An ICM BM13 rocket launcher and a Trumpeter T10 heavy tank. Both in 1/72nd scale. I’m really pleased with the greasy gungy effectr I got on the T10- the oil wash coming into its own I think, could have done with a bit more wiped off though.
Also I’ve finished off two Britrannia models M113s from Vietnam. Nice to have some models of these fully crewed. Also a big thanks to John (Just Needs Varnish) for the gift of these, I hope you like what I’ve done with them.
Astute readers will notice the return of the outdoor step as I’ve broken the light box- needs a little glueing to get it back in working order.
[Minor update- still struggling health-wise hence little action here and on blogs in general as all my energies have to go on other things. Still, that is enough maudlin….]
As I have mentioned on the blog a few times I have a regular monthly game down in Sheffield at Tapton Hall organised by Tim. This month Tim had decided to open invitations to the wider WD community as a calf session (WD’s yearly event is Conference of Wargamers- COW- a small COW is a Calf see….) as a result there were 25 ore so of us planning to attend so plenty of game sessions were needed. Accordingly, I chucked my name in the ring to do one. Over the years I see to have developed the habit of collecting scenario books as inspiration for games. Britton Publishers* do a wide variety set in the 20th/ 21st century; in their Grozny scenario book there is a very small skirmish scenario set in the sewers underneath Grozny. Whilst I have a3d terrain set of sewer sections that I could use the suggested map gave me an idea- to run it as a double- blind game. I bought the sewer plans from Wargames Vault and then got two copies printed out on advertising banner vinyl. The game sees six Russian Spetsnaz take on the Chechens, I allowed each side an allotment of points for them to customise the load out of their forces as they saw fit then let them stalk each other in the sewers.
I needed a quick set of rules that I could remember easily, and players could pick up quickly. In the end I used the firing system that is often used in Nordic Weasel products and mixed with a few ideas from Space Hulk- one of the better GW games. I quickly scribbled some ideas down on Sunday afternoon and got a first playtest done the next day- thanks for the help Chris. Then on Thursday I did the game properly double blind for Bill and Evan- cheers guys. That gave me enough time to make some last-minute additions before going on the train down to Sheffield to run it the next day.
Given the compressed time frame that I developed the game in it worked really well. Having three players on one side and two on the other worked well as each side controlled six figures. Given that the best game tactic revolved around setting up overwatch and covering avenues of approach kit selection was important.
The game worked well and did what I wanted from it. I plan to expand the rules with different equipment for different scenarios (modern day, WW2- Stalingrad, Warsaw, Berlin).
Last weekend my friend Simon came over for some gaming. We managed to get loads in.
We started off with Zona Alfa- published by Osprey as one of their Blue Wargames rules series- it is a great skirmish game. Great rules that are very thematic.
Using a simple urban set up we had to battle through 4 hotspots to get the data recorded stashed in a skip/ dumpster.
Simon tried to be aggressive with me sniper rifle shots as well as MG fire shot across the battlefield… I thought that the molotoc cocktail that targetted my leader and machine gunner was quite unfair.
We then stopped for dinner (sausage, veg, potatoes, cake) and pulled out Aeronautica Imperialis to game with a couple of beers. It is a nice simple game whoose hex based manourvre system is rather clever.
As the game is fast playing we managed to get 2 scenarios played through- a stop the bomber one as well as trying to land troops on a target. It is a shame that GW haven’t kept the game in production really but that is often their way sadly….
At this point we called an end to the evenings gaming. To restart in the morning.
After a bacon butty breakfast I introduced Simon to one of my all time favourite games: Crossfire. The best WW2/ post WW2 tactical game imo.
Simon took to it easily and shared my appreciation of the system with its emphasis on fire and movement as well as winning the firefight. Using my Vietnam terrain and figures we again played out two quick scenarios. I’ve some ideas from those games to make up a quick map campaign for it now….
So five games in one weekend. It was great fun and did me a world of good mood-wise. Another session will have to be sorted out as soon as possible.
Over the past few years I’ve been a bi9g fan of the ‘@war’ series of books that Helion has put out. They are great at covering military actions beyond the first and second world wars. The tendancy to cover post- war conflicts too ticks the right boxes for me. The books are slim A4 sized with a colour section of plates and photos. Quite close to what Osprey have been putting out but I think Helion are better- certainly for 1945 onwards material.
Given I’m a gamer and modeller it is of no surprise that I like to copy the plates and use them as inspiration… to this end, and thanks to a donor kit (Cheers Bill) I have done a 1/72nd T72 in the scheme of one captured by the Chechens.
The Chechens painted the upper surfaces and turret with whitewash as well as added large flags so they would not be mistaken for a Russian tank. The flags were sketched out on paper then hand painted and glued on to the pole before it was added to the painted tank. The bends/ ripples in the flag were added by gluing a layer tinfoil between the two paper sides.
One of my favourite WW2 games is Crossfire. Although rather old now it still holds up as one of the better games covering infantry combat in WW2. It was, and still is, very innovative for its time with no fixed turn structure and no measuring needed. It has gone on to influence several other games, Red Poppy White Feather, and No End in Sight, both of which are worth looking at.
