terça-feira, 31 de agosto de 2010

The Wild Cat !


After much consideration, MM resolved to show the world his secret weapon. And here we have it: MM's wild cat in action! The name of this cat is "Guilherme" (William), and as you can notice from this picture this guy is a real internet addict, always browsing for news and innovative supplements for cat food.


In here we have another cat (Miosótis), following with a keen eye all the moves made in the wargames table, waiting for an opportunity to "jump" MM's opponent!
Thanks for the pics MM !
PC

quarta-feira, 25 de agosto de 2010

A BT na Espimodel

A Brigada Tripeira vai ter a honra de estar presente na Esposição de Modelismo, ESPIMODEL, no dia 11 de Setembro da parte da tarde.

Será apresentado um pequeno cenário da WWII, cujo teatro de operações se situa no Norte da Europa junto à fronteira do "Reich", onde se confrontarão uma unidade de "Bifes" e um Kampfgroup Alemão reforçado com um pelotão de "Fallshimjager".
Será um cenário onde se demonstrará a dinâmica da infantaria num jogo da WWII, em contra corrente da generalidade de jogadores que habitualmente só utilizam viaturas blindadas neste período da história militar.
A escolha deste tipo de jogo em que a infantaria tem um papel primordial, só é possível com a utilização das regras AMBUSH BLITZ (neste caso com a opção da utilização da mesa de jogo convencional), que permitem uma fluidez de jogo com a utilização massiva de infantaria.
Conto com a vossa presença,
JF

domingo, 15 de agosto de 2010

Character Series nº 3 - Alcibiades

Character Series nº 3 - Alcibiades

(Part V)

Those that have the will and the good fortune to be able to follow this outstanding Series have surely noticed that last Friday's deadline is long overdue.

There is a simple explanation for this: Peixoto did not deliver my well deserved prize. In fact, he did not even bother to reply to my unselfish proposal. That's o.k. Peixoto, I do not hold this against you. I know you had temperatures of about 40º degrees in Coimbra these last few days, and a guy your age must be having trouble holding his brush, let alone paint his way around...

I am sick and tired of writing about this AL guy. It is time to finish him off.

(Alcibiades in Ionia)

By 411 B.C. AL was ready to pursue his personal agenda, and Sparta simply was not part of it. You remember (...) I mentioned in my last post that Tissaphernes was the representative of Darius II, of Persia - known to the Greeks at the time merely as the "Great King". As a Persian Satrap, Tissaphernes was the holder of considerable civil and military power, therefore, this was the guy AL needed to get on his side. A simple thing for a man like him.

His charming personality, combined with a new found taste for an opulent and luxurious lifestyle did it for him (his previous spartan way of life was quickly discarded). Tissaphernes was thoroughly impressed and agreed to follow AL's advices in matters related to the conduct of the war. At the time, Persia was more or less allied with the Peloponnesian League, since that option gave her a perfectly good excuse to nibble at the Athenian possessions in Ionia. The Persians had agreed to pay every expense related to the maintenance of the Peloponnesian fleet in Ionia, therefore giving them a considerable operational edge against the Athenian fleet.

AL would have none of that. He proposed that Persia started delaying the necessary payments, in order to cause instability in the Peloponnesian ranks, so that the war could be prolonged and result in the exhaustion of both opponents, allowing Persia to easily "pick up the pieces". This objective was easily achieved, since several riots immediately occurred, caused by the lack of payment of salaries and the availability of supplies. And AL started using his new found influence on Tissaphernes and Persia to achieve his personal objective: his return to Athens.

His influential friends in Athens and with the Athenian fleet, stationed in the island of Samos, combined with his usual intrigues and shallow plots did the trick. In 411 B.C. AL became once again a General on the Athenian payroll. I can only imagine his attitude if somebody asked him about his late friends, the Spartans. "Spartans, who?", would be a probable reply.

Never mind if this fact had contributed to the (temporary) overthrow of the democratic regime in Athens. After all, that was only a small thing, compared to AL's well-being. In 407 B.C. AL even received a spectacular hero's welcome on his return to Athens, following some military successes (namely, the battles of Abydos and Cyzicus).

