TMT: New Blog!

Hi there toy soldier and terrain fans, I bring you news this afternoon of a brand new blog that's just gone live. The lads over at TM Terrain have created a blog called 'Terrain and Toy Soldiers' featuring, guess what, the toy soldiers they sell and the outstanding custom made terrain created by Dave

The first two posts are up there now, and there's plenty more in the pipeline. Why not pop over there and take a look!

How about this. Just one of Dave's fantastic creations. This ECW layout was on display at this year's Salute wargames show

 Congratulations Dave on the launch of the blog

If you like your toy soldiers glossy; part 3!

Yes, I know, I'm going to have to come up with a new title for this section of the blog. Something tells me it could well be a regular feature!

My thanks again to Martin at Beau Geste UK for supplying the information in the form of a slick, to the point newsletter so, without further ado, here it is:

Dear All

Please find attached the second instalment of my Beau Geste UK Newsletter for your information and attention. I really hope that you find something of interest in this edition of the newsletter or the UK stock list which you can find by following the link from the Beau Geste website

I would welcome any comments that you might have on the content of the newsletter. Can you also please let me know if you don’t want to receive further information about future figure releases from Beau Geste and their subsidiary companies so that I can remove your email details from this distribution list

Best Wishes & Kind Regards

Martin Ainscough

Beau Geste UK

Midlands DBA Championship

For the past few years, The Alvechurch Templars Wargames Club, of which I am proud to count myself a member, has played host to the Midlands DBA Championship

This year's competition was held two weekends ago on Sunday 8th May at the social club in the centre of the village, the venue for the club's weekly Monday gatherings. Unfortunately, I was unable to take part due to family commitments, however, I am reliably informed that the event went very smoothly and was well attended by players from various parts of the country, one of whom was Phil Steele who is currently President of the Society of Ancients

Phil took part in the competition and presented the prizes as well as finding time to take a few snapshots of some of the competitors and their armies. He has since written a review of the event for one of his blogs and I have taken the liberty of including a small part of it here

Midlands Open DBA

This was my first visit to the Midlands Open. I had heard it was good - popular and well attended. I can see why. A very nice venue. Good organisation, and a substantial buffet lunch (all in the entry fee). A bar downstairs, and free coffee/tea and cake all day

The Midlands Open, as it says on the tin, is an open competition, though Book 4 is excluded. I understand this is mostly because it avoids the distortion of the Bk 4 Knightly armies where some can dismount (and the inequalities that can throw up). Otherwise, pick what you like and pay the penalties later

Some of the armies battling it out for first prize.....

.....and finally, but by no means least, the winner and the runners-up

Congratulations, one and all, on another successful competition. Hopefully, I will be able to cross swords with you again myself very soon. More photos and details about the event are available on Phil's SOA blog

If you like your toy soldiers glossy; the sequel!

Well, toy soldier lovers, subsequent to my post yesterday I have some more news regarding the availability of Beau Geste figure sets in the UK, and those produced under other brand names by the same manufacturer, namely Four Feathers Toy Soldiers, South Lands Miniatures, Laura Cuello Miniatures and Honour Bound

I sent an email to Martin Ainscough last night and received a reply almost immediately. I have sought Martin's permission and he is perfectly happy for me to post his reply on the blog, so here goes:

Hi David,

Thank you for your email and for the publicity on your Blog of my arrangement with Beau Geste Toy Soldiers. At the moment I have limited stock across the whole of the Beau Geste range together with sets/figures from the other companies that are part of the Beau Geste family.

I have attached a copy of the first edition of my newsletter which I have sent to known Beau Geste collectors here in the UK for your information which I hope explains were I am at the moment with regard to stock and the situation with regard to taking orders and payment etc.

With regard to whether I will be attending the Birmingham Toy Soldier show in October it is a bit too early to say at the moment, but I do hope to be able to attend some shows during the year if at all possible.

Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you and other readers of your Blog in acquiring some of these excellent toy soldiers which are all hand made and painted in Argentina . For a complete list of all the sets that I have currently in stock please visit www.beau-geste.com and follow the link to Beau Geste UK were you will find a current illustrated complete listing across the various ranges.[ed]

Kind Regards

Martin

My thanks to Martin for the information, and for the very swift reply, and for the newsletter, which looks like this:

I must say, that Prussian military band looks rather handsome! As Martin himself says, he will also be stocking limited sets from the other companies in the 'Beau Geste family', and the best way to find out exactly what he has is to visit the BG website and click on the UK link for a complete listing

Hopefully, Martin will be persuaded to attend the Birmingham Toy Soldier show and I, along with many others, will be able to see some of these beauties in the flesh. A thrilling prospect, indeed!

If you like your figures glossy.....

If you like your toy soldiers on the glossy side then you will probably appreciate the work of Ana Donzino and her late husband, the creative duo behind Beau Geste and a number of other brands like Four Feathers Toy Soldiers, Laura Cuello Miniatures, South Lands Miniatures and Honour Bound

For those of you who may not have read the latest edition of Toy Soldier Collector, the good news is that Martin Ainscough, a regular contributor to the magazine and passionate reviewer of the Argentinian manufacturers' work, has accepted an invitation from them to become their UK agent and distributor. Needless to say, he will no longer be reviewing their products in the magazine, however, this is surely good news for those collectors who have been wanting to acquire some of their fantastic sets

For details of the sets he will be stocking, Martin can be contacted on 01245 472468 or by email at martin@ainscough66.freeserve.co.uk

I have included some photos of a very small selection of the Beau Geste sets currently available, just in case you haven't come across them before. I don't presently own any glossy toy soldiers, preferring the more rugged and 'realistic' matte figures over the more traditional ones, but who knows, that may well change now that they have a UK agent to represent them

Mameluk bandsmen of the Napoleonic wars. A drummer and two cymbaliers

If you have deep enough pockets, and a spare foot or so of display space, you might fancy stretching to the whole band!

The following pictures show German and German colonial troops from their extensive WW1 range, together with some historical information about some of the soldiers. Pictures and information courtesy of Treefrog Treasures in Canada

SWA Schutztruppe in tropical uniform

During WWI larger German colonies (German South West Africa, German East Africa and Cameroon) had their own regular colonial troops known as "Schutztruppe". They were the backbone of defense and counter-rebellion forces in the three main African colonies. The Schutztruppe of German South West Africa consisted exclusively of German officers and other ranks

On September 13, 1914 South African troops opened hostilities at the Ramansdrift police station. German settlers were transported to prison camps. The German Schutztruppe, along with groups of Afrikaner volunteers fighting in the Maritz Rebellion on the German side, offered opposition only as a delaying tactic. On 9 July 1915, Victor Franke, the last commander of the Schutztruppe, capitulated near Khorab

SWA Schutztruppe in winter uniform

The German Colonial Army (Schutztruppe) of the German Empire also employed native African troops with European officers and NCOs. The main concentration of such locally recruited troops was in German East Africa (now Tanzania). Originally drawn from Sudanese mercenaries, the German askaris were subsequently recruited from the Wahehe and Angoni tribal groups. They were harshly disciplined, but well paid, and highly trained by German cadres who were themselves subject to a rigorous selection process

Native Askaris with German officer

The Schutztruppe was formed into Field Companies ("Feldkompagnien") of about 150 or more troops and were based in various towns and small forts across the colonies. They were a well trained, loyal and disciplined force with high morale and a level of mutual respect between the askaris and their German superiors which was only strengthened during the long campaigns of the First World War

Native Askaris followed by one of the pictures which inspired the sets

German East Africa was one of  the toughest nuts for the Allies to crack; in fact, the campaign there outlasted the entire war. This colony was nearly self-sufficient, so economic blockades against it didn't hurt much. Furthermore, the German commanding officer there, Lt. Col. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, was a military genius. He had 3,000 German soldiers and 11,000 African askaris (warriors), and unlike many Europeans of the time, he recognized that the African could fight just as well as the white man if given the right equipment and training. It took a long time for the Allies, especially the South Africans, to accept this fact

German Colonial Navy regiment in winter uniform

One of the things Beau Geste are known for is the production of military bands, and they have a very wide and varied selection in their catalogue. I have included just a couple more here, by way of a taster, followed by some further examples of their German Western Front figures

German Seamen in winter uniform from their Imperial German Army range

German infantry regiment military band

These marching figures, gas masks at the ready, are some of my particular favourites.....