Martin R and I share I love of the system so went up a few weeks ago to have a few games. We used a pack of scenarios I got from the Balagan website, a fantastic resource in general too, and the Vietnam figures I had based up for another project, I’ll do a photo feature on them when I have the chance to get them all lined up.
We played through the first two scenarios a coupler of times, changing sides. We quickly got back into the rules again despite it being several years since we had both played them. Whilst the scenarios are small, with a rather spares table too, for a typical Crossfire table they have a surprising amount of depth to them. The defender has difficult decisions to make about deployment whilst the attacker has options in the line of advance but has to husband their resources carefully. It was a great way to spend a day gaming, one I hope to be able to repeat soon. Martin has done a write up on his blog here. It has inspired me to get more of my spare WW2 figures based up for Crossfire. As I type this the varnish is drying on some WW2 Germans.
In the afternoon after I had run my 5core: Brigade Commander game John A ran a playtest of the Cold rules that he has been working on.
For a test scenario John had looked to the 1970s field tests done by the British Army known as the Chinese Eye exercises. This was a series of field test to generate data on tank engagements for Operational Research purposes. You can read about it here– a must read book for anyone interested in Twentieth century warfare imo.
The rules are on a one-to-one basis for the tanks and fire team/ weapon team bases for infantry. We started up with a rather impressive battalion’s worth of forces arrayed on a broad front.
How ever advancing over open ground into the teeth of Chieftain tank and Milan ATGM fire took a heavy toll on our forces very quickly.
Whilst the game ended up very similar to the mythical turkey shoot it did give John’s mechanisms a good work out. I certainly look forward to playing the rules again with a more involved scenario.
As it happens Martin R has written a blog report here on the two games that is well worth reading.
Tim G of Megablitz fame has been running a series of monthly get togethers. About 6-7 of us gather for an all- day game including a very nice lunch. We have covered a variety of periods, scales and games often playing 54mm toy soldier extravaganders in the best traditions of HG Wells.
I decided it was time for me to put a game on and I had spoken to John A and we agreed to share a session with me doing the morning session and then John’s game running after lunch. I decided to do a 6mm ‘Cold War Goes Hot’ scenario set in the 1980s, using the 5core: Brigade Commander rules. I knew I had enough toys to give a big enough game and I knew the rules were fairly quick to pick up too so those that hadn’t played it would be quick to get up to speed.
I’ve put the scenario into my new scenarios page so you can download it.
The game went really well. The changes that I had made to the activation system worked better than expected. The Soviet preplanning was fun- not much use in the game as they tended to shell the places the Americans hadn’t deployed in.
The game swung backwards and forwards, mostly it went the Americans’ way with their extensive support chewing through the Soviet tank regiment. However, on the opposite flank a run of bad luck saw the Americans lose a string of units.
The surprise Spetsnaz assault on the HQ was defeated in Close Combat- much to everyones surprise.
At this point the Americans decided to retire to the next line of defenses. At that point we broke for lunch.
The game went really well, I think. Nearly a division of Soviets attacking two brigades of Americans and we finished in just about two hours. If the players fancy another go I’ve got plans for more scenarios.
I’ve been working on my moderns again, what started as getting a few bits for Zona Alfa has ended up being a project in its own right- I’m still looking at doing some urban SWAT type games. All the figures are from Spectre: either metal minis or 3d prints- see if you can tell which is which….
First up the British Special Reconassiance Regiment- part of UK special forces. Four covert operators plusa pair to provide some longer range fire support.
Then we have 2 lots of Russian equipped PMCs.
Some Western equipped PMCs
As well as a CIA Special Activities Centre operative, a leader figure with a map and a WW2 Anti tank rifle gunner- the latter weapons seem to be still turning up in wars despite their age. The barrel wasa little bent when I got it and considering its fragility I tried to stabalise it, somewhat successfully with a spare rucksack.
Finally some scatter terrain. The shed is from Warbases and the rest from Reaper Bones.
My friend Simon recently got a new 3d printeer- one of the resin ones. He was playing around with it and did a few 1/76th Russian AFVs that he ultimately didn’t want so he passed them on to me.
The standard of resin printing is fantastic now: the detail is very crisp. I believe all of the files came from M. Bergman on thingiverse.
The BRDM 1 armoured cars, based on the BTR40 but fully enclosed. Mostly unarmed but could have a pintle- mounted machine gun.
The MTLB – a 60s design, mostly used as an atrillery tractor but also issued as an APC in arctic areas. Many are still in service. Many variants are based on this chassis, engineering to atgm carrier…
The BTR70 – a wheeled APC that was an improvement over the BTR60s. Not many made and mostly replaced now by the BTR80.
All vehicles were painted in acrylics, Vallejo Russian Green, and then weathered with various techniques before an all over oil paint wash to get that grimey look.
I’ve done a few more bits for my Winter War game project which I thought I’d share.
First up a Finnish 20mm zAnti Tank Rifle. A big powerful gun- there was only a single example in use during the Winter War.
Some prone Soviets, armed with a mix of rifles and light machine guns.
A Soviet sniper pair.
Finally a couple of Maxim medium machine gun teams (although technically speaking they wear the later M1940 helmet- I didn’t have any of the early ones spare to do head swaps on them.).
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