The Trooper

The bugle sounds and the charge beginsBut on this battlefield

no one winsThe smell of acrid smoke and horses breathAs I

plunge on into certain death

Ooooooooh! Ooooooooh!

Kelly Gang Armor

No one is ever likely to know just what considerations

influenced the Kelly Gang in the months preceding the

battle of Glenrowan. If the shroud that surrounded so

much of their lives was dark, then the reticence that

enveloped relatives and friends following the climax of

their story was darker still.

What seems likely is that someone - probably Ned himself

- dreamed up a checkmate to the banks’ new ring of security,

and that once the idea was floated its very boldness gave

purpose to everyone. The evidence is that mouldboards

were stolen a few months after Jerilderie, and that the task

of fashioning them into usable shape and quilting them kept

the gang and their supporters busy throughout the entire

1879-80 summer. Ned and Joe meanwhile were casting

around for a strategic objective and tactical plans. The

betrayal of Maggie and withdrawal of the Glenrowan watch

party may well have supplied the occasion sought. Sherritt

would be executed, and his execution used to draw the special

force from Benalla, so leaving its two banks unprotected. The

town would then be isolated by cutting the rail links north and

south.

http://www.ironoutlaw.com/html/armour.html

Trooper Tom Morris

Tom Morris was the first Australian to be recommended

for the award of the Victoria Cross, and arguably should

have been the first Australian Victoria Cross winner. This

interview with the Singleton Argus when he returned to

Australia tells the story:

"Singleton Argus" Tuesday 26 June 1900:
http://www.bwm.org.au/site/Tom_Morris.asp

BRITISH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE (C.A.C.).

FROM :STRUCTURES & BUILDINGS IN AFRIBORIA.
BY THE UNIVERSAL GENERAL:
***********************************************

Lord Hamilton had formerly not only been Inspector
General of HM Prisons but was also a keen student of
(feudal) history and was therefore familiar with both
prison buildings and medieval castles. This combined
knowledge gave birth to the idea of the "Colonial
Administrative Centre", a building that would be the
focus point of each new (larger) British settlement.
The C.A.C. would provide enough space to shelter the
settlers in times of unrest and only need a relatively
small contingent of troops to defend. In case the
battlements would be overrun, the occupants would
still be safe inside behind steel doors, normally
impregnable to native warbands. All C.A.C.'s would
both be modular and (basically) identical. The buildings
would be constructed in reinforced concrete, recently
invented by WB Wilkinson. C.A.C.'s were numbered in
Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV etc), but generally given
the name of the settlement they belonged to.
***********************************************

Thought this would make perfect sense on Mars!

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/

A Good Word For Eureka Miniatures

I just got my order (in under two weeks from Australia no
less!) of 15mm WWI Italians from Eureka Miniatures. These
are great little minis, the machine-gun stands are minor
works of art! Very nicely done and as always a breeze to deal
with.

http://www.eurekamin.com.au/

Bloodaxe Minis Order!

I just got my order of 15mm WWI Russians and inter war Soviets,
I must say their sculpting is excellent! The figures compare in
size with those from Peter Pig but have I think a nicer animation.
The price on Bloodaxe miniatures is also far better for we
American customers since there is no exchange rate or high
shipping costs to deal with.

I bought one of their 1914 Russian Infantry Regiment WWI
UNIT PACKS for $14.95, this one was a particular good value
it is based around the Spearhead system and contained 50 infantry
2 officers and 4 machine gun teams. I'll be getting another of these
soon along with their German WWI pack.

I also got some of their interwar period Soviet infantry in Budenka
Cap, very nice figs!

This is a very new company that seems to have allot going
for it and great future lines soon going to be released like
FIRST ITALO-ETHIOPIAN WAR. I do highly recommend
this one guys, they are fast and communicate with their customers
every step of the way. I'm really looking forward to more from this
bunch!

Don


http://www.bloodaxeminiatures.com/

The Empires Strike Back

The goal is to be the last man (mini) standing. After the British outpost in the Lashindah Valley was wiped out the regional powers met and decided to mount a punitive expedition to retake the lost territory and destroy the hostile native force in the disputed region. Mean while the natives, having found a place where the British might was weak, continue to gather in ever increasing numbers...

