Quick Update on Modern 6mm and 20mm Stuff

[bigjackmac]

All,

No time for gaming last weekend, but I did get some stuff processed and get some painting done, and here is the visual record of the goings on.  First up, I've commented quite a few times about how I'm beginning to feel like a Third-World Dictator (due to my recent megalomania in 6mm).  I also commented around the yard that 1) I was contemplating a major purchase, and then 2) I made said purchase, and all I can say is now I definitely qualify as a dictator, only waiting on a suitable nation state to allow me demonstrate my special brand of dominating benevolence.  So I decided I'd document the whole thing in pictures.


The whole mess, modern 6mm, all GHQ and CinC.  If you're not familiar, I have a whole bunch of Warsaw Pact, which I've broken into 'green' and 'khaki' forces, then I have NATO forces,   I don't have an exact count, but it's something along the lines of:
Warsaw Pact MBT: ~240
Warsaw Pact AFV: ~230
Warsaw Pact Arty: ~36
Warsaw Pact Air Defense: ~25
Warsaw Pact Recon: ~30
Warsaw Pact Engineers: ~30
NATO MBT: ~120
NATO AFV: ~115
NATO Arty: ~10
NATO Air Defense: ~12
NATO Recon: ~25
NATO Engineers: ~12
Various other crap, trucks, ammo carriers, jeeps, etc...

I also have a number of aircraft:
-CH-47
-2 x UH-1 Hog
-2 x OH-6
-2 x AH-1 (but they're pretty jacked up and I'm not sure if I can salvage either of them)
-3 x AH-64 (again, pretty jacked up, maybe can get one out of them)
-1 x A-10
-2 x F-18
-2 x A6
-1 x EA6B
-2 x MiG-23/27
-4 x Mi24D
-1 x Mi24A
-4 x Allouette

I figured it at about $3k in raw lead; I bought about 85% of it second-hand, so I've spent about $900 on all of it.  I'm going to have to get really creative with rules and basing, as I'm realizing I actually have too much   No seriously, I'm looking at multi-basing my stuff, i.e., putting three tanks on a base for armor, and three AFVs and some infantry on a base for mechanized infantry.  Even then I don't know if I can get all this stuff on the table. 

What really makes me mad is that I have a tremendous amount of infantry already painted and based on pennies, and that's not how I'll be playing with these, so I'm not sure what to do with them.  I really don't want to pull them off the pennies and stick them on new bases, and I don't really want to sell them off.  We'll see what happens.

And then my other project: I'm still slowly plugging away on my modern 20mm stuff that I got from Elhiem.  Fantastic miniatures that paint up pretty easily.  I finished off (minus basing, which I've yet to give serious consideration to) a team of four US modern shooters, and a squad of seven Russian/Eastern European troops.


All the guys I finished, US Direct Action-types at top, two sticks of Russian troops at bottom.

Now that I've got enough of these guys painted up to actually have a small skirmish fight, I need to think about 1) basing (maybe put them on quarters?), and 2) terrain, so they have something to hang out on that looks more appropriate than the kitchen counter...

If you'd like to see a bit more commentary and a whole lot more pictures, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/01/quick-update-on-modern-6mm-and-20mm.html

In any case, I've got a three-day weekend, so I'll look to put in some serious mileage on my Poland campaign.  Stay tuned folks, there's always something going on here

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

What a great army !     

It's time for a very large game ( on several days ?)

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice one Jack.

[petercooman]

That's a lot!! nice!

[Subedai]

I would have thought the answer was obvious. Sell up and get a bigger place with a large wargames room. Job done. 

Fair amount of stuff you have there.

[paulr]

What really makes me mad is that I have a tremendous amount of infantry already painted and based on pennies, and that's not how I'll be playing with these, so I'm not sure what to do with them.  I really don't want to pull them off the pennies and stick them on new bases, and I don't really want to sell them off.  We'll see what happens.

One thing I have seen pictures of is a sabot base with a number of round holes into which the pennies go. Gives you several figures on a larger base without having to rebase. Also allows for casualty removal...

[fred.]

One thing I have seen pictures of is a sabot base with a number of round holes into which the pennies go. Gives you several figures on a larger base without having to rebase. Also allows for casualty removal...

This is a very good idea.

Here are some of my War of the Roses handgunners, based on pennies (about 20mm) then on a sabot base (from Warbases). As well as the rectangular ones, they do more irregular shaped ones, which can be useful for more irregular units.

[Fenton]

Warbases sell  specific bases that have holes drilled in them that take either 1 or 2p's

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

So do Products For Wargames

[bigjackmac]

Thanks fellas, and thanks for the recommendation on the movement trays, but it's not going to work. 

I went to the Warbases website and was about to send them a query, along the lines of "can I get regiment-style movement trays tha thold pennies, either 4, 5, or 6 per, 2mm MDF as close to 60mm x 40mm," when I realized it's not going to work.  See, the plan is to base the infantry with their vehicles, and if I put them on a 60 x 40 base on pennies I don't think I'm going to get 3 AFVs on there as well, but I can get vehicles and infantry on a 60 x 40 if the infantry aren't on bases.

I suppose I could get a few for those not requiring vehicles, i.e., straight 'leg' infantry, airmobile, and paratroops.

Ronan - I am no where near done; maybe by 2025 

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

I may be getting the wrong end of the stick here, completely, Jack....(MOST likely !)
But is that something that Leon could custom make for you with his laser cutter ?
Cheers - Phil

[fsn]

But is that something that Leon could custom make for you with his laser cutter ?

Leon has a laser?


We've had it wrong! They're not clones! They're hive minded drones!

[Leman]

Really like the handgunners Fred.

[Techno]

They are rather tasty ! 
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Phil,

Nah, it's not that.  There's already stuff that's 60 x 40 that holds pennies, it's just that it doesn't fit with the rest of my basing because the guys on pennies leave no (or not enough) room for vehicles, while the guys not on pennies can be interspersed between the vehicles.

Thanks though.

V/R,
Jack