Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Here we are again - time to start another painting diary thread to welcome in the New Year. Another attempt to document what I do gaming wise over the year. I have come to realise that doing updates manually leads to a lot of gaps - this has very much been brought home by sites like Strava that very much automate the logging of my cycling activity.

I think painting diary updates are often stalled by needing to take and upload photos - so perhaps I will aim to put in some more text based updates, which may be less interesting to the audience, but will at least let me know what I have done by the end of the year. And practically the workflow for adding photos is pretty streamlined - if the Imgur step could be lost that would be a bonus - but its hardly onerous.

Another new feature for this year will be to keep a running total of what I have painted - as I really have no idea what volume of figures I paint in a year - it must run to 100s as most are 10mm, but beyond that its a wild guess!

Some painting!

ECW and Empire

The GW Empire figures are a bit of a carry-over from last year, but got varnished this year, and will get based this year. The ECW regiment has been undercoated for months, so was a good one to get finished to clear some space in my ready shelves.  These may be mis-named as they seem to have become holding shelves...

The ECW figures are a mix of Pendraken pike and I think Old Glory Shotte. Need to crack on with basing these as they may be needed for a game on Friday evening.

(https://i.imgur.com/Oyf2Kt5.jpg)

World War I

From my ruminating and reflections on last year, I'm feeling that more WWI painting would be good. I've already got 3 decent sized forces painted, 1914 French, and 1916+ British and Germans, although all 3 still have a fair amount of unpainted stuff. My smallest painted force is 1914/5 British but I do have a good amount of figures on hand for this force.

Gaming wise my oppo has 1914/5 Germans and 1916+ French so we are in a good place between us army wise.

1914 French Force

I think this is still my largest WWI force, but the two late war ones are catching up!

(https://i.imgur.com/YfZFfyx.jpg)

The figures were initially collected for GWSH (Great War Spearhead) so I think of them as company bases, in battalions and regiments, comprising a division. But they have mainly be used for If the Lord Spares Us (ITLSU) which is a step down so bases are platoons, in companies and battalions, comprising a regiment.

(https://i.imgur.com/wsUmKeZ.jpg)

3 x Infantry Regiments, each of 12 infantry stands, 3 MGs and HQ (16 stands with 44 figures each 132 in total)
1 x Trailleurs Senegalese regiment as above (44 figures)
1 x Engineer stand (3 figures)
6 x command stands (14 figures)
10 x casualty markers (10 figures)

9 x Mounted Dragoons (18 cavalry)
5 x Dismounted Dragoons (14 figures)

7 x 75mm guns (30mm bases) (7 guns 16 figures)
2 x 75mm guns (50mm bases) (2 guns, 2 vehicles 11 figures)
3 x 155mm guns (3 guns 9 figures)
3 x HQ / FO (5 figures)
1 x Limber and team (6 cavalry, 2 figures, 1 gun, 1 vehicle)

Total
Stands - 111

Figures - 248
Cavalry - 24
Guns - 13
Vehicles - 3


There isn't too much unpainted

(https://i.imgur.com/6Yu5JV4.jpg)

A part painted 75mm limber and team - this is going on to the paint next pile as I think just 4 horses need painting to finish this. There is also a second limber to add to a deployed gun.

Then there is an Infantry regiment - c45 figures. Two Chasseur battalions c25 figs. Another 75mm limber and team, and around 8 mounted dragoons.

1914/5 British

This is very much a starter army still! With just 5 battalions in GWSH terms, with a mix of standard khaki clad infantry, and Royal Naval Division troops. 

(https://i.imgur.com/lSaURWO.jpg)

Much easier to enumerate
BEF - 8 infantry (24 figs), 3 MGs (6 figs), 1 Command (2 figs) , and 1 Engineer (3 figs)
RND - 12 infantry (36 figs), 1 command (2 figs)

3 x 18 pdr (3 guns, 6 figures)

Total

Stands 28

Figures - 79 
Cavalry - 0
Guns - 3
Vehicles - 0


There is a fairly big lead pile to be going on with and the first ones to be picked up are some cavalry and some Scots infantry.

(https://i.imgur.com/HTEjRtV.jpg)

Although I have now realised that I am short on Scots infantry, as while 2 battalions would work fine for GWSH, 2 companies is a bit light for ITLSU.

Quote from: fred. on 02 January 2023, 08:50:41 PM1914/5 British

This is very much a starter army still! With just 5 battalions in GWSH terms

There is a fairly big lead pile to be going on with and the first ones to be picked up are some cavalry and some Scots infantry.

Although I have now realised that I am short on Scots infantry, as while 2 battalions would work fine for GWSH, 2 companies is a bit light for ITLS.

Looking really nice Fred  :-bd

You're pushing my resolve posting these ITLSU armies...Looking for an old ITLSU battle report for a reply I did a little while ago I came across a reply from Leman from 2014 about suitable Pendraken "substitute" figures for depicting the Belgian army in their "pre Yser" uniforms since I have lots of German Cavalry already and always wanted to do a refight of Haelen.......even got the book "Battle of the Golden Helmets" last time I was in Foyles in London!

German Cavalry and Jagers - tick
10mm Belgian MG Dog cart models - tick
Spreadsheet of Pendraken figures need to depict Belgian Cavalry Division and 4th Combined Infantry Brigade in ITLSU terms - tick   

My resolve to treat 2023 as a year of only competing existing stuff has lasted 3 days, but not sure it will get to 4!  ;)

 

Nice Forbes!

Thanks both 


Pierre - I think if you already have 2/3rds of the figures for a Halen project, there is only one sensible outcome? Either way if you can share the list of proxies that would be cool, Belgians are lurking on the 'maybe purchase' list, I suspect they are behind Russians, which makes them very unlikely for me.

:-bd  =D>  :-bd  =D>

Do I detect an answer to my "what am I going to paint this year" question ;)

Good looking stuff, fred.

As to the Russians and Belgians, I've always been more drawn to The Masurian Lakes and Tannenberg than to The Marne or The Somme. Looking forward to maybe seeing some Russians. Though that may be more temptation than I should be exposed to. :)

Indeed. I've always thought if I did WWI it would be August 1914 (with lots of pretty uniforms) or late 1918 with tanks and cavalry having broken "through mud and blood to the green fields beyound". I've also a hankering for the Austrians, so the Battle of Lemberg?




Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! No more projects! No more projects! NO mOre prOjEcTs!

We've played a lot of 1914 games - very sweeping with colourful uniforms (especially the French) - then you get a bit too close and artillery starts blowing holes in units, get closer and the MGs (not too many at this time but enough) start chipping away, and then when you get too close it is a barrage of close range rifle fire and lots and lots of casualties. 

Cavalry have lots of mobility so can exploit into gaps - then find themselves under sustained fire, and die rather rapidly. It is a brutal period of war fare.

We've played less late war stuff - probably 1917 trench battles if they were to be characterised, these have proved hard to get force ratios right. But even with fairly few defenders its a slog for the attackers. 

Strangely although we have mainly used the ITLSU rules we haven't gone to the Middle East in our games! We have discussed it, but not committed to any purchases yet.

First finished figures of the year!

Slight cheat as some were started at the very end of last year. But it's the finishing that counts. They probably need a matt spray and flags - but the painting is done, and that is the marker I'm using.

(https://i.imgur.com/kF1tVpo.jpg)

At the back some GW Handgunners and crossbows to round out existing units to 3s.

At the front an ECW foot battalia- pikes and command are Pendraken shote are Old Glory.

Painted totals for 2023: Foot 61 : Cavalry 0 : Guns 0 : Vehicles 0

Excellent, that's a quick start!

Nice Fred,
Just ahead on 166 foot, nothing else!  ;D

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Thanks all - good to get a few bases done early on!

QuoteJust ahead on 166 foot, nothing else!  ;D

Remember its fsn you need to worry about not me!

WWI 1916+ British

More already painted figures to catalogue what I have and what is still to do - these were photographed in their storage boxes, as laying out mud bases on a green cloth doesn't feel it helps that much!

