Danes Finished

Very happy with these, both how they have eventually turned out, and secondly, with how fast they have been to paint up.

The force is designed to be a small Danish All-Arms battlegroup that could be expected to operate defensively in Denmark itself.

The M109 are Zvezda 1/100 plastic models, the Harrier is by Revell, and featured in a previous post, and the rest are all from Geoff at QRF.

When I say these are finished, I succumbed to temptation and put through a follow up order with Geoff for some mortars, Unimogs as tows, more Landrovers, and reconnaissance in the form of M41 Walker Bulldogs..   utterly useless on a wargames table, but pretty.

A borrowed RAF Harrier

M113 APC

Armour Command, Centurion Mk 5/2 

M109 SPG, the FAO in his Landrover, and the Engineers' Unimog

AT capability, TOW on Landrovers

Battlegroup Command and the Forward Air Controller (I may give him a blue beret)

The PBI, conscripts mostly.

And the whole force assembled, small but perfect.

Rather fun to put together, I am hoping the nephew will finish up his East Germans for Team Yankee and we can get forces onto a table.

I also still have acccess to the Cold War Commander  battlegroups online tool, so I ran up 2000 points for each, and I am pretty confident I can play 90% without the rules (which are in storage). So if TY doesn't work* there's a fallback. And Plan C is to take inspiration from Chain of Command and write my own.

*Well - actually, I am pretty confident they aren't much chop, but I will give them a fair go.

1970s British

Quick attack on two Airfix kits. Not a patch on more modern offerings,  but if you want a plastic kit for the period... only game in town. It took 4 goes to get rid of the Chieftain turret seam..

Scimitar & early Chieftain Mark. I think I need to add loads of stowage and camo nets.

Cheers!

 

Cold War Build - WIP

So I thought the USMC deserved a bit of love...   and I had an S&S model M106 Recoilless Rifle, plus the S-Model M151 A2 'Mutt'. Still a Work in Progress, and added S&S crew and camo netting.

The windscreen etc. are just lying in place as I have yet to work out the final assembly sequence, but I reckon it will be a nice little support.

And here's how the Soviet hardware is coming along...

One BMD-1 complete - I tried to get cute with the numbering, as the decal sheet has all the rows of numbers on a single piece of deal sheet, so I thought I could shortcut by using the number 0.. 1.. 2.. but the intervals are too great, and they need to be cut and aligned on the curve of the turret.

The turret on the T64 alone contains about 40 odd parts, some extremely tiny, but I am very happy with progress so far.

A word of warning to those assembling the Modelcollect T64 Model 1975. The instructions are wrong. Step 6 in the instructions would have you assemble the main hull (excluding the glacis), but if you do, you will be unable to attach the lower hull. It needs to be slid under bulges under the main hull, which can't be done once both side sponsons are attached. I would recommend that you attach one sponson only.

This also means that you cant apply paint separately to the running gear and the hull.

The second error is the numbering of the axles. D8 and D4 are (I think) reversed, and won't align properly. Plus D14 and D10, if inserted into the predrilled holes are out of alignment.

No big deal, but it seems a shame, as otherwise it is a very very nice kit.

Soviets! - Cold War Russian Build

So as I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I thought it would be cheap and quick to throw together an OPFOR (Opposition Force) for my US Marine Corps.

The models arrived a couple of days back, the S-Model BMD-1 in their usual 2 kits in a box, the ESCI/Italeri Spetsnatz and a Modelcollect Model 1975 T64.

Now my friend Thomo has just posted about picking up the Dragon Ha-Go WW2 vintage light tank, so I thought I would do a quick comparison.

Here's the Modelcollect T64...   6 sprues, plus DS tracks, plus instructions on building a transparent commanders shield...  Eek!

6 sprues - yet to find any flash...

The observant will notice that there are several turret bases, and a number of variant glacis and sponsons. This kit seems to form the base for several T64 versions, so loads of bits for the spares box! It's a lovely model, but definitely not a quick build.

