Poll dancing

My poll on the format of the blog has now closed and the results are in!  61 votes were cast and the scores on the doors are as follows:

80% of voters (49 votes) are in favour of the old (current) format.
9% (6 votes) preferred the 'new' flipcard format which I tried out for a few days in early March.
6% (4 votes) either didn't know or care
3% (2 votes) claimed that "I don't read this rubbish, I just like internet polls."

I know that doesn't quite add up to 100% but don't blame me.
So for the time being at least we'll be staying with the current layout.  Flipcard looks great but for the moment at least takes far too long to load up - even with a wired fibre-optic broadband connection to the interwebnet.  Maybe this will change in the future, so I'll keep an eye on it.

Meanwhile what passes for 'normal service' will be resumed...

A blog post ain't a blog post without a photo of some toys.  Does anyone else have a corner of a shelf full of crap like this?  10 points to the first reader to identify all the toys...

Hurried Hurris

Some progress has been made with the batch of 1/144 scale 'Gashapon' models which arrived a few weeks ago. These, it will be remembered, are pre-painted kits which require assemble and some decals but no painting.
I began with a couple of Hurricane IIC - one one in a rather striking night fighter finish.  As usual these went together easily - though I managed to break one of the delicate cannon barrels on the second model. 

Limp Lysander - part 3

Having finally secured the independently-minded wings it was time to paint the thing.  As I had the kit instructions to hand I decided to follow the suggested paint scheme - possibly the first time I've done such a thing!

A load of old bull

This game was played last week using the rules and cards from Battle Cry, my Hexon terrain and 15mm toys from Johns extensive collection.  Having already played the First Bull Run scenario several times I knew it would be quite quick (or mercifully brief?), so I suggested that having selected sides Martin and John play it through and then change sides and do it again!
Above can be seen some colourful US Zouaves occupying a farm.

The battle lines at the start of the game - Yanks on the left and Rebs on the right.

The Rebs soon surged forward to occupy the high ground

As the armies closed a degree of unpleasantness ensued...

Note the now shot to hell Zouaves (at 25% strength) on the left.

On the Reb left/US right a desperate cavalry battle took place.  Several units marched up and down the small hill...

...but eventually the Bluebellies secured it with a weak infantry unit.

Both armies were soon looking rather ragged.

The final Yank attack perished in a hail of shot - clinching a (tight) victory for the Rebs.

Coming soon - the rematch!