(https://i.imgur.com/kZ0CkEv.jpg)

In GWSH terms there are 3 infantry brigades each of 1 HQ and 3 battalions - each of 4 companies and 1 MG


Broken down in term of stands this gives:
36 x Infantry (108 figures)
8x command (inc 2 arty cmd) (18 figures)
3 x pioneers (7 figures)
10 x HMG (20 figures)
10 x casualties (10 figures)
4 x toffee apple mortars (8 figures)
2 x 3" stokes mortars (4 figures)
2 x 9.45" mortars (4 figures)
2 x 18pdr (50mm bases) (11 figures, 2 guns, 2 vehicles)
2 x 9.2" howitzers (2 guns, 11 figures)
3 x Mk V tanks
3 x Whippet tanks
1 x cavalry (2 cavalry figures)
Holt tractor, limber and 60pdr gun (2 figs, 2 vehicles, 1 gun)

In total
98 stands

202 figures
2 cavalry
10 vehicles
5 guns


Which is a good total but still behind the 1914 French.

To Do
Loads of guns - these are built and base coated, but need painting. Approx 6 more tanks. 1 Brigade of infantry, assorted wagons etc.

I think the guns are the next priority here, there is a good infantry force with support weapons and tanks, but very little artillery.

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Them's lovely Forbes!

Thanks both  ;)

ECW Game - Benburgh

We played an ECW game last night using For King and Parliament - a scenario over in Ireland. With the Anglo-Scots Protestant forces vs the Rebel Irish. The Irish figures stretched my figure collection a bit so some may be a bit early...

(https://i.imgur.com/0slAD8N.jpg)
On the start lines - Anglo-Scots nearest the camera, a rather constrained historical deployment, Irish on the hill across the stream.

(https://i.imgur.com/I2pTyAN.jpg)

Mid-game. A prolonged fire-fight is occurring along the stream. The Irish had advance to here to attempt to pen the Anglo Scots in. Which worked, but they were gradually loosing the fire-fight. I'm not sure why the Irish didn't charge in, as they had the better melee capability.

(https://i.imgur.com/pn4GrKQ.jpg)

The end. The Anglo-Scots get a non-historic win. The Foot win the fire-fight and cross the stream. On the left one of my regiments survived two flank charges from an Irish regiment - which left them exposed to fatal flanking fire.

On the far flank the Anglo-Scots cavalry have beaten the less numerous Irish cavalry having found a way round the marshes. The Irish knew the marshes were crossable, but choose not use this knowledge.

Another great game of FKaP - given the high to hit numbers and low number of dice rolled, it can seem that not much happens for a number of turns, but the turns are quick and the attrition is building on units. My co-commander did very well at rotating his Foote out of the firing line to allow them to rally.

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Lots of fun

Thanks both - yes was a fun game

The number of back to back aces drawn (by both sides) meant some very quick turns

Along with my frame guns shaking themselves apart on their 4th shot. Of course none of the shots were effective

WWI WIP

Made decent progress with the WWI British this week - nearly there I think

(https://i.imgur.com/u5P3FiO.jpg)

In researching colours for the Bonnets/ Tam O'Shanters discovered they were only in use from 1915. But I think I will cope with using them in 1914 too!

With the kilts went with half covered in the khaki apron on the rest in a dark blue-green with some yellow cross hatching- not sure if this even shows on the photo. 

:-bd  =D>  :-bd

I can see a few hints of tartan :)

Who are the mounted guys in blue :-\

QuoteI can see a few hints of tartan :)

Who are the mounted guys in blue :-\

Thanks!


The blue guys are French artillery crew - had a few to do to finish another limber team 

Nice work Fred!!

Excellent work Fred 8) .

Thanks both  :)

Got the figures on bases this morning (the one advantage of having to take my daughter for the early bus for college is I can get 30mins hobby stuff in!) so hopefully they will be all dried and can get the basing finished this evening 

:-bd grab the time when you can, it's surprising how much you can get done in a few half hours :)

Quote:-bd grab the time when you can, it's surprising how much you can get done in a few half hours :)

This is very true. And if you can get in a task that has a longer drying time even better!

WWI British and French

Got the first batch completed!

British: 2 regiments of cavalry, and 2 battalions of Scots Infantry
French: 75mm gun rebased to add limber and more crew, plus limbered version with 6 horse team

(https://i.imgur.com/wPEkeb2.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/4wJ4gXG.jpg)

Pleased with these, and its always nice and quick doing 20th C stuff due to uniforms and not too many colours.

This brings the painted totals for 2023 to  96 figures : 23 cavalry : 2 vehicles : 1 gun

It is only 1 gun painted, as 1 was rebased (I'm willing to claim any level of earlier WIP in this year's total, but once its been based then I don't think rebasing can really count the figures as part of the painted totals).

The next batch is already in progress

(https://i.imgur.com/3YRmo08.jpg)

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Mystery Guns

Can anyone identify these guns for me?

I'm pretty sure they're WWI British or German. 

Having built and undercoated them I've lost track of which code they are  :-[
(https://i.imgur.com/N5EWVmm.jpg)

Thanks

Could be the German 105mm howitzer? It looks like one. I don't have any myself, but none of the guns I do have look like that which rules out a few. 

Also great work so far this year!  :D

QuoteCould be the German 105mm howitzer? It looks like one. I don't have any myself, but none of the guns I do have look like that which rules out a few.

I think you could be right. Looks pretty much like the 10.5cm leFH 16. What was confusing me was that I've also got 10.5cm FH 98/09 which has a very short barrel. And wasn't expecting another 105.


I'd eliminated most British options. But as I'd painted most of the rest of my German guns, I wasn't sure why these had got missed.

QuoteAlso great work so far this year!  :D

Thanks. Got quite a bit done over Christmas and have kept the momentum going. Like you glad to have something to do away from a screen after work. And the dark and wet evenings are conducive to staying in.

WWI British 

Next batch pretty much done - when the figures are mainly shades of brown they are quick to paint up!

I do like these figures with full kit much nicer figures than some of the older ones (a few of which are in this unit)

(https://i.imgur.com/UrPJVOi.jpg)

Haven't got the next ones prepped yet! Maybe some more cavalry. 

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Very nice

These are all looking very good indeed.

Thanks all  :)

1941 - Race to Moscow board game

As we were a bit late arranging a game this week, we choose to play a board war game rather than a table top game. I choose Race to Moscow, as it is pretty remote play friendly.


(https://i.imgur.com/yxoWuDT.jpeg)
German forces on the start line - well supplied, and ready to smash through the Russian front line

(https://i.imgur.com/3yU9g1C.jpeg)
The end of the game - the 3 German army groups have failed to reach their objectives, and the Russians have redeployed all their reinforcements (which is the count down timer on the game).

We enjoyed this as a game - it really feels like a good recreation of Barbarossa. The game focuses on logistics - and the need to keep your fighting units supplied so they can attack. It is a balance of keeping fighting to remove Russian armies from the board, and keeping your supplies moving forwards.

Initially the Germans smash through the Russian front line and cause major encirclements, then they advance, but Russian reinforcements start to arrive, and the Germans are lacking in supplies to attack.

This was a Kickstarter game, one of the last I backed, and it took years to be fulfilled. I was really not expecting to get anything from this KS, so was pleasantly surprised when they finally got the pieces produced and the printing sorted and it shipped.

WWI British

Got to finish the basing on these guys this afternoon, whilst hiding from the howling wind!

(https://i.imgur.com/IM3GvNy.jpg)

Having decided that figures only count as finished when based, is really helping me focus on getting each batch completed. I normally have so many part done sets of figures on painting sticks and the like.

(https://i.imgur.com/NxwG7MI.jpg)

These are mainly BP29 which is a nice code.

So another 46 figures done!

This brings the painted totals for 2023 to  142 figures : 23 cavalry : 2 vehicles : 1 gun

QuoteCould be the German 105mm howitzer? It looks like one. I don't have any myself, but none of the guns I do have look like that which rules out a few.

