It can't have been 6 months!

It's hard to believe that it's been 6 months since I posted here. I have been a bit down and struggled with being ill again, a continuous run of infections around my stoma have really knocked me and I have taken a while to get through it. Not everything has stopped, I have still played a few games and still painted a few bits, it's just been the social side of things that have taken a hit.

But just to upset you all I have returned. And by "you all" I mean the one person who reads this tripe.

Gaming has primarily been boardgames of several types. Zombicide, Blood Rage, Mythic Battles Pantheon etc. Wargames have mostly been Chain of Command, with the occasional foray into Congo and Death in the Dark Continent. 

As for painting, I did very little last year, but after having a break I have managed to get a bit of my mojo back. Not a vast amount but at least a bit of it has returned. So I have finally painted some 15mm Germans for Ian at the Exeter club, which inspired me to paint some German vehicles that have been sat in my plastic pile for too long.

Ian's German Infantry

Ian's infantry were a mixture of Battle Front and Peter Pig, 94 figures all told based for IABSM.

Early War Sdkfz 251s and Panzer 38ts

Next up are some early war German armour. Five Sdkfz 251 halftracks including a command 251/10 with it's mighty 3.7cm pak gun. These are supported by a trio of Panzer 38ts, ready for France or Russia. The half-tracks are Plastic Soldier Company while the Panzers are Zvezda models

Later war Sdkfz 250s 

Some more half-tracks were then stuck together and slapped with paint. A box of Plastic Soldier Company Sdkfz 250s were made up as a mixed recce force. A command 250/11 with it's 2.8cm Pzb leads a pair of 250/1 infantry carriers and a pair of 250/9 recce tracks with 2cm cannons. A decent mix of vehicles that can either add support for Chain of Command games or be recce elements for Battlegroup games.

Late war Panzer IIIs

A trio of Panzer IIIs wereadded to the line up, picked up at a bring and buy somewhere some time ago. Pre-made but unpainted, they will now be part of my late war German force. Who needs Panthers or Tigers? Also, see if you can spot the error in construction. I didn't notice until after I had painted them and don't know if it is worth fixing.

Late War Sdkfz 251s

Finally for today is some more 251's, Battlefront models this time. A quartet, painted up to mechanise my German infantry.

All told that's 20 vehicles, so it's been not too bad.

I have painted some other bits for WW2, but these will appear tomorrow hopefully as the varnish isn't dry yet. Later folks.

Death in the Dark Continent/Congo figures

I am back again with more plans and schemes that will remain my focus for about 10 minutes, before something else grabs my attention.

I recently bought the re-released Death in the Dark Continent rules from Northstar.  I went in for it because........well, it looked good and I had no figures for it and I have no will power, at all.  The rules came and caught my interest immediately, so all I needed was some figures.  On our recent trip to Partizan I spent a bit of cash and ended up with a selection of figures from Wargames Foundry, Copplestone Castings and Northstars African Range.  All told I had a mixed bag of over 80 figures by the time I had finished.  I figured that would be plenty, stupid of me I know. I decided to base them on pennies (UK 1 pence coins) as they are magnetic and would also allow me to use the figures for Congo games.  So sabot bases were needed for DitDC, which were easily arranged by emailing Supreme Littleness Designs and asking if he could knock something together for me.  In less than 24 hours he had done so and I had ordered them.  Top service from a nice chap who does exactly what it says on the website.

So, I started slapping paint about in a random manner and eventually ended up with a load of painted(sort of) figures.  So here they are in their glory, sort of.  Well, at least they are painted and none of them have been in my possession for more than a few months!

 Here are 20 warriors, all with wicker shields and spears.

20 more warriors, some with fancy headdresses.

 10 more warriors, 5 musket armed types and some porters.  This lot include the freebie figures that came with the pre-order of the rules book.

 24 Pygmies, because who doesn't like a pygmy!  They are right sneaky little blighters in the rules, very hard to hit if they are in cover.

Finally for now are some disorder bases.  Disorder is the normal unit killer in the rules, it takes a very lucky shot to actually kill a base so they tend to run away rather than get wiped out.

So there they all are.  The planned force is a Cannibal Tribe list coming in at a nice 298 points made up of the following units.
One unit of 4 Elite Warrior bases including the Chief
Two units of 4 Warrior bases
Three units of 4 skirmisher bases armed with spears
Two units of 6 pygmy bases with bows
The Surprise stratagem, so they can all set up in ambush
Some pitfalls to force the enemy into the rough and slow them down

 Here are the figures on the sabot bases.  First up is 2 units of 4 bases of warriors.  I need another 12 warriors including a chief to complete the fighting arm of the force. Also shown here is the baggage base, 3 bearers.

