Sunday, 21 March 2021

Great Northern War Swedish High Command.....and a Sunday Walk

 I worked on these three Ebor Mounted Senior Commanders over he last couple of days and mounted them (no pun intended) on a round mdf base - which is actually a drink coaster - I bought a pack of six from a local craft retailer for about $8.

Not much more to say really - I do not think the figure with the telescope is impressive enough to represent King Charles XII of Sweden, so I will have to source a figure for him. Reiver make one but I am not overly fussed on their sculpting style, so I might try and find another generic senior commander for the WSS period that I can re purpose.



I took a view looking down as I am particularly happy with how the base came out 


Now then, where are those pesky Russkies at...?


They are over their, My Lord General!


Cant see 'em.......


To the left of the trees....


Look, just breasting the hill...


Oh for Gods sake, give someone else the telescope, you blind old duffer!


Today, my wife and I took a trip over to the Hunua Ranges again to re-acquaint ourselves with a walk we first did a couple of years ago. This was an 8km loop track taking in another of the Auckland water supply lakes and the Cossey Dam.

Now, I know most wargamers love some maps to set the scene and provide some insight - so here they are!


This shows the location of the walk in relation to the city of Auckland and our home to the SE at Pukekohe (Hill) ... I don't know where the "hill" has suddenly come from, must be a Google thing!


A map showing the layout of the Hunua Ranges Regional Park - our walk last week took us to the Wairoa Reservoir and dam in the bottom right of the left hand rectangle above.


And this is the walk we did today - 80% of it uphill, which made it more of a challenge than a pleasure - we probably won't return for another couple of years!


These very permanent looking entrance stations have sprung up all over the N Island in the last couple of years - they are an attempt to stop a disease called Kauri Die Back that is killing off many of the iconic Kauri trees. You have to scrub the soles of your shoes then stand on a device that sprays disinfectant onto them (and sometimes your ankles and shins too!)




A great view of the Hunua Falls reflected in the stream it feeds


A smaller water fall a few minutes into the walk


View of the wild terrain through which we walked for a couple of hours


Looking at the Cossey reservoir from the dam, at about the halfway point


View back down to the dam after we slogged up another few hundred feet - I think the highest elevation was above 400m - over 1300 feet.


A view of the city of Auckland a way off in the distance - maybe 40-50km. In the centre left, the Auckland Sky Tower (tallest in the Southern Hemisphere) is just discernable - if you are looking on a full sized PC screen!


Final view of the Hunua Falls - amazingly, its not unknown for young men to jump off the top of the falls into the pool below - needless to say, there have been deaths and its now illegal!

I am off back to the painting desk to continue work on the second GNW regiment - the Viborg Regiment - why, because I liked the flag, thats why!

26 comments:

  1. A beautiful trio...and superb landscapes rross, these dangerous Hunua Falls are truly impressive!

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    1. Thank you Phil. If you look closely to the left of the falls, you will see a number of people...that gives an idea of the height of the feature and the stupidity of those who jump from the top!

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  2. That is a lovely looking command base, with the textures etc used really adding to the whole. Your walk rather more scenic than this morning's 5 mile jaunt on the outskirts of Bristol. With Spring now here, it seemed everyman and his dog was out, which hasn't been the case of late. As for jumping off the waterfall, you'd have to be insane!

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    1. Thanks Steve. I agree about the mental state of anyone who would make that jump!

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  3. Good work on the command base, Keith! Keep your outdoor adventures coming. I enjoy seeing your local landscapes. You and Mark may be convincing some of us northerners to plan a visit to your beautiful country.

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    1. Thank you Jon. Our tourism industry is in dire need of a major boost, so the more visitors we can drum up, the merrier!

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  4. A very purposeful looking command group Keith...

    Lovely scenery as always... of course the fist thing I thought of when I saw the waterfall was... oh! Jumping of that would be loads more fun than just standing here and safely looking at it 😂
    People do the daftest things...

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Cheers Aly....yes, during a war they would win the VC or Medal of Honor!

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  5. Excellent command stand, Keith! All the essentials - an officer pointing, another with a spy glass and one with his hand on his hip. Great local scenes again as well.

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    1. Thanks Dean, it is a nicely balanced little group.

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  6. Nicely done command base 👍 and lovely scenery

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    1. Thanks Matt - I think the mounted generals have come out well

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  7. Some brilliant looking figures Keith. Nice work.

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    1. Cheers Ray - I am happy with them - apparently Ebor DO do a King Charles XII, he just isnt on their website - go figure - so I will have to get that figure too!

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  8. Great stuff Keith, and I am a big fan of circular bases for command figures. After all, they are supposed to have a 360 degree perspective on things.

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    1. Indeed, a good leader should always have a 360 degree perspective on what is happening in their organisation, be it an army or a manufacturing business!

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  9. Great looking command base, I do like the circular bases for command stands, nice to see you have been able to get out, the falls look quite a sight.
    Cheers
    Stu

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  10. Thanks Stu . Round bases seem to be de riguer for command bases this season! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

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  11. Great job on the command base and very amusing. It’s a law of miniatures that in every command base someone has to be pointing or waving a sword! 😀
    Pretty outdoor pics as well.

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    1. Thanks Stew..I am glad you appreciate my schoolboy humour!

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  12. Splendid looking command stand, really nice basing and lovely landscapes!
    Best Iain

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    1. Cheers Iain. I was pretty happy with how the base came out!

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