Author Topic: The Battle of Hooks Farm (Read 45371 times)

answer_is_42 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 04, 2013, 12:52:38 PM »

Quote from: AlyMorrison on May 04, 2013, 11:37:34 AM

Hi 42

Thank you I am glad you like them...

They will be fighting the French at Hooks Farm but I intend to add some Russians to the mix for some later games.
This is because my other great inspiration for making the toys in the first place was The Great War in England in 1897 by William le Queux.
If you haven't heard of this ,it is about the invasion of Britain by a Franco-Russian Army.
Written in 1894 it is a truly ripping yarn ...

All the best Aly

Fantastic! I do know of it...in fact, I'm currently writing my undergraduate dissertation on Victorian and Edwardian invasion scares!

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2013, 02:40:30 PM »

Well done sir .

What an excellent choice of subject...

I believe books like The Great War in England were very popular in their time, this one running for at least 9 editions (obviously playing into the fears of the enemy without) and such entertaining reference material ...

All The best. Aly

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2013, 04:47:59 PM »

Hi Bezzo
Thank you for your comments... I am glad I make you so happy,Hopefully I shall continue to do so.

.
I was also inspired by those photo's of H G playing with his toy soldiers and see this project as a way of revisiting a glorious childhood past ......... That I never really had

All the best. Aly

answer_is_42 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2013, 06:10:32 PM »

Quote from: AlyMorrison on May 04, 2013, 02:40:30 PM

Well done sir .

What an excellent choice of subject...

I believe books like The Great War in England were very popular in their time, this one running for at least 9 editions (obviously playing into the fears of the enemy without) and such entertaining reference material ...

All The best. Aly

Thanks! It's proved a very fun and fascinating topic.
They were indeed hugely popular, some of the best are obviously still being read widely today - The War of the Worlds and The Riddle of the Sands immediately jump to mind as examples.

If you are at all interested in reading further I can only recommend the work of the late I.F. Clarke, who wrote widely on the topic. He published an edited volume of the best Victorian and Edwardian invasion stories in The Tale of the Next Great War 1871-1914, many of which are absolutely fantastic and would make for wonderful games.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Great-1871-1914-Battles-still---come/dp/0853234698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367687288&sr=8-1&keywords=tale+of+the+next+great+war

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2013, 06:43:58 PM »

Thanks for the recommendation .......

I've just ordered it on Amazon

All the best..

An easily tempted Aly

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #20 on:** May 05, 2013, 08:46:48 PM »

Hi There

More toys...
This time the 5th Royal Irish Lancers...

Another small unit...
I want to keep close to the number of toys H G used in the original action,( that is 48 foot and 25 horse per side) but I also want to paint some of my favourite troops....

So I am aiming at 12-15 men for foot and 5-10 for horse.
I intend to add to all my units when it comes to defending Britain against the Franco-Russian hoards

I wont be painting any toys next week as I am off to Venice to celebrate my other half's birthday (I know its a tough job ... but someone has to do it

)

All the best Aly

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #21 on:** May 11, 2013, 12:01:04 PM »

Hi Guys

Well, back from Venice.......over to soon

So, last night my beloved went away to do girly birthday things with her friend...
Poor me stayed at home........
and painted a couple of sample figures for Army Blue

A French Hussar and a Russian in summer dress

I like the Russian so much that I am going to build Army Blue as the Franco-Russian hoard from Great war in England.

All the best Aly

answer_is_42 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2013, 01:47:13 PM »

Fantastic, you've captured them really well. Forgive me if you've already said, but where are the figures from?

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2013, 02:38:13 PM »

Hi 42

I don't know how I managed to post that photo twice

The figures are from my own range , they are Shiny Toy Soldiers - Little Britons

They are very much a vanity project , I made them so I could play Hooks Farm and The Great War in England .
They are sold by Spencer Smith Miniatures.

Mmmm Russians in Birmingham and the French in Crystal Palace... Such fun

All the best Aly

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #24 on:** May 17, 2013, 07:23:20 PM »

Hi Guys

Here are some more toys...

This time a unit of British line infantry... CHAAAARGE

Also a small unit of The Shropshire Rifle Volunteers...
I think I shall explore more of those Volunteer and Yeomanry units , there is a lot of colourful stuff and it is quite appropriate for the defence of the Realm.

All the best Aly

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2013, 10:03:33 PM »

Thank you Bezzo
If there was an emoticon for blushing I would be using it now.

I will definitely finish this project.
I am having so much fun that I am not sure how I will stop

All the best. Aly

Kingscarbine · « **Reply #26 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:12:53 PM »

Anyone seen this? http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions-and-displays/war-games

Looks like a jolly good weekend plan.

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #27 on:** May 30, 2013, 01:51:33 PM »

Hi Nuno
that definitely looks like a Boys day out...
The Museum of Childhood is supposed to be really good even on a normal visit...Hurrah !!!

All the best Aly

P.S. I have almost finished the next batch of toys

majorsmith · « **Reply #28 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:21:56 PM »

fantastic stuff Aly! my dad is a keen toy soldier enthusiast, and i love your figures they have a real William Britains feel to them, would be nice to see some Imperial German troops!

AlyMorrison · « **Reply #29 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:53:18 PM »

Hi majorsmith
I am glad you like my toys...
It is already possible to make Imperial German types using parts from the Little Britons range , plus the main Shiny Toy Soldier range has a lot of Germanic items in it...

I fully intend to add some Germans to my collection....... after Hooks Farm

All the best Aly

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