On the workbench - February 2012

A month of solid progress on the Paras needs a final push(?) to get the majority fixed, so I'll work on adding the missing MGs, mortars, AT guns and Reece vehicles.

So what else?

• The Festes-Haus zu Ransbach (by popular request, and I'm quite interested to see how it turns out)
• Continue work on the various WW2 vehicles (currently the frame aerials are proving problematic)
• A "proper" camp using the Bellona tents

Then there is the Vapnartak show in York this weekend where the L&L will be refighting Ravenna 1512 (500th anniversary)

Crusade 2012 - Penarth

Been off for the last week on holiday in Pembroke, but luckily my return coincided with the Crusade show in Penarth, Cardiff, so I got chance to pop in and meet up with a number of people and have a good look at what is becoming a popular show.

Oh, and I spent some money too, more than I expected

• Ten Stuarts from Combat Miniatures (at a good price, especially as the old Matchbox models rarely appear on ebay)
• Two pairs of guns from Minimi - Italian 47mm and British 2pdr (and apparently a 50mm PAK38 will be appearing shortly)
• British Paratroop MMG and Mortar teams plus the parts to equip my Reece jeeps from SHQ
• A copy of Last Argument of Kings (I cracked when I found a copy for £16!)
• A copy of the latest version of "I ain't been shot mum" (and a chance to have a good chat with my old mate Richard Clarke)
• A couple of assembled Airfix Grants (now up to 6, slowly getting there)
• A couple of Matchbox 251's (I think I need a couple for my DAK forces)

Then there were the games, some demonstrators were putting in the effort and engaging with the public, while others just hunkered down and just played the game, shame!

Some pictures

Richard Clarke's IABSM demo game (15mm)

The battle of Chousitz 1742 (10mm)

Vietnam Riverine warfare (20mm)

Battle of Fishguard (what if) 25mm

WW2 (25mm)

Napoleonic rework

Played the new Crusader Publishing "March Attack" Napoleonic rules down the club last week. They seemed to work well enough and were simple to pick up. We played the Plancenoit scenario in the back of the rules, but it was rather ambitious for a first attempt as the infantry didn't quite get into combat by packing up time. Still it seems promising and worth another go, my only slight concern is that the artillery seems too powerful.

I was using my French and Prussian figures and the few rebased ones really stood out from the rest and the command bases looked particularly uninspiring. So since I was basing up the paras I thought I'd just do these as well

French

Prussian

British Paras - third batch

The third battalion is now painted again I still need the Mortar and MMG. I'll be at Crusade on Saturday, so hopefully I'll pick up some more bits I need there

The brigade so far, it's mainly artillery and vehicles needed now.

Penkridge - foraging trip

Popped down to the table sale held at Penkridge today and secured a few useful bits and pieces at prices to justify the trip (honest!)

• four Airfix 6pdr guns (just what I need for Monty's battles)
• an Airfix Crusader
• SHQ Nebelwerfer
• Academy kubelwagen
• a pack of Revell SYW Austrian Infantry
• about 90 Esci WW2 Russian Guards (the hard plastic set)
• A set of Airfix British Paras (I just want the mortar and crew!)
• The FOW Afrika handbook (only to have a read look at the eye-candy and then sell)
• Dapol platform figures (to provide some unarmed civilians)
• The Bellona tent set (I need some more for encampments, probably go for a desert basing this time)

Nice friendly atmosphere and it seemed to get plenty of buyers and sellers.

British Paras - second batch

Another battalion of British Paras now completed, except that I still need to add a MMG and mortar team. In the front is the flame-thrower needed for the Engineers, it's a simple head swap using the flame-thrower in the Hat British machine gun set.

British Paras, the first batch

OK to kick off with, I had to rework an existing Para battalion to ensure it was consistent with the new stuff that I'm producing. I've added a few extras such as a Piat team and 2" mortar from the Italeri AT teams. The 3" mortar and HMG still need to be rebased but I'll do them once I find a good source for the extra pair of each I need for the other two battalions.

Then there are the new units, these are all the small bits I might need for specific games. At the fron Left to right Pathfinder Company, Recon Company (need Jeeps) Engineer Company (still need to add a flamethrower). Behind are the brigade HQ and the Artillery OP.

Now on with the second battalion.