.....as are these wonderful mounted light dragoons

More information about these and all of the other figures in their catalogue is available form Martin, Treefrog Treasures or directly from the manufacturers themselves at www.beau-geste.com

King and Country Dispatches

Yes, it's that time of the month again, and K+C have recently released their monthly dispatches with news of soon to be released models and figure sets, and those due for retirement

This month there are announcements relating to the Alamo, WW2 aircraft and crew figures, the Afrika Korps, the defense of Berlin series, the Streets of Old Hong Kong, their new Sons of Empire range, a bunch of new American sets for their Normandy D-Day range and, once again, quite a few retirements including sets in their Ancient Egyptian, D-Day, First World War, Fields of Battle, Berlin '38 and German Army, Normandy ranges! Phew!

Amongst the 'soon to be released for June' figures were two items that particularly caught my eye, one of which was immediately added to my 'wanted list', and the other I thought I'd mention here purely because I think it's a little quirky and historically interesting

The photo below relates to the item immediately added to my 'wanted list'. No prizes for guessing which of the three it is!

Three military Volkswagen "Beetles" being released as part of K&C's Series 250 range of multi-optional choices of fighting vehicles

AVAILABILITY: Early JUNE "Waffen SS 'BEETLE' at WAR"
This is the second version of our "SERIES 250" Wartime Volkswagens". Painted in three-colour, typical late-war German fashion camouflage scheme
WS194 "Waffen SS VOLKSWAGEN" This "VW at WAR" features the markings of the 5th SS Panzer Division "WIKING" and comes with a driver and a full roof rack of extra supplies and fuel
For those of you, like myself, with more than a passing interest in history, I have included some information here about the development and use of this vehicle Fuel shortages during WWII prompted searches for alternative fuels in England, Germany, Scandinavia and many other countries. One of the most unusual solutions involved the modification of vehicles for use with wood, charcoal, or coal. Typical modifications included A) a gas generator; B) a gas reservoir; and C) carburetor modifications and additional plumbing to convey, filter, and meter the gas into the engine The gas generator was an airtight vessel into which was introduced a charge of wood, charcoal, or anthracite coal. Heat was applied to the fuel either internally or externally to initiate a self-sustaining gassification of the fuel in an oxygen deprived environment. The resulting "woodgas" was piped to the reservoir, or in the case of small engines, directly to the engine carburetor. Wood-gas modified vehicles were therefore technically a "dual fuel" vehicle in that a self-sustaining gassification of the wood charcoal, or coal, required another fuel to start the process   Gas reservoir sizes depended upon vehicle, engine, and gassifier size. Small vehicles and engines could be supplied directly from the gassifier, thus eliminating the need for large reservoirs. Larger, more powerful vehicles required separate gas reservoirs to compensate for gassifier outputs which were less than the fuel consumption rate of the engine. These larger reservoirs usually took the form of gas bags that were attached to the roof or rear end of the vehicle. The largest mobile reservoirs were gas bags fitted to busses which were often several feet in diameter and as long as the vehicle!       Although the designation T230 was used to indicate woodgas fuel systems fitted to both Kubelwagens and KdF Wagens (Type 60 wartime Beetles), surviving photographs reveal that a variety of gas generator designs were employed. Vehicles so equipped are easily recognized by the vehicle's modified bonnet. Some photos show that the fuel loading hatch protruded from a port in the bonnet, while others illustrate an unbroken bonnetline which completely enclosed the generator   Generally the woodgas fuel system comprised a gassifier container, approximately 18 to 24 inches in diameter and 30 to 36 inches in length (height), fitted into the nose of the vehicle. Both Kubelwagens and Beetles equipped with the T230 gas generator located the generator vessel ahead of the front axle beams where the spare tyre was formerly located. Type 60's relocated the spare tyre, along with extra bags of fuel, to a roof rack. The bottom of the gas generator also extended below the original bodywork at the front of the vehicle, thus decreasing obstacle clearance    Other components of the VW T230 woodgas fuel system included: 1) a large (8" diameter by 30") gas filter cannister located just ahead of the windshield (and under the bonnet, in the case of the Type 60) 2) a secondary, rectangular gas filter (about 12" by 2" by 48") located crossways beneath the car and behind the front wheels 3) a gas pump or fan located behind the rear torsion bar tube 4) a small final canister filter in the engine bay 5) a fuel mixer at the engine intake manifold   This woodgas generator fueled little beauty is quite quirky, and historically interesting in its own right, but so, I feel certain you will agree, is this soon to be released figure of Winston Churchill AVAILABILITY: Late JUNE/ Early JULY PRICE: TO BE ANNOUNCED F . "Winston on the Warpath" As everyone knows Britain's wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a former soldier and loved to "test" all kinds of new weaponry... DD105 "Winston and his Tommy-Gun" After test-firing a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun on a rifle range early in the war Winston declared it was a "real war-winner" On hearing this in America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a special Thompson made for the P.M. and presented it to him at the Casablanca Conference Our Churchill is based on a famous photograph taken during the war The photograph in question is quite probably the one below, used by both the Allies and the Germans for propaganda purposes       This iconic photograph of Winston with the Thompson submachine gun was taken during his visit to the coastal defense positions near Hartlepool on 31 July, 1940. The prospects were not looking good for the United Kingdom and her new prime minister at this time. Exiled foreign governments were arriving in London, the Home Guard was just being established and was ill-prepared, for a month or more Hitler had been preparing to invade and the Luftwaffe had been commencing what would eventually become known as the Battle of Britain. We had already lost the Channel Islands barely a month before, and it looked as if Russia might enter the war from the German side     This shows the original photo from which the one above was created The photograph was timely and was used to show Churchill as a wartime leader, statesmanlike, determined and menacing. On the other hand, the Germans got hold of the photo and compared it to those of American gangsters. They used it in their propaganda leaflets airdropped over the country during the Battle of Britain     So, there you have it, some of the latest offerings from the prolific King and Country, purveyors par excellence of 'handmade history'. Huzzah, and happy hunting!

