Sunday 29 August 2010

Officers And Tables

The Gendarmerie officer is complete and sits proudly at the head of his squadron as the accompanying photo shows. I liked the photo so much I didn't reduce it in size as I usually do. Painting single figures like this is terrible for productivity, but scores highly for pure enjoyment. So the remaining officers for this regiment will be allowed to join at their leisure: the CO has been absent on his country estate for years now and the regiment has not missed him.



I suspect the availability of a decent sized wargames table is a problem that vexes many a wargamer. In my case I have had a solution mapped out for this for some time: but it has been placed 'on hold' as it has depended on the necessary materials appearing in some nearby skip.


The ideal wargames table needs to be reasonably light (stories of ceilings bowing under the weight of a sandtable come to mind here) while possessing dimensions normally associated with the banquet tables of reigning monarchs. Even if such an article was entirely homemade, the materials, if shop bought, would represent a considerable sum. However, it occurs to me that there is an unappreciated item of domestic architecture that is admirably suited to the purpose.


This is the cheap wooden domestic door. Round my neck of the woods these are often discarded in skips due to the belief of local womenfolk that a fancier article is necessary to their peace of mind. It is relatively robust and yet light, being constructed of thin wood stretched over a wooden frame, and is generally 28" wide and 80" in length. As a neighbour has just thrown three of these out, I at last have the materials to make a 7' x 6'8" table: not quite up to the size of Charles Grant's table as shown in 'The Wargame', but as large as I can fit in my house.


Making the thing will have to wait until Winter: the garden is taking up most of my energy for now.

5 comments:

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Hello Andy,

Lovely figures! And your table advice is a good idea too. I've actually been putting thoughts to paper about that very thing recently.

Best Regards,

Stokes

abdul666 said...

An unit its 'Real World™' inhaber can be proud of!

In my time I was lucky enough to have a room dedicated to wargaming and a table tennis table permanently set... Memories...

Capt Bill said...

Handsome lads all...

Fitz-Badger said...

A lovely picture of a grand unit!
Table size and space for said table is often the question. My gaming room is not large and has to serve multiple purposes and I can't always leave a table set up for long periods. A while back I managed to find a table that expands or contracts and is a reaonable size for the room. It's not large by any means, even fully expanded. But it serves me well.

Bluebear Jeff said...

Sounds like a good table idea, sir . . . although my arms couldn't reach across that much distance.


-- Jeff