It's the middle of August and I haven't made a post on this blog since early June. Just goes to show how damn busy the summer gets around here. My work is pretty full on in June and July. And Reenactment takes up all our spare time. In fact since the end of April we have only had one weekend when we have not been doing something reenactment related. I finally have a moment to try and order some of it so here are some of this summer's highlights so far:
Kentwell 1553:
This year it is 1553 a crucial moment in Tudor times as Edward dies and Lady Jane Grey almost becomes queen. At Kentwell Hall the Master's Natal celebration becomes a celebration for the new queen and the highlight was the Azincourt Pageant, which was mostly a ruse to get heavily armoured men (and one woman, my wife) getting shot with blunt arrows for the pleasure of the crowd. This was not a battle reenactment, it had nine and ten year old boys as the French cavalry and Gentry ladies shooting Men At Arms. the Tudors loved pageantry and shows and this was a pretty good attempt. A great success, warmly received and a hell of a lot of fun, getting shot at close range by your mates.
Tewkesbury
Immediately after Kentwell was the Battle of Tewkesbury. The largest Medieval battle during the English season and an incredible experience. This year was no let down. I was knighted at the start of the battle as Sir James Tyrrell, won a champions' duel against a French brawler. And received my first blood wound on the field when my helmet was torn off by another French man in the defence of the Anjou banner. A brilliant weekend, great company, got to see Schelmish one of my favourite bands and witnessed some real wizardry when a guy called Ironhead fixed my my wife's shoulder injury in minutes. Even a sceptic like me had my thinking challenged.
Festival Of History
Straight from Tewkesbury one weekend to Kelmarsh the next. The English Heritage Festival Of History is a huge multi-period event. Roman gladiators mingle with Men At Arms, Redcoats and Tommies at the bar. We were there to take part in the huge Battle Of Bosworth spectacular. Which was great fun. Our Household represent the De La Poles and John de la Pole (Jr) was the Earl Of Lincoln and heir to the throne in 1485 so we wore our own colours and fought under our own standard, oh and were mercilessly cut down by Lancastrian scum.
In the evening we headed for the beer tent where all wear their finest. Most of our mob went in Steampunk gear, just another little something we dabble in.
Knights' Tourney of Foote
It was going to be quiet for a couple of weeks, but then I was rung out of the blue to take part in the Knights' Tourney of Foote at Dover Castle. The conversation went something like this: "So you want me to camp at Dover Castle with my family, do some archery, put on some armour and hit people around the head? And you'll pay me? hmm let me think about it..."
So off we went to Dover and had an absolute blast. I squired on Saturday, did a pretty good job in the archery (only the second time I have shot this year) and then had a riot in the club melee, a two man teams, in an all against all four team contest where the aim of the game is to club your opponents to the floor. The most fun you can legally have with your clothes on:0)
Unfortunately Nick the Knight of the North Dislocated his shoulder and fractured his elbow in a fall. So on the Sunday I was asked to stand in as a Knight.
Saturday had been good Sunday was even better. I fought in a Crest Melee, (Something new for me as I don't fight with hand and a half swords) and then more club action. Overall the event was brilliant. Injuries from the weekend bruised thumb and damaged wrist (Ligaments I think) but as Matt, The Green Knight had his nose broken and Nick aforementioned injuries I reckon I did alright:0)
The other guys in the tourney team were extremely welcoming and we were mad to feel part of the family. Thanks Mark, Rob, Matt, Nick, Simon, Ant, Steve, Nigel, Louise, Vicky and Tim I did have one advantage over the others, my own cheerleaders.
Hoping to be out with the Knights' Tourney team next year at some point.
A longish video of the Sunday Club melee should give you an idea of the Mayhem
A very quick video to show you fast the CREST MELEE was. Blink and you miss it
So so far a pretty busy summer, no room to write about Hatfield Forest with the Company of Saint Jospeh or Bodiam Castle with the MSS, that's for next time.
Cheers for now, see you in the 15th century
Ok It's December and there is more snow on the ground than I have seen in this part of the world for decades. Recently I have made some progress with my EOE article for Wargames Illustrated, but otherwise wargaming has been on the work bench as I have been working on more NERF guns. the one I most pleased with is my Steampunked Maverick. Many Steampunked NERF guns on the net just have suitable paint job, usually brass and bronze. Like my NIte Finder I wanted to do something a little more. So diving in to my bitzbox that had previously had been reserved for Warhammer Ahoy! dwarf ships I set to work.
Steampunking this gun was great fun, I only had one thing in mind which was to use the funny twisty handle Burger King toy, but how I had no idea. this is how it turned out...
A friend of mine gave me a Dremel recently and my word is it a good tool, various bits got cut up with it and a quick swap of tool heads allowed me to grind off all the NERF logos. The picture above shows the various components glued on waiting for paint.
The sprayed gun. I LOVE CHAOS BLACK SPRAY! When I make models whether it is a piece of gaming scenery or a modded NERF gun, it is the addition of the undercoat that I love as it is this point where the whole thing comes together and starts to look like all one item that is meant to be.
The finished weapon. I love this view, the skull on the front is from a cheap Halloween toy. I have another one of these which will definitely feature on another gun in the future. You can also see small cross detail on the piping on the top of the gun. I used several Warhammer Empire shield bosses for some nice little details. In many ways the small details like this are more fun than the big features like the skull and the crank handle.
The finished item. I am dead pleased with this gun. It works quite well. This is the one that I experimented with various mods to imporve performance, some of which definitely didn't work. However I can't see me using this gun too much. It certainly wont take the kind of bashing that other guns will, so its performance is not quite as important.
And then not being satisfied with producing this gun I fancied using a wooden box that I had sitting around. Some Foamcore and green wool off cuts later and we have a display case. the outside pf the box needs some attention and a nice latch. I also have a box for my Steampunk Nitefinder.
Now all I need is some more guns. I fancy steampunking a NERF Longstrike with a wooden stock and telescopic site and then howz about a 40K Bolt Pistol, hmmm.
Sash and Saber 40mm pirates. Smashing. Lots more to come. And new scenery too. Watch this space.