And since Thomo also seems to be obsessing about the size of the Ha-Go, here's the almost complete BMD-1 with a 20mm fig for scale.

The BMD is a fun build, but there are a couple of traps for young players. I will add a post on the build later.

As for tiny...   try this for size...

Leo Done

I still have to find an opponent, but I'm calling this one done.. wonder how many points this is worth in painting challenges..

Ok, and back to the Samurai after a fun interlude...

Leo Update

Painted, chipped & decals on...  I am contemplating adding a camo net from medical gauze, and I suspect I am going to need to add a load of dust...

Now I need to find a 1/24 T72 for an opponent...   hmmm...

A Big Leopard

Not sure if this counts as proper 'wargamey' stuff, but a friend of mine dropped round the other day with two 1/24 scale Radio Controlled Tanks - a Japanese Type 90 and a Leopard 2 A5. 

Now these are by Hen Long - who are famous for their very sophisticated 1/16 scale R/C Tanks, and although very much simpler, are still very nice pieces of kit. They include rotating turrets, elevating guns, flashing lights, realistic firing noises and even fire small plastic airsoft pellets.

Needless to say, after being played with for a little while by he and his two boys some years back, there was a significant piece of work involved in repair (the Leo was especially bad, having already had someone botch an attempted repair, missing screws, turret and weapon assembly in 22 pieces, and so on).

Now me being me hatched a plot - because I didn't really have a huge interest in a Leo or a Type 90, being more of a Crusader or Panther type myself, so I counted the wheels (complete with working torsion arm suspension), and then tried to figure what kit models would fit the chassis and R/C components.  Not much luck as the only available choices seemed to be a very limited range of quite elderly 1/25 scale Tamiya and Monogram kits, which were now fetching silly prices.  I considered scratch building - but my skills aren't really up to it I confess.

Plan B. Ok, the Type 90 was running (after I sourced a charger doing 12V 250mA) - but the Leo was still in lots of little pieces..   so some serious repair work was in order. I gave up on the Airsoft shooting, as the gun assembly took up most of the chassis space under the turret ring. Gradually pulled the whole thing together, added a couple of aerials (It has an extra one after I re-routed the ridiculously long R/C aerial back through the engine deck), and finally started looking for references for a KFOR Leopard that could have seen action in Kosovo. 

And then realised that Hen Long had economised on their 1/24 range (all of three tanks - the M1A1, Leo2 and Type 90) by using the same hull and running gear on all of them. 6 roadwheels per side - the Leo has 7. Doh!  Persuaded myself it wouldn't be too noticeable, removed the tracks and started wielding the paint..    I reckon other than the running gear, it's quite an acceptable Leo. Once I get the NATO tri-colour cam down, weather it, add a camo net, and add decals and crew member, it will really look the part.  So here's the progress to date.

I'm pretty happy, and a good paint job will hide a multitude of sins... 

Shipwreck - First Outing - Updated

So Peter and I, (after many false starts), finally got to have a first go at 'Shipwreck' from Vandering publishing, a set of Modern Naval Rules. I had painted up a Soviet era fleet from Navwar, with helicopters from TSS Seawulf, and for our first run, we kept it simple, I took two Udaloy I and a couple of Sovremenny class. Peter had French - two stealth destroyers and a couple of supporting frigates. So the rules we needed were basically manoeuvre, detection, helicopters, missiles and the core combat rules.


Soviet Ka27 spot the French - and in return are detected.

French Missile Launch

[Edit]

NB - the apparent French launch had to be aborted as he realised the Exocets were out of range.  Lots of markers are very handy, - (active radar, detected, missile, etc) as is a careful study of the turn sequence. We used Litko, and I am going to order some more, as I noticed we were running short.

The rules are a bit scattered and not always consistent. So for example, under the detection rules it basically states that unless otherwise specified all modern stuff has Data Link as a capability allowing detection and reaction (missile launch etc.) in the same Manoeuvre turn. But in the appendix for helicopters - it only has one chopper listed as having Data Link.