But this was the beginning of the end for AL. The fickle Athenians did not accept the defeat of the Athenian forces in the battle of Notium (406 B.C.) and did away with AL, exiling him, never to return to fair Athens.

In 404 B.C. he was, naturally, assassinated (by Spartan influence, as some say).

What a Character, this guy! Woe to the people that let themselves be lead by guys like AL. However, examples such as this are recurrent in History. The instrumentalization of entire countries and societies to the will and ambitions of a person or a group, are recurrent. Just remember these words from Napoleon: "A man like me troubles himself little about the lives of a million men."

One would expect that after thousands of years, the human race could have learned something regarding this. However, not even today we can say that the learning has been made...

Ok. Now I have had enough writing about Statesmen and Generals, in this educative and marvelous Series. My next post will show you how a "John" like you and I can deal with getting involved in the business of war. And, once again, I know for a fact that there will be a (one man...) race to discover his name!

His first name starts with an "E" and his second name starts with an "J". JMM, this is your chance! The prize available to the winner will be announced...if we ever have a winner.

PC

sábado, 14 de agosto de 2010


24.º Campeonato Mundial de Tiro com Armas Históricas
Barcelos, dias 15 a 21 de Agosto de 2010

Aqui fica uma nota informativa relativa à realização de um evento singular em Portugal, supra indicado.
No dia 17 de Agosto, ao final da tarde, haverá elementos do GRHMA e da ANP a testar a solidez e resistência dos edifícios situados no centro histórico de Barcelos, designadamente às ondas de choque provocadas pelas nossas peças de artilharia.

Aqui ficam dois links onde podem ser encontradas mais informações:
PC

BATALHA DO VIMEIRO 21 Agosto 1808 - Diorama

BATALHA DO VIMEIRO 21 Agosto 1808

Realizada durante a I invasão, a batalha do Vimeiro foi decisiva para a rendição de Junot.

Apos o desembarque dos Ingleses na Figueira da Foz a 1 de Agosto de 1808, Junot foi ao encontro do exercito aliado, acabando por se envolver na Batalha no Vimeiro dia 21.

Durante o confronto foram várias as tentativas de Junot para destroçar a defesa Inglesa, no entanto a falta de reforços e a posição no terreno vantajosa a Wellesley acabou por ditar a derrota dos Françeses.


Com este resultado Junot acabou por pedir a rendição, terminava assim a I invasão das forças Napoleónicas em Portugal.

Diorama Dinâmico escala 1.72

Dimensões – 3.00/1.80 – 80 arvores

Total de Figuras:

Franceses : 763 Figuras

  • Homens : 622
  • Cavalos : 108
  • Artilharia : 19 canhões
  • Carroças: 14

Ingleses/Portugueses: 784 Figuras

  • Homens : 422
  • Cavalos : 80
  • Artilharia : 19 canhões
  • Carroças: 9 – Barcos: 2
  • Portugueses Homens: 163
  • Portugueses Artilharia: 3 canhões
  • Cavalos: 23 – Carroças: 2
  • Civis: 40 - Animais: 44

Fases da Batalha recriadas no Diorama

Fase 1 – Posição Inicial das forças Aliadas e Civis ao longo do terreno

Fase 2 – Chegada das Forças de Junot e observação do terreno em torno do Vimeiro

Fase 2 - Combates – Manobras de envolvimento ao cabeço central do Vimeiro

· Tentativa da tomada da colina várias fases

Fase 3 - Ataque dos Granadeiros de Kellermann

· Tentativa de entrada no Vimeiro – Igreja e Cemitério
· Retirada
Fase 4 - Combates de Cavalaria ao longo do Vimeiro
· Retirada das forças de Junot

