Solar Empire Marines

C in C has added several new pieces to there ever growing collection of science fiction miniatures. The Solar Empire Marines (SEM) is a line of 6mm Science Fiction miniatures. Here is a list of these new offerings:

SEM-48	MARTAHK Infantry	51/8.00
SEM-49	MARTAHK Infantry Heavy Weapons	51/8.00
SEM-50	GA-TAS-TER (RED) Infantry	51/8.00
SEM-51	GA-TAS-TER (RED) Infantry, Heavy Weapons	51/8.00
SEM-52	Militia Tank “Augustus”	3/5.00
SEM-53	Militia AT/AA “Hadrain”	3/5.00
SEM-54	Militia MLRS “Vespasian”	3/5.00
SEM-55	Militia Twin Mortar “Claudius”	3/5.00
SEM-57	Militia Gatlings “Galba”	3/5.00
SEM-57	Militia APC “Titus”	3/5.00

The Hobbit an Unexpected Journey

I viewed The Hobbit an Unexpected Journey, the other day. Although it has been many years since I read the Hobbit and I cannot say whether the movie followed books plot closely or not, there were many memorable scenes in this movie. The fact that the movie was shot in New Zealand made for many fine scenes indeed.

Memorable Scenes

The chase scene with the Orcs riding their Wargs, were chasing the dwarfs on a large rocky plain. Apparently Gandalf new of an entrance to a tunnel that would eventually lead to Rivendell and had led the dwarfs to this cave, whereby evading the Orcs.

The Rivendell scene with its magnificent architecture and waterfalls, this is where the dwarfs emerged from the underground tunnel onto a ledge overlooking the legendary elfin outpost.

Another scene that I thought was remarkable was the scene where giant hawks swept the Orcs and their Warg’s off the face of the mountain. One by one they were plucked up and dropped to the valley floor below. Once this was complete the hawks plucked Gandalf, the hobbit, and the dwarfs up in their talons and flew them all to safety.

Although there were so many great scenes in this movie, the scene with the Hobbit and character Gollum sparring each other with riddles. If the Hobbit won then Gollum was to see the Hobbit out of the cave. I do remember this situation from my reading of the book. This scene helped help me to realize just how demented Gollum was.

By the Twos

I don’t know if you have noticed, but there are a lot of twos’ in this month’s posts. I didn’t plan it that way, it just sort of happened, at least at first. Once I noticed the pattern I went with it. Where it went from happenchance to the planned I will not say, but we have the following posts that came in twos’:

Jules Verne and in his Airships
Harry Collingwood and his Airships

---

The Proverbial Fishermen 1
The Proverbial Fishermen 2

---

Kriegsmarine 1/4800 Scale Miniatures Group 2
Royal Navy 1/4800 Scale Miniatures Group 1

---

Micro Navies

My order from C in C has finely arrived and I am very happy with all the miniatures I had ordered. I was especially drawn to the sets of 1/4800 scale WWII navy ships. I am surprised on the amount of detail of these miniatures; from the larger Battleships and Cruisers down to the smallest destroyers.

I have decided to paint one set at a time, not wanting to accidently mix up the sets I ordered representing the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navies. At this scale, and how I am planning on using these miniatures, I not going to bother trying to paint a camouflage pattern on the Royal Navy ships as was used on some of Royal Navy ‘s ships during this era, but stick to the standard of dark grey hulls and light grey for the superstructure and turrets. The Kriegsmarine ships will get a standard light grey throughout. This will make the two navies distinguishable enough during skirmishes.

C in C Postage Rates

C in C is currently offering shipping to US and Canadian customers at the following rates:

 Under $20, shipping is $4.00

Above $20, shipping is free

These are great rates for all those us who have gotten socked by other vendors with postage rates that are off the charts. I suppose it is all part of the cost of the hobby.

Bree the Horse and Shasta Escape and Head North

Shasta had heard the Tarkaan and Arsheesh haggling over a fair price for him. Although Shasta knew that his father would probably not get his asking price, he knew that he would be the property of the Tarkaan in the morning.