Airsoft Arms and Accessories: ASG Specter MWS

The ASG Specter MWS is by no means new. People have been talking about it, writing about it, posting about it since some time in 2010, and I mentioned it myself in a previous post quite a while ago. So, why am I referring to it again? Simply to register my very keen interest in the idea behind it, and to let you know, in case you didn't already, that it has just been reviewed in what is, arguably, the most 'commercially successful airsoft publication' in the world, if not the known universe, Airsoft International

When I first saw the adverts for it I remember thinking, 'ooh, I like the sound of that,' a gun that allows you to swap out a variety of front ends whilst keeping the same stock, power pack and necessary 'mechanicals', giving you flexibility and the option to adapt the weapon to suit the demands of the game or the environment in which you'll be playing. 'Hmmm', I remember thinking, 'I wonder how expensive that will be, and will it be any good?'

AI's review has answered a lot, if not quite all, of my questions and, I'm not ashamed to say, it left me with a smile on my face, and an itch in my pocket!

The idea behind it is simplicity itself. You want a standard assault rifle with a standard length barrel, without all those gadget laden RIS rails weighing down the front end, and you want a short barreled, stubby-killer-type affair, with enough RIS rail to bolt on a full heavy metal concert lighting rig for when you go up close and personal in the next Copehill Down extravaganza, but you also quite fancy sitting in the undergrowth for the morning session of the next woodland game, picking off the lame geese from a distance with a longer range rifle. So, of course, you need at least three, quite expensive guns, right? After all, you want a bit of variety, and you want them all to be reliable so you're not going to go for the cheapest ones on the rack! This system might make you think again. Why buy three guns when you can buy one? Well, one lower receiver, and three uppers!