Forças Militares na Manha de 21-8-1808 no Vimeiro
Ordem de Batalha Inglesa
21-Agosto 1808
General Wellesley
1º Brigada – Hill - 2658 Homens
2º Brigada – Ferguson - 2449 Homens
3º Brigada – Nightingale - 1520 Homens
4º Brigada – Bowes - 1813 Homens
5º Brigada – Craufurd - 1832 Homens
6º Brigada – Fane - 1903 Homens
7º Brigada – Anstruther - 2703 Homens
8º Brigada – Ackland - 1332 Homens
Artilharia - 18 Canhões 226 Artilheiros
Cavalaria de Taylor - 240 Cavaleiros
Destacamento Português de Trant
2585 Homens
Ordem de Batalha Francesa
21-Agosto 1808
General Junot
1º Divisão – Delabord
Brigada Brenier
Brigada Thomieres
2ª Divisão – Loison
Brigada Solignac
Brigada Charlot
8300 Homens Infantaria
Reserva de Kellermann
2100 Granadeiros
Cavalaria de Margaron - 1950 Cavaleiros
Artilharia de Taviel
23 Canhões 700 Artilheiros


Realizado por VM Mestre

http://batalhasnapoleonicas.blogspot.com/

terça-feira, 10 de agosto de 2010

Аванте ТОВАРИЩИ

Olá "camaradas"
Desta vez a cena decorre algures no sul da Rússia, com material britânico ao serviço da URSS.

As viaturas são Matilda MkII

Viaturas já montadas, com as escotilhas abertas feitas em plasticard


Já com o primário, tripulantes e tanques extra num dos tanques


A pintura base, verde escuro


Resultado final após pintura, wash, decalques e respectiva base com película magnética

De perfil

E mais uma placa da minha mesa de jogo

As viaturas são WGS e as figuras Pendraken.

Espero que gostem

JF

PS: Continuem atentos (stay tuned)

segunda-feira, 9 de agosto de 2010



Bicentenário do Cerco de Almeida e do Combate do Rio Côa

Dias 26 a 29 de Agosto de 2010

Pois é meus amigos, é preciso começar a preparar tudo com a máxima antecedência, de molde a poderem estar todos presentes e assistir a este memorável evento que será a comemoração do Bicentenário do Cerco de Almeida e do Combate do Rio Côa.
Esta será, sem qualquer dúvida, a maior reconstituição histórica alusiva ao período napoleónico jamais feita em Portugal, suplantando mesmo o evento realizado no Porto, em Maio de 2009. Contamos com a presença de mais de 500 recriadores históricos vindos de toda a Europa, com inúmeros cavaleiros e peças de artilharia, além dos inevitáveis soldados de infantaria.
Desde o ano de 2004 que muitas pessoas e entidades (públicas e privadas) vêm trabalhando na preparação deste evento, colocando Almeida não só no mapa das reconstituições históricas ao nível europeu, como também divulgando este aspecto importante do nosso património histórico-militar, a nível local e nacional.
E os bravos soldados do Grupo de Recriação Histórica do Município de Almeida (GRHMA) e da Associação Napoleónica Portuguesa (ANP) não deixarão de estar na primeira linha em todos os (pacíficos) combates que se avizinham!
Por isso, toca a fazer as malas e a preparar o farnel!


PC


quinta-feira, 5 de agosto de 2010


Character Series nº 3 - Alcibiades

(Part IV)

Mais uma volta, mais cinquenta paus!
I could translate this into english, in order to allow the dissemination of a profound portuguese proverb throughout the world.
However, I will not do it. The most probable justification for this could be just plain laziness. But it is not. I am offering a substancial cultural prize to the fortunate guy that guesses it's meaning. The only guy that cannot apply to this is JMM - this guy seems to always find a way to win every available prize...

By the way: did you notice that I fulfilled this week's deadline, this time? It's the second time in a row!
Peixoto: I think this achievement is also deserving of a prize, don't you? Something related to painting 15 mm figures, maybe...?

Well, enough of small talk. AL's story must go on!

(Alcibiades in Sparta)

As I mentioned in my last post, at a given point of the Peloponnesian War the Athenians had enough of this guy and proposed to, in plain terms, cut his life short. Sensing he could not talk his way out of this, AL went ot Sparta and asked for protection against his former countrymen (from 415 to 412 B.C.).
And I say "former" with good reason, since immediately after arriving there AL took all the traits of a true Spartan citizen. Those of you that are curious about such things can compare the speeches Thucydides atributes to AL against the Spartans (while he was in favour in Athens) with those against Athens (while he was in favour in Sparta) - they are a real treat!