This got Shasta thinking, would the Tarkaan be a good master or would he worse than his father? He was at this time stroking the horse and was thinking out load. How can I know? If only the horse could talk. This is when he found out that the horse could speak and had understood all Shasta had said.

The horse was a Narnian and of cause he could speak. Bree, as the horse was called, told Shasta that the Tarkaan was very bad and that Shasta would not fare well with the Tarkaan. It was agreed upon that Shasta and the horse would run away to Narnia as soon as Tarkaan and Arsheesh were asleep.

Order from C in C

My order from C in C is finely on its way. I have been waiting rather impatiently, at this point, for this order. In addition to the 1/4800 Kriegsmarine, Royal Navy WWII ships, I also ordered a set of German 1/285 Panzers and American Sherman tanks. I made a post on this topic way back in September of last year.

I never received that order. It seems that the address listed on a mail order form was incorrect, C in C had moved, but the address listed on the form had not been updated. So I have tried again and now look forward to painting all of these miniatures and putting them to good use.

Two Other Novels from Harry Collingwood

While researching other works that dealt with airships these two titles by Collingwood caught my eye; they look good swashbucklers:

The Missing Merchantman
Across the Spanish Main

Harry Collingwood and his Airships

Collingwood like Verne is an author that written about airships. Like Jules Vern’s airships Collingwood’s airships could also take to the water as a submersible.

Two of the three titles by Collingwood about airships are available as epubs:

• With Airship and Submarine
• The Log of the Flying Fish: A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure

I have read the first of these titles by Collingwood and I did make a post on this his text and also other works of Collingwood’s.

The Proverbial Fishermen 2

A warrior Tarkaan stops at the hut of Arsheesh and demands hospitality for the night. While dining the Tarkaan speaks his mind about buying the boy, Shasta. Here again we find the hypocrite, Arsheesh quoting the poets. “’ Natural affection is stronger than soup and offspring more precious than carbuncles’”. The haggling over a fair price for the boy goes on through the night.

The Horse in his Boy, How Shasta Set Out on his Travels, Chronicles of Narnia.

The Proverbial Fishermen 1

Arsheesh lived by the shore and made his living as a fisherman. Arsheesh lived in his hovel with his son named Shasta. Shasta was not really his son; Arsheesh had come upon then a small boy when a row boat washed ashore with another occupant who had presumably just died (The body was still warm when it was found).

Arsheesh was often cruel to the boy, but the boy respected Arsheesh, as a boy should is father. Arsheesh was fond of quoting proverbs. It is ironic that Arsheesh seemed to know the letter of the law, but often did not practice it.

Shasta was a Narnian, but of cause did not realize this, but often gazed to the North. When he asked his father what laid to the North, his father, when in a foul mood would box Shasta ears, but when in a good mood Arsheesh would say to his son, “ ‘O my son, do not allow your mind to be distracted by idle questions’. He went on to quote the poet: ‘Application to business is the root of prosperity, but those who ask questions that do not concern them are steering the ship of folly towards the rock of indigence.’”

The Horse in his Boy, How Shasta Set Out on his Travels, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Jules Verne and in his Airships

Jules Verne envisioned all types of vehicles and other contraptions including airships. Airships were first mentioned in Verne’s "Robur the Conqueror" and again in his "The Master of the World". I am just starting to read his Robur the Conqueror, so I am not able to give any particulars of this airship at this point. In The "Master of the World" novel, the airship not only was able to fly, but it also was able to be used as a submersible. This is an interesting combination.

Once I am finished reading "Robur the Conqueror" I need to go back and reread The Master of the World and take note of the ships particulars, as I will with my current reading.

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis is actually a compilation of several of Lewis’s works. They include the following novelettes:

• The Magicians Nephew
• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
• The Horse and his Boy
• Prince Caspian
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Last Battle

The stories have been arranged in somewhat of a chronological fashion by the publisher of this edition, Harper Collins. Each section consists of roughly one hundred pages. There are black and white illustrations throughout the book and several maps that depict places mentioned in the book.

