Setting out the toys on Steve's table.

 Last week, Steve was good enough to let me set out most (not all) of my WW1 Tommies on his table to allow me take some photos of the collection amongst his wonderful terrain. I was particularly keen to set out my Heavy Artillery Group, hence the photos of 6 inch howitzers, an 8 inch Howitzer, 60pdrs an a 6 inch gun with their transports. The eagle-eyed among you will recognise the Holt tractor produced by 1st Corps but the 60pdrs are being pulled by Holt Tractors made by John Hart who, for fun, built a 1/56 model and cast up a couple from resin which have now made it into my collection. The 6 inch 26 cwt Howitzers and the Model B FWD trucks and towing limbers are also the product of John's skill. John's work can also be seen in the Model T Fords. These are the prep-production models that eventually became part of the Empress Miniatures range. John is also responsible for both the 4.5 inch howitzer, the 18pdr and their respective limbers, again, now produced by Empress Miniatures. It was fun indulging my inner twelve year old, just setting out the toys and looking at them.......

Berkshire Battery RHA (TF), Palestine, 1917.

 I waited with eager expectation for the release of the Empress Miniatures WW1 British 18pdr and team. Re-purposed here with the addition of Woodbine Wolseley heads to form the Berkshire Battery RHA (TF) to join 6 Mounted Brigade. The team has an extra pair of draught horses to compensate for the heavier weight of the 18pdr, all RHA batteries having exchanged their 13pdrs for 18pdrs before they crossed the Sinai. I began this before Christmas but it was put on the back-burner while I painted up the White Russians featured over the last month. I was able to try out the new 3G WW1 British uniform set of paints from AK Interactive. Having grown into a fan of the original set that was released in 2014, this new set is a definite improvement. More highly pigmented, they produce a much more intense finish, particularly the highlight shade. You can judge yourself as the gunners were painted with the original 2014 triad and the drivers and limber riders are pained with the new 3G set.

I have been gently painting figures to build 6 Mounted Brigade for the tabletop since early in 2014. I have finally completed the Brigade.

White Russians: Annenkov's "Blue Lancers".

 Blue...yes....Lancers....no. Splendid Hicks sculpts from Empress Miniatures. Hoorah! With luck, these along with the other White Russians featured recently, should make their debut in the display game put on by my gaming chums of the League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers at Vapnartak, York, 6th February.

White Russians: A group of Annenkov's Rifle Brigade looters, an Orthadox priest and a sniper.

 All available from Empress Miniatures.