The Soviets make a missile launch - SS-N-22 and SS-N-14 - French in the distance.

 [Edit]

At this point we realised that the SS-N-14 were also actually out of range.. the markers (Litko) went back in the bag, and the 22's headed off at sea level..



Soviet SS-N-22 about to impact

[Edit]
As the Soviet Fleet Commander, at this stage I had detected and targeted all the French vessels and he had only detected two of mine. Lessons learned - get your helicopters in the air, get them in the air ealry, and get as many of them in the air as you can. I forgot a couple of my ships had more than one helicopter. (I also couldn't find any rules to allow my helicopters to drop torpedos ;-)

16 SS-N-22 came screaming in, 4 per target, at this stage, the French ships had failed to detect the missiles, so had the French helicopters, so the French ships couldn;t go to Emergency active radar, and so could only respond at very short range, and with only one system per target. (This is an area we need clearing up..  i.e how many dice per system, and how the whole targeting of missiles by point defence is done.)

Despite half the missiles being destroyed by effective point defence of guns and AMM, the central French frigates were hit 2 and 3 times each, with the heavy SS-N-22 missiles immediately sinking both of them. On the other hand, the French stealth ships were unscratched. Their Electronic Warfare (EW) score (4) is deducted from the missile attack role, and the Soviet missiles missed by miles. Rolling on a D10 with a 7 required to hit, takes it down to a 3..  which is a massive difference (by contrast the Soviet ships EW is a measly 2.)

As the ships got closer, the French shot down a Ka27, and launched a wave of Exocets, crippling one of the Soviet Udaloys, while the SS-N-14 were virtually useless. With the French EW, they were now at 1 to hit on a D10. - no joy and all the Soviet missiles had been fired.  The remaining Exocets crippled a Sovremenny, but the Soviet commander pressed the attack. With no missiles left on either side, he wanted to get into gunnery range..   The French, being outclassed in guns, wisely decided to retire the scene. And so the game drew to a close.

Despite the apparent Soviet missile advantage, the EW scores made a huge difference. A much more even contest than it might at first appear.

Overall, we managed to muddle our way through the game pretty well. Lots of flicking back and forward as is always the case with a new set of rules. But both of us have decided they are well worth another try. We have some questions that Peter will ask in the appropriate forums.



Too many charts, it shows it is first time around

Looking forward to the next run.

Teeny Tiny Choppers

No, not this Chopper..  but teeny tiny 1/1200 British Lynx and Wasp helicopters available through TSS (QRF)

I didn't even bother with a photograph, as they are much too small to see properly.. And I think I am going to be very challenged as to how to base them.

I think I am back to my basic problem of finding aircraft for the various modern fleets. The GHQ packs are starting to look like the only option, but they have only a limited range. I can get Soviet naval aircraft, but no Soviet helicopters...

Unfortunately, the 1/2400 static stuff from Navwar isn't suitable for sticking onto decks and so on as they are on quite chunky bases. .. 

Hmmmm - a puzzle. What is everyone else doing I wonder?

New Fleet Started

So these Navwar ships are very easy to paint. This was one days work. Tack to cardboard using thinned PVA. Attach the ship descriptions from the packs (otherwise I am sure to confuse Type 22 Block 2 with Block 3), undercoat spray gray. Wash with GW Badab Black, then wet-brush a very pale gray, and pick out details with white, black and a pale Indian red for decks. (Yes I know - probably not accurate..)  I will go back and redo the hulls to make them more even.

So pretty much from spray one morning, to this stage the next day. Basing and preparing labels actually takes much longer.  I reckon I may get out the jig-saw and have a go at some craft wood - as the last basing material wasn't ideal (spray varnish ate into the base sides).

Now I just need to re-read the rules and once that's done, put down a couple of ships and try out a solo game.

The Red Banner - Soviet Fleet finished

Still waiting for some aircraft to arrive, but here they are in all their glory.