I did a bit of Googling.

The carriage / shield are a good match for a Krupp.

I then got a bit lost with the rapid revision of different calibres.

My first instinct was the 77mm, The recoil mechanism isn't quite right (Far longer under-rail/cylinder until the 1916 model).
The barrel is also a bit sturdy for a 77.

The 10cm canon has a rather longer barrel.

Most of my google hits showed the 98/09 model which has a very short barrel; too short for the pictured models.
I think this is the 1916 model:  10.5 cm leFH 16

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/German_First_World_War_10.5_cm_leichte_Feldhaubitze_16_%2810.5_cm_leFH_16%29%2C_%28Serial_No._12826%29%2C_Quebec_City_%283%29.JPG/300px-German_First_World_War_10.5_cm_leichte_Feldhaubitze_16_%2810.5_cm_leFH_16%29%2C_%28Serial_No._12826%29%2C_Quebec_City_%283%29.JPG)

:-bd  =D>  :-bd

Quote...
Having decided that figures only count as finished when based, is really helping me focus on getting each batch completed. I normally have so many part done sets of figures on painting sticks and the like.
...
This brings the painted totals for 2023 to  142 figures : 23 cavalry : 2 vehicles : 1 gun

It's interesting how a small change in mindset can have a major impact

That is impressive progress =D>

QuoteIt's interesting how a small change in mindset can have a major impact

That is impressive progress =D>

Thanks Paul - I'm pleased with how these are going - the WWI British are super easy to paint. But you are right a small change in approach is having some solid results. 


It's also interesting to compare the figure counts for different rules / periods. This batch of WWI figures gives a ITLSU battalion, which in is general one 3-part manoeuvre element, with some flexibility about how it deploys. Pretty much the same number of figures created 1 ECW regiment / unit - which is very much a rigid single manoeuvre element. 

QuoteI did a bit of Googling.

The carriage / shield are a good match for a Krupp.

I then got a bit lost with the rapid revision of different calibres.

My first instinct was the 77mm, The recoil mechanism isn't quite right (Far longer under-rail/cylinder until the 1916 model).
The barrel is also a bit sturdy for a 77.

The 10cm canon has a rather longer barrel.

Most of my google hits showed the 98/09 model which has a very short barrel; too short for the pictured models.
I think this is the 1916 model:  10.5 cm leFH 16

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/German_First_World_War_10.5_cm_leichte_Feldhaubitze_16_%2810.5_cm_leFH_16%29%2C_%28Serial_No._12826%29%2C_Quebec_City_%283%29.JPG/300px-German_First_World_War_10.5_cm_leichte_Feldhaubitze_16_%2810.5_cm_leFH_16%29%2C_%28Serial_No._12826%29%2C_Quebec_City_%283%29.JPG)

Thank Steve - it might have helped if I'd posted some comparison shots with known guns. This model is a good bit bigger than the 7.7cm guns, and as you say the 98/09 10.5 has a very stubby muzzle - and the model is much the same size as the 7.7cm. 


I'm thinking the 10.5cm leFH16 is the most likely. 

More WWI

Next batch started. More British cavalry, both mounted and dismounted, and some German artillery crew in the back. 

(https://i.imgur.com/jqZ10rR.jpg)

305mm Howitzer

Whilst waiting for the base coat to dry on the above, I found this in my part painted pile. So tidied them up and added highlights. 

(https://i.imgur.com/XWX0dAu.jpg)

From looking online they seem to have been pretty mono-chrome. Any ideas on how to make them a bit more interesting?

Crew will give some colour, and mud...

Wot he sed plus add some spent 'cartridge' cases & some stacked shells

Maybe put them in some kind of a gun emplacement, with wood floors and wood wall supports with a few spent shells.

if you make the gun and vehicles detachable from the diorama it would give you more options

Take care

Andy

Thanks for the ideas chaps - I'll see what I can use.

Normally I quite like a few spent cartridge cases - they can be made in this scale with snips of brass rod. But looking at the ammo for this beast it seems that wasn't really the style of the ammo.

WWI British Cavalry and 305mm Skoda Howitzer

Got the latest batch finished today

First up British early war cavalry in caps, both mounted and dismounted

(https://i.imgur.com/E0w6sgS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MB3OpMt.jpg)

Second Skoda 305mm Howitzer in German service, both deployed and towed

(https://i.imgur.com/9kB8xve.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YPBslGz.jpg)

When I look at the little truck and the 3 trailers of gun, I do wonder how it ever towed them!


WWI Progress in 2023

(https://i.imgur.com/vlnFDq8.jpg)

All the WWI figures painted this year - a pretty good start if I do say so my self! (One of the French 75mm bases was already done, it is just here as a template for the limber)


Painted totals for 2023 to  169 figures : 39 cavalry : 6 vehicles : 2 guns

Superb Forbes.
And stealing a long march on me on those numbers too!

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd  =D>

 =D>  =D>  =D>

WWI is one* of those periods on my "may do later" list. I find those ugly vehicles like the limbered Skoda a big draw.

Like this:
(https://scontent.fman2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/320722248_695691832128581_5541793305114464486_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s720x720&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=Q_bBFWyJWu8AX_wyzNv&_nc_oc=AQmmCFMHJ2tgheP5RQtTLS90FtVgvirs4aU2FPfVVsTUHhRoSSd8eVIs2e-d8AFZNeI&_nc_ht=scontent.fman2-2.fna&oh=00_AfBDWnNQmSp8pMEXx4Bk81I5R20irhsWHWBxDguzwAermA&oe=63D32F29)
The French Canon de 194 GPF, designed at the end of WW1. Each unit was two vehicles the lead and the carrier. The lead vehicle carried the ammunition and mounted a 120 HP Panhard generator. Both vehicles ran on electric motors with the gun carrier fed by a power cable run from the lead vehicle.


In short - you're tempting me away from the Chosen Path. 


*Actually 3. War in 1914 was very unlike war in 1916 and then there's the breakout in 1918.   

Thanks chaps  :)


fsn there is a certain brutalist appeal to much of the kit in use. Personally I prefer the solidity of the deployed Skoda howitzer, to the rather fragile looking towed version. 

I see you have edited you WWI is x periods note - I'd certainly agree its 2 periods from a wargames figures perspective - with the significant differences in uniforms from 1914-15 compared to 1916+. And hence why I have multiple forces. As to style of games, then there are probably more - but this almost feels like a continual evolution of tactics and weapons over the 4 years, which allowed the more open battles of 1918 from the hard lessons learnt. 

Given that Pendraken make lots of lovely figures for WWI - it is just a matter of time before you buy them. So just ear mark a spot on your shopping list of lists as to when you can start planning, and accept that WWI is somewhere in your future. All you have to decide is how far in the future!

Look damn fine, to me, Forbes ! :-bd

Quote:-bd grab the time when you can, it's surprising how much you can get done in a few half hours :)

Very true.

When I was still working, I would regularly get up a bit earlier and get in 30-40 minutes painting before getting ready.  Do this 3 or 4 times a week and you've got in an extra couple of hours painting.  You might get only a couple of colours done each morning (I like to paint in small batches), but come the weekend they might need just a couple more colours and then that's another batch ready for basing.

PS. I like the WWI figures, I've painted a few myself and, as you say, they paint up quite quickly.  I think the kilts look just fine. I am planning on doing much the same myself although I will need fewer figures for my Mons OOB.  As far as I can determine, only one battalion was kilted (1st Batt. Gordon Highlanders).  I plan to file the Tams down into Glengarries, 

Thanks both

Glad you like how the kilts turned out - at table top distances they work well enough

You don't need to file down the Tams - there are figures with Glengarries available. 

Haven't quite decided what I'm doing about MG support for my Scots. I wonder if 8th Army figures (to get bare legs and socks) might be the starting place. Have to check what webbing they have. 