AL is (among other things...) a perfectly good example of how valuable the art of rhetoric can be.

Remember I said AL, while in Athens, lived the life of a bon vivant ?
Well, all of that was forgotten the minute he set his foot in Sparta. No more dragging of his purple died cloak (the equivalent nowadays of using a mink coat for the same purpose) through the streets, as he did in Athens, since that would be fatal while living with the frugal Spartans.
He started practicing the same physical exercices and calisthenics the Spartans did; he washed himself in the (very cold...) rivers, as the Spartans did and he even ate the same (awful) food.

Meanwhile, he even found time to get one of the Spartans King's wife (named Tímaea or Timaia) pregnant with his son. Those guys had two Kings and the lucky one was Agis II. Remember I said the Spartans would be sorry to welcome him...
By the way, in Sparta the women were also tough customers. They not only had a liberty and autonomy unheard of to women in the rest of Greece at the time, but were also taught to read and write. On top of it, they were allowed and even incentivated to practice several sports.
On the other hand, their husbands could only "visit" them by night, and even then in the most stealthy way possible, since they lived and slept (...) with their messmates and matrimonial visits were considered bad for military discipline. However, Spartan women were not deterred by that. Whenever their husbands did not have the appetite or will to be "stealthy" on a regular basis, they usually found someone that would - and this was a socially accepted thing.
I guess Agis II was not doing his duty properly...

AL also played a crucial role as military adviser to the Spartans in the war against Athens, instructing them on how to defeat the Athenians. His advices contributed to the defeat of the Athenians in Sicily - By 413 B.C. the Athenian fleet and army sent there were thoroughly defeated. In mainland Greece/Helas, his advice, among others, to conquer and fortify Decelea (a region in Attica, near Athens, with high strategical importance) also played a significant part in weakening the Athenian power.

But there is more.

This guy also proposed another important and useful war expedient to the Spartans - to promote the revolt from the Athenian Empire of the Greek cities of Ionia (Asia Minor). As you all know (another instance of wishful thinking on my part...) the Athenian Empire extended throughout the regions and cities that bordered the Aegean Sea, who supplied Athens with food, money and all sorts of men and material crucial for the war effort - as AL very well knew.
Therefore, he proposed that a Spartan fleet should be sent there for the purpose of promoting the rebellion of those cities.
And who do you guess he suggested should be appointed as leader of that expedition? Right on!
At that time (about 412 B.C.) ) Tissaphernes was the Satrap of Lidia and Caria (the regions where AL suggested the initial effort should be made) in Asia Minor, and leader of the Persian army extant there. This guy was a good match for AL. Well, at least he (Tissaphernes) survived AL.

And our boy AL by this time was just about ripe for another twist in his allegiances.

If Peixoto delivers my well deserved prize, you will know more about it next Friday.

PC






quarta-feira, 4 de agosto de 2010

Schnell, Schnell

A pedido de muitas famílias, aqui vão mais umas fotos de alguns dos novos modelos construídos e de mais uma das placas do terreno de jogo em construção!


Abraço
JF






AFV and guns WGS
Figures, WGS and Pendraken

segunda-feira, 2 de agosto de 2010

Os "Bifes" na Europa - The "Brits" in Europe

Boas camaradas.
Mais umas fotos para acrescentar à minha colecção de modelos da WGS.
O cenário pertence à minha nova mesa de jogo, com estruturas paisagísticas pré-definidas.

Estou a preparar novos modelos para fotografar, cujas características serão um pouco mais originais, já que decidi adaptar uma nova filosofia na composição de cada modelo, de forma a apresentar uma nova dinâmica, acrescentando vários elementos, como figuras e diverso material cénico.

Espero que gostem,
Abraço


Staghound AC

Other view from a Comet Tank and Staghound AC

All models are WGS
JF