Mate Drew came over for my birthday and brought a couple of game mats made out of 25mm foam both 1200mm X 1800mm.
They are three dimensional with raised road and sunken rivers and streams.
A ford across a stream.
Plowed field and sunken road.
Bridged river (supply your own bridge)
Shows the thickness of the two mats.
Drew also left a third unused mat of foam which I have started making some hills out of. More on these tomorrow.
Gurus birthday present arrived today from Amazon, albeit a day after the hallowed event.
The lenses work well with with up to 23 different combinations of lenses to work with.
The headband’s inner side is padded with soft sponge for comfort. It features a magnifying lens with three knobs: two on the sides for height and angle adjustments, and one at the back to fit head size. The lens can be adjusted or folded, and the small round lens is 360° rotatable and can be flipped up when not in use.
The headband magnifier has 3 LED lights that can be adjusted and removed. You can change the direction of the lights for better illumination. The battery is rechargeable via USB and takes four hours to fully charge, and provides 8-12 hours of continuous light.
It will take a bit of getting used but will make it easier for these old eyes that at times “are dim and cannot see” to continue painting.
I was reliably informed that volcanoes are made with rum, brandy, pineapple juice, orange juice, and orgeat syrup. Oh and of course topped with a cherry! Nope not the right one?
Big Ben on Heard Island, Australia’s largest volcano.
Volcanoes are openings in Earth’s crust that release ash, gases, steam, and hot liquid rock called lava. When lava cools and hardens, it forms the cone-shaped mountain we recognize as a volcano. Most volcanoes are located around the edges of tectonic plates, on land and in oceans.
Volcanoes on land form when one tectonic plate goes under another. Typically, a thin, heavy oceanic plate moves beneath a thicker continental plate. This causes the ocean plate to sink into the mantle.
Mine were a bit easier than that. Hex hills cut from dense foam board and polystyrene cones.
Undercoated in ochre and then “painted” with a sand, brown poster paint, and PVA glue mix with a toothpaste like consistency.
Sloped on matt black paint.
Dry brushed with yellow orange red and magenta poster paints. Painted all over with a water based gloss varnish (to avoid foam melting) and then some various coloured fibre wool placed in the volcano crater to simulate eruptions.
To make the volcanoes fit into the modular hex terrain, I needed to do one last adjustment. The foam hex hills had tricky edges, so I had to find a way to ensure the terrain fitted together perfectly.
I decided to glue 6mm thick mdf hexes on to the bottom of the volcanoes. These fitted perfectly into the modular board and raised any imperfections above the adjoining 2mm thick mdf hexes to avoid any problems. I will do the same with all other hills.
So volcanoes now extinct!
During the Jurassic period, there was a lot of volcanic activity that greatly shaped the landscape, including about 100 volcanoes located in central Australia. These impressive volcanoes, which erupted between 180 and 160 million years ago, are now buried beneath layers of sedimentary rock, obscuring their once-active forms.
The volcanic area covered nearly 2,900 square miles, making it one of the significant geological features of the time. The volcanoes were active 180-160 million years ago. Their presence was somewhat unexpected because most volcanoes occur at the edges of tectonic plates, but these existed in an area that was mid-plate.
This eruption of lava and ash would have released large amounts of gases into the atmosphere, contributing to changes in the climate. As a result, this volcanic activity not only altered the environment but also played a crucial role in creating habitats that supported the rise and diversification of dinosaurs, allowing them to thrive in a variety of ecosystems across the globe.
Massive volcanic eruptions may have been more important in the extinction of the dinosaurs than we previously believed.
Recent studies in Science indicate that volcanic activity, particularly the huge eruptions of the Deccan Traps in modern-day India, may have significantly contributed to this mass extinction event.
Didn’t quite get these finished today. Just a few touch ups on the base edges to go.
For a rough and ready project these have come out better than expected.
They will make ideal dangerous terrain for the dinosaur game.
The finished product tomorrow.
Hills painted and flocked.
A fair bit of work still needs doing on the volcano terrain pieces.
I was going to add some led lights but have decided against as I am running out of time to complete this project. Maybe down the track (code for “not on your Nellie”)!
More tomorrow.
From Michael Veitch’s insightful pen comes a clear and engaging history of the civilian ‘Coast Watchers,’ a dedicated group of individuals who played a crucial role in assisting the Australian Defence Force during World War II. These brave men and women risked their lives to monitor Japanese activity along the coastlines and jungles of the South Pacific, providing vital intelligence that significantly impacted military strategies.
Their commitment and courage in the face of danger stand as a testament to their patriotism and the importance of civilian contributions in wartime efforts. Veitch captures not only the historical significance of the Coast Watchers but also the personal stories of those who served, illuminating their experiences and the sacrifices they made for the greater good.
Eric Feldt, a retired Royal Australian Navy officer with extensive civil service experience in New Guinea, was appointed to lead intelligence in the New Guinea region. As an Islander himself, Feldt was familiar with the locals, planters, and government officials, earning their trust.
