All,

Believe it or not, despite limited wargaming time, I've actually been quite busy using up every minute I could spare.  I just haven't used it in a intelligent manner...  Once again I have found myself in a gaming void, lacking motivation, then gaining motivation but then lacking proper miniatures, gathering proper miniatures but then lacking appropriate rules, or having my motivation for whatever project I was working on superseded by another, new project.  I've been spending time and money like I'm independently wealthy, which, I assure you, is not the case...  I've had so much going on that I need to break this post up into sections (should really be separate posts, I suppose, but I'm feeling too lazy for that at the moment).

I'm going to post a bunch of photos here to give you a taste, but please understand there are hundreds more on the blog, if you are so inclined.


More troops for WWII North Africa.  A whole bunch of tanks, guns, and infantry, representing forces from seven nations!  From far left, down, to right, up to far right, we have Yanks, Brits, Australians, Indians, Italians, Germans, and French.


Some 2-pdr Portees.  The vehicles and guns are from Gaming Models, the drivers are Battlefront, and the gun crews are Peter Pig.


How about some Indians?


More Yanks.


French.


Bersaglieri.


Folgore.


Afrika Korps engineers.  Did some Fallschirmjaeger engineers, too.


Some Hermann Goering Panzergrenadier Division troops.


Some individually-based American paratroopers...


And Germans.


Tried an Operation Barbarossa fight, didn't like the rules.


Tried a US/German fight in Tunisia, wasn't satisfied.


Got into Blood Red Skies.


Got me some Royal Marines.


And some Waffen SS.


Some modern Marines for the desert.


And some for more temperate climes.


Here's a pic of some Vietnam-era US advisors from Peter Pig.  I re-based most of my 15mm Vietnam-era troops, including late-war ARVN, US Army, NVA, VC, and Montagnards.  Even my French Foreign Legion and Vietminh.


Then I painted up a bunch of Peter Pig WWII US Marines as early war ARVN.


And did up some armor for them, as well.

If you'd like to see boatload more photos, please click the link to the blog:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2022/12/wargaming-in-exceedingly-poor-manner.html

So, there it is, a glimpse into the never-ending void of my wargaming mind.  Can't say I haven't done anything, just haven't done much in the way of gaming.  As my buddy Shaun says, I'm in peril of becoming a 'collector,' having lost my 'wargamer' status.  Believe it or not, I am actively attempting to rectify the situation; my plan is to basically transfer my KG Klink concept to the Americans.
That is, I'm planning to take a fictional, stylized US "Combat Command," but sort of 'bathtub' it down to battalion size, with a company of tanks, a company of mechanized infantry, and supporting ATGs, MGs, mortars, SPGs, TDs, armored cars, and engineers, with each vehicle commander and small unit leader as a named character, and follow them through the entire war, tracking their campaigns, wounds, and medals for valor.  My plan is to start with Operation Torch (thus the need for some Vichy French), then into Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy.  At some point they'll leave Italy and go to France; not sure yet if I want to do the breakout from Salerno then go to Normandy, or do Anzio and then Operation Dragoon.  Either way they'll end up pushing into Germany, going to hit Hurtgen Forest, maybe the Bulge, and then all the way to the bitter end.

Any minute now

V/R,
Jack

Hi Jack, great to see you back  

You have been busy  

You have some great looking forces there      

Hopefully you and the boys can make some time to use them

Hey Jack, good to see you back.

You've kept some focus, if all of WWII and after, can be called focus! 

I really like your North Africa stuff.

Hope you get some actual games in!

Brilliant painting Jack, here's to the inspiration striking for games soon!

Jack, that is a nice collection and worth waiting for ...... and now everything is in place for the game, sounds like you are just about ready to jump back into it.

Some really lovely photos with cracking painting.   The face on that US paratrooper is ridiculously good.   

I enjoyed the KG Klink concept as well so hope you do manage a few games. 

Phil     

Hello everyone, it warms my heart to see so many old friends still here, and I appreciate the kind words!

Paul, my new US in the KG Klink-style concept is solo gaming, but I am looking forward to playing more games with the boys, it's been a lot of fun.

Yes Fred, I'm incredibly focused, 1939 to present on land, sea, and air, nothing more!  I'll have to share my ACW and Napoleonics later

It's funny Glorfindel, the face on the paratrooper is nothing but block painted and then given a wash.  I do intend on getting back to KG Klink, it's just every time I tried playing a game with them I was trying new rules and was putting too many troops on the table, didn't have much fun.

Will and Norm, inspiration has struck, hopefully it sticks around. I've already played seven games in North Africa, with number eight all set up and ready to go.  I do need to start typing up batreps, I suppose.  This is really turning out to be the hard part...

V/R,
Jack

We love your detailed battle reports, but they should be something you enjoy doing

If they have become a chore, a few pictures and a brief overview will keep most of us happy

Hello Jack

Great to see you back again.......you certainly use your gaming time well....you have been busy

I can sympathise with your comment in your blog about so many half done projects round the house.....got a cupboard full or two myself, though I have been making some good progress on my current crop.

Hope you find a ruleset that you will be happy with.

Look forwards to seeing your GI's working through their European sightseeing tour - the Brandenburg Gate is worth seeing!

As Paul says breif battle reports are fine, I know how long it takes to write up one for a single For King and Parliament game! 

Got one scenario left to test this year. Got 2023 pretty well planned out gaming wise finishing off existing stuff, but we'll see what gaming temptations the new year brings 

Stay on target!

Cheers
Peter

Paul - Thanks man, I appreciate it! I actually enjoy writing the batreps, enjoy pontificating on why things happened the way they did, and how things could have been different, and adding color/character to the games.  It just takes sooooo long...

Peter - Hey buddy, good to 'see' you!  Yes, having fun with my GIs in North Africa, will keep chipping away until they reach Berlin! Or at least the Elbe

V/R,
Jack

Looks great - good luck sticking to it

Hmmm

Spending money like independently wealthy
Becoming a collector not a wargamer
Variable and wandering motivation


I think we are in a majority on the forum.     

Thats why we like pics so much as it shows some people can actually "finish" something!! 

Quote from: DecemDave on 31 December 2022, 09:28:14 AMSpending money like independently wealthy
Becoming a collector not a wargamer
Variable and wandering motivation

These are my people!