WW1, Patton, Rock Soup and Collection Culling

After having acquired all the early WW1 15mm models anybody could feasibly need I now find myself in a certain degree of a funk as this whole project has come about in completely the opposite way to how I usually approach these things. As a rule I tend to follow General Patton’s well known ‘Rock Soup’ method when tackling projects i.e. I acquire a few books and read up on the subject a little (this is very low intensity!); then perhaps add a set of rules or two and then finally the models. The soup analogy is that when pouring Rock Soup you will first see the liquid splashing in the plate but in a fairly low key and unobtrusive fashion – then comes the lump of the rock which crashes into the middle and pushes everything else aside. In Patton’s case that would be using small reconnaissance units to feel their way into the enemy position and then the rock in the shape of all manner of armoured goodness would batter its way in.

In my case I find myself unusually bereft of reading material and references for the early days of WW1 despite having played numerous games over the years set in early 1914. I will need uniform details and some campaign histories; perhaps with some actual accounts if possible. I am well prepared to acquire a few titles to support the collection and will have a look around to see what is available. Most of my WW1 book collection at present covers the Middle East so everywhere else will be virgin territory. I am convinced I could raid Osprey for a few ideas and will ensure that the boot sales I visit are properly checked out for any WW1 related items. I must confess that rummaging around in bookshops (both old and new) is a 'not-so-guilty' pleasure of mine and so this should keep me (and my wallet) occupied for a while!

The WW1 and Balkans Wars projects have also served to crystallise my interests to an extent and so it raises the issue of realigning my collection to focus on those periods that are realistically viable. There are a number of periods that I have invested in (usually meaning I have a couple of books and rules on the period in question) that are not going to see the light of day any time soon and so a collection cull will inevitably be necessary. I am prone to doing this from time to time for a number of reasons – the main one being limitations of space. By trimming extraneous periods it also means that I can focus on the priorities without distraction. Such culling also serves to raise funds to support the next project on the agenda as the proceeds can then be cunningly reinvested!

I have yet to decide exactly what periods or projects to trim but will have ample opportunity to consider this in due course as I shall be relocating my ‘office’ at home into my son’s bedroom as he has rather obligingly moved out! The new room is larger and has a better layout than my existing ‘office’ and so I will be able to, at last, add a further bookcase. As the room is at the back of the house facing west it means that the light is far better late in the day which will help with my painting considerably (it certainly needs it!). The room needs decorating but this will be an easy task and all I will need to do then is a run to Ikea for the shelving units etc.

This in itself is another project; albeit of a 1:1 nature!