Supporting cast

I've been spending the last few weeks assisting others with their projects rather than working on mine.  The middle to end of December was spent helping Miguel Simon Costa of Capitan Games work up and English translation of their new Master and Commander Close Quarters rules.  These rules focus on gaming Napoleonic naval boarding actions.  It's a pretty exciting system that would be great for a convention or club game.  And they're free!  Mike Broadbent has sculpted a full range of 15/18mm miniatures and Miguel has offered suggestions on how to adapt the range to fit South American navies.

I've also been helping Ben Hughes with his latest book on the British expeditions against Buenos Aires in 1806 and 1807.  Ben is writing in a similar style to last year's "Conquer or Die", using first hand accounts and primary sources to drive his narrative wherever possible.  My role has been to simply critique the chapters as they come.  I also supplied Ben with a copy of a rare memoir that Rene Chartrand sent to me years ago.  I'm not sure what the schedule for publication of this book is but I can tell you that if you enjoyed "Conquer or Die" you will enjoy this as well.  

It looks like the casting issues have all been sorted out, except for a replacement mold for some of the Venezuelans (it's a count issue and doesn't affect the product at all so it's nothing you'll ever see).  I got my first shipment in, mainly Argentina infantry and artillery crews for each faction.  I need to get more guns in stock and round out a couple of other references but I'm pretty well stocked for the foreseeable future.  Feel free to visit the store and order away!

Mark Ryan suggested (again!) that I write some articles for some of the wargaming magazines.  He thinks that would help spread the word to folks that are interested in the period but haven't taken the leap.  I agree but I don't think I have a photogenic enough army to support an article.  Zach Haydt has done some incredible work for me and El Mercenario did a unit of Royalists as a present a couple years back  but these don't add up to an army.  If any of you have well staged pictures and would like to help promote our period, let me know!

For a little eye candy, check out Handgrenadealien's latest South American conversions.