Canadian Lancaster Bomber

I just watched this video of the Canadian Lancaster Bomber.  Back in c. 1995 I saw this bomber fly over the Canadian Parliament buildings at night.  They were shining fake search lights at it.  I believe it was for the anniversary of the end of WWII.  When I visited the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum years ago, I don't think it was there at the time, but I definitely enjoyed the museum.

This video is very cool.

First Battle of Gaza Table

Progress has slowed down on my First Battle of Gaza, WWI scenario.  I have painted up all the miniatures for the game, and I am down to just testing the scenario/rules and finishing the terrain.  In the pictures below you will see the layout with no armies and with hidden movement bases.

I am not happy with the sand dunes at the bottom of the photo.  I'll have to come up with something different.  The palm trees, buildings, rail, hills, cactus hedges and wadi came out not too shabby.  The cactus hedges are on two sides of Gaza.  Note that any Turkish trenches are not visible.  These get placed once certain movement bases are made visible.

Historic Gettysburg Photos Documentary

I stumbled across this interesting four part documentary (~1999) on William Frassanito researching the locations of where exactly the Gettysburg photos were taken.

I think it means more to me that I have gamed parts of the battle, watched the movie Gettsyburg and walked the battlefield.  I actually missed seeing the Gettysburg Sniper's Nest while walking very near there...woops.

Part 1 - 15min

Part 2 - 15min

 

Part 3 - 15min

 

Part 4 - 6min 47sec

Why Join the Historical Miniature Wargaming Hobby?

Recently this question came to mind while thinking about the opposite to why someone would leave the Historical Miniature Wargaming hobby.  I know many people who enjoy this hobby just like me, but why should someone join in the hobby?

For myself, I guess I think back to when I was thirteen when I can say I officially started in the hobby when I was introduced to The Sword and Flame rules playing back to back Zulu War battles.  I was hooked.

Here are some thoughts on why start into the Historical Miniature Wargaming hobby:

• If you enjoy painting historical miniatures or models then this is the hobby for you.  Rather than just have planes hang from the ceiling just collecting dust, these planes can move around the table shooting down other planes.  Model tanks painted up to run on flat beds in a model train table can now drive anywhere on the table firing away, with all sorts of vehicles on fire.  You get to paint all sorts of miniatures/models.  You can also paint in any scale you want within certain range bands for land, air or naval miniatures.
• Gaming is a main component of the hobby.  If you enjoy gaming with friends or meet new people, there are lots of opportunities to game.  You can go to conventions, local clubs, or meet-ups.  If you don't want to game with other people, you can just do solo gaming.  Before I discovered a local club, I did a lot of solo gaming and enjoyed it.  On the other hand gaming with other people is a great way to meet new opponent and some or many may become friends.
• Do you enjoy military history?  This hobby has lots of opportunities to learn more about all sorts of aspects of military history.  I would probably be still stuck reading about WWII if I had not got into the hobby.  I've learned so much more and discovered I enjoy learning about different periods.  I still enjoy WWII, but wow, the hobby has opened my eyes.  Fellow people in the hobby enjoy showing you their period and enjoy answering your questions.  Even if you don't know anything about a period, you don't have to feel intimidated on the game table, the games are for fun.  If you don't have fun, try a different game.  You can share your military history knowledge via club newsletter articles, a blog, or during a game you run.
• As mentioned earlier, the hobby is a great way to meet people who share your enjoyment either for painting, gaming or military history.  I guess for me it is gaming and military history.  I think the way to go is to join in a local gaming club, hopefully a Historical Miniature Wargaming club, that way you are not distracted by non-historical miniature gaming or board games.  Over the years I've been lucky to belong to three different clubs.  I highly recommend it.  You may not get along with everyone, but there are definitely others there that you will enjoy.

Any single choice above is a good reason to get in the hobby.  If you can check off all four above, there is no reason you should not be in the hobby.

In this day-in-age there are many choices in what you can do as a hobby.  Certainly computer gaming is the easiest, but Historical Miniature Wargaming is great fun.  To be in the hobby, you don't have to own any miniatures or paint any, you can just show up and enjoy the games other people put on.  There is always a need for more gamers around the tables.

Are you considering getting into the hobby or just want to sample it?  Feel free to contact me for advice (eegist at hotmail.com).

Australia, New Zealand, Gallipoli and Peter Jackson

Lately I have seen a lot of interest in the Australia and New Zealand involvement in WWI.  I am still painting up both sides of the conflict in the middle east in WWI, of which Aussies and Kiwis are in the mix.

My take on the media (movies/books) coverage of Australia and New Zealand involvement in WWI focuses heavily on the Gallipoli campaign.  This is a Canadian writing this, so maybe those living in Australia and New Zealand have better coverage.  What is their full involvement in WWI?  Yes Gallipoli, but New Guinea, Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia and on the Western Front.

There are always some sort of Gallipoli book in the book stores.  I've seen an amazing Gallipoli wargame terrain layout online video from the Salute 2011 convention.  Various Gallipoli movies are out there.  What about Egypt and Palestine?  I contend that Gallipoli has some sort of mystique, but in reality was an amphibious landing, stalemate and pull out.  To me, ended up the same warfare as the Western Front.  The post Gallipoli ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) in Egypt and Palestine is more interesting.

So back to the interest in the Australia and New Zealand in Mediterranean WWI lately.  Here are some recent things I have come across.

Link to description of project

Peter Jackson, of Lord of the Rings fame, with the Perry Brothers working on Gallipoli Diorama (c. March 2015).
Blog link

The movie The Water Diviner has Gallipoli in it.

I guess I fall in this category as well.  These are my 10mm Turkish infantry.

Artillery still to come.

San Diego 2015

My wife and I decided to take a short trip to San Diego.  We had a great time with great weather (about 90F/30C).

The first day we took in the harbour sights.  I have been to the area before, but I enjoy San Diego.  We skipped the USS Midway aircraft carrier, which I've been on before so didn't mind.  We did tour the ships at the Maritime Museum.  The Soviet submarine is fun to walk/crawl through.  We also took a 2 hour harbour tour where you get to see up closer the U.S. modern navy and naval base.  Lots of activity when we were there.  Below are a small selection of ships we saw in San Diego bay.

HMS Surprise, used in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World movie.



B-39 Soviet submarine.  I saw her in Vancouver in 1998.

Swift Boat, PCF-816.  Not open when we were there.

USS Midway (foreground) and USS Ronald Reagan (background)

USS America (LHA-6) arriving

Harbour Tour Photos below

USS New Orleans (LPD-18) arriving

F/A-18s, probably from USS Ronald Reagan

Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) just landed

USS Ronald Reagan

USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Kidd (DDG-100)? (K100?), and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110)

USS Peleliu (LHA-5)

USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) and USS Essex (LHD-2)

Independence-class littoral combat ship

USS Spruance (DDG-111) arriving

HSV Sea Slice is an experimental United States Navy vessel, built by Lockheed Martin.