Trudging On

First, I would like to thank the friends who were kind enough to say something with the passing on my father. It was most appreciated, even if I did completely forget to respond via the blog. 

It has been a very busy week here in the Duchy. An exceptionally busy week at work, followed by the purchase of a new (used) car to replace my 2008 Ford Focus. More of that anon. 

The new Ducal horseless carriage, a 2022 Ford Edge with only 57,000 miles...

One project I have been slowly working on is a Seven Years War/Soldier King style project in 25/28mm. A recent post on TMP from a gentleman in North Carolina soon had me spending some Pine Tree Shillings on a large collection of figures surplus to his requirements, but quite fortunately, needed for my project. 

In a deal a la Jean-Luc Pickard of the Tiberian Armed Forces, concocted in Mrs. Miggins' Pie Shop, I managed to be the recipient of about 1200 figures, mounted and foot. Mostly RSM. 

Willz Harley, eat your heart out, Shipmate, I finally scored a deal worthy of yourself! 

Now, there are gaps. Many, many gaps. But fortunately, Jim Purky from Fife and Drum Miniatures and Rich and Dave at DPC, will be able to fill those gaps. 

My friend John the OFM managed to snag one box of Austrians before I could respond to the seller, but that is just fine. 

Finally, our Team Shirts arrived for our ADLG Team Tournament at COLD BARRAGE next month. The company sent the incorrect sizes, but as they were a custom job, I suppose we'll have to be satisfied. All of four them were sent as 3XL size, when only us wears that size... Oops. 

Since all four of us reside in Montgomery County, the name is Team Full Monty, with the outline of the county on the shirt...

Now, as things settle back into something approaching "normal", we can get back to toy soldiery things.  

In Memoriam

It's been a tough week here in the fictional Duchy, as well as in The Real World. My father had a bad fall, which resulted in hospitalization. Unfortunately, the combination of injury and age and other health issues was too much for the man and on Saturday evening, he passed into the next world, to be with my mother, who passed away in 2002. 

Frederick Peter Turner

10 June 1943 - 07 February 2026

My father was a pharmacist and also taught high school physical science, biology, and chemistry. He moved to Chelmsford as a young man in 1955 and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1961. 

Graduating from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, he later earned a Master's in Education from Fitchburg State College, whilst simultaneously working a full and a part time job and helping to raise my younger brother and myself. 

After my mother passed away from cancer in 2002, he later met and married Laurie and built a second life, still in the same house he had bought in 1970. Needless to say, he had some quirks and one of them was the house I grew up in... 

After a forced retirement, despite being an intellectually active person, he languished and unfortunately did not do well in that part of his life. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia. The last three years saw a progressive decline and more and more medical issues rob him of his health. 

I spoke to him Sunday, the day before he fell, making my usual Sunday noontime call. We had a very pleasant chat and he was able to tell me how happy he was that I was doing well and that he loved me.

My own love of history, reading, and learning comes directly from him. He never properly understood my wargaming hobby, it rather bemused him. But he appreciated the work I put into my figures and such. He always enjoyed my telling about battlefields I walked. 

I miss him terribly already. 

Weekend Update

Just a quick update on where various bits and pieces of my Mongol ADLG project are in the pipeline. 

My friend Neil P. was kind enough to gift me a pair of gers, more popularly known by their Turkic name, yurt, for my Mongol camp element. He generously sent me two different sizes. 

The larger ger, I decided to give it a bottom border, but balked at doing any fancy work on the border or the door. 

The small ger. Cute and simple. 

My highly technical Ambush marker

I went with decidedly simple ambush markers. Phil G. has some lovely ones, but I saw Steve T.'s and they were dead easy to make. Being only so crafty, so to speak, I went with the Steve model. 

In order to "ZOC it to him", I figured I'd make a semi-professional Zone of Control Marker like some of the more experienced ADLG players. I mean, it's a pin glued into a bare base. But I like it. 

Simple hills made from foamboard, felt, glue, and paint. I need a couple more, between my mandatory and optional terrain pieces. 

I have three commanders that I've got based up now. One is from the figures bought painted, two are from my recently ordered 19th Century Miniatures. 

Chaka Khan, the Supreme Commander

Jenga Khan, he's a puzzle for sure, but he's my Number 2

Finally, there's Iffya Khan. He's kind of a so-so guy, so he gets the so-so wing of the Horde...

Anyway, there's more figures to paint and more Moby Dick I've got to read for class. Hopefully, I'll be adding some Levy and new Heavy Cavalry figures. 

Away we go....