It's that time of the year when dear old Dymchurch is rammed with holiday makers and day trippers and it's almost impossible to walk down the village High Street without getting caught up in a seething mass of bodies, many of them lobster like in colour given the recent high temperatures. Unlike many UK traditional seaside villages Dymchurch retains much of it's charm, there are no empty shops and enough visitors to allow the traders to make a good living during the Summer season. There are several caravan parks on the outskirts of Dymchurch and it remains a popular place for families to bring children. Throughout August we have free childrens entertainment in the form of a Living History Workshop where kids get to dress up as smugglers, make swords and go 'Treasure hunting' on the beach etc. Fishing boats are towed down to the beach via the central slipway on the incoming tide and return later in the day when the tide turns. The beach is the big draw, miles of soft sand and on a good day the water is full of children swimming and playing.
This August Bank Holiday is the traditional Dymchurch 'Day of Syn' named after the Dr. Syn series of smuggling stories written by Russell Thorndike. It's a weekend of free entertainment including re enactment on the beach, live music and many villagers enjoy dressing up as smugglers. It's advertised as a weekend of 'Smuggling, Wenching & Drinking' and the atmosphere is always great. The preserved Martello tower will be open to visitors and offers a lovely view from the gun platform on the top. It's a very busy weekend and you really have to arrive early to have a chance of getting parked!
Back to Wargaming!
I have painted a few more British redcoats and general Wolfe, all by Front Rank. I have another 30 figures coming back from John the painter, including 10 more British regulars. These, with the additional 4 I have just finished will make up five companies of eight figures including the Grenadier company, leaving just the light company to paint. I'm onto the two artillery pieces for the crews that John has also painted for me (see pics), then I have two mounted generals to do.
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| Artillery crews and all figures below by John at 'Kingscolours' Front Rank 28mm. |
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| Rogers Rangers. |
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| Canadian Militia. |
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| More 'Hatmen' |
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| A few bare/bandaged heads for contrast. |
I'm also still beavering away at the 15mm tanks for Flames of War, need to finish the basing and decals. There are also a number of T34's unpainted so I'll get them done and add the wonderful tank riders to finish them. I hope next weekend to have a run through of Sharpe Practice.
A few general pictures of what I'm up to at present.
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| 3 platoons of T34's an inspiring sight for any tank enthusiast. |
Splendid figures, I really like the artillery crew!
ReplyDeleteCheers Phil.
DeleteJust reading the Dr. Syn books at the moment...cracking stuff with loads of wargaming possibilities. Sounds like a likely place to take a holiday.
ReplyDeleteDr.Syn the Vicar of Dymchurch by day and notorious smuggler by night :)
DeleteGreat looking Tank armies you have there Lee! The other figures look smart as well ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you James, much appreciated :)
DeleteDr Syn - the scarecrow! That's really jogged my aged brain to remember the TV series (1964). Excellent stuff when you are eight years old!
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DeleteYes Ian, and a Disney Film around the same time I understand? Dymchurch still sells itself on the Syn stories, as you drive in there are big back and white images of 'The Scarecrow' that catch your headlights when dark and give you a scare :)
DeleteExcellent and if I wasn't otherwise engaged this weekend you make a trip sound very exciting and worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteIt's incredibly popular Paul, many of us locals stay indoors to avoid the crowds! But it is a great weekend of FREE entertainment, not many places you can say that thesedays.
DeleteI grew up in Saundersfoot on the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. The Grockles (Slang for tourists as was used back then) were an awful blight outside of the obvious financial boost they offered. The pretty little village became a nightmare. Your own home sounds far more welcoming and that visitors respect the place in general.
ReplyDeleteMinis you've previewed look fab. Love the masses of tanks!
Hi Dai,
DeleteI have heard the term 'Grockles' used down here before too, never knew what it meant! Wish I could say they all respect the place, you should see the amount of litter they leave behind them.
I'm hoping to play a FOW tank battle shortly :)