I have just completed the second section of Lewis’s work and I am taking a short break here so that I can pick-up on some other readings. I will be getting back to The Chronicles of Narnia in a short while.

The Spell Begins to Break

Like I had mentioned in an earlier post, the white witch Jadis put a spell over all the land so it was always winter and never Christmas, but as Aslen drew closer the spell over the land was starting to thaw. It was becoming spring again.

With the thaw Father Christmas was finely able to make a visit to Narnia, and he has gifts for all the occupants of Narnia. Jadis had kept him away long enough.

“I’ve come at last”, Father Christmas said. “She has kept me out for long time, but I have got in at last”.

Father Christmas did not bring toys for the children, but tools. Father Christmas handed Peter a shield and a sword. He gave Susan a bow and a quiver of arrows. And Lucy received a small dagger and a decorative bottle that contain a sweet cordial that was to be given to those who get injured during the upcoming battle with the white witch and all those that were with her.

It's Red's Turn

What Happened After Dinner

Edmond wanders off after dinner without saying a word and all of sudden his presence is missed. Edmond had previously eaten of the queens enchanted Turkish Delights and is now on his way to the queen’s castle to betray Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and his friends.

The only hope for Edmond, Narnia, and his friends is Aslen. The party makes a hasty departure to meet Aslen.

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

Chapter 8, What Happened After Dinner, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Into the Forest

Faun Tummus had entertained Lucy upon her first visit to Narnia. The following note was found by the children. It was affixed to Faun Tummus’s home when they attempted to visit Tummus on their current visit to Narnia.

“’The former occupant of these premises, the Faun Tummus is under arrest and awaiting his trial on a charge of High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia. Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, etc., also of comforting her said Majesty’s enemies, harboring spies and fraternizing with humans.'

Signed Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police
Long Live the Queen”

The queen is no queen at all but the white witch Jadis herself. Jadis has supplanted the old rule of Narnia and has installed herself as queen. She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter and never Christmas.

Kriegsmarine 1/4800 Scale Miniatures Group 2

The other day I have received correspondence from the proprietors of C in C. They did not make any promises about when I might receive my order, but did mention that they have been on vacation and are now just getting back.

In addition to the #MF-4802 that I had ordered I also ordered C in C’s MF-4803, German Group 2. C in C #MF-4803 group contains 11 ships: Contains: 1 - Bismarck, 1 - Scharnhorst, 1 - Prinz Eugen, 1 - Graf Spee, 1 - Koln, 1 - Z23, 3 - Z24, 2 - Theodor Reidel. So what types of ships are these?

• Bismarck (Battleship)
• Scharnhorst (Battleship)
• Prinz Eugen (Heavy Cruiser)
• Graf Spee (Pocket Battleship)
• Koln (Light Cruiser)
• Z23 (Destroyer)
• Z24 (Destroyer)
• Theodor Reidel (Destroyer)

Royal Navy 1/4800 Scale Miniatures Group 1

I am waiting, rather impatiently at this point; it has been over three weeks since I sent off for these miniatures. I had been looking forward to their arrival. C in C #MF-4802 group contains 12 ships of the following types: 1 - Duke of York, 1 - Suffolk, 1 - Southampton, 1 - Jamaica, 2 - Ajax, 2 - M Class, 2 - O Class, 2 - P Class. So what types of ships are these?

• HMS Duke Of York - King George V-class 14in. gun Battleship
• HMS Suffolk, Cruiser
• HMS Southampton - Town-type Light Cruiser
• HMS Jamaica - Colony-class Light Cruiser
• HMS Ajax - Leander-Class Light Cruiser
• M Class Destroyers
• O Class Destroyers
• P Class Destroyers

Maps of All Things Narnian

The Chronicles of Narnia is actually a collection of related stories that have been arranged in of a sort of chronological fashion. The Maps of All Things Narnian feature a few maps from these stories.