QuoteI see you have edited you WWI is x periods note - I'd certainly agree its 2 periods from a wargames figures perspective - with the significant differences in uniforms from 1914-15 compared to 1916+. And hence why I have multiple forces. As to style of games, then there are probably more - but this almost feels like a continual evolution of tactics and weapons over the 4 years, which allowed the more open battles of 1918 from the hard lessons learnt.

My three periods for WWI are (very roughly) 1914 - pretty uniforms, cavalry; 1915-1917 - drab uniforms, trenches, tanks; 1918 (end of) breakthrough - cavalry and tanks in green fields. I know the last is very niche, but it draws me more than the trenches.
   

QuoteGiven that Pendraken make lots of lovely figures for WWI - it is just a matter of time before you buy them. So just ear mark a spot on your shopping list of lists as to when you can start planning, and accept that WWI is somewhere in your future. All you have to decide is how far in the future!

I know. :( I've already planned out 1914 forces for Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia, and 1917/1918 forces for Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.

When Pendraken released the African animals, I created a East African force with Askari and KAR and German sailors and it didn't scratch the itch.   

QuoteMy three periods for WWI are (very roughly) 1914 - pretty uniforms, cavalry; 1915-1917 - drab uniforms, trenches, tanks; 1918 (end of) breakthrough - cavalry and tanks in green fields. I know the last is very niche, but it draws me more than the trenches.

I agree from a style of fighting perspective, at least with the 2 later categories you can pretty much use the same figures for both (at least that is what I am doing!)

And you get to add in the different fronts, although for most of those there is much less change in uniforms and battlefields though the war.

QuoteI know. :( I've already planned out 1914 forces for Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia, and 1917/1918 forces for Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.


When Pendraken released the African animals, I created a East African force with Askari and KAR and German sailors and it didn't scratch the itch.   

There really is no hope for you is there   :o ;)

Have you asked Leon if you can setup a direct payment straight out your salary each month?

QuoteHave you asked Leon if you can setup a direct payment straight out your salary each month?

My salary gets paid directly to Pendraken. He gives me an allowance.


If I'm good.

Awwww Fred!

I was looking through the Pendraken catalogue to see how you did those ammunition limbers by the guns ... and I looked in the British section and there are those rather awesome Gun Carriers ... and there's the carrier pigeons ... and traction engines!



So how did you do those limbers by the guns?


As for me ... I asked my Uncle what he thought ...
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9EH1G4EwljM/hqdefault.jpg)

The traction engines are very cool! Already have one of those painted up. A couple of the gun carriers lurk in the under coated pile. 

Limbers - turned out to be fairly simple, once I finally found some decent photos. 

For the French they tilted their limber back, and then opened the doors, the trail acting as a kind of stand. So using one of the boxy limbers, I trimmed off the cast on handles. Made doors out of thin plastic card, I think they were pretty much 5mm square (although looking at the photo now, they perhaps should have been a bit narrower as I don't think they joined in the middle). The stand was made by half cutting through the pole which would normally go through the horses, and bending it down, then trimming to length. 

The British one is a bit different as they leave it in the normal orientation, but the door opens as a single flap down to the ground (I think to provide protection from small arms fire). Then there is a stand on the limber pole - made from a small bit of plastic card. 

For both if I had a 3d printer I would have added a thin piece that shows the ends of the shells in the ammo racks. 

Dragon - Reaper Bones 

Bit of a change of scale and topic!

(https://i.imgur.com/Z4KPi2m.jpg)

A Reaper Bones dragon painted mainly in contrast paints. Given the size of the model it has been a fairly quick paint job. Might add a little bit more detail yet. 

This is one of 3 or 4 large 28mm plastic dragons I bought a good few years ago. Due to the slowness of Kickstarter deliveries I'd more or less moved on from why I'd wanted them in the first place. But happy now to have it coloured in. 

Seeing it tonight my daughter asked if cross genre fantasy games were possible - eg would the WWI British cavalry be facing a giant red dragon? An interesting thought. Not sure what rules would work best?

Impressive stuff!

The Red Baron? :)

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Magnifcent Forbes

Thanks all

QuoteThe Red Baron? :)

I like your thinking! I had already wondered about tiny Sopwith Camels buzzing around him!

Fistful of Lead - Jail Break!

Played FFoL on Friday night - a jail break game

(https://i.imgur.com/b1zbr4i.jpeg)

The 'jail' is the white adobe building with the ladder to the flat roof. The prisoner is in a cell on the ground floor, guarded by 2 US Cavalry soldiers, one on each floor.

The baddies are making their way on from the left hand side of the table.

The cavalry reinforcements were due as 2 pairs on the draw of a Joker. I was playing the Cavalry so was hoping these would come up soon.

The comedy moment was the baddies sniper attempting to climb on the roof of the forge and failing with a 1 - twice!

The baddies managed to get to the jail - killing the ground floor defender with a lucky shot, and the defender upstairs only managed to take out 1 attacker - although it was their leader.

We we just thinking that the reinforcements weren't ever coming when my opponent managed to draw both jokers in the same turn!

My mounted troopers came on from opposite sides of the board - and managed to surround the remaining baddies in the jail.

(https://i.imgur.com/TPkoHXy.jpeg)

Here the 3 remaining baddies are on the ground floor - surrounded!

At this point it was very much a stand-off. With the baddies in the jail - but not locked in it!

The baddies decided they would make a break for it. It ended rather predictably badly with them all shot down!

Another fun game of FFoL. We've played a varient of this a couple of times and the random arrival of the reinforcements has worked well arriving when the baddies have broken into the jail!

Looks awesome

Forgot this...

 <)

Cheers Will

Distractions

Thanks to North Stars weekly January sales I've ended up with rather a lot of 28mm figures

First up are some metal German See Battalion and some African Tribesmen 


It's been a while since I've had big metal figures and I have to say the simplicity yet character of these Copplestone figures is very nice. 

(https://i.imgur.com/H9y4iep.jpeg)

And got some paint on the See Battalion today

Light grey undercoat, dark brown wash, white drybrush. Then contrast Skeleton Bine for the uniform. 

(https://i.imgur.com/2RinzCt.jpg)

I also got a pile of plastics, Stargrave females, and Frostgrave Cultists and Gnolls to make various Sci Fi figures 6 or 7 sprues in total. And a box of Great Escape plastic cowboys. 

Stuck together about 10 during the week which was quite fun but much slower than the metals. 

:-bd  =D>  :-bd

For both the game and the 'wrong' scale figures ;)

Look cool

Thanks both

Seebatalion part 2

Got a fair bit more coloured on these chaps both first thing and this evening. Starting to get there now. The ones at the back are in white uniforms so are more progressed than first appears!

(https://i.imgur.com/DYtP2A9.jpg)

Been doing some research on the uniforms which is always fun. Shoulder straps and helmet wrap are both white for infantry. Probably need to add some yellow to the shoulder straps to give an indication of the imperial crown. 

The figures have a disc for the imperial cockade on the front of their helmets - not sure how best to paint that. Feels the red is important but not sure how to do that without loosing the central white ring. Any suggestions?

Black outer, red dot, white dot

Progressing nicely :)

As the Speedy one says, work outside in

QuoteProgressing nicely :)

As the Speedy one says, work outside in

Thanks both.

I'll give the outside in approach a go. Seems a pretty small place to try to get 3 colours on. But now I've spotted it need to give it a go!

Been a bit busy with work, cycling and rugby over the last week or so but have made progress with the Seebattalion

(https://i.imgur.com/DwtAQ2f.jpg)

I think these chaps are now finished (bar a spray of matt varnish but that will have to wait for better weather.

When I was basing these up, I forgot to finish off the Dragon!

This adds 15 more infantry to the totals - which are a bit bigger than the ones painted earlier.

Painted totals for 2023 184 figures : 39 cavalry : 6 vehicles : 2 guns
(28mm: 15 figures)

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

They look very good Fred 8) .

Thanks both!

Superb Forbes

Very characterful minis very nicely painted!

Thanks chaps

QuoteVery characterful minis...

