Latest US for WW2

Due to a slight diversion, I hadn't managed to take any pictures of my latest units. These are inspired by the latest Rapid fire book for the Battle of the Bulge. I'm still not happy with the webbing colour, so it may change.

First off, a reece unit as involved at Foy Notre Dame, I've only painted the figures, the vehicles are from my existing collection. I used the Revell WW2 American Infantry for the bulk of the figures, with only the 60mm mortars and figures added from the Esci US Soldier set. The organisation is quite different from the original version in the RF suppliment so I need more M8's (The ones shown are fron Frontline). Typically I have more MG armed jeeps left over from the old organisation (these are Carama jeeps plus SHQ crews)


Next was an Engineer battalion, the figures this time are mainly the Esci US Soldier set,plus additional bazooka teams from their WW2 French Soldier set. I now need to change over a couple of 6x4 trucks to Tipper trucks, plus a boat trailer and they'll be done.

With Desaix in the Desert v0.2

I've just uploaded a copy of the latest draft of the rules onto esnips at link. I'll be playing another test game again on Thursday

If this link works OK then I'll share some more rules, etc this way.

Will

Latest aquisitions

Although I'm heavily involved with DIY, I managed to send off an order to Harfields for some figures, prompted by receiving the latest catalogue with some 2nd hand bits I "need". So what did I get/plan to do with them?

• 2 sets of Airfix ACW Artillery (without limbers) - I just need some more guns and crews for some Fire & Fury scenarios
• 1 x HaT Alexander's Light Infantry - I've got a bit bored with my lack of archers and confusing my opponent by using staff slingers in the mix.
• 1 x HaT French Field Forge - 3 models, so I'll just one for my French, I haven't decided exactly what to do with the others but probably one will be done for use in the SYW.
• 1 x HaT French Wurst Wagon - One to be used as is, and the others for "flying artillery"
• 1/2 x HaT German Artillery - a couple of 77mm guns for use with my Volksgrenadiers for the Bulge Rapid Fire game
• 4 x Orion Cossack Cavalry - the critical purchase for use with my Renaissance/Deluge armies, wither directly as cossacks, or various balkan light cavalry. I think that a couple of figures are suitable for Pancerni to add to my Poles and others are suitable for Polish commanders. Based on this I'm going to need for of these excellent figures.
• 1 x Strelets Guides of Napoleon - one of those short lived units, the Eclaireursof the Imperial Guard only fought in 1813/4
• Strelets-R Turkish Seljukes Cavalry - More bits to mix in with my Mameluke/Ottoman army.

Will

I missed my anniversary!

Suddenly realised that it's been over a year since I started blogging. The annivarsary should have been on the 15th January and I obviously should have painted a special unit to celebrate. Oh well, at least it wasn't my wedding anniversary that I missed.

Back to the DIY and perhaps a bit of painting if I'm lucky

Will

Virtual stop

Well it's been quite a week with virtually nothing done wargaming wise as the kitchen is being refitted. I'm half way through pinning the parthian horse archers. This involves driving a ordinary pin up through the base of the horse, straight through the body of the horse and then into the rider. If I aim correctly I can drive the pin through the centre of the saddle.

Why pinning? I use it whenever there is inadequate support for the horse, which is usually when less than three legs are on the ground. In this case the gluable plastic flexes so much that I'm sure the paint will flake quickly, especially on singly mounted figures. With the harder plast used by Italeri, Zvesda and previously Hat I've not had to bother much in recent years. I used to be a constant necessity with my old Airfix figures. The upside of the soft plastic is that pinned right through the horse is easy and hence the abity to fix the rider on the same pin. I was having problems welding the riders in place with a hot pin so this technique has worked out OK.

I have also started assembling the Pegasus log buildings, and it's become apparent that they are far too large for my normal 20mm gaming, so I'm trying to decide the best means of disposal at minimal loss.

Back to the DIY now

Will

Vapanartak 2008 (4)

Finally from Vapa, some pictures of the North Hull groups game, full of nice ideas for my western desert stuff and the big game

Vapanartak 2008 (3)

Another quick escape to the bar saw me meeting up with some of the guys from the Society of Gentlemen Wargamers who are involved in this years big game "Battleaxe". Note the 7th armoured shirts for the "Allied" players, hopefully we'll get something for the Axis.

front row left to right:James, Tony D, Goldie
Middle row left to right: Steve, David P, Will (myself), Tim.
Back row: Dave T. Terry.

Just missing Simon who took the picture