The Red Banner Fleet gets Wet

Or at least the basing progresses to the point where I actually quite like the look of these guys.

I had washed the plain bases with GW Blue Ink, and then slapped a load of acrylic gel on, using an old brush and schlepping some wave patterns in.

The gel is white when wet - and dries glossy clear, but while wet, gives you a really good idea of how the finished drybrush will look.

Of course, there has to be a bow-wave when you are charging towards the Imperialistic Capitalist Running Dogs at 30 Knots!

Basing the Red Banner Fleet

Ok, so I decided I was going with some decently thick bases.. two principal reasons.. 

1. It would make handling the base easier, rather than damaging the models.

2. It would give me a good way to add labels to the models.

So off I went to Eckerslys, which is convenient as it is next to the Medical Centre. The upside is every time I get sick and have to go to the Doctor, I come home with all sorts of new paints, craft materials etc...  the downside is every time I get sick and have to go to the Doctor, I come home with all sorts of new paints, craft materials etc... 

Thomo had sent me a sample of the material he was using for his basing, but I couldn't locate any, so I thought I would go for the old foam/card sandwich material. It has one drawback, which is that unless you cut it with a very sharp knife, it will 'tear' along the internal polystyrene.

So here is is...   

Next step is to add labels, then matt lacquer these. Following that, a wash of green ink on the bases to add depth, paint on the acrylic compound scrunch for waves, and drybrush white... 

Red Banner Fleet - stopping Now!

So rather than keep reworking these, I have decided they are done...

 

 

Red Banner Fleet coming together

They are starting to look the business. Once this is all nice and set, I will go back with an off-white and start doing some highlights. From various photographs, it looks like gun turrets, missiles tubes or tube caps were a slightly lighter colour. There are also ships' boats - helicopters and so on.

I just need to get some bases cut. Still think I will go with magnetised veneer from Olympian Games. 

The air wing. I have ordered some 1/2400 choppers from QRF, so will add these when they arrive.

The cruisers, again, I really like these models, and a few highlights, helicopter deck markings, hull numbers etc should make these pop on their bases.

Pauk and Tarantul Corvettes, the Tarantuls carry really big scary anti-ship missiles. The Pauk are basically ASW.

I know the boomers shouldn't have the white stripe, but the black was so dense and unrelieved. I am going to go back and add some missile panel patches in a very dark grey to try and create something a bit more interesting.

Progress.. (past Murmansk?)

Quick paint on the decks of the carrier, plus  GW 'space-wolves grey' drybrush on the rest of the Red Banner..

Here's how they look day two..  red decks to go, interestingly I noticed on the older ships, the deck is a greyish red/brown, and the helidecks etc are quite a red brown.

Boris Chilikin - Fleet Oiler

The Flat-tops

Pauk & Tarantul Corvettes

Slava & Ukrainya

Udaloys & Typhoons O My!

So the grey undercoat, black wash and first drybrush are on. The light isn't good, but I think they are still too dark..

 Typhoons - big b*stards!

Udaloy I with Sovremenny in the background.. then Kara, and Sava Class Missile Cruisers.

Krasniy Oktyabr

So - orders placed 14 May, and today (9 working days later), I have my fleet packs and my copy of Shipwreck.

So I peeked earlier, decided I really liked the look of a c 1990 Soviet fleet, and started the process tonight. The fleet packs cost me about 12.50 UK pounds each, and represent excellent value. (I notice in the latest catalogue they are listed as 15 pounds each, so they may have gone up.)

Here's the Soviets, all sizes... 6 corvettes, 6 subs, 7 destroyers/cruisers, and two aircraft/helicopter carriers. I rather like these.

I have heard mixed reviews of the Navwar vessels, but on the whole I was very happy. They don't have the detail of GHQ 1/2400 (nor did I expect them to), but they are perfectly adequate. I had to do a couple of minutes running the x-acto over them to adze off the mould lines, but otherwise they look the business. The only one that had any real issue was the Sovremenny destroyers, where the mould seemed to have been ever so slightly misaligned, and it just took some rather more vigourous scraping to get an acceptable finish.

