After a bit of a break, some budget crunching, a bit of soul-searching, and an existential crisis or two, I have come to the conclusion that I could, in fact, still get it all done in time... I have three months, a fairly flexible life/schedule and a preternaturally patient and accepting wife and family. So, it could happen…
For those that just wandered in
or any who haven’t been paying very close attention, I have been working on and
off over the last 10 years or so on a project to sort of commemorate 100th
anniversary of the Canadian Corps assault on Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917. I have
been working on a roughly scale model of the ridge that will be about 12’ long
and 8’ wide at the widest end – complete with the German defensive trench
network. I’ve also been collecting and painting enough miniature figures to
make 48 Canadian battalions and 18 German battalions – at 15 figures/battalion.
With the additional command and staff and support models (machine-guns and
trench mortars) it will total well over 1000 figures. With this, on the 100th
anniversary (Sunday, 9 April 2017), I am going to orchestrate a massive
miniature war game of the Canadian Corps attack.
To make it happen, however, I do have a
fair bit of work to complete and will probably have to spend every spare moment
working on getting it done. Stay tuned for more updates!
Looking For a Few Good Men
(16, actually…)
(16, actually…)
One thing that would be very
handy to know (and help with motivation!) is if anyone is actually going to show
up to such an event…? Three of the four fellows that played in my Regina
Trench game at ToonCon in September seemed keen enough. For this game
though, I am going to need 12-16 participants to commit to showing up on the 9th
of April to make it happen. Ideally I’d like 3-4 “helpers” to help me run the
German and another 8-12 warm bodies to take on the role of Canadian Brigadiers – each commanding
4 battalions of Canadians (and perhaps a machine-gun company and a mortar
battery…). I can probably count on a few of my regular gaming friends
to show, but I will need, at the very least, a few more.
So if there’s anyone out there
in the blog-o-verse that happens to be free on the afternoon (and possibly
evening) of Sunday, 9 April 2017, and are willing and able to make his or her
way to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and help live out my megalomaniacal epic
gaming dream… please let me know! You could leave a comment below…?
Or drop me a line…? (I am loath
to publish my email address online. The last time that happened I was inundated
with messages offering me penises from Nigeria or novel ways to lengthen my
money – or… perhaps it was the other way around…?)
Posts
I wish I could!
ReplyDeleteMaybe do this at your local library or in conjunction with your local Reserves Regiment?
One of the libraries was one of the options I was considering.
DeleteI hadn't considered the armouries. I've had kind of mixed reactions from current or previously serving members of the armed services on the topic of miniature wargaming. Some get it. Others seem offended by the notion and seem to think it somehow trivializes their service by making a game of it with little toy soldiers...?
Call it a "Map Exercise" and there you go! :)
DeleteI've watched the progress of this project for ages (used your trenches as inspiration) and I'd love to join in. Unfortunately I can't afford the flight costs for a wargames weekend :'(
ReplyDeleteThanks James! Completely understandable - I wouldn't be able to fly anywhere to do participate in something similar someone else was doing either! I'm certainly not expecting that every follower is going to show up (there'd be WAY TOO MANY if they did!?). I'm just putting it out there in case there does happen to be anyone sitting around who COULD make it here (whether because they live closer or have way more disposable income that you or I have!) and would be interested to do so!
DeleteHi Tim I can likely be available, subject to sleeping quarters (food I can manage myself, still being a carnivore). I do have another buddy who would be interested should space be available for him to crash as well. He is retired & after speaking with him about your Vimy project, was interested.
ReplyDeleteAs for military members poo-pooing the miniature wargaming, they can always scrub toilets & practice marching up & down the square
"You know, if there's one thing I've learnt from being in the Army, it's never ignore a pooh-pooh. I knew a Major, who got pooh-poohed, made the mistake of ignoring the pooh-pooh. He pooh-poohed it! Fatal error! 'Cos it turned out all along that the soldier who pooh-poohed him had been pooh-poohing a lot of other officers who pooh-poohed their pooh-poohs. In the end, we had to disband the regiment. Morale totally destroyed... by pooh-pooh!"
DeleteI wish I could be there! Good luck for April.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barks!
DeleteLiving on the Eastern side of the country I can only offer e-moral support with some focused online lurking...good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stanley - I will be posting lots of pics for those who can only be here in spirit!
DeleteIf only I could be there! I've watched this grow almost since inception I think and am chuffed to see you intend to try and finish it off. Best of luck Tim!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Millsy!
DeleteThe thought of taking the train 1/2 way across the country to go to war(game), the reverse of the trip so many took to go to real thing back then, is oh so tempting. Haven't done the trip by rail in decades. But its not going to happen so add me to the list of well wishers and wanna be e-viewers of the reports.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the khaki! I'm afraid I'm just cheering you on from the other side of the pond.
ReplyDeleteBest Iain