In Wargamers Annual 2019...

The core scenarios from the Struggle for Oppland shown in posts on this blog in 2015 have been pulled together into a 'mini-campaign' format article which has been published in this year's Wargamers Annual ...

Rushagen - the demise of Sigi Thorsenson.....

While Sven Eriksen had been away on his last voyage, Sigi Thorsenson had attempted to usurp Eriksen's position as Jarl. The attempt failed and Sigi took refuge with his brother Harald at Rushagen.

When Sven Eriksen returned from his voyage he gathered his loyal supporters and set off after Thorsenson, tracking him down to Rushagen......

--oXo--

Sven Eriksen and his men march towards Rushagen ....

Men loyal to Thorsensen watch the approach to Rushagen ...

The lead group of Eriksen's men is spotted and the alarm horn is blown ....

Harald Thorsenson leads some men out of the settlement....

Eriksen's men attack the large rocky outcrop and work their way round the side of the settlement .... as the Thorsenson brothers organise their defence....

Eriksen's men close in on the defenders ...

The large rocky outcrop has been taken by Eriksen's men and the rest of his force move forward and charge home; the first attack is held off ...

Eriksen' men fall back, regroup and attack again ....

Eriksen's men have pushed through by the pig-pen .....

The Thorsenson brothers make a one more effort to stem the attack of Eriksen's and his men .....

They just about hold them off .....

But find themselves outflanked and outnumbered ..... Harald Thorsenson is killed and Sigi Thorsenson is captured - Eriksen confronts him ...

and then runs him through.

Heading to harbour ...

The lookout shouted "the inlet is up ahead"..

Harald Orsted moved back from the centre of the boat and told the steers man to take her in slowly..

It had been a tough time over the last few months but he'd managed to work his way back homewards; soon he would be arriving at his cousin Angstrom Angstromsen's settlement - there would be much to catch up on...

[longship as shown in previous post finished and crew painted] 

work in progress in the shipyards ...

The newly acquired ship has been repaired and modified; I added some decking for based figures and decided on 4 rowers each side, using some plastic oars I had rather than the metal ones which were somewhat clunky; an old paintbrush handle for the mast - sail to be done.

With work on this ship in progress thought I ought to get the others out for inspection and minor repairs. I had some rowers already, I decided to keep 4 of them to use with this small ship, which can be setup with sail down or raised.

I have three large ships, I will see if I can tweak at least one of them so that plastic oars can be used with them too. The small fleet...

surplus rowing figures will be converted to seated warriors either to go in ships or sit in the great hall.

newly arrived in the shipyard .....

newly arrived on the workbench - picked up off Ebay for good price - a small longboat and crew - something to work on - the resin hull needs some repairs...

Ten years !!

The Nothelm chronicle has reached its 10 year anniversary...

---oXo---

The monks at the abbey of Wuduceastre are about their daily business; two monks make their way to the scriptorium - they have new entries to add to the chronicle ....

 Meanwhile Brothers Alfric and Durwin have gone up to nearby hills to read the latest news to the dragons ...

Thegn Rodor and his mounted retinue ...

Thegn Rodor is returning to Wuduceastre after a failed attempt to intercept some viking raiders ...

[I've added 5 more mounted men, some older style figs I picked up off Ebay; they fit in Ok with the six Gripping Beast ones I had already].

A selection of scenes ....

finished painting the miscellaneous figures I obtained recently ...

 priests in action ....

a selection of workers....

supplies to the great hall ...

trouble with a stray walrus ......

The great hall completed ....

The great hall build project is finished; the roof made using felt looks quite effective, so may use the same scheme again. Have put some sort of indication of decorating carving around the front entrance ....

Roof and side wall off, ready for a story line style interior shot ...

interior shot a bit bare at the moment, a bit more window dressing, seated figures etc will improve the overall effect

A miscellany of figures arrives ...

I picked up a job lot of Irregular Miniatures accessories off Ebay for a good price. Most of them were from the siege equipment range which are more towards 25mm in size.  I spent a couple of hours sorting through them, tweaking and basing up the ones I liked - anything I didn't want has gone into the melting pot.

After the sift through I have 25 figures, a cart and some useful accessories (weapons, barrels and chests).

The figures have been based with little thin cardboard riser - brings them up in height to ones I already have.

Building the great hall (3) ....

Had a think about the roof, decided to go with thatch. Stuck for material to use, then I found some felt offcuts in box, suitable enough.

re-inforced the basic roof with MDF formers.....

 cut the felt to approx size and stuck over the outside....

 trimmed then folded back and stuck on the underside; another double thickness piece added for the roof ridge ...

Next I made a small section of roof made up to improve the interior piccies, a piece of MDF with some cardboard roof joists, very basic but effective .....

 while in the zone got on with the basic items for the interior.., some benches and tables from thin cardboard ...

 final item a small fire pit, used some bits of clear plastic to represent flames - should work, we'll see how it looks when painted up ...

Well the big build is done, now theres all the painting to do ! 😁

Building the great hall (2) ....

Sorting out the basic interior; not too cluttered has to work as a games piece as well (will consider latter whether to add roof support post detail).

basic raised areas on the side

 raised end for the lords chair ....

 doors shut on side, simple scribed card ...

 doors of main entrance open ....

 a quick sample interior shot checking on how it looks, with dressing will look better - might have to have some roof/beam detail to give height

 the basic roof cut ....

mulling over whether to have thatch or oak shingles - may go with the latter.

Building the great hall (1) ....

another little modelling project - a great hall; footprint is approx 6inches by 11inches - the size of a piece of leftover MDF board. Aim is to use as much stuff as I have to make it, so a rummage yielded - foam board, various thicknesses of cardboard, coffee stirrers and cocktail sticks; the look will be basic - enough to be used by either the saxons or vikings....

The initial shell of foam board, one wall is not stuck on as it will be removable to allow for internal photo-shoots..

 removable wall prepared and the slots to hold it added ....

 wall in place and the back end done ....

 last part of the exterior is the front with main entrance - the 'porch' has a wooden log style roof...

so a few things to do yet - interior structure, doors, roof and items for the interior (benches/tables etc) - oh yes and paint the thing up ..... then find somewhere to keep it, yes I'm making it and haven't though about storage - I'm sure there is a little space somewhere 😉