The MWS gives you a choice of two lower receivers and ten uppers

Instead of buying three guns, you buy one lower receiver, which comes with the option of a fixed or a crane stock, and three separate upper receivers, form a range of ten. I think you'll agree, it's a nice idea. Provided, I guess, you like the M4/M16 platform. If for you playing a different type of game necessarily means playing it with a different type of gun, an MP5 for CQB for example, then this clearly isn't going to appeal

So, back to those all important questions to do with price and performance. I don't intend to go in to all the technical details described in the AI article, merely to summarise some of the key points. Firstly, the gun isn't made by ASG. It's manufactured by VFC, a Taiwanese company with an enviable reputation for producing good quality, reliable kit. One of my playing buddies over at FBS swears by his VFC M4. He has a number of other guns, too, but loves the VFC for its rugged reliability and down to earth efficacy. It's built to do a job and does it bloody well!

AI's evaluation of this gun is pretty much the same, commending it on its first rate design and construction, extremely positive and well positioned fire controls, ability to accept magazines from a variety of manufacturers, and easily adjustable Hop-up. It fires at around 337fps out of the box at a cyclic rate of 1160 RPM using a 1400mAh 9.6v battery and is, to quote AI, "a rock-solid AEG"

"It's just a tool for doing a job.....it allows you to just get on with it. At no point did it ever feel like it was going to let you down.....it is a great piece of kit, and overall it's a superb concept. Tyr one. You won't be disappointed"

They scored it a hefty 5 out of 5 for all four of their testing criteria, external parts, internal parts, performance and field testing, and thoroughly recommend it. As for price, that will inevitably vary depending on the precise nature of the configuration you go for, and where you go to purchase it, of course. Airsoft Armoury are stocking the complete range and retailing the crane stock LR for £169.99 and the fixed stock LR for £159.99 with the upper receivers starting at £134.99 and going up to £219.99

I will be sure to try one out at the earliest available opportunity! Happy hunting

Overlord 2011

Welcome to the first post of May. Well I don't know about you, but I've been enjoying the last few days of fine weather, and being fortunate enough to have been given time off work to take advantage of them, and it suddenly struck me today, whilst pottering about in the garden cutting down the plants that weren't quite tough enough to have survived the cold snap back in December, that the 'silly season' is upon us

With that in mind I thought I'd draw your attention to a militaria show being held over the second of the May bank holiday weekends. Now in its 30th year, the Overlord Military Spectacular is a well known show but this year the organisers have moved it to a new venue and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before

I have taken the liberty of including some more detailed information taken directly from the event website, www.solentoverlord.co.uk, and a few 'well chosen' piccies from last year's 'spectacular'

Overlord 2011

Friday 27th May - Monday 30th May

9am til 5.30pm

* New location * click here

 
2011 bigger and better than ever!

After continued success and growth over the last few years we have outgrown the Clanfield site. Our new location has allowed us to grow into a bigger area, spread across 4 fields. The center field is dedicated to Living History, complete with stream. This "nomansland" is an ideal location for terrain and scene oriented dioramas with purpose dug bomb craters. Contact Gary Lambsdale to book your location on this field

Now taking bookings - To download application forms click here

Running for 30 years, this annual event has become the main show for military enthusiasts commemorating D-Day 1944

- Over 300 military vehicles: jeeps to motorcycles, trucks to tanks.
- Mock battles with explosions and gunfire.
- Living history section with period uniforms and weapons.
- Trade stalls for militaria, uniform and tools.
- Arena events guaranteed to entertain the whole family.
- Nostalgia Day—Sunday 29th May, 40’s style theme.

Admission Charges
Adults: £7.00
Concessions: £4.00 Child: (5-15yrs) £4.00
Family: (2 adults, 3 children) £20.00

Facilities
Disabled parking, First Aid , Toilets, Food & Trade Stalls, Beer Tent, Free parking

Download Show Leaflet
Front and Back pages
Middle Pages

There will be military vehicles aplenty, from different eras, not solely WW2.....

..... battle reenactments.....

.....and the odd airsofter or two

If you look closely, you might see the chap on the left throwing a glance at his mate and asking, "are you quite sure we don't look like a couple of Charlies, Keith?"

Let's hope the weather's fine and, if you can make it, you too will be able to enjoy all the fun of the fair