With Japan entering the war, New Guinea became the front line. The Coastwatchers communicated by radio using existing stations or borrowed teleradios. They received instructions and a code to report enemy movements and valuable intelligence. It was a lonely and risky life.
I first became aware of the Coastwatchers through the 1962 TV version of the 1959 film by producer Roger Mirams for Pacific Films. It starred Ken Goodlet and Kevin Colson and was written by John Sherman and directed by Mirams.
As an eight year old I still remember being riveted to the ABC on Anzac Day 1962 to watch the docudrama.
Any way back to the book. I am a favourite reader of Veitch’s books because his research is impeccable, and as a former journalist he is able to tell a good yarn.
When World War II reached the Pacific, the Coastwatchers transitioned from being mere observers to becoming critical spies operating behind enemy lines, taking on a role that was both dangerous and vital to the war effort. They faced not only the immediate danger posed by the enemy’s relentless attempts to locate and eliminate them but also the severe challenges of exhaustion, tropical diseases, and hunger that came from living in harsh and inhospitable environments. Each day brought with it the constant threat of capture, torture, and death, making their mission one of extreme peril. Despite these daunting obstacles, the Coastwatchers demonstrated remarkable bravery, using their intelligence and resourcefulness to gather vital information that aided Allied forces. Their efforts not only provided crucial insights into enemy movements but also helped shape key strategies during the conflict. Without the Coastwatchers’ unwavering courage and intelligence, many important events in the Pacific War might have turned out very differently, potentially altering the course of history. Their legacy serves as a testament to the impact of dedication and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
I found it an engaging and clear story about unknown heroes who risked their lives for their country and created a highly successful spy ring.
Another book on the same topic that is worth reading is “The Coast Watchers: The Men Behind Enemy Lines Who Saved the Pacific” by Patrick Lindsay, though it is a bit harder to read.
I sought the help of good gaming mate Wayne to help out with cutting the hexes to size. Coz he has all of the “cool” stuff like a vertical hot wire foam cutter!
Wayne in the servitude of Guru!
The collection of high density foam hill hexes.
A mixture of on tier (low), two tier (medium) and three tier (cliff) hills.
I have set some aside as for volcano craters and chimneys.
Now to finish modelling and painting them.
I played my first game of Zeo Genesis last night. I didn’t expect to enjoy a game about giant mechs and their supports, but I did!
Zeo Genesis is a fast-paced skirmish wargame where players control teams of large mechs (Zeos) and support units. Games are typically played on a 3×3 board with one to four Zeo units per side. Players take turns activating their units, which allows for several actions and the chance to react during the opponent’s turns.
Prolific 40k contributors Andy Chambers and Gav Thorpe are the masterminds behind the rules which are as slick as you would expect from such a dynamic duo.
The rules are based upon the concepts of “impetus” and “cohesion”. Impetus is a finite resource that plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of gameplay. You can spend this valuable resource on various aspects such as enhancing cohesion among units, executing activations to perform actions, or reacting strategically to enemy actions that may disrupt your plans. The effective management of impetus is essential; as it not only dictates how fluidly a player can maneuver their pieces but also influences the overall outcome of confrontations on the battlefield, creating a delicate balance between aggression and defense. Therefore, understanding the nuances of how to allocate impetus wisely can significantly enhance your strategic options and improve your chances of success in the game.
The game is currently on Gamefound and is well worth a look at.
A game that I am happy to play but not one I am going to rush out and buy the rules when available.
Not sure when, where, or why I ended up with this one, but a nice 54mm model.
All I needed to do was replace the white metal spear and find a suitable base and the Spartan Hoplite was ready to paint.
Nothing to use it for but will look “nice” on the shelf!
Written in 1924 before Lawrence wrote “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” and “Revolt in the Desert”, this was the book that became the basis of the film. Like the movie, the book offers an interesting but stylized view of T.E. Lawrence’s involvement in the Arab Revolt, though it’s not completely accurate. While the portrayal of Lawrence and his relationships with Arab leaders stays true to history, it does take some creative liberties with events and characters. Despite this, the book and Thomas’ travelling slide show, turned T.E. Lawrence into a pop culture hero which was its aim.
Thomas, writing as a propagandist with American government support, aimed to encourage enthusiasm for the Allied cause in 1917. He arrived in the Middle East to witness the British capture of Jerusalem and spent weeks with Lawrence of Arabia, taking photos and filming him. This is a far cry from aconfidant who was continually at Lawrence;s side as the title of the book suggests,
Thomas did not formally interview Lawrence or become close to him, nor did he interview Allenby, though he cites several of Allenby’s senior officers as sources. His lack of criticism regarding the information led to many unlikely stories in his book.
This is one book that one should read but only once. I would boirrow this rather than purchase it. Much better titles around that are more likely to have more information that you can rely on!