They are, I've really enjoyed painting these, and I'm sure will add some more Copplestone figures before too long (and I do have the second half of the order to paint)

Fistful of Lead - Boxer Rebellion

We had another game of FFoL this week - but switched to the Boxer Rebellion to allow the newly painted Seebattalion to take to the table!

The scenario featured 3 players, the Boxers who where holed up in the centre of the able trying to 'rescue' some culturally important treasure, opposed by two foreign powers, Japanese Marines, and the German Seebattalion. 

I'd tried to mix the styles and stats of the forces up a bit. The Boxers had a few shooters, and a lot of close combat troops. The Japanese Marines where a very typical force of regulars with a couple of leaders. The Seebattalion where rather unusual with having lots of low level troopers, and a few leaders. 

(https://i.imgur.com/po4HVhe.jpeg)

Start of the game - right flank. The Seebattalion advance from the far right corner (black arrows). The Boxers are holed up in the central building extracting the treasure. They have taken advantage of their speed and rushed the first troop of the Seebattalion to advance (blue arrows), and managed to cut down 2 out of 3 of this troop. But this rather left them exposed to their comrades to pour in fire! The Boxers did reinforce here with their close combat specialist. Who did rather poorly in combat, then weathered a hail of fire - stacking up 8 shock markers! This left him rather vulnerable to being finished off in close combat by the German Leutnant. 


(https://i.imgur.com/Zb34FeI.jpeg)

Start of the game left flank - the Japanese Marines have rather cautiously advanced (red arrows). They attempted to get a sniper up onto the second floor, but he critical failed his climb attempt and fell off. They got a Marine round to the building on the far left - but he was picked off by a Boxer rifleman! Then the ones hiding behind the building were charged by 3 Boxers - and despite the Marine officer having rather good close combat training the Boxers managed to win. From a rules perspective this was somewhat unlikely as the Boxers were rolling d8s and the Marines d10s, but the Boxer's +2 for weapons and skills, and the Marines suffering minus for wounds or shock or outnumbering, told agains the Marines. 

(https://i.imgur.com/wFkqj5N.jpeg)

Towards the end of the game - the Boxer leader has unearthed the treasure, and managed to sprint across the table unscathed! His minions finish off the Japanese, whilst the Germans advance on the central building, but rather too late to do anything other than mop-up the remaining Boxers. 

End Result
Boxers, escaped with the treasure. But only with their Leader and 2 Minions left
German Seebattalion - 4 Troopers out of action, left holding the table
Japanese Marines - all Out of Action

Another fun game of FFoL - for a scenario made up as I setup the terrain, it worked pretty well. 

Does anyone have recommendations for 28mm scale trees? I feel these are missing from my terrain setup. 

Great report, love the dragon!

QuoteDoes anyone have recommendations for 28mm scale trees? I feel these are missing from my terrain setup. 

I tend to go to Ebay and buy bags of railway modeller's trees from China.


Cheap, obviously a tree .... rarely one an arboriculturalist would recognise though, I fear.

To wit: 28mm scale chibi ninja with Ebay cherry trees

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/6663/2U2xOW.jpg)

Well, it seems a couple of months have passed with very little in the way of painting. Nothing dramatic has got in the way but between being busy with work and therefore being tired in the evenings and getting out cycling at the weekends painting hasn't had much of a look in. 

Assorted 28mm

I have managed to get these figures finished though. 

(https://i.imgur.com/DOqhOg4.jpg)

5 cowboys from the great Escape Games plastic set
4 Victorian Explorers 
4 assorted cowboy / steam punk figs
1 reaper bones dragon
3 mounted 7th cavalry - painted a while ago based up today

28mm :: 13 foot, 3 cavalry, 1 monster

My money is on the dragon!

Great work Forbes.

QuoteMy money is on the dragon!

Great work Forbes.

Thanks

Shades of "He's behind you!"

Wot they sed

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Great work there Fred, but not sure how effective the guns will be against dragon fire :-\  ;) .

They just have to find that one weak spot in the underbelly that all dragons have. Or the old "blow them up from the inside" trick.

Thanks chaps

QuoteGreat work there Fred, but not sure how effective the guns will be against dragon fire :-\  ;) .

When a chap has an elephant gun, he will be sure it works against any foe, and just think how good a dragon head will look on the wall as a trophy  ;)

Warmaster XL - Lizardmen vs Nippon

Got the 10mm fantasy on to the table last Friday, for the first time in a while. Lizardmen vs Nippon - not a classic match-up, but it's what I wanted to use. Virtually all the figures are Pendraken save for the various demon type creatures in the Nippon force. 

(https://i.imgur.com/UOAsY73.jpg)

Start of the battle, Lizardmen on the left, Nippon on the right. The far end of the Lizardmen line as started its steady advance. Nearer the camera my troops have decided that they will wait behind the hill for now. The scenario was simple the two hills (this one nearest the camera, and the one far right) are the objectives - each side starts holding one. 

A defining feature of the Nippon army is that their break point isn't 50% of their units like most WM armies, its 50% of their Samurai units (just 3 of them in this game). My opponent deployed his Samurai cavalry quite early (on the far hill) which allowed me to deploy some of my better troops opposite them to try to take them out. 

(https://i.imgur.com/pQAULVV.jpg)

The left flank after a couple of turns. My Saurus warriors have been fairly ineffective at charging up the hill - but have pulled one unit of Samurai cavalry out, and caused them to loose a stand. The other unit of Saurus warriors has been pretty ineffectual at charging the Teppo in the village - this ended up being a staring contest for most of the game - probably a positive for me as I had 1 unit tying down 3 enemy. 

(https://i.imgur.com/V40SAoj.jpeg)

A couple of turns later - the Cold One Riders have charged in and cleared the hill, other than a damaged unit of Samurai cavalry who are engaged in combat. And are about to be engulfed. The Samurai fought well and it took a turn longer to wipe them out. 

(https://i.imgur.com/r9rgJVK.jpeg)

The right flank was rather neglected for photos. This is towards the end, my Kroxigor (think Ogre sized lizardmen) have charged forward, they have destroyed a unit of Temple Dogs but are now engaged by Oni and Ashigaru. But this kept the fight away from my missile units on the hill. 

The Stegadon in the middle did very little all game - but I suppose kept the enemy in the village penned in. 

All in all a good game, flowed along pretty well once we remembered how to play!

Was a convincing win for the Lizardmen, broke the enemy (by killing 2 Samurai units) held both objectives, and were well ahead on unit kill count (1 to 5 ish). 

 :-bd

Awesome looking game. 8)

Thanks both

Feel the photos could be better - was using my phone to video share the game - so took photos on the iPad which has a much worse camera. 

Looks great! Good to see Warmaster still being played.

QuoteLooks great! Good to see Warmaster still being played.

Thanks. We are playing a variation of the rules - but it's ultimately a set all my group has played a lot of and has strong nostalgia for. 

Late WWI Engagement - Tank Battle 

I know tank vs tank engagements were very rare in WWI, but what's a wargame with out the possibility of some good old 'what if' battles!

We played If the Lord Spares Us (ITLSU) last night, with a fictional scenario based around the reinforcement / recapture of a trench line immediately following an assault. 

The British, (nearest the camera) had managed to clear most of the German trench line, but had just a company or so left holding it. The Germans also had a single company left on the left flank. Both sides have reinforcements waiting to enter, 2 blinds per turn.

(https://i.imgur.com/nCkntIt.jpg)

The British (red) have advanced a battalion on the left, and a tank centrally. The Germans have got both their tanks deployed (an A7V and a MkV). They have got an infantry battalion into the ruined village on the hill, and are redeploying their on table company to support the tanks. 

(https://i.imgur.com/1z5LLnw.jpg)

The right flank at the same time, here the 2nd British battalion has moved up to the trench line

(https://i.imgur.com/tckskXi.jpg)

A turn or two later, both sides are moving to the left. The German Mk V has suffered a number of hits and a lot of shock and is pretty much ineffective now. The Germans in the village are taking a lot of shock (my 18pdrs were firing from the right corner at both of these, as well as fire from the British tanks).

