Tentative Beginnings

It's all very well running headlong into a new project, buoyed by the childlike, naive enthusiasm that never seems to leave us, but then comes the reality check, the moment when you stop and ask yourself, "what on earth am I playing at?"

To his great credit, James had seen this coming and had started to consider a project management spreadsheet, something that now seems a rather splendid idea as I run around like like loon deciding what to do next!  We also considered trying to record some of the progress made via blog or Instagram posts as a way of encouraging vicarious collaboration from a wider audience, and so this is one of those posts.  As we broke up for the summer holidays our respective tasks were clear insomuch as James was going to battle on with the castle design, whilst I was going to consider the feasibility of building a game around the structure.

I am now starting to finally relax and have put the thoughts of a difficult academic year behind me; this mental decluttering has allowed me to give some time to the prospect of the rules for the game.  I have fleshed out my original thoughts, and although very much a work in progress, they have been offered up for consideration to others.  This is all very exciting as it is something completely new to me, but it remains the painting and modelling aspect of the hobby that I find the most relaxing, not to mention rewarding, and so have indulged in a little 'palette testing'.  I had a sprue of 'Warlord Games' plastic American G.I.s which were attached to the front cover of a copy of 'Wargames Illustrated'.  These have been duly assembled and based and colour has started to be added, aided by some rather splendid reference material that I have amassed along the way, but what I really wanted to try was a tank!

This is a completely new era for me and I was keen to cut my teeth on some Allied Armour and so ordered up a 'Warlord Games' M4 Sherman Medium Tank.  Gluing together the plastic kit took me right back to my youth, when young Master Awdry would spend many a happy hour assembling various Airfix models, the heady aroma of plastic cement filling his nostrils.  

Assembled straight from the box, without any additional customisation,  I was fortunate enough to be directed to the rather wonderful 'John Bond's Wargaming Stuff'.  What a veritable mine of fabulous work this turned out to be, carefully ordered and clear to follow.  I shall refrain from repeating John's post, suffice to say that I followed it almost to the letter.  A couple of notable exceptions being that I was fortunate enough to have a spray can of Tamiya Olive Drab that worked well for the base coat and used some of the 'Games Workshop' Typhus Corrosion along the edges of the vehicle.

I have to say that I was rather pleased with my first efforts, but have subsequently realised that the tank involved in the battle was in fact a later version,  M4A3E8 or Easy 8 Sherman, fondly known as Besotten Jenny - I have so much to learn!

So we are off an running, so much more to do, but having a lot of fun along the way!