Closing in on One Million Page Views!

Oh Sooo Close!

 I know the uber popular fancy folk probably hit a million page views every day, but for a blog about toy soldiers, I figured it was something worth celebrating.  So how does one celebrate hitting one million - with a sword!  I have always wanted an office sword to display, but originals cost crazy money, and my blog is lazy and not generating any cash, so I opted for a prop sword.  This Pattern 1803 British Napoleonic Light Infantry sword was used in the production of "The Pale Blue Eye", a rather creepy Christian Bale film in a period piece which includes a portrayal of a young Edgar Allen Poe.

I had left a space above this print of Napoleon and Marie Louise with the young Napoleon in the hope of one day displaying a sword there.  The print was actually inherited from my wife's grandmother, which we always found pretty funny.  I don't think she ever knew how perfect it would be for our home!

Have to love the lion's head pommel.  One of the nice things about a used prop sword, is that it shows a little age, and is not all bright and shiny, kind of like me, so I appreciate that!

So the sword was actually a birthday present to myself, which just happened to correspond with closing in on a million page views.  The other present I got from my dear one, is this picture of our dog Sammy, done up like Samoleon "Bone"apart.

This is Sammy without the fancy hat curling up with his mom.

Mesas de Ibor Battlefield - Progress Continues!

The Spanish Guerrillas have left the village and headed for the cover of the trees.

Their ultimate goal is to take cover in the rocks of the high ridge to the Southwest of Mesas de Ibor. 

One of the nice perks of doing an old school style classic toy soldier look is the ease of terrain construction.  Keeping it simple is the goal!

Some insulation foam and a quick coat of paint, and voila, done.

No sooner was the ridge done, than the Germans occupied the town.  Here a column led by the Garde de Paris and Frankfort battalions heads down the rode to the west of the town.

The Guerrillas take up position in the high rock outcroppings.

Spanish Garrochistas position themselves on the East side of the ridge.

Two of the six battalions of Spanish infantry occupy the eastern section of the ridge, with some support from a detachment of Cazadores in the rocks below.

Two battalions of Baden Infantry and an artillery battery take up position on a small hill overlooking the village and some vineyards.

Two battalions of Nassau infantry have already crossed the small stream, with more Bavarians following them across.

The local cows are seemingly unperturbed by all of the commotion.

The divisional commander for the Confederation of the Rhine troops oversees the deployment.

The Von Kinkel regiment of Bavarians are taking up a position of support behind the Nassauers.

Nassau forming the tip of the spear for the upcoming assault.

Unbeknownst to the Nassauers, more Spanish Infantry are on the way as soon as they can get glossified and re-based.