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Post by jdesmond on Nov 30, 2016 0:01:14 GMT
<img src=" Spent Thanksgiving weekend with friends, in the borderline exurbs, where the fans of Duh Iggles and the partisans of Da Jints dwell as neighbors. Between eating and cruising around to see the Xmas lights, was working with Mark on a custom worktable for my place.
My pad not being very big, needed the worktable to fit in exact space. And being tall and nearsighted, wanted table higher off floor than standard.
My not-very-humble opinion is that, for height of work surface easiest for you, stand with arms at side. Bend hands up at right angle, fingers pointing forward and fingernails up. You should be able to put palms on table without bending. For me that's about 34"
Is 3/4" plywood, 1"x 2" stringers along the edges. A bit overengineered (that's Mark for you - what he builds will hold together thru hurricane, tornado, or small nuclear detonation), very sturdy but heavy. Came out about 1 1/2" higher than I wanted - should have allowed for the height of the crosspieces for the sawhorses.
Four things I can think of, to do about that: chop 1 1/2" off legs cut crosspieces down from 2"x 4" to 2"x 2" get chair that will elevate to 23" instead of current one's top of 21" get old telephone directory to sit on
(At some point next year will need to take it apart, apply 'drafting-table vinyl' top, trim around edges to upgrade duct tape now covering sawn edge of plywood... So permanent solution 1 or 2 will be applied, but are 3 or 4 useful for moment ? Suggestions sought)
But for now, not three projects/piles of paperwork competing for every flat surface - along with dinner. So very thankful am I, as this November ends. Hope your Thanksgiving, too, was joyful.
(Now let's see if the 'insert photo' code works the way it's cracked up to ...)
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Post by jdesmond on Nov 11, 2016 2:08:24 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk !
I _think_ I have survived Fall In, not to mention working for the Board of Elections Tuesday, tho still ache from carrying lead home...
Anyway, picked up Essex's 'warband' Arabs at flea market, 44 figures, good deal. Almost all of the foot figures for a DBA army therein.
Would like to find a cavalry general, Bedouin light horse, camel scouts, and maybe a dozen Jund cav figures, of comparable size and style to the Essex troopers. Doth anyone do this era in plastic ? other manufacturers to look for ? or just save my pennies and order more Essex lead ?
Your opinions are invited.
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 26, 2016 6:47:53 GMT
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 17, 2016 12:27:10 GMT
Salutations from New Jersey ! Tuesday October 18th - that's tomorrow - is the registration deadline here. If you aren't listed on the books, and want to vote in the coming election, get thee to the courthouse. As someone who's spent a few Tuesdays working for the County Board of Elections, here be some miscellaneous information, which may - or may not - be useful. (And if you live outside of the Garden State, or the USA, apologies for wasting your electrons). If you register right before the deadline, and you’re not in the ‘poll book’, ask the worker to check the Supplemental Pages at the back of the book. The polls will open at 6 AM, close at 8 PM (if you're in line at the stroke of 8, we'll be open until everyone's done) Unless you’re taking pictures of a candidate casting her vote, don’t take pictures in the polling place. In NJ, there’s a ‘no electioneering’ zone for 100 feet around the polling place. Please don’t wear campaign buttons or hats or Tshirts or to the polls. If you’ve gotten a mail ballot, and haven’t mailed it, take it to the County Courthouse before 8 PM election day. Don’t bring it to your local polling place – that does no good at all. When you’re finished picking your candidates, be sure to press the ‘Cast Vote’ button at the bottom right. If you’re bringing your child (Sorry, that doesn’t get you 1 1/2 votes) into the booth, have him stand at your left so he doesn’t press it by accident. Please don’t hang around the polling place after you’re finished. There are laws about ‘loitering’ at the polling places… If you’re a new voter and listed in book as ‘ID Required, the acceptable list is “such as (but not limited)”: Valid and Current Photo ID: NJ Drivers’ License Job or Student ID Store Membership ID US Passport Military / Government ID MVC Non-Driver’s ID Card Current document with name and address such as: Non-photo Driver’s License Govenment Check Paycheck Public Assistance Card Rent Receipt Sample Ballot Utility Bill If you have not something equally convincing, we have to give you a Provisional Ballot. If you are voting by Provisional Ballot, DON’T DETACH THE AFFIRMATION FROM THE BALLOT ENVELOPE. If you need assistance casting your vote, you can ask anyone except: a candidate your employer or a representative of your employer an official or agent of your union (but a co-worker or fellow union member are OK) When you sign the poll book, we have to announce your name and address, loud enough for the board members and possible Challengers – candidates and Official Challengers (go to County Board of Elections to get Challenger’s Permit) to hear. Voters can be challenged for Age, Citizenship, Residence, Criminal Disqualifications. Voters CANNOT be challenged on grounds of Expected Manner of Voting, Race, Ethnic Origin, or Residence in a particlar ward, housing complex, or neighborhood. You can present ID if challenged, and appeal to a Judge of the Superior Court if denied. If a voter is deceased or moved away, write that on the Sample Ballot, and drop it back into the mail. And, from the New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 1934-29: No person shall by abduction, duress or any forcible or fraudulent devise or contrivance whatever, impede, prevent or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any voter; or compel, induce or prevail upon any voter either to vote or to refrain from voting at any election, or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or persons at any election. Methinks Phil Barker could have written that sentence. Hope y'all have a great week. Is predicted to be 85 F tomorrow, we'll probably see some young ladies exercising their right to bare arms...
