Keep Your Powder Dry

This is a follow on to one of my very first posts Which Figures? : if you are thinking about starting an ECW project it might make more sense if you read that post first. What started out as a comparison of just three brands, has grown somewhat. Please note, that as my armies are predominantly Peter Pig figures- they are the norm from which I compare everything else. I had a little rummage in my spares box and found that I had the command figures for two new Regiments of Foot. These are a mix of Peter Pig, Naismith and Steel Fist: all often described as 'true 15mm'. So in the interests of 'science', I decided to see how they measured up against one another, and more importantly, could they be used in the same unit?  Peter Pig, with a Naismith halberdier (front right) Initial thoughts:   Please note: this comparison is just for foot figures. Naismith, Peter Pig and Steel Fist horses are so very different, stylistically, that I personally wouldn't mix and match as the

The County of my birth, and just a few miles away from Château KeepYourPowderDry, so why has it taken so long to get around to writing an entry? Sir Philip Mainwairing's cuirassier armour, St Lawrence's Church, Peover Lyme Hall has already been briefly mentioned in the first part of  Rupert's March North . A National Trust property (so expect lots of Colin Firth memorabilia, travel blankets and expensive boiled sweets for sale in the shop). Let's get Colin Firth out of the way first: yes, Lyme was the location for that lake scene in the BBC Pride and Prejudice. Surprised there isn't a statue of Colin emerging from the lake... The Legh's were staunch Royalists, although didn't really have much to do with the soldiering due to a series of unfortunate events. Peter Legh XI inherited the property from his father just before the outbreak of war. He was elected MP for Newton in 1640, but died from his injuries sustained in a duel in 1642. His son, Frances inher

The opening salvo in the Warwickshire Houses of Interest post takes in a moated medieval manor house. Expect the #ECWtravelogue to concentrate more on the west midlands in the coming years as the academic focus (aka dad taxis & removal services) of Château KeepYourPowderDry shifts to Coventry and Warwick. See also the entries for: Coventry Edgehill Warwick Castle   Baddesley Clinton is a hidden gem of a property: located half way between Solihull and Leamington Spa, the house is cared for by the National Trust. So expect plant sales, café and over priced fudge. Dating from the 13th Century, Baddesley Clinton was home to Henry Ferrers, noted antiquarian. Henry died in 1633 and the house was inherited by his son, Edward. Edward would be made High Sheriff of Warwickshire 1639-1641. The Ferrers were Catholic recusants, and whilst they did try to keep out of the wars and remain 'neutral' their notoriety as Catholics positioned them in the 'probably Royalist because they are