Assembly was the gantries on the Boris Chilikin fleet oiler, and a separate 'island' for the Admiral Kuznetsov. No challenge there.

So now they are primed gray, and the first step is a black wash, then a serious 'wet-brush' of a lighter gray.

"Krasniy Oktyabr" ? Well, when you have three Typhoon Class subs, of course one of them has to be "Red October", Comrade Captain... 

'CRAZZZY CRAZZZY PRICES!!!!!'

I have been so good this year. Unlike some other people I don't post totals - but I have literally not bought a figure, my only wargames purchases a couple of bottles of paint, some bases from Dean at Olympian Games, and some rules.

I even had a good hard look at my lead stocks, converted some into the basis of the Desert Rajputs, made some decisions about what I was likely to paint, unlikely to paint, which armies I had in raw lead that were too similar to existing armies...  which periods I could cover. Then took the rest down the club and it was like one of those 'Shouty' ads...   you know.. 'CRAZZZY CRAZZZY PRICES!!!!!'

Well - ok, so trying to persuade hard-core wargamers that they need more lead is like flogging bottles of Scotch at an AA meeting... they know they shouldn't but... 

So, several kilos of lead lighter (thanks Tim, Jon, Michael etc... ) I had a few hundred bucks in my pocket, and by coincidence, there was this bloke on TMP selling a Medieval Army for a mere $200...  

I excused myself with the thought that it was merely a like for like swap...   so X kilos of unpainted lead for a bunch of (quite nicely) painted stuff...  all good.. 

Then that evil man Thomo posted this...   Navwar 1/3000 modern ships.. using the 'Shipwreck' Naval Rules.

Ok, so how much could it hurt, if I just ordered the rules.. not expensive..  here in a few days (I hope..) then I can decide whether I want some ships. So no prizes for guessing where this is going...   Right, straight to the Navwar site to order some ships...   Now did I mention Thomo's earlier post..? where he discusses just how hard navwar make it to do business with them in this day of internet ordering and online payments and stuff?

One international fax later, and of course, it isn't cost effective to do a small order, so three navies coming my way in 1/3000 from Navwar..   Japan, UK and USSR. Japan could be involved almost anywhere in the Pacific (Kuriles anyone?) - Russia world-wide, and the UK because of relatives who served in the RN...

Lead pledge broken...   or do really, really, tiny ships not count?

Mr Postman

Well, despite some little dramas with Mr Postman (let's just say they forgot the very important 'delivery' part of being a postal service), yours truly spoilt himself this month. Packages kept trickling in. They will be the last for some time - despite Thomo trying to tempt me with Polemos SPQR from Wargames Vault at $11.10 for the download. I may have to crack and get Tomorrow's War Ok, I did..  - but no more figures for 6 months. I mean it! Stop laughing.

My priority now is to reorganise the 'gimp' room at the back of the garage into a functioning wargames workshop. This means getting rid of most of the cr*p in there currently, and transferring pretty much all the contents of the study into there. It's a huge job. I have been so busy this weekend, I didn't get it together to borrow/hire a trailer, so that's next Saturday blown..

The Collector Edition Board Game, I am hoping this will be one that gets played a lot.

AK47 Redux - Just too much fun not to have. And I have been steadily collecting bits and pieces to use.

A Warrior, BMP1, T55, T72, BRDM A/C all from Skytrex. Very nice models and suitable for AK47 or FoF.

Italeri Diecast Tornado, Skyhawk and Johnny Lightning M1A1 (no 5).

 

Rebel Minis - very nice figures though some have large chunks of flash. African Militia, African Military, and possibily the start of a Tomorrow's War force, Earth Force and Sahadeen.

Finally, a Bristol F2B - to add to my HitT Mesopotamian Forces.

That's all for a while!