Keep Your Powder Dry

Way back in the innocent days of the tail end of 2017, when if you entered a bank wearing a mask you'd have a lot of explaining to do, I started this blog. It was meant as a store for all the snippets of information that were lying around on scraps of paper; something that would help me buy the correct version of Stirland Battlemire/Mud (I'm not sure, think it is mud, would have to check here first) when I visit the shops - even when I'd forgotten to take my shopping list with me. I didn't really expect many people to visit, or even read my inane ramblings. As the little counter thingy has just rolled past a very big number (a quarter of a million!) I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited the blog; read my nonsense (unlikely); looked at the pretty pictures (more likely); followed @KeepPowder on Twitter; liked posts; retweeted; commented upon posts; used one of my Google maps; promoted the blog on their own blog or website; generously supported t...

The best thing about painting highlanders is that when you have finished, you know that you don't have to paint them again. Technically that is true for any figures that you paint, but to be honest I don't actually mind painting harquebusiers. I positively enjoy painting London Trained Band regiments. But not highlanders. I really dislike painting highlanders. I mean I REALLY dislike painting highlanders. It's not like it is just an aversion to painting 'tartan'. They are just all round bloomimg horrible to paint. With their little knees on show; the tricksy billowing folds of their plaid; their 'apostles' hidden amongst it all; not to mention their strange fixation with offal based 'food' products. But I digress. Colonel William Gordon’s Regiment was raised in Strathavan, a small glen some thirty miles south of Elgin. This branch of the Gordons came from the town of Minimore, near what is now  Glenlivet. The Regiment was commanded by Colonel William...

Apologies, just a wee snippet of a post this week I'm afraid (there has been some significant bonus midweek ECWtravelogue content recently). Today's post is the result of a combination of storage reorganisation, and some rebasing*. This led to a little alteration to my assault parties. In case you are wondering how assault parties operated see here  and here . My assault parties consisted of five figures, all individually based; their storage box had plenty of room to house them. I decided that they would look much better on a movement base, but this would involve finding another couple of figures. A quick rummage in my spares box yielded up some officer figures who required a headswap. A movement tray from Warbases finished the whole thing off. * My usual basing 'recipe' consists of a base coat of Citadel Stirland Mud with a wash of Miniature Paints chestnut ink.  As I was getting through bucketfuls of Stirland Mud (and it is quite pricey) I decided to replicate the ef...

The entry for Cambridgeshire is supplemented by the separate entries for  Cromwell's House , the Cromwell Museum ,and the entry for Cambridge itself. St Andrews Church, Northborough is where Cromwell's widow, Elizabeth Cromwell is buried. Her memorial stone is all but worn away, little more than 'ell' remaining visible. A plaque dedicated to her by the Cromwell Association is on the wall nearby. Northborough Manor , home of the Claypoles (Cromwell's daughter, Elizabeth, married John Claypole in 1646), was fortified and the gatehouse garrisoned for Parliament. Reputedly visited by Old Knoll, this is, for once, quite a likely occurence (unlike most of the places Cromwell supposedly visited). The north wall has traces of gun loops cut into it.  Northborough's gatehouse Northborough's imposing gatehouse  can be rented as a holiday let; the house itself is privately owned, visits are possible by appointment only. St Ives market place  boasts a very fetching st...

The last of the Parliamentarian units that appeared briefly, that now deserve their moment in the spotlight. Originally appeared on here as Captain Charles Fleetwood's Regiment of Horse, but then I realised that I also field Colonel Francis Russell’s Regiment of Horse - Russell's metamorphosed into Fleetwood's (via a brief outing as Vermuyden’s). So a change of flag and a little rebranding was required. Raised in 1643 Norton's would serve both with Essex's Field Army and Waller's Southern Association, spending much of their existence besieging Basing House. In July 1643 they were repulsed from Basing House; went to the relief of Gloucester; First Newbury; then back to Basing House; before skirmishes at South Harting, Westbourne and Romsey. 1644 saw them skirmish at Havant; Warblington; Cheriton; skirmish at Odiham; back for round two at Basing House;  possibly at Winchester; back to Basing House; Second  Newbury; back to Basing House; skirmish at Salisbury. 1645...

I must confess that I am really, really happy to have completed this unit. Not because I think they are stunningly good ( I know that they aren't); because they are one of the last planned unit of Highlanders that I intend to paint. That will be 144 teeny weeny Scots with checked fabric garments. Which is more than enough. And yes, before you ask this is the clan of Rob Roy MacGregor. Like many Scots soldiers in the Wars their allegiance flip-flopped depending upon which Army was furthering their own cause. In April 1603 James VI of Scotland issued an edict that proclaimed the name of MacGregor as "altogidder abolisheed". Why? A complicated story of interclan rivalry with the Clan Colquhoun which grew in intensity (fuelled by murder and executions) culminating in Battle of Glen Fruin. What did this mean? The 1617 Act of the Scottish Parliament stated: "It was ordained that the name of MacGregor should be abolished and that the whole persons of that name should renoun...