Wars of The Roses - Faction #2.

 Good progress on the second WoR faction for Noel, Blue and Yellow themed time. Great mix of figure codes from Peter Pig makes for lively looking bases. I just have 4 bases of bowmen to complete the Levy troops and this one is done. Faction #3 is my desk drawer ready to start at beginning of April. For the rest of March I have some more 1/72nd scale plastics for Old John, 4 x 15mm scale German Gliders for Noel (have made the kits and primed the models ready) and 2 x 80 figure Epic French Napoleonic infantry battalions for Tim, a comfortable workload for me now that I have cut back on my painting time somewhat. 

I have also switched from the Army Painter brushes that I have been using for years to Vallejo Pro-modeler range, very reasonably priced and so far so good, they hold the point very well and have a good feel in the hand. I had come to the conclusion that Army Painter brushes were just not of the quality they once where so looked to make the change.

Massed Levy Billmen.

The Household troops and command base.

The Retinue.

Just 4 more bases of bowmen to complete this faction.

Vallejo 00 Pro Modeler - very good so far!

The Improved Industrial Dwelling Company - a bit more research.

I have long been interested in Social History as well as Military History so I hope you do not mind me sharing this here as a blog post. 

I posted here recently about the flats in Southwark SE London where research showed that I was living in 1962 then aged 4 in Cromwell Buildings, Redcross way, Borough. I have been fascinated by the history of the buildings for many years having learned that the block had been built in 1864 by The Improved Industrial Dwelling Company based upon a design displayed in the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park in 1851 and attributed to Prince Albert although in fact he commission the design based upon his ideas. The design was for small 'building  block' type flats for the families of the 'Labouring Classes' complete with internal WC's, a rare thing back then as most dwellings still relied upon the outside privies often communal. I was delighted to find only recently an image of the original 'Model Dwellings' as it appeared at the exhibition thanks to a virtual tour on youtube so I grabbed a screen shot as seen below. A  block of 4 such flats, each of 3 bedrooms, was built outside of the exhibition hall an image of which can be seen below along with the floor plan. A Scullery with sink  and coal store along with 'Dust' shoot (refuse/waste) was also incorporated along with a larder/meat storage cupboard  ventilated by air bricks. Cromwell Buildings consisted of 4 floors containing 8 flats with the central open stairway by which access was gained. The block is grade II listed and still occupied today and still, I am told- owned by the Local Authority. It is also worth noting that the block is just a stones throw from the famous Crossbones Burial Ground for Paupers ( Link) also in Redcross Way. These dwellings became the model for many thousands of Tenement Blocks across the Country as a means of solving Housing Shortages at a period  when even large families occupied single rooms in multi occupancy houses.

Cromwell Buildings today, Grade II listed, I lived with my parents on the 3rd floor and played on the open roof garden!.

Thank to the Virtual Tour of the Great Exhibition on YouTube I was able to see the original design upon which Cromwell Buildings was based, albeit less cell like!

4 flats stacked 2 above the other, open front central stairwell and internal WC's this building still exists in London today.

Paper Soldiers - something a bit different?

 Over recent years I had seen many of Peter Dennis' wonderful paper soldiers on Facebook and YouTube and had often thought about having a go if just to see what all the fuss was about! When I saw his 'Peninsular War' title pop up on Amazon for just £10 I could not resist ordering a copy. For those unaware it contains every type of British, French and Portuguese soldier for the War that can be printed, glued and folded to create armies in 28mm scale for wargaming as an alterative to painting model soldiers. They are of course 'flats' but the artwork is very clever in the way it portrays for example, cavalry. I'm sure that I will have a go at a couple of units just to see what I can do with them! Patience is required as you need to cut carefully around each individual figure including muskets and bayonets to remove all trace of white edges but Peter does explain the method of doing this in his video linked below. It looks fun and it looks really therapeutic, and while it will never replace traditional metal or plastic figures it does offer a cheap alterative way of getting into the hobby.

So. Paper Soldiers, what do you think?