at Newtown against Wolseley's Enniskilleners and his reasoned and civilised approach to warfare against his countrymen.
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| Justin McCarthy Lord Montcashel |
What is often not known about his is that he was incredibly short sighted...
Featured unit: Jim Masson's Grey Dragoons 1679?
Jim likes to model Scots units from the late 17th Century and he has done a very fine job on this unit of Dragoons who are I believe the Scots Greys in their original incarnation.
The pictures were taken on my iPhone very quickly but the creativity in Jim's work is very obvious when you look at the attention to details.
The observant amongst our members will notice a little homage to a certain...
Warfare Miniatures at SALUTE 2016
Warfare Miniatures will be trading at Salute 2016 and you will be able to find us on the Victrix stand.
Toggy Bob and I will be manning the stand with Julian and the lads.
We will be carrying the full range of Warfare Miniatures codes, Quindia Flags and WordTwister books.
We are offering a 10% discount for pre orders received up to Wednesday April 13th. Just order through the shop and choose the...
Ireland book Vol 1 : Personalities: Colonel Patrick Sarsfield
Patrick Sarsfield was active in the Jacobite -Williamite conflict from the earliest days. He it was who led Irish soldiers loyal to King James during the Battle of Reading in Dec 1688, the only substantive action of the Glorious Revolution.
Sarsfield spent most of 1689 in north west Ireland fighting against forces from Enniskillen and Sligo. He died in battle during Luxembourg's great victory of...
Whiskey in the Jar- oh!: Part 4: The orders of battle and troops
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| One of Sarsfield's troopers |
The Jacobite Brief
Having destroyed the hated enemy’s guns and siege train, the raiding force is now riding hell for leather to cross the River Shannon. Guided by Michael Hogan, the Jacobites are moving in eight squadron sized bodies and must reach and cross at a secret fording point. Once each group is across the ford they are safe. Each group has booty or prisoners of...
Ireland book Vol 1 : Personalities: James Fitzjames - Duke of Berwick
Would it be an exaggeration to describe James Fitzjames, bastard son of James II as the Prince Rupert of the Irish Wars? I think not. He did in fact go on to much greater things than Ruprecht as he finished his illustrious career dying in action in his 60s as a Marshal of France and victor of Almanza in 1707 in addition to many other triumphs.
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| Prince of the Blood - James, son of James |
In Ireland...
The Braes of Killiepans or Prestoncrankie 2016
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| Bracing February weather at Prestonpans! |
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| Gerry Bailey sizes up the Braes of Killiecrankie |
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| Another angle (looking south west) |
The pub has some political history which escaped...