ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Wednesday 12 July 2017

Hello.



 Hello...
At the tender age of Sixty I have decided it is about time that I started to record my "Butterfly" approach to wargaming and toy soldiers in a blog...

I was given my first toy soldiers when I was about seven years old-A Kleeware Crusader Castle I think..




 


Not long after, I discovered H.G.Wells's Little Wars at the local library...


As time and birthdays passed I was given Donald Featherstone's War Games and Tackle Model Soldiers This Way...


Signed by the man himself




Followed by Blandford's Military Uniforms of the World in Colour and a subscription to Miniature Warfare...



I also received my first Lead soldiers-Hinton Hunt 20mm Napoleonic's- 25 British and 25 Saxons(I liked the white uniforms).
Sadly I can not show a picture of these as they are long lost in the mists of time.

Of course by this time I was hooked.

My Mother always says that when I saw my first toy soldier I said "I am going to get a job making these when I grow up".
And I did...(the toy soldier making bit...not the growing up).

After nearly forty years in the business and most of my life in the hobby I have come to terms with my inner butterfly and now happily flutter from one shiny thing to the next.
All the best.. Aly

My desk at the moment




14 comments:

  1. Welcome to the modern age of technology Aly I look forward to seeing more updates and if you want photos of sone of our games from the past I have quite a few.
    Dave

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  2. I've still got both those books but sadly mine's hasn't been signed by Mr Featherstone although I did have the pleasure of meeting him and chatting at Salute a number of years ago. I remember he was very interested in our Schleswig Holstein game we put on for the Continental Wars Society.

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  3. Hi Dave...
    Hopefully I will manage to keep this going...as I am such a butterfly there should be lots of variety.
    I do intend to post about past games so I will no doubt take you up on your offer.
    I certainly remember that Salute.... because it is where I got Donald to sign my books...
    All the best...Aly

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  4. Welcome to the mad world of Blogger. Look forward to seeing lots of your toys in due course, sounds like they will be varied ;~)

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    1. Hi Phil.
      I thought it was about time I joined the 21st century...
      I think there will be a lot of variety, Hopefully people will enjoy my butterfly approach to this hobby of ours.

      All the best Aly

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  5. As a fairly recent blogger m'self (starting at the much more tender age of 57...), I say "Welcome!"

    So far, so good. Enjoy what you've done already.

    Best,
    Ed M

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  6. Gosh, I remember having a castle like that. It was hand made by my father and all pegged together with dowels so bits of wall could be "raised". Now i know where he got his inspiration from, probably on lunch time visit to Hamley's or Gamages. Real pity I do not still have it.

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  7. Welcome to the blogosphere Aly!

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  8. Congratulations on your blog. It is a wonderful start and I look forward to visiting here often.

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  9. Hi Aly,

    obviously I found your blog and I'm looking forward to follow it.

    Cheers
    Stefan

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  10. Enjoying this Aly great walk down memory laneđź‘Ť

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  11. Hello Aly! Looking very forward to future posts about your particular "spin" on the wargaming hobby.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  12. Aly,
    I have started reading about 1848 and Schleswig-Holstein. Being another butterfly I thought a few of the shiny toy soldiers for this. I know you have a few suggestions on using different bodies, heads etc on the Spencer Smith page ,but since the range has expanded could you give me some tips for a few Danish, S-H forces and some Prussians including lights!
    Many thanks. Love the blog
    Mark

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mark...
      In the short term I highly recommend Ralph Weaver’s book... Tha Armies of the first Schleswig-Holstein War 1848-51...
      he covers a lot of the interesting uniforms....
      In the next month or so I intend to post pictures of all off my newly re-based Shiny Schleswig toys... my plan was to possibly say which bits I used... if I can remember that far back... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

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