New Computer Installed --

Well as of today I am writing this post on a new computer. Nothing special, just the least expensive "desktop" computer from STAPLES . . . an Acer Aspire with Windows 7 (instead of PCLinuxDOS I previously had). I don't need "bells and whistles" since I do my gaming on the table top and not on the computer.

In some respects it is a welcome change since our new cable connection didn't work well for the Linux machine . . . and in others it can be quite frustrating since it is years since I had to try to figure out a Microsoft product . . . and I've screamed some "bad words" more than a few times.

Anyway, just one more reminder that my old "uniserve" email account is defunct . . . if you wish to email me, use bluebearjeff@shaw.ca . . . for example, if you want to get your 18th century Imagi-Nation added to the "Emperor vs Elector" group blog.

However I fear that you are likely to hear some more "bad words" coming from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada if you listen carefully. Please forgive me.

-- Jeff

Moving to a New Computer --

As many of you know, I've been laid up after a nasty fall. I am doing much better now although my knees and head are still sore (as well my right elbow, which I still don't understand). But I'm really only having to take Tylenol now . . . which means that I'm much less zonked than on the pain meds.

So now I will potentially be off-line for a while as I attempt to switch over to a whole new computer . . . moving from a Linux machine to a Windows 7 machine.

Hopefully there won't be too much trouble transferring files and learning a whole different system . . . but I doubt that anyone will make book on it.

Wish me luck.

-- Jeff

Ouch & Double-Ouch! --

A week ago I took a tumble down a couple of steps in our garage . . . not a good idea . . . and, while fortunately I didn't break any bones, I conked my head pretty good and bruised parts of my body that I didn't even know about.

Because of that the next few days are pretty blurry. My head cleared up a bit after the week-end; and while I still hurt lots of places, I was on the mend . . . or so I thought.

My left knee started hurting more and more . . . I guess that the stress it received in the fall ended up triggering an attack of gout!

So, like an eighteenth century general, I am currently severely hobbled. However, unlike those generals I at least have access to medications for pain relief and to mitigate the severity of the attack. Still I am having to hobble around the house with a walker and getting up or down is difficult and painful . . . and it is hard to sleep due to the pain (the knee screams with every little movement).

It really makes me empathize with those old eighteenth century generals.

-- Jeff

New Email & Planning a Game --

Well we have now switched Internet Service Providers . . . and, as a result, my email address has changed. It is now bluebearjeff@shaw.ca . . . and I suspect that I may need to get a new computer shortly too.

In the meantime I have a game to plan. Murdock is supposed to come over next Sunday (the 19th) to play something . . . and I have been wanting to give Clarence Harrison's "Victory Without Quarter" rules another try . . . so that's the direction I'm currently leaning toward.

We played these rules twice before, back in 2008 . . . both times with "substitute figures", which would be the case again. For those who might be interested, here are links to our first game and our second game. In both cases, the comments from "Anonymous" are in fact from VWQ's author, Clarence Harrison.

-- Jeff

Warning:  Off-Line Soon --    

Because of a number of pending computer changes in our household  (both computers and connection type) I will have very spotty internet access for an indeterminate time starting relatively soon.

I will attempt to warn everyone more fully when this is about to occur . . . and sadly it will probably mean a change in email which might interfere with blog connectivity . . . but I will have to wait and see.


-- Jeff

First Panzerschiffe Ships Painted --   

Well I have now painted a dozen of the 1/2400 scale Panzerschiffe Russo-Japanese War ships.  I had ordered the six major ships for each side for the Battle of the Yellow Sea.

As I believe I have mentioned at times, I have chosen to use pre-war (or the transition to war) color schemes rather than  the boring gray gray gray of wartime painting.


Why?


Because my eyes are not the best and I wish to be able to easily distinguish the vessels of various nations.


As can be seen by the photo above (click on it for a larger image), I have painted the Japanese ships with their black hulls and funnels, and white superstructure and turrets.  The Russian ships have dark cinnamon brown hulls, khaki superstructure, ochre funnels and dark gray turrets . . . which approximates the reports of the Pacific Squadrons early in the war.

On the left you will see all twelve ships.  The Russians are on the top; with the Japanese vessels below.


By the way, I do know that the Russian Pacific Squadron had white hulls pre-war, but I'm reserving that for the US "Great White Fleet" which I'll eventually have.


For I have gone through all of the Pre-Dreadnought navies that I might eventually want to own and planned the basic paint scheme of each so that all will be unique unto themselves.

-- Jeff

Finally Back & Able to Post --     

I have not been able to post for a few weeks now . . . and I don't know why.  Blogger wouldn't fully load the "new post" screen for Saxe-Bearstein.  It would for EvE, etc.; but not for this blog . . . *sigh*.

I suppose that my biggest news is that Phil Olley asked me to contribute an article to Pilot Issue of "The Classic Wargamer's Journal".

I of course complied with an article about "The Character of Commanders".  For a brief review of the Pilot Issue of CWJ, take a look here.

 I've also managed to paint a dozen Panzerschiffe 1/2400 scale Pre-Dreadnoughts for the Russo-Japanese War Battle of the Yellow Sea . . . although when I'll get a chance to play depends upon a number of factors . . . amoung them being basing, choosing which rules I want to try and getting a good "sea surface".

-- Jeff