(https://i.imgur.com/2debJ2R.jpg)

Close up of the British 3rd Battalion as they approach the trench line

(https://i.imgur.com/MSDWq6C.jpg)

The British 18pdrs with Brigade HQ just behind them. The British artillery was much more effective in this game, even though the Germans had 3 guns available to them. 

(https://i.imgur.com/5i4zZeU.jpg)

The first company of the 3rd Battalion makes an effort to advance on the village as the defenders had been forced to fall back through weight of shooting. But this allowed them to be enfiladed by recently arrived Germans in the wood at the far right. I'd thought this flank was clear, as I'd shot up the 77mm gun in it, but more troops deployed there!

In the centre I held and shot, as the Germans fell back a bit. 

(https://i.imgur.com/GKNwJsl.jpg)

Over on the left flank mixed fortunes. The A7V has been destroyed by the British shooting. But the German infantry gained the trench line and destroyed the 2nd British Battalion. The 4th British battalion had advanced through the woods on the flank and was now taking the trenches. The Germans trying to cross to hear where caught in the open and shot up. 

(https://i.imgur.com/msI1IBn.jpg)

The right flank. The British attempt to regain the village stalls, as my troops in the open get shot-up. The Germans have managed to rally the troops who fell back from the village, and have now re-occupied it. 

As it was late we called the game here. The Germans felt they couldn't do more in the face of 3 active British tanks, and with a lot of heavily damaged infantry. The German guns had ended up rather masked by the hill (other than the one in the wood that had been shot up by British infantry). The 4th German Battalion never got on the table, as the Blinds card didn't come out the deck in the later turns. 

Another good ITLSU game - even if we were a bit rusty to start with. 

Great looking game

Quote from: fred. on 22 April 2023, 01:29:26 PMAnother good ITLSU game - even if we were a bit rusty to start with.

Thanks for taking the time to write this up Fred, a very readable report.

We use ITLSU and find they're a very good set of rules.

However we haven't played a lot lately for various reasons, in fact my parting comment to Paul R after last night's FK&P game was we should get back to ITLSU soon.

My Cape Helles project is bubbling away slowly at the moment as we're in the middle of other stuff currently, but I now have all the main pieces, just need to bring it all together at some stage.   


     

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Wot Pierre sed ;)

Thanks chaps - glad you liked the write up. 

Pierre - looking forward to seeing the fruition of your Cape Helles project - but I know what you mean about so many rules and periods - its a challenge to fit them in!

A few more photos taken by my oppo

(https://i.imgur.com/QaOz00B.jpg)

77mm German gun

(https://i.imgur.com/6zHyeZi.jpg)

A7V Crests the trench line - at this point I decided to fire, but I wonder if close combat would have been a better option - but as my troops were carrying quite a lot of shock it felt pretty risky 

(https://i.imgur.com/VBW00sL.jpg)

The defenders of the village - the far company is carrying loads of shock but had suffered very few casualties. They would soon retire, but were rallied over a number of turns and got back to their positions. 

(https://i.imgur.com/cyLlpQf.jpg)

Overhead view from the German perspective - this was around the mid-point of the game

Fistful of Lead - Cowboys

The last two Friday's we've played FFoL. Always gives a fun, unpredictable and somewhat chaotic game!

(https://i.imgur.com/i7eQTLU.jpg)

This was a week ago - and I can't recall which of the two games this was!

(https://i.imgur.com/l6m1gcS.jpg)

The first game last night, half my gang were holed up the mine, and had to escape with the bags of loot (brown beads). They did this quite easily as one of my off-table figures came on and was able to kill the enemy figure on the building at the bottom left of the photo, giving me a good route out!

(https://i.imgur.com/8Ha81LY.jpg)

Second game - I was the attacker this time - my gang sprinted up to the mine - loosing one figure in the process who ran straight towards the window with an enemy gang member with a rifle in it!!!

Here the two bosses are on and under the stairs. Both sides exchanged a huge amount of shooting that was fairly ineffectual. In the end I managed to gun down enough of the enemy to grab the loot off them and claim a second win.

Great looking game(s) Forbes

WWI 1914 British

It's been a while, but got some 10mm painted this weekend whilst hiding from the heat  8)

More BEF, which I think is all my on hand early war British. Which is good. But still leaves plenty of other WWI figures to be painted!

(https://i.imgur.com/ztqn4no.jpg)
44 more infantry


Next up some late war Germans undercoated and dry brushed

(https://i.imgur.com/hHvq7X3.jpg)


Painted totals for 2023 to  213 figures : 39 cavalry : 6 vehicles : 2 guns

Nice

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Thanks both - good to have got some more 10mm painted. Couldn't believe how far back I had to scroll to find the last ones!

Great stuff

Have photos of a few games to post - but haven't got organised to do it!

I've actually been doing some painting the last few days, thanks to the wonderful British summer, of the new Russo-Japanese war range. 

I am struggling to find info online about what flags the units should be flying, best I have found is either white,red,blue stripes, or imperial eagle on yellow, but not sure if these are what infantry regiments flew?

Also what colour would drums be?

I am thinking of using these more for WWI (in case that makes a difference) 

It does feel flags for post 1917 would be much easier!

WWI Russians

I recently received the new RJW Army pack (and some extras) for my birthday - and have made rapid progress on them.

They have painted up well, I've mainly used contrast paints over white / pale grey undercoat (brushed on).

I've got 3 battalions painted now (which is about 60% completion of the figures on hand).

(https://i.imgur.com/NDCHtKu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9Ea3pHv.jpg)

First Battalion - gone with khaki uniforms (Contrast Skeleton Horde)

(https://i.imgur.com/Oo89kGv.jpg)

Second Battalion - khaki jackets / shirts with light green trousers (Contrast Plaguebearer flesh)

(https://i.imgur.com/ufqlhvM.jpg)

Third Battalion - greenish khaki (a 50:50 mix of the above two colours)
(https://i.imgur.com/0weTs7C.jpg)

Commanders
(https://i.imgur.com/BWO8mdq.jpg)

This gives 138 infantry and 2 cavalry to add to this years totals.

Next up are Cossack cavalry and artillery. With the 4th battalion on painting sticks ready to be undercoated.

Painted totals for 2023 to  351 figures : 41 cavalry : 6 vehicles : 2 guns

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Thanks Paul

Those are superb

Very nicely done!

Lovely stuff, particularly like the map

Thanks all - was beginning to think this update had rather slipped under the radar!

QuoteLovely stuff, particularly like the map

Ta - wasn't quite sure as I was doing it, but it seemed to work in the end.

WWI Russians - Cossacks

Made more progress with this force - Cossacks both mounted and on foot. Went with a dark grey coat, mainly to look different to the mass of khaki. Thought it looked OK on a test figure but overall maybe it's a bit dark?

(https://i.imgur.com/9rG8PGJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vPjujKJ.jpg)

Does anyone know what the commander figure (from the RJR29 senior command pack) is holding, looks like a baton of some kind?

Painted totals for 2023 to  368 figures : 56 cavalry : 6 vehicles : 2 guns

I think I will want to add another pack of mounted Cossacks, as well as a couple of packs of standard cavalry - feels right to have lots of cavalry for a Russian army!

Very nice

Could he be holding a telescope? Or sword?

QuoteVery nice

Could he be holding a telescope? Or sword?

Thanks. As to the object - not sure it looks most like a mace, definitely not a sword.

I suppose ultimately I'm trying to work out what colour to paint it.

Could the item in question be a marshall's baton, or similar?

QuoteCould the item in question be a marshall's baton, or similar?

It could be - if it is, I've demoted him!

Long shot but it wouldn't be a trumpet e.g. like the guy in the back

(https://1870to1918.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/soldiers-of-the-russian-army.jpg)

The reason I thought telescope was (https://media.gettyimages.com/id/122227249/photo/russian-general-kuropatkin-watching-battle-of-mukden-through-spyglass-during-russo-japanese.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=BDCcZzS17XdVUfE5Yvbn3_N_2RN7IZeC_j0JBG9xNRk=)

Very very impressivw Forbes
They're Cossacks, I think they would be duller than regular line troops, with officers who stand out?