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 17, 2016 12:16:15 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk!
Purchased a pile of Outpost figures at Syr Hobbs' closeout sale (as I have mentioned). Very happy with them - great casting quality, little flash to cleanup, paint up to look great with little effort (take what the sculpter gives you and run with it, that's wot I say). Problem is their Republican Roman heavy infantry. The Principes and Triarii are neat figures* BUT they are an exact 15mm, instep to eyeball. Next to the Foot Command or Velites in the Outpost RepRoman line, they look quite undersized.
So, am looking for the rest of the necessary troops, to build a DBA II/33 army around these guys. Recommendations for 'exact 15mm Republican Romans' sought. Recommendations for manufacturers carried by a dealer at Fall In especially sought.
Thanks, very much!
*(am going to try taking pictures, outside in sun, later today - will post them here if they come out - IF I don't have to go to bank office, deal with account foulup. Wish me luck)
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 16, 2016 1:30:53 GMT
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 10, 2016 4:11:43 GMT
'Twas told, when I was young, that the (unenforced) Pennsylvania statutes forbade driving an automobile on Sunday except to and from church. Not sure if that's still on the books...
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 5, 2016 20:06:57 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
On the one hand, we have the Middle Imperial Romans - West, # II-64a, floreat 193-324 AD; whose enemies list, however, includes: #II-47e - Marcomanni Army of Maroboduus, 9 BC-19 AD #II-47f - Suevi, 19-49 AD
and their enemies lists include #II-64a
Doth anyone wish to offer a correction / explanation / slightly used time machine ?
Yours, John Desmond
(Tried Googling 'marcomanni suevi dba'. Found nothing relevant to this question, but did get ad "Online DBA Program - Earn Your DBA at South University" and site with list of random words headlined "Protorosaurus gun-room repaying treason Phosphorus - WordPress".)
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Post by jdesmond on Oct 4, 2016 16:55:37 GMT
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 21, 2016 2:27:42 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
First tranche of the Outpost figures - about 130, mainly Romans of several eras - now deflashed, bases sanded, washed, pickled and rinsed, now drying, to be primed tomorrow or Thursday...
Hard lesson: Don't lean over a tub to sand off base bottoms of 100+ figures at a sitting. Your back will hate you. Only 50-60 at one time
Most Outpost figures are a 'standard' 16-17mm, bit bigger than old Minifigs, bit smaller than Old Glory (going with the few examples I have on hand to compare), but compatible.
Two problems, tho:
For the Republican/Polybian Romans, the Principes and Triarii are only about 14mm - roughly size of old Heritage figures. Problem is that the foot command pack and the Velites for Scipio's legions are, noticably, in the larger scale. Shall be digging around for figures that fit in with the legionaries.
Although the riders are all approximately the same size, the horses vary greatly - next to the Republican Roman heavy cavalry, the Late Imperial Roman horse archers seem to be riding Secretariat's brothers. Will be sorting out all the horses in the order, finding out what mounts best fit what riders...
Pictures to follow when they get some paint on them.
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 17, 2016 0:13:54 GMT
Salutations, friends, Romans, countrymen, and other gentlefolk,
Methinks we have a sentence which could use either one or two commas:
+1 If in close combat; and either uphill or defending any but a paltry river's bank off-road. Should it say:
+1 If in close combat; and either uphill, or defending any but a paltry river's bank, off-road. (road not only negates the river bank's defense bonus, at the ford, but also negates the 'uphill along the road' defensive bonus.)
or
+1 If in close combat; and either uphill, or defending any but a paltry river's bank off-road. (my best guess at the meaning)
(and as I would print it as)
+1 If in close combat; and either uphill or defending any but a paltry river's bank off-road.
Conclusive proof of one thesis or the other is sought
Yours, John
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 16, 2016 4:22:57 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
I find that I am still bewildered, and mayhaps spread further bewilderment amongst my friends. May I, perhaps, try rewording this sentence in the active voice, see if that explains the "unless while moving along a road and..." phrase. SO...
SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT TACTICAL MOVES DURING THE SAME BOUND
a) A group entirely of Light Horse or mounted infantry; can make a second or third move that is entirely in good going, if they have enough PIPs
They cannot start or go within 1 BW of enemy, unless they are moving along a road
b) A group entirely of Psiloi can make a second move either in their side's first bound of the game, or if every element starts entirely in good going and ends at least partially in bad or rough going, and if they have enough PIPS.
They cannot start or go within 1 BW of enemy, unless they are moving along a road, and start, in their movement along the road, with every element entirely in good going and end with every element, still on the road, at least partially in bad or rough going
c) A group of troops can move along a road if making a second or subsequent move.
They cannot start or go within 1 BW of enemy, unless they are moving along a road
In other words, the wording of the rules allows some troops to move really fast and get really close to enemy troops if they are moving along roads.
I _think_ I'm wrong about this, now yf, kind friends, might you tell me exacly _where_ ?
Yours, John
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 14, 2016 12:28:45 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk,
Been working on 'Gelidis 3.0', have become bewildered. May I ask you for your elucidations of this paragraph on Page 9:
SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT TACTICAL MOVES DURING THE SAME BOUND
Some elements or groups that have already moved this bound can make a second or subsequent tactical move
(OK, basic rule, some elements can do something)
if there are enough PIPs
(condition 1, applies to all of 'some elements')
and only if this does not start or go within 1 BW of enemy
(condition 2, also applies to all of 'some elements')
unless while moving along a road and is entirely by:
(Exceptions to Condition 2, which seems to state that "does not start or go within" does not apply _only if_ BOTH conditions are met. This doesn't seem correct.)
(It seems to me that the sense is, A: that the "and" in "moving along a road _and_ is entirely" could be replaced with "or"; or B: that "while moving along a road" is redundant, being taken care of by following clause "c" )
a) Light Horse or mounted infantry; and making a second or third move that is entirely in good going. b) Psiloi making a second move either in their side's first bound of the game, or if every element starts entirely in good going and ends at least partially in bad or rough going. c) Troops moving along a road if making a second or subsequent move.
(Note that these three are actually noun clauses, serving as the subjects in the passive-voice subordinate clause beginning with "unless", and should not end with periods. Sister Mary Patrice would have rapped my knuckles for that.)
Your thoughts and advice are invited.
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 12, 2016 6:45:10 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk ! Ordered a big pile of Outpost Wargaming Service figures from syrhobbswargames.com/ocart2/ Had a bit of Email backandforth figuring out what was still in stock - would have ordered more if he'd had it to sell me - but I mailed my check* on the 2nd and my package arrived at 3:30 Saturday the 10th. Was pleasure doing business with Duane at Syr Hobbs, and recommend them to you. Great thing about Outpost figures, they're some of the best moldmakers and casters around. Very easy to 'clean them up', minimal flash and mold lines, 'vent channel sprues' trimmed off easily. Had seperated new figures into 'want to get these boys finished and onto table soonest' and 'when these armies are finished, I'll start on these from next era'. So sat down Sunday evening to make a start on first group, and when I got up to stretch my legs, said "What ye heck - more than half finished that pile _already_" Would compare Outpost's casting and molding quality with Foundary 28's. So will start writing reviews when I get them primed and shaded, etc. But certainly think I've gotten good value. Yours, John *Yeah, still used the old fashion communication method. Used to work for the Post Office, couple of decades back - that's where I became a mail chauvinist ;-)
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Post by jdesmond on Sept 7, 2016 7:59:12 GMT
Salutations, gentlefolk !
Don't know about ye professionals, but the style/method I've developed over the years is something like painting, in this order: 'awkward to get at parts' flesh shadows in black, possibly 'blacklines' 'paint inside the lines' finish details, highlighting...
(Pictures to appear Real Soon Now)
Second, I'm a perfectionist - I want to think "The paint job on this toy soldier is the Very Best That I Can Do". And if I'm that way, with a 10/0 paintbrush on a winter evening, I can be easygoing with the rest of my life.
Some of us paint small armies to be able to fight miniature battles, some of us - like me - fight miniature battles to have an excuse to paint small armies. And some of us (to retell old joke):
General is inspecting the Paratroop Division. Stops before one private, asks "Soldier, Do You Like To Jump Out Of Airplanes ?" "YES, SIR!" General asks this of a few more troopers, same response. Finally... "Soldier, Do You Like To Jump Out Of Airplanes ?" "No, Sir" "THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE PARATROOPS ?" "Sir, I like to hang out with people who like to jump out of airplanes."
Best wishes to everyone for the new school year, or the Fall (or Spring for the antipodeal folk) in general.
Yours, John
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