One Million Views! Some wonderful museums to explore.

While I was on holiday, something I had been anticipating for years finally happened: the visitor count on the blog surpassed one million views! This is another reason to celebrate, especially since we recently commemorated our 1,000th post. For that reason, this post will be a bit different - we'll catch up.

I promised you several reports from museum visits, but they never happened due to time constraints. It's time to change that. In today's post, I will recommend two museums that are long overdue, along with a report from my recent vacation to Florence, Italy.

The first stop is the Battle of Culloden Museum, located near Inverness, Scotland. This site is significant in British history, as it was here that the last battle on the island was fought, marking the end of the country’s civil wars. The museum is easily accessible from the city of Inverness, with a bus service from the city centre; however, I discovered that the bus does not operate on Sundays, so it's essential to plan accordingly. The museum also has a spacious parking lot, so parking should not be an issue.

The museum is relatively small but features an impressive collection of weapons, uniforms, and equipment from the period. It also showcases the results of archaeological excavations conducted at the battlefield. I was particularly impressed by the virtual presentation of the battle, which effectively illustrates how the events unfolded and the factors that contributed to the Jacobite defeat. 

After visiting the museum, it's a good idea to take a walk around the battlefield itself. The first things you notice are the flagpoles—one red, marking the position of the government forces, and the other blue, indicating where the Jacobites were stationed. This battlefield is one of the best-preserved and best-presented sites I've ever encountered.

After visiting the museum, I suggest taking a 20-30 minute walk south of the battlefield to the Clava Cairns, which are well-preserved Neolithic tombs.

You can find my complete gallery at this link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329101936/

I recently discovered another museum located on the Spanish island of Mallorca. During my visit there last year, I decided to explore the Museu Històric Militar de Sant Carles. This museum is situated in Fort Saint Carles, at the southern edge of the port in Palma de Mallorca. It is easily accessible by city bus from the city centre, although it's important to note that the ticket price is higher than a regular city bus ticket. At that time, a one-way ticket cost €3 instead of the standard €2. Additionally, cash was required for bus fares, as card payments were not accepted, but this policy may change in the future.

During my visit to the museum, I found that admission was free, although donations were greatly appreciated. The museum features an intriguing collection of artillery spanning from the 19th century to the present day. I was particularly drawn to the coastal artillery from the late 19th century and the pieces from the Spanish Civil War. Inside the fort buildings, there is a substantial collection of small arms from around the world, and I was especially surprised to see one from the Mahdi Rebellion in Sudan. Additionally, visitors have the opportunity to take a virtual flight over the fortress, which adds to the experience. I highly recommend the museum as a fascinating and lesser-known escape from the beaches of Mallorca, especially since it tends to be less crowded than other attractions in the island's capital.

Gallery from the museum:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329099100/

My last holiday was in Florence and Pisa, both of which are wonderful destinations. In Florence, you must visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia, which I did, along with many other museums. I also climbed the cathedral's dome and its bell tower, which my fitness level still allows me to do. During my museum visits, I focused primarily on source material for my future projects, specifically the Italian Wars and seventeenth-century conflicts. I encourage you to check out my gallery on Flickr; it might provide you with some inspiration as well.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329099400/

Florence is a truly beautiful city, but one place stands out as particularly special: the Stibbert Museum. This museum is home to the private collection of Frederick Stibbert, an English art collector and businessman. After his death, his entire collection was opened to the public. 

Visiting this museum evoked a feeling in me similar to what I experienced at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris and the Bovington Tank Museum. I haven't felt such excitement in a long time. The museum features impressive collections of Oriental and Japanese weapons, as well as artefacts from the Italian Wars, the 17th-century wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. I highly recommend visiting this collection; it is truly remarkable. 

You can reach the museum by bus from the city centre, but be prepared for a 20-minute uphill walk from the bus stop. It's worth the effort! You can find the full gallery from the museum in the link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329099830/

Florence has a collection of toy soldiers that I didn’t get a chance to see during my visit. I plan to return to the city because some of the artworks were undergoing conservation at that time, so I was unable to see them. There’s definitely a possibility that I’ll visit again.

Dante Alighieri's dagger, used by him during the Battle of Campaldino (11 June 1289).

Our next stop was Pisa. We only had one day to explore this city, compared to six days in Florence, so we didn’t have time to see everything. However, we did visit the most significant site: the Square of Miracles, which features the famous Leaning Tower. I decided not to climb the tower this time, but the entire complex is definitely worth seeing. It includes the baptistery, cemetery, cathedral, and several additional museums. There are also stunning engravings, paintings, and historic Muslim flags on display. It truly is a marvel! As always, the gallery is below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329130334/

I made sure to set aside time to visit a specific museum in Pisa that I was eager to see: the Museo delle Navi Antiche di Pisa. This museum features the wreck of the Roman ship Alkedo, along with a replica of the ship. Additionally, it showcases Pisa's maritime history, highlighting its past as a bustling centre of maritime trade. The museum is located in converted stables, adding to its unique charm.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329113052/

I will conclude this report here. Thank you once again for all your visits. Now, I need to catch up on your blogs, as I didn't have time during my holiday; we are back to regular blogging.

7TV: Just like Gary Cooper.

Returning to regular gaming after the holidays. At first glance, we wanted something light and enjoyable that we hadn't played in several years: the 7TV rules, this time set in a post-apocalyptic world where good guys clash with bad guys.

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

Both sides had roughly comparable forces, consisting of main stars, co-stars, and a ragtag group of minions, often referred to as extras. Jimmy played Lord Helm, while I was part of a predominantly female team.