Hello Forbes,

my thoughts are it's a mace, here's a picture of the Ataman of the Don Cossacks (Pyotr Krasnov (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Krasnov)) with mace

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/70/5d/6f/705d6ffed894644a88ab7bac36ead449.jpg)

Cheers

Vic GrumpyOldMan

I think it's a mace too.

It could well be a mace - if I was to describe what it looks like, it would be a can on beans on a stick! A bit like a larger version of a German stick grenade. 

I think I'll go for black with some gold highlights. Then it could be a mace, could be a telescope, could be a baton!

WWI Russians - part 5

Got the last part of my initial order finished over the weekend, another battalion of infantry and various support items.

(https://i.imgur.com/9Dh5xNC.jpg)

4th Infantry Battalion

(https://i.imgur.com/Lblng4c.jpg)
Went for a slightly more green tone for these uniforms

Support Weapons and Command

(https://i.imgur.com/rkPeAcl.jpg)
Mortars, MGs on carriages and extra command options - standard bearers without flags for now - will likely get RCW ones at some point in the future.

Artillery and Armoured Cars

(https://i.imgur.com/A193u6b.jpg)

Three 76mm guns along with a couple of dual turreted armoured cars.

This added 80 infantry, 6 guns and 2 vehicles to the totals.

Painted totals for 2023 to  448 figures : 56 cavalry : 8 vehicles : 8 guns

I've also ordered a good chunk more cavalry to round out this army[/size].

Wow, those are brilliant!  8)

Good stuff

Very nice, Forbes ! :)

Thanks chaps   :)

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd  =D>

WWII British 8th Army

We've been talking about doing some battles for Crete - which led to me checking my British 8th Army troops, and found that I had a good stash of infantry waiting to be painted. Thanks to some contrast paint, the basic colours were done super fast, with just details to add in.

Also found a couple of DAK 5cm AT Guns to finish off to give some light AT support to my DAK forces.

Some pictures in the late afternoon sun - seemed appropriate

(https://i.imgur.com/FdfXwcD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1dVb6Gb.jpg)

And then this evening
(https://i.imgur.com/xj9D2R7.jpg)

This adds another 56 figures and 2 guns to the 2023 totals.

Painted totals for 2023 to  504 figures : 56 cavalry : 8 vehicles : 10 guns

WWI Germans

These guys have been lingering around at the 3/4 painted stage for a while and due to having run out of bases due to poor planning (fortunately Leon resolved this within a week, phew!) I decided it was time to get these chaps finished.

Another battalion of infantry with generous support, several limbers and a truck and an armoured car (quite how much use an armoured car will be in the mud of Flanders waits to be seen...)

(https://i.imgur.com/H7Viyeo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/j7ofCix.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kWpWE8B.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RkWBxNH.jpg)

This adds 36+18 infantry, 12 horses, and 5 vehicles to the totals.

Painted totals for 2023 to  558 figures : 68 cavalry : 13 vehicles : 10 guns

Smashed through the 500 infantry total this week and have received an order of many WWI Russian cavalry along with the bases, so the cavalry numbers will be ticking up soon.

Excellent Forbes!  8)

Like 'em !  :-bd

Thanks both

Good stuff there

WWI Russian Cavalry 

Been making steady progress on these guys for a couple of weeks. But all done now!

(https://i.imgur.com/7gWzqDD.jpg)
18 bases of regular cavalry. 


Painted totals for 2023 to  558 figures : 102 cavalry : 13 vehicles : 10 guns

Cool Forbes

Good stuff !  :-bd

Great work Forbes 8) !

Thanks chaps

These are coming along great, much better progress than I've made on my WW1 stuff! I love the mud bases look on the Germans, might have to steal that for any mid-war forces I do. What's your technique for the mud effect?

QuoteThese are coming along great, much better progress than I've made on my WW1 stuff! I love the mud bases look on the Germans, might have to steal that for any mid-war forces I do. What's your technique for the mud effect?

Thanks - I'm really pleased with the progress of the Russians - I only got the first of them in early July (an army pack and some extras) and painted those up so ordered more cavalry of which these are the first third done. 


The mud basing is Ronseal wood filler, it comes in a couple of handy dark brown shades which works great for mud. If you let it dry a little then you can texture it nicely. I then add a bit of dry brushed lighter browns to give some variance, and like to use water effects for a small puddles / filled shell craters. 

Belated  :-bd  =D>  :-bd for the Russians

A War Transformed

We tried a new rule set this week - A War Transformed by Osprey. It is Weird WWI, small battle scale, with a 8-20 units a side. It is nominally 28mm, but of course we played in 10mm! 

The core twist to the setting is that in 1916 an asteroid crashed into the moon, causing the sea levels to change, leaving the doggerland (eg the English Channel) dry, and causing the old gods to awaken. The game takes place a year or so later, with the WWI fighting continuing, but more as large skirmishes and fortified zones, rather than the typical trenches of the western front. 

Played RaW for unit sizes and ranges, with one exception of making infantry sections 4 30x30mm bases of 3 figures, rather than 8x individually based 28mm figures. 

We got the hang of the core mechanics fairly quickly, the magic and vehicle rules took a bit more flicking through the rule book, but I think we got those too. 

As a first game there wasn't too much going on tactically, we more wanted to get a feel for how units work. 

(https://i.imgur.com/wyP9ZbZ.jpg)

The British Empire forces nearest the camera / left hand side. I had a smallish force with 4 infantry sections (each of 4 bases), a Mark IV tank and an 18pdr field gun, along with a Captain and a Witch. 

The Germans on the far side, had a bigger and more diverse force. 4 infantry sections, HMG, Lancers, Flammenwerfer, 3.7cm AT Gun, T-Gewher AT Rifle, Sniper, Captain and Witch. 

These were both fairly small 19pt forces - but seemed a good size for getting started. 

Terrain wise I idea was the revealed sea bed - where some areas of greenery have sprung up, perhaps fed by the blood of fallen troops... There were a couple of areas of water, and several areas of mire. There is a large hill nearest the camera, which isn't very obvious on the photo.

(https://i.imgur.com/m1NvLZf.jpg)

The left flank, the British 18pdr behind a hill, with a couple of infantry sections supporting, along wiht the Captain who has issued an Order to the gun to make its shooting a little more effective. Each turn your force generates command tokens, which can be used for a number of things, Orders from your officer, rituals from your witch and abilities by those units which have them. 

(https://i.imgur.com/m9TJzq7.jpg)
The German forces undertake a general advance. The Britsh hold at the far end, and advance nearest the camera. 

The British have already caused a couple of casualties on the German Lancers knocking them to half-strength which inflicts a Combat Stress Maker (CSM) on them. The 18pdr had hit an infantry section, causing casualties and pinning them.

(https://i.imgur.com/TOwc2zK.jpg)

Both sides push forward, engaging each other. The British infantry in the wood where under sustained fire from the German HMG, which pinned them frequently (the pinning mechanism feels pretty good). The Tank trundle to the crest of the hill, where its MGs proved very effective, as it could fire the ones on different facings each turn. It was hit by the 3.7cm AT gun, but this only caused a single wound - and really wasn't that concerning to me. The German Lancers have been shot off by the infantry - only having 4 wounds and not being in cover makes them pretty vulnerable - and given their speed they were a priority target. 

(https://i.imgur.com/PE0U40D.jpg)

Getting towards the end. The Geman HMG and Flammenwerfer were taken out by 18pdr fire. The FW felt very useless in this game - it costs more points than the HMG, only has 10" range (compared to 25" for rifles, and 36" for the HMGs). Perhaps in an game with heavier terrain it would have been more useful. 

The Tank was very effective with its MG fire taking out a number of German units. The German section charged into melee with one of my infantry units, and this turned into a protracted fight, with the slight numerical advantage for the British being telling in the end.