The Toffee Tree

Digory and Polly have been tasked by Aslan to travel to a faraway district of Narnia to collect and return with the seeds for a magical apple tree. This tree and its fruit will keep evil away from Narnia. The children were taken there by Strawberry a flying horse. The children had forgotten to bring food, but they did have a few toffees left and ate all but one of these. The last toffee was planted in the Narnian soil. Upon waking in the morning they found a toffee tree full of toffee like fruit.

“The low early sunshine was streaming through the wood and the grass was grey with dew and the cobwebs were like silver. Just beside them was a little very dark-wooded tree, about the size of an apple tree. The leaves were whitish and rather papery like the herb called honesty, and it was loaded with little brown fruits that looked rather like dates.”

Chronicles of Narnia, Chapter 13

Art of Tactic Game Card

The following game card accompanied my Zvezda British Vickers Machine Gun with crew 1/72 scale model. The literature included in the packaging explains that the card is used in a gaming system. I visited the site, but did not see any further information on the importance of these cards.

My Entry into 1/4800 Scale

I am patiently waiting for my order 1/4800 scale WWII ships from C in C. I am looking forward to receiving the following two sets of these ships:

MF-4802 - United Kingdom Group 1 - 12 Ships

Contains:1 - Duke of York, 1 - Suffolk, 1 - Southampton, 1 - Jamaica, 2 - Ajax, 2 - M Class, 2 - O Class, 2 - P Class.

MF-4803 - German Group 2 - 11 Ships

Contains: 1 - Bismarck, 1 - Scharnhorst, 1 - Prinz Eugen, 1 - Graf Spee, 1 - Koln, 1 - Z23, 3 - Z24, 2 - Theodor Reidel.

I plan on using these two flotillas in some type of skirmish game or perhaps in some larger navy strategy game.

C in C has several other sets of these warship for Great Britain and for Germany. There is also one set of allied cargo ships, but there aren’t any German U-boats. That is a shame because C in C also offers one set of cargo ships. A convey of these ships could be setup along with a submarine or two for a North Atlantic skirmish game.

Pirates at Ocean Edge-Flotilla #3

You might notice that this list only has four "ships" listed instead of the five that had been presented in the past two lists. I broke another ship while it saw under construction. The tabs on the masts are very brittle and easy to break even when I am being so very careful.

Name of Ship:	Shal-Bala
Nation:	Cursed
Point Cost:	20
Masts:	4
Cargo Capacity:	0
Basic Movement:	D
Cannon:	S2, S2, S3, and a L2
Keyword/ Abilities:	Sea Dragon, Fear Once per turn Shal-Bala can fly to any location on the board, land or sea.
Name of Ship:	Pioneer
Nation:	Pirates
Point Cost:	10
Masts:	4
Cargo Capacity:	3
Basic Movement:	L
Cannon:	L3, S3, S3,and a S3
Keyword/ Abilities:	English crews may thier abiliites on this ship.
Name of Ship:	Lusca
Nation:	England
Point Cost:	16
Masts:	5
Cargo Capacity:	0
Basic Movement:	S
Cannon:	S3, SW3, S2, S3, and a S3
Keyword/ Abilities:	Sea Monster: This sea monster get a +1 to its boading rolls. If it seccceds at a boarding party it also eliminates one mast.
Name of Ship:	USS Jame Madison
Nation:	America
Point Cost:	9
Masts:	2
Cargo Capacity:	3
Basic Movement:	L
Cannon:	S3, and a S3
Keyword/ Abilities:	This ship gets a +1 to her boarding rolls.

The First Joke and Other Matters

Aslen prowled about in an ever larger circuit creating Narnia as he went. First he created the grass and the fields, then the trees and the forests. Next, he created the creatures, of all sorts.

“Out of the tress wild people stepped forth, gods Fauns and Satyrs and Dwarfs. Out of the river rose the river god with his Naiad daughters.”

And then Aslen gave them voice and the creatures came by two, as they had been chosen, around Aslen in a large circle.

“ All of the the beasts and birds in their different voices, low and high or thick or clear replied. ‘Hail Aslen. We hear and obey. We are awake. We love. We think. We speak. We know’.”

The Chronicles of Narnia, Chapter 10