The table layout - (identical to 'Amber Waves of Grain' battle):

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/battles/battle038_1.php

How The Victorians Did Gadgets

The British Library in London is playing host to an
exhibition of gadgets and technology from the
Victorian era and early 20th century. The collection
belongs to collector and author Maurice Collins and
is promoting the
Business and Intellectual Property center
at the library.

http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-1035_11-216466-1.html

Soldier's Companion 2nd Ed

From Bob Giglio, Designer - 2nd ed.
Soldier's Companion, in answer to the
status of the long awaited second
addition:

It's still floating out there in the
aether!

It went from first Old Glory wanting to
publish it (when Frank Chadwick was
working with them), then Foundry
(which never got their rules publishing
off the ground), and now sits awaiting

another possible big company - or - to come
out via Frank Chadwick's and Glenn Kidd's
new company - Test of Battle.?Really,Frank
owns the rights to the rules, so I have to go
where/when he wants.

That said, it still stands where it was. I
would have some months of finishing
work to do, but not that much, and a last
edit.

My gaming group - The Colonial Boys Club -
uses the rules extensively in playtests for
our games (when we do meet, though running
HISTORICON gets in the way some times!)

So, it's still out there, waiting... maybe
sleeping like ol' Cthulhu? ;)

Regards,
Bob Giglio, Designer - 2nd ed.
Soldier's Companion

Sovereign Duchy Of Borgonnia

Founded: 24th December 1815, National Day.
***********************************
Official Language: Latin (Restricted to the Parliament, the Universities and the very nerds), Esperanto (Army and Navy) Laws are always to be translated to French, German, Flemish, and to local "native" languages on petition.
***********************************
Short History
After Napoleon's victorious Waterloo Campaign, the Emperor marched to meet the Austrian Army. The result, indecisive, was enough to stir rebellion in France and Belgium itself. The most successful one, being the Borgonnian, in which the common people bonded together around Leugim de Borgonnia, the "hidden Duke", then a 12 years old messenger.
A little nation, located somewhere between Burgundy and Alsace was enlarged in order to punish France and establish an European balance of power. A staunch Austrian ally it gained most of the areas when of the Rhine when its Alsatian Army defeated the Prussians at Strassbourg, halting -or so it seems- Bismark Grossdeutschland dream.

http://borgonnia.wetpaint.com/

A Bit More Crimson Skies

Crimson Skies PC - Chapter 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp-yyDQ5AQ0&feature=related

Crimson Skies PC - Chapter 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDjWETp5DqE&feature=related

Crimson Skies PC - Chapter 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC7hYD9ZehA&feature=related

Crimson Skies

For a better feel, Crimson Skies PC Intro Movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8eiA1jhXc

Last Crusade Biplane

Something I found at Walmart, an excellent 15mm scale
biplane from the film Indiana Jones The Last Crusade.
I'll be using these as light bombers.

Last Crusade Landship

Something I found at Walmart, an excellent 15mm scale
tank from the film Indiana Jones The Last Crusade.

And Then Someone Started Screaming...

The ancient city of a seclusive group of natives has recently

discovered. 1 squad each of British, Russian sailors, US Marines,

Mercenaries, Rebs, and French set out to establish first "contact".

It was almost a jovial race to the finish - and then someone

started screaming... (Historican '05).

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/battles/battle022.php

The Relief to Malakand

The fortress in the Malakand Pass has come under attack!
A relief column with five squads of infantry, a Gardner
Machine-gun with crew towed by a steam lorry laden with
supplies, and a procession of pack animals with handlers
rushes forth to aid them! Their commander Major Stokes is
determined to battle enemy and win!

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/battles/battle035.php

The Valley of Death

As darkness falls the British are left holding half the villages
and barely more hill than the natives. Only another day
of this work will finally decide the fate of this valley of death!

British - Very Minor Victory - WINNER!
Hill tribesmen - Very Minor Defeat

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/battles/battle036.php

Fire From The Sky

The steamer Danke arrives at the head waters of the
Jungohella River with a relief force sent out to investigate
an emergency telegraph that was cut short. Famed
mercenary turned adventurer Rupert Steiner leads a squad
of German Rifles, Askari Rifles, and a 3.5 centimeter Quick
Firing Cannon with German crew.

http://www.damnedhumanrace.com/battles/battle041.php

A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Free online chapters:

http://librivox.org/a-princess-of-mars-by-edgar-rice-burroughs/

The Steampunk Home

Now if the wife lets you get away with it:

I believe that Steampunk is more than just brass and watchparts.
It's finding a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetic
pleasing yet still punkish way. It's living a life that looks old-
fashioned, yet speaks to the future. It's taking the detritus of our
modern technological society and remaking it into useful things.
Join me as I search for items for my house that combine the
scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and
imagined future.

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/