My Witch had been unsuccessful in the various rituals he attempted - but these rituals generate manifestion dice, which can also be generated by winning in close combats. I had the maximum of 6 manifestion dice, so went for the 2nd most powerful summoning, Trolls. Which was succesful, they appear on a board edge, so I choose near the 3.7cm gun - this lead to a very one-sided melee! The German witch only had 3 manifestion dice, and when attempting their summoning failed, and rolled doubles, meaning he was stunned for the rest of the turn!

All in all a fun game - the rules are pretty dense and have certiainly taken some digesting over the last couple of weeks - but once on the table we got the flow of the core mechanisms pretty quickly. 

Interesting!  8)

WWI Russians

Got a few more of these figures painted up - an impending game always accelerates the painting!

(https://i.imgur.com/IDRHi9s.jpg)

2x Tachanka and 2x Limbers

This adds 12 horses, 4 vehicles and 4 figures' to the totals.

Painted totals for 2023 to  562 figures : 114 cavalry : 14 vehicles : 10 guns

 :-bd  =D>  :-bd

Beautiful

Not heard of these rules, but certainly a different take on WWI!

Thanks chaps

QuoteNot heard of these rules, but certainly a different take on WWI!

AWT is a very new set (end of Sept) from Osprey, has been quite heavily promoted by Northstar. 


We've had a couple of fun games so far. So far Tanks and Armoured Cars are seeming very good, the supernatural elements add a nice level of flavour without being over powering. 

We played Russians vs Germans on Friday night - I'll get some photos posted shortly

A War Transformed - Russians vs Germans

Second game of AWT - going for the newly painted Russians so moving away from the newly drained English Channel to somewhere in Eastern Europe. In the game timeline there has been no Russian Revolution and the Russian Imperial forces have pushed west. 

Overview of the battle - my Russians nearest the camera. 

(https://i.imgur.com/OIvrfIK.jpg)

The 3 white obelisks on top of the hills are the objectives

(https://i.imgur.com/I49FFyv.jpg)

Armoured cars engage enemy troops on the right flank - the HMGs on these were very effective. The German A/C destroyed my foot HMG with one burst, and my A/C was shooting up the German cavalry. 

(https://i.imgur.com/7IuCC3p.jpg)

My A/C has moved more towards the right flank, but this allowed it to be charge by the German cavalry - whilst the cavalry would struggle to damage it, it does pin the A/C in melee. My conscript infantry have joined the scrap. Whilst our infantry keep the bulk of the hill between them on the left.

(https://i.imgur.com/C8HR7ld.jpg)

On the far side of the table the Germans manifested a unit of Prowlers (yellow foo dogs - still painting up some more credible models!) which went on the Rampage. This proved pretty useful for the Germans as it was behind the Russian lines. 

On the far side of the table, I have manifested some Brownies (blue fairies - see note above!) these are the weakest manifestation - and I didn't keep enough Command Tokens to be able to trigger their abilities - so they just charged, which was a bit ineffective!

(https://i.imgur.com/4dBT16r.jpg)

The ongoing scrap between the A/C and German cavalry. 

A good fun game. A/C do seem very good value, at 3pts so just 1 more than a foot HMG team, when they have the same weapon, can move quickly, can shoot after moving, and their armour makes them pretty invulnerable to most units (other than in melee).

Toying with just how big a game we could go with. We are still having to check a lot of rules (well mainly keywords) each game.

Fab report, looks great!

QuoteFab report, looks great!

Thanks Will

AWT Manifestations

Got some painting done this week on some AWT Manifestations and scenic items.

(https://i.imgur.com/PtNHK0x.jpg)

All the bits together - due to my existing WWI figures having a mix of grassy basing for early war, and mud for late war, I've done two sets of Manifestations - which in 10mm is pretty quick and easy.

I have 4 of the 6 types painted here, I am missing the smallest (brownies) and the largest (Crushers, aka giants) I can cover these from existing fantasy figures whilst I find some specifically for AWT


(https://i.imgur.com/vlG5tCK.jpg)
Grassy based Manifestations - from left to right, Haunters, Beguilers (which like to manifest in mires), Prowlers (wolves and bears) and finally Devourers (trolls, etc). Figures are a mix of Pendraken, Magister Militum and Copplestone.


(https://i.imgur.com/qStRslN.jpg)
Muddy basing - with tufts of flowers to represent the new growth mentioned in AWT. Same set of creatures as with the grassy basing, with the addition of some archers in the back, who are a spectral special summoning for the British.

(https://i.imgur.com/lIcXUoR.jpg)
Bones - 3d printed models, scaled up significantly, these are to be used as scenery for ancient dinosaur bones revealed when the sea levels change. Really liking these models, and they have painted up quickly and simpler. I have a bunch more (mainly smaller ones) still to paint.

Adding another 32 figures, and 4 pieces of terrain.

Painted totals for 2023 to  594 figures : 114 cavalry : 14 vehicles : 10 guns : 4 terrain

AWT - Russian Attackers vs German Defenders

Played and systematic scenario last night, with 20pts of Germans defending against 30pts of Russians (who came on in 2 waves, 20pts at the start, and the reminder at the start of turn 3)

We played a house rule that HMGs are affected by the difficult shot rules, and when making a difficult shot roll half dice. This seemed to work well stopping Armoured cars waltzing around shooting stuff up, and making troops in cover pretty resistant to MG fire.

A/C still seem rather invulnerable - so we will have a think about how HMGs might affect them.

There were 3 objectives near the German base line (represented by the large bones)

(http://]https://i.imgur.com/5ShvdqX.jpg)
Righ flank, my Russians aimed to hold on this flank

(https://i.imgur.com/bp4wyOM.jpg)
The left flank - my forces mass, masked by the hill

The initial couple of turns saw my right flank moving forward - even using Orders to add some movement it was pretty steady pace. My mortar was hugely effective at neutralising the German field gun - not least due to some terrible rolling for priority by the German player - getting a total of 4, on 2d6+1d3!

(https://i.imgur.com/CVxltUz.jpg)
Reinforcements arrive at the start of turn 3 - mainly cavalry

(https://i.imgur.com/QuJwmZp.jpg)
I managed to Manifest some Prowlers (bears!) who immediately went on the Rampage, but this meant they charged the German Field Gun - I pretty sure this gun failed to get off a shot all game!

No photo - but the Germans managed to Manifest their own Prowlers (wolves) on my flank - but they were shot up by my Tachanka then destroyed by my cavalry.

My next Manifestion - went for Devourers - needed 16 on 6d6
(https://i.imgur.com/l3QeLXR.jpg)
Failure!

The Germans tried the same tactics - but with more success
(https://i.imgur.com/AKEA6o5.jpg)
Their Devour drops in on my flank - the Tachanka attempts to shoot it up, but is shrugs off the shooting (saving on a 1-5 on a d6 vs shooting). My Cossacks charge, and lose a couple of stands, manage to inflict 1 wound, which the Devour recovers by Feasting on the casualties! This is why I wanted a Devourer on the German base line!

(https://i.imgur.com/eOnafS2.jpg)
Got an infantry section onto the left hand objective, my A/C is threading the central one, but is being cautious as there are a lot of German infantry around. The German A/C has been engaged by my infantry pinning it in melee.

I manifested some Beguilers near the central objective - giving me control of two objectives - which was the win condition!

But!
(https://i.imgur.com/yXDUeLi.jpg)
The Germans also Manifested their own Beguilers in a mire, and used their Entrance ability to pull my infantry off the objective! Leaving me only holding one.

This was a good fun game. Felt a tough ask for the attacker - there was a lot of distance to cover in the 6 turns.

Rituals feel a bit meh, it just feels you are better to pile a load of command tokens in to attempt to generate Manifestation dice.



 

What a load of fun! Great report!  8)

QuoteWhat a load of fun! Great report!  8)

Thanks Will - I think we've now got the core of the rules down (although there are still a few things that need checking) so the game flows better.