Thursday, 17 July 2025

Literally "Setting the Scene"

 


As followers of this blog you will already know about my and Lee's Retreat from Moscow project. 
With all the figures nearly complete it was time to turn to terrain, we already bought the rivers and tree bases and mat, as seen in our previous posts. But ideas have been buzzing around my head since we started painting the figures, I've done my research online and found loads ideas, notably from Mark's blog, 1866 and all that.
Then I found Pat Smith blog again, that's been inactive since 2020, Wargaming with Silver Whistle, I used to follow Pat's building prowess religiously, as I'm sure some of you did. Not sure where or what Pat's up to knowadays??? Anyway I remembered I bought his first book, Setting the Scene Winter Wargaming,  so I scanned my wargaming library and couldn't find the book anywhere???? Panic set in.......so I out a message out on Facebook if anyone had one they wanted to sell. I had an answer in a couple of days a chap called Ian, was willing to part with his copy, only problem was he lives in Melbourne, Australia!!! There's me thinking the postage is gonna cost as much as the book itself, but Ian had other plans. His cousin was over visiting from Wales and was going back home the next week. So Ian's cousin packed up the book and also Pat's next book vol 2, the Mediterrain, (it would have been rude not to!), and took them home to Swansea, where they then posted them to me!!!
The Wargaming world is a luvvly thing, isn't it!!

Ian then told me he also has a blog, but its not been updated for a while, This 28mm Life, which I'd visited and commented on many many time. What a small world we all live in!!

So I thought I'd take a few photos of the books and let them to the talking, both books are a must and well worth the cost and miles!!

Thanks Ian!!


























10 comments:

  1. I have both the books and indeed they are fantastic! It would be great if Pat would start posting again.

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  2. It is a small world, indeed! I have two of Pat's books, too, but one is on Norway. Just looked and I cannot find my books either! I did turn up a copy of Rapid Fire and its Campaign book, though. Now, when did I buy those?

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  3. I've got two of Pats books including the winter one but not the Mediterranean one, I still go back on his blog every now and then to check out his terrain projects, I think he's still wargaming just not blogging?
    Best Iain

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  4. A shame he hasn't posted for many a year, as his stuff was always very inspirational. Nice to be able to get both books though and not pay postage from the other side of the World!

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  5. I have the Winter one and it is indeed a great resource. Miss seeing Pat's updates on his blog as his posts were always a real treat for the gamer's eyes.

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  6. The winter book that Pat did is great, took loads of hints and tips when I did some winter terrain

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  7. The generosity and kindness of the miniatures community has knocked my socks off a few times now!

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  8. They look like great books, and a good way to get them to you.

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  9. Excellent looking books Ray.....looking forward to seeing what they inspire you to create!

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