I based up the mounted figures as light cavalry, which are on deeper bases that can be turned though ninety degrees to show tey are skirmishing.
I expect they'll be used as unreliable allies for my Ottomans.
03/12/2015
Wallachians
As well as some cossacks (next post) I completed the Lucky toys Vlad Tepes set. originally I though I would mix them in with the cossacks but they didn't match up, so I kept them as separate units.
I based up the mounted figures as light cavalry, which are on deeper bases that can be turned though ninety degrees to show tey are skirmishing.
I expect they'll be used as unreliable allies for my Ottomans.
I based up the mounted figures as light cavalry, which are on deeper bases that can be turned though ninety degrees to show tey are skirmishing.
I expect they'll be used as unreliable allies for my Ottomans.
02/12/2015
On the workbench - December 2015
Crumbs another year has almost finished. November was spent trying to catch up with October's over-runs and in December I will have to clear up all those bits and pieces of half started ideas so I can get a clear start to the new year. In addition, after the fun of the £2 diecast tanks from the works the entertainment continued with £4 Deagostini diecasts on ebay and Amazon, so I have quite a few amassed now. Quite a few need repainted and/or drybrushing to fit in with the rest of my collection..
I've some finished units to post and I hope to get the following finished by year end.
I've some finished units to post and I hope to get the following finished by year end.
- 28mm Saxon spearmen for Saga, etc. (only the shields left to paint)
- A small group of armoured bishops as a medieval command stand
- Eight diecast transport vehicles for my winter Germans
- Two Russian trucks and a Katyusha for my winter Russians
- A selection of MMS German winter vehicle crews
- Renaissance Ottoman Artillery - 4 guns plus crews, etc.
- A couple of Russian 47mm AT guns in winter camo
01/12/2015
Maritime Museum
After the Museu do Combatente it was across the road to the Jeronimos Monastery, I visited the church and cloisters, then moved on to the Maritime museum, which occupies two side of the monastery.
It's a huge number of rooms many filled with model ships in cases from many eras. Helpfully I had read up on Henry the Navigator a year ago so it was easy to assimilate all the information on the age of discoveries.
The vessels used at the time seem unbelievably small
The trading post (fort) of Diu in India, a marvellous setting for a obscure campaign (link)
Lots of classic ships from the age of sail
Some splendid marines in green with red facings
steam/sail hybrids
WW1
More modern Portuguese ships
Then you move to a modern extension containing real vessels
A royal barge last used for Queen Elisbeth's visit
It took over two hours to go round and it could easily have been three. Perhaps I should have taken notes as there was so much material that was new to me, however with the internet I can still check up on the bits I remember.
It's a huge number of rooms many filled with model ships in cases from many eras. Helpfully I had read up on Henry the Navigator a year ago so it was easy to assimilate all the information on the age of discoveries.
The vessels used at the time seem unbelievably small
The trading post (fort) of Diu in India, a marvellous setting for a obscure campaign (link)
Lots of classic ships from the age of sail
Some splendid marines in green with red facings
steam/sail hybrids
WW1
More modern Portuguese ships
Then you move to a modern extension containing real vessels
A royal barge last used for Queen Elisbeth's visit
It took over two hours to go round and it could easily have been three. Perhaps I should have taken notes as there was so much material that was new to me, however with the internet I can still check up on the bits I remember.
29/11/2015
Museu do Combatente Lisbon
There is a new military museum adjacent to the Tower of Belem. Its theme is those who fought in Portugal's Twentieth Century wars.
It;s inside a more modern fortification and is overlooked from the Tower.
I has a selection of guns and equipment like this 75mm pack howitzer.
It is concerned with all the military forces involved in foreign combat including the police.
Part of the original equipment of the fort
Yes that is a Stuart at the far end.
I didn't take any pictures inside. One room had modellers collection of aircraft and it's surprising how many different types the Portuguese airforce fly.
The most interesting section of rooms was the African liberation struggle - lots of intriguing pictures, but with Portuguese captions so it was difficult to get a proper impression.
Each of the casemates had a section concerned with one arm of service with explanation of the uniforms and past and current roles. Finally like many museums at the moment there was a WW1 trench experience.
It;s inside a more modern fortification and is overlooked from the Tower.
I has a selection of guns and equipment like this 75mm pack howitzer.
It is concerned with all the military forces involved in foreign combat including the police.
Part of the original equipment of the fort
Yes that is a Stuart at the far end.
I didn't take any pictures inside. One room had modellers collection of aircraft and it's surprising how many different types the Portuguese airforce fly.
The most interesting section of rooms was the African liberation struggle - lots of intriguing pictures, but with Portuguese captions so it was difficult to get a proper impression.
Each of the casemates had a section concerned with one arm of service with explanation of the uniforms and past and current roles. Finally like many museums at the moment there was a WW1 trench experience.
26/11/2015
Tower of Belem
All along the Tagus estuary are a series of small vauban syle forts defending various landing points, but the most impressive is the Tower of Belem on the old outskirts of Lisbon.
It used to be beyond the shoreline but this is no longer the tidal shore it once was and has been expanded seawards.
The lower level is where the real power lies as it has openning for guns all round. No picture I'm afraid as it was full of tourists.
The level below the guns has ammunition storage and was also used as a prison.
The tower is the forts real feature with a traffic light system for controlling ascent/descent.
Splendid views from the tower across the Tagus.
The other side of the tower with yours truly!
It used to be beyond the shoreline but this is no longer the tidal shore it once was and has been expanded seawards.
The lower level is where the real power lies as it has openning for guns all round. No picture I'm afraid as it was full of tourists.
The level below the guns has ammunition storage and was also used as a prison.
The tower is the forts real feature with a traffic light system for controlling ascent/descent.
Splendid views from the tower across the Tagus.
The other side of the tower with yours truly!
25/11/2015
Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros)
Positioned on a high above Sintra in Portugal overlooking the Tagus estuary and the west coast is a fantastic castle.
You can take the bus up, but better is the stiff climb through the trees of the Quinta Sasseni, about 15minutes from the top the castle appear above you
This is a popular area for rock climbers as well
The view directly down to the national palace shows how far we climbed
The Moors built the fort in the tenth century in a col between two hill tops.
The view down the way we ascended.
The opposite hilltop with Pena palace beyond
The castle was "invaded" by King Sigurd I of Norway in 1109
It actually fell to the Portuguese following the conquest of Lisbon in 1147.
During the 12/13th centuries the fortifications were improved
While the structure was well fortified by 1383 most of the population was moving down to Sintra
The castle was badly damaged in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
It was rebuilt by King Fernando II at the same time as Pena palace was constructed.
Another view of Pena.
You can take the bus up, but better is the stiff climb through the trees of the Quinta Sasseni, about 15minutes from the top the castle appear above you
This is a popular area for rock climbers as well
The view directly down to the national palace shows how far we climbed
The Moors built the fort in the tenth century in a col between two hill tops.
The view down the way we ascended.
The opposite hilltop with Pena palace beyond
The castle was "invaded" by King Sigurd I of Norway in 1109
It actually fell to the Portuguese following the conquest of Lisbon in 1147.
During the 12/13th centuries the fortifications were improved
While the structure was well fortified by 1383 most of the population was moving down to Sintra
The castle was badly damaged in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
It was rebuilt by King Fernando II at the same time as Pena palace was constructed.
Another view of Pena.
18/11/2015
Normal service will now be resumed
It's been a bit quiet here for a while because I took advantage of some cheap flights to visit Lisbon and nearby. I managed to visit a number of interesting sites and museums and they will be the subjects of some future posts. Now I just need to re-motivate myself to get painting again.
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