2. The Game.

On the table lay six objectives that needed to be found and collected during the game. Jimmy advanced through the middle of the field like Gary Cooper in High Noon. This manoeuvre left him vulnerable to fire from my side, and soon his group began to dwindle. However, Jimmy pressed forward, focusing on the fact that it was mostly his minions falling, rather than his main heroes. Eventually, he reached my position, and our exchanges shifted from long-range shots to close combat, or rather, fistfights, where my heroes proved to be much more effective.

Unfortunately, my tactic was to let the opponents close in before wiping them out, which would have made collecting the objectives irrelevant. However, time ran out, and the game ended in Jimmy's victory. It was a great reminder of these rules, which had once been very popular in our club.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1066474725509858

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329253896

All Hell Let Loose: Crossing the Dnieper – south-east of Kremenchuk 31.08.1941

Andy is preparing a set of scenarios for the All Hell Let Loose rules, focusing on the actions of German Army Group Centre during Operation Barbarossa. Before publishing them, he wants to test the scenarios for playability. This time, the focus is on the German landings that established a bridgehead on the Dnieper River near Kremenchuk. This bridgehead later enabled an attack that completed the encirclement of Kiev from the south, ultimately leading to its capture by the Germans.

SCENARIO: Andy Valdez-Tullett
UMPIRING: Andy Valdez-Tullett

SCENERY: Andy Valdez-Tullett, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Andy Valdez-Tullett

1. Forces.

SOVIETS

(Bartek, Jimmy, Michael)

1st Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

4 x Infantry

1 x MMG

2nd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

4 x Infantry

1 x MMG

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

6 x Infantry

1 x MMG

2 x Mortar

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

6 x Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

2 x Gun Battery (Off table)

REINFORCEMENTS:

5th Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

1 x CO

10 x Infantry

6th Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

1 x CO

10 x Infantry

GERMANS

(Andy, Mike, Tim)

1st Infantry Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

1 x FO

10 x Infantry

2nd Infantry Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

1 x FO

10 x Infantry

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

5th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

6th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

7th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

Engineer Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

5 x Engieer

1 x Gun Battery (Off Table)

48 boats

2. The Game.

The Germans advanced across the river, but they faced a significant disadvantage: they had only 48 boats, each capable of carrying just one unit. It took the Germans three rounds to successfully cross the river. Mike moved downstream, Andy positioned himself in the middle, and Tim took up a position upstream. Opposite Mike, Michael's forces occupied the island, while my forces held the opposite island, and Jimmy stationed his troops between us.

We initially decided to keep Jimmy's forces in reserve to guard the central bank on the river. This would allow them to support either side's actions if necessary. Additionally, another challenge for the Germans was the unclear suitability of the opposite bank of the Dnieper for landing at the time of their approach.

As the first wave of the landing force crossed the Dnieper, they were met with precise Soviet artillery fire. Mike, unfortunately, faced significant losses, and his troops were largely decimated on the river. Additionally, some of his units were swept away by the strong current. As a result, Michael's positions remained secure and were not under threat.

The situation was different in the lower reaches of the upper river, where Tim successfully landed the first wave of troops on the riverbank. There, he engaged my infantry, which managed to repel the initial attack. However, subsequent waves of landing forces, this time from Andy's troops, began to push my forces out of the positions I had secured on the island. Ultimately, the Germans captured the island and established a bridgehead, but losses in the boats delayed the arrival of additional troops to support the advancing Germans.

It quickly became clear that German troops could only land on a very narrow section of the riverbank, which allowed us to concentrate our defences in just two locations. Mike, positioned downstream, didn't pose much of a threat, while Michael, with support from artillery and mortars, effectively kept the Germans at bay on the river. Meanwhile, my defences could be strengthened by Jimmei's troops, as my own reinforcements failed to arrive. I needed to roll a 6 to bring them in, but I wasn’t able to manage that throughout the entire game.

As a result, the Germans established a weak bridgehead upstream, which was effectively bombarded by Soviet artillery and mortars. Germans were unable to relocate their artillery observers, who, unfortunately, drowned in the river. As a consequence, the German troops on the opposite side lacked artillery support. To make matters worse, the engineers were still on the western bank of the river and could not begin constructing a bridge to facilitate the crossing of reinforcements to support the Germans trying to secure the bridgehead. The game concluded with another Soviet victory.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1066474725509858

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720328878442

Saxons 7YW: The last reinforcements.

Here’s the final group of reinforcements for the Saxons from the Seven Years’ War. This time, it includes a light regimental gun and a few ADCs. Additionally, it features a mix of miniature manufacturers (Crann Tara and Eureka Miniatures), with all bases sourced from Warbases.

The first piece is a regimental gun. The gun model is from Eureka Miniatures, while the crew members are from Crann Tara Miniatures. I'm not sure where the gun rammer came from, as I found it in a drawer and decided to use it.

The final element is the three ADCs. All the figures are from Eureka Miniatures. I painted them in the colours of the Rochow Fusiliers regiment. Two of them carry flags, but their origins are different.

The first ADC has the Leibgrenadiergardeleibfahne, which was my second copy when I painted Saxon generals. I have now decided to use it. The pattern is from the Kronoskaf website.

The second is a larger copy of the Gardedukorps cavalry regiment's banner. This one comes from Frédéric Aubert.

I'm taking a break from painting for two to three weeks while I go on holiday. I'll post a game report soon, and I'll see you after the short break.