Thursday, February 17, 2011

Chapter 49: Officer's Call

Date: 30 December 1899
Location: Fort Grant
Situation: Officer's Call
You THERE!  Yes, You.  Double Click Your Images!
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Before 1899 ends, Major General Pettygree, commanding Fort Grant, summoned selected officers for a meeting. As they arrive....

Major Trevelyan 10th Hussars, greets Lt. Caddy RE whilst Dr. Watson waits to enter.

Several officers gather at the bar for drinks and a little conversation.


 
Bartender: "Did you hear the one about Lt. Byron from Glasgow?"

Lt. Bracegirdle, leftmost: "No. I can't say I have. Why?"

Bartender: "Well, he's a pukka (very good) laddy to use the lingo here an' wastes not a drop o' the Scotch. Yesterday a fly dropped in his glass. Frowning, he saved the delirious little bugger from drowning, placed him on the rim and demanded, Spit it out!"  

When Major General Pettygree arrived, the officers gathered arround.

Left to right: Dr. Watson, Lt. Bracegirdle Heliograph, Major Faraday Political Officer, Major Colin McKenzie Seaforths, Captain Gill 9th Bengal Lancers, Captain Jellicoe RN, Lt. Caddy RE, Lt. Colonel Preece 10th Hussars, Major General Pettygree and Major Trevelyan 10th Hussars.

Trevelyan: "Gentlemen. May we have your attention?"

Pettygree: "Lawford, no please don't get up. Very good to see you. Your wounds from the Kota Ki-Bandahar incident?"

Lawford: "Glad to be back General. My injuries are healing well. I'll ride with the regiment when the campaign resumes if Dr. Watson allows."

Watson: "Count on it Sirs. He's healing marvelously from the torture."

Pettygree: "Very good. Good indeed. -- Now to the business at hand."

Pettygree: "Gentlemen. -- We shall return to the field to finish the job. Not only will we fight with rifle, lance and cannon, we've added the Gatling and cutlasses so to speak of Captain Jellicoe's seamen and one more ace too. Her Majesty's Government has agreed to negotiate extensively with friendly and enemy native leaders alike with promises and incentives." Major Faraday will explain.-- Major?

Trevelyan: "Welcome Major Faraday.

Faraday: "I'm glad to be here Gentlemen  to help finish this Muljadhi chap and his Tug followers once and for all. In addition to your arsenal of weapons and skills I am authorized to make treaties with the khans. To encourage them, I will subsidize friendly leaders with rupees and rifles."

Preece: "Rifles!"

Faraday: "Yes. You see as the Army marches deeper and deeper into enemy territory, the khans who agree to remain peaceful will need weapons to defend themselves from neighboring leaders who will not be so agreeable. Plus, if we sweeten the deal with continuing subsidies of rupees,  it makes things better for us. Protects our line of communication."

Pettygree: "Quite so. Thank you.  Gentlemen, let us adjourn and enjoy the rest of the evening."

The meeting ends and they disperse.

When the hour grows late, they retire to their quarters.

Good night Sirs. We'll see you in the new year, God willing.
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 CLOSING REMARKS:
1. Lawford and Faraday are from Foundry's WWI British interrogation set painted by John Preece.
2. Bar, bartender, small table and stone structures are from Miniature Building Authority. The main table was scratch-built.
3. Winter ground cover in this and the previous chapter is on loan from the collection of Der Alte Fritz manufactured from The Terrain Guy in Texas.
4. May I encourage you to place your remarks at the word comments below?
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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Între Acte {C}

Situation: Intermission {C}
Purpose: Three Topics
Images: Best to double click 'em, you know
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WINTER....
Embraces The Frontier from The Secret Valley to Fort Grant and Mother Russia. The Imperials, their implacable foes and the Romanovs have gone their separate ways. Beneath the snowy blanket all appears dormant. Don't you believe it! However, before the thaw, let's cast our eyes on three peaceful and pleasant snowscapes.

One of the many villages within The Secret Valley. The central watchtower serves as a final defensive stronghold should outer walls in obvious need of repair fail to stop intruders from other villages. Few inhabitants believe the Imperials know the exact location of their valley. Beside this they have the Guru's prophetic promise the Imperials will never come here and survive.

Back in Mother Russia Colonel Villainovitch and his niece Countess Alexandra Elaina Volkanskaya stroll about a portion his country dacha.

Are they discussing the imminent party for neighboring nobility? Perhaps. Might they also be speaking about returning to The Secret Valley after the thaw? Yes, possibly.

And you? Are you contemplating Major General Pettygree's plans for his growing force at Fort Grant? Please return after intermission to learn what his officers have to say about it.

Meanwhile let's warm things up with....

FIRE SIMULATION
Weeks ago Furt inquired about making fire. The following photos hopefully serve.

The product with technical details.

The back of the package shows parts, manufacturer and the website address.

The black Atlas Connector is a model railroad switch bought separately. The three light bulbs are individually connected to it on the top. The 9 volt battery provides power at the side. After the red wire is taped to the battery, power is available or not. Bulbs may be turned on as a group of three, two or just one depending on the position of the yellow buttons. Currently they are all in the down {off} mode.

The first time I used the product was as a test within a 15mm WWII bunker. Only the blinking white light was activated to simulate MG fire. The group thought it was effective and it added interest.

The red wire is taped to the battery now. Power is available to bulbs when the yellow buttons are pushed up. All are on. Oh! Ignore the letters I, DY and X. I forgot to remove these. The last step is to hide all this someplace and place the bulbs beneath cotton wool or the fiber used to fill pillows.

As seen in previous chapters, the fiber is colored with red, yellow and black water-based paint simulating fire and smoke. Apply paint to your fingers working the paint into the fiber using all the colors in different proportions.

INSPIRATION
Within the pages of Winston Churchill's first book, The Malakand Field Force will be found the kind of specific detail needed to imagineer historical miniatures tabletop games at the company to brigade level. Highly recommended especially if you do any Colonial gaming. A+.

Indeed, just the other day my wife noticed this fellow on Deck 4 of The Navigator of the Seas. He too was so inspired by Churchill's details he was seen taking notes whilst outbound from Montego Bay, Jamaica to Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA. Amazing coincidence!

Montego Bay, Jamaica seen from a low mountain range. Royal Caribbean's Navigator of The Seas is docked in the harbor. "Yah mahn. No problems."
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CLOSING REMARKS
1. Wintry terrain courtesy of my good friend Der Alte Fritz, Jim P. Lovely isn't it?
2. Watch tower, dacha and trees built by HG Walls: Herb Gundt. Awesome, yes?
3. Back soon. We'll see what Major General Pettygree and his officers have to say in the officer's club.
4. Remarks welcome below as always at the word comments.
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