Old West 4: Merch, Three Spot, Pete's, Store, Bart's, Newspaper

“Did my order of gingham come in ?“, Mrs. Potts asks the shop owner as a customer approaches the Three Spot saloon. Others go about their daily business.

Astor Clement arranges a freight pickup with Pete while two dogs get to know each other… yet again. Mrs. Poortack does a bit of shopping next door.

Bart’s is quite a popular place. Next to it a reporter gets a report from a member of the Ladies League that notorious outlaw Billy Poyzin has been seen in the area.
------
NEXT: More in town.
“So dumb he couldn’t teach a hen to cluck.”

Old West 3: Red Eye Saloon

The next building I made was the ol’ Red Eye Saloon. Made the same way as the barn but used Grandt Line plastic windows and doors. The town buildings I made were painted a dirty tan on three sides with the fronts a bit more colorful. It’s one of a very few that has a finished interior (well, kinda)…

After a hard day, patrons enjoy being out of the heat.
------
Answers to OLD READERS QUIZTIME:
1950’s, 1960’s TV WESTERNS (left to right)
Will Hutchins as Tom Brewster (“Sugarfoot”)
Peter Brown as Deputy Johnny McKay (“Lawman”)
Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick (“Maverick”)
Ty Hardin as Bronco Layne (“Bronco”)
James Garner as Bret Maverick (“Maverick”)
Wade Preston as Christopher Colt (“Colt .45”)
John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop (“Lawman”)
------
“As useless as a four-card flush.”

Old West 2: The Barn

Well, these photos didn’t turn out nearly as nice as they should have. The original plan was to take the photos outside so I’d have sufficient space but it’s been so dang H-O-T lately (90 plus degrees!), I had to take them on the dining room table with crummy lighting instead. Sorry, pards!

The figures are Foundry, Artizan, Dixon, and others. I made all of the signs in Inkscape.

“After paintin’ our tonsils with whiskey at Shotgun Harry’s back in town, me and some of the boys visited a local ranch to check out this so-called barn that can dance.”


The first Old West building I made. Thick card (mat board), with square basswood strips for some support. Used this method for all of the buildings I made. Unfortunately, they’re quite fragile. But you’ll soon see other more robust buildings made from kits, most of which are unfortunately hard to get. Close-ups of the cactus will be later.

The mat we played on is canvas painted with house paint. PLASTICOTE STONE TOUCH was then sprayed on and mixed grass sprinkled on. Finally, it was clear coated. I’m amazed that after all these years it was in perfect shape when I unrolled it!

Inside, the boys discuss the matter with ranch hands. “You galoots are all crazy”, everyone accuses their opponents.

The office and the stalls are moveable so everything can be rearranged as need be. The covered wagon is a pencil sharpener with the hole in the rear covered up. I found it at a gift shop.

Ahhhh, the roof! All made from individual shakes of thin card, before I learned the HG method. Took me for-ev-er to do.
------
“Don’t squat with yore spurs on!”

Old West 1: The Campaign

Here’s a map of a LEGENDS OF THE OLD WEST* campaign I ran many years ago. We had a dozen or so players, some of which played in every single game. Players had Cowboy, Lawmen, and Outlaw “posses”. Each had its pros and cons and their abilities would improve as the campaign went along. We had scenarios taking place all over the map from far north to across the border in the south. We even had a game where we all just played poker and used any winnings to bolster up our posses. My favorite part was gathering the “unbiased” account of each game as seen by characters after each game, via email. They were a hoot! I’d then send them out to everyone in a kind of newspaper report. Good Times! You never know, maybe I’ll do ‘nother one some day.

“Yeah yeah blah blah blah. Where are the buildings?” -concerned reader Sylvester Newel
They be a-comin’. Gotta take photos of ‘em, Pard.

* GW Warhammer Historical, apparently now out of print.
-----
Until then…

OLD READERS QUIZTIME! Long ago before most of us were even born (1950’s and 1960’s), there was a whole slew of Westerns on TV. Here’s a photo of some of the ABC stars. How many can you name? What shows were they on? Bonus points if you can identify the character each played.