“I Can Resist Everything….Except Temptation!”….

Turkish ironclads, Russian Spar Torpedo launches, circular gunboats and river monitors - what could possibly go wrong?

Medical Update

The attack of Covid appears to be relenting somewhat although I (and my my daughter) are still testing positive. She seems to be suffering rather more than I am so it is just a case of maintaining the fluids and paracetamol intake to cope and waiting it out.

Laurel met with her consultant today and he was the bearer of some welcome good news. Her tumour is benign (he suspected as such but it is always good to have it confirmed) and he is really pleased with her progress. The loss of feeling etc is perfectly normal and so he has put her on a course of steroids for a few days to help with the internal swelling and therefore speeding up its return. We have also heard that she has a bed in a residential rehab facility located about 15 minutes from where we live which is really good news and will help further with her recovery.

All in all then, progress is being made.

Unexpected Gaming Stuff

After having spent some time yesterday sorting bits and pieces out in the man cave - the previous Battle of Britain post was a result of this - I once again looked long and hard at the ACW ships and what I need to do to finish them. It was then that I realised that the Warbases order I am waiting for is rather more essential than I originally envisaged. I have made a schoolboy error with this current batch in that it is rather larger than I usually work with - 13 models rather than 3 or 4 at a time - and although I have previously said I would split them up into batches due to the material shortages Warbases are currently rectifying, I am currently unable to complete any of the three sets. Having split them into types I am loath to reorganise them again just so as I get on with building so my eye fell upon the 4 hulls of the Turkish ships I want to build for the Russo Turkish War. Now these I can build as all the material has been amassed and in truth, they would make a welcome change.

I then compounded my schoolboy error by taking the book depicted at the head of this post off the shelf and opening it. I was suddenly struck by the realisation that many of the Russian ships would be pretty straightforward to build (circular gunboats notwithstanding) and in fact, some of the ACW hulls currently under construction could even be repurposed if required (I quickly dampened that idea down). The Russians would need a selection of Spar torpedo boats and there is a class of Turkish gunboats of which the Russians captured and reused. There are a couple more ironclads I could add to the Turks and in truth these are pretty straightforward to build.

The four Turkish central battery ironclads. Aside from masts, funnels, bowsprits deck hatches and flag staffs (and painting naturally!) they should prove to be a pleasing distraction.

Is this a big temptation? Absolutely! Is this a big distraction? On the face of it you might think so when all along I have been concentrating on the ACW models. For me though, I like to think of this as being more a change of position in a comfy chair - I can always go back to how I was once the bits and pieces arrive from Warbases but in the meantime a change is as good as a rest!

‘The Portable Wargamers came in 3 by 3 hurrah, hurrah!’

I have to say that I am really intrigued by the concept of this and am hoping to get a trial game in tomorrow. I shall be using the block armies and rather fancy something Russo Turkish War based. I shall be taking a look at the Neil Thomas book of 19th century European wargaming as there is a rather nice selection of small scale scenarios I can adapt. Most of all though, it will be good to fight a wargame - the first of 2022!