 These are the 3 units of 4 bases of skirmishers.  Only 2 figures per base, so easy to tell apart from the fighting types.

Finally (for now), these are the sneaky pygmies.  These are all the pygmy figures that Wargames Foundry make, so that's all there will be I think.

As I said, I need to get a Chief type and some more warriors, so Northstar will get an order as soon as my finances have recovered. In the future I plan a Naval Landing Party force using the Perry Miniatures Sudan figures.  They can have a gatling gun......

So that's it for Africa for the time being, although I have also painted up some other things for another plan, more on that tomorrow.

Adios for now.

OML3 A brief report(with lots of blurry pictures)

It's 0211 and guess who can't sleep?  Luckily I have things to do.  However, instead of doing them I am typing this up.

Poor old fella.

Last Saturday was the annual Operation Market Larden day, this time called "The Lardest Day" as it was on 6th June.  The usual trio from Devon were joined by our latest Lardy convert, Andy "Pink Fluffy Bunny" Noel.  The four of us got up at stupid o'clock on Saturday morning and set off for the tractor filled wasteland that is Worcestershire.  A quick pitiss stop for the ageing member to relieve his bladder(after he woke from his nap) and we duly arrived in darkest tractor-land at 9ish. 

A right rough trio!

A quick round of hello's to the collection of reprobates lardy wargamers and then Nathan and I got on with setting the table up.  We were putting on a 1940 Chain of Command game based around the events on June 6th 1940, when the German's attempted to complete their invasion of France after Dunkirk.  After a great days gaming, with the extra attraction of the local airshow going on(loved the Vulcan), we retreated to Evesham to sup some of the local refreshments and then partake of Worcestershire's famous dish.....curry!  A hilarious evening was then topped by a reasonable 4 hours sleep back in Tewkesbury.  Thanks to all those who attended and made the day so enjoyable.  We will be back next year!

More on the game I ran and the game I played in my next post, for now I will just show you some blurry and badly taken photos of the other games that were put on.  All told their were ten games being played, ranging from Dark Ages Britain through to Afghanistan. I will let the pictures do the talking now and I'll be back tomorrow.  Well, that is later today really.

Ade's Gallipoli game

Another look at the Gallipoli table

Dodgy looking fellas there

Looks nice, it was a bad day for the Allies though

Would you trust this man with anything?

Paul, Paul(Pingu) and Ade.

Some dodgy looking 1940 CoC game

Dux setup, watch out for the cows

See, the little buggers are making a run for it

Fighting Season, run by Rich Clarke

Brits and ANP seize a compound

The Taliban know they are there though.  Nice tractor

A close up of some of the Brits

I 'aint been Nuked Mum.  Can't wait for this to be released.

15mm IABSM Eastern Front.  Jagdpanthers on the hill!

Lot's of German armour now.

25mm Russo-Japanese War.  Nice setup.

The hills are alive with the sound of chopsticks

Loads of them, hiding in the woods

It's looking bad for the Russians

Lovely looking Sharpe Practice Peninsular game

British infantry defend their supplies

French fire at the defenders.

25mm Sudan game. 

Brits appear to be taking some casualties

Thin blue line.......

Sudanese try to get around the flank

War of the Roses using Sharpe Practice

 

Close up of some of Paul's figures.

 

A gathering of might before the fighting begins

More bad nights means more figures painted

It's been another week and I'm still here.  A few bad nights again resulted in me painting and basing various things.  My Napoleonic mojo has left the building now and I give fair notice, I will never ever paint Napoleonic Highlanders in 28mm ever again..........EVER!

I only had 23 to paint, trying to match the already painted one that was here.  That was all, just 23 figures.  Doesn't sound like a lot does it, but they nearly broke me.  Bloody tartan, stupid patterned socks, damnable bonnets!  I hates them I does.  I thought they were bad in 15mm but I was wrong. 

Anyway, here they are in all their misery. 

 They are supposed to be the 79th "Queens Own Cameron Highlanders", which served in Egypt, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and France during the Napoleonic War.  Busy little beggars weren't they? 












I also cracked on with some basing of other figures that I have had here for a while.  I believe this lot are French Tirallieurs Grenadiers of the Young Guard, but don't quote me on that.  Again there are 24 of them, but I just based these ones as they were painted when I got them.

As were these 20 Austrian infantry.  So I have based these up as well. 

Other news is I have been to my first show of 2015.  Four of the Chuckadice crew made the trip up to Crusade in Penarth and a fine time was had.  Thanks to Nathan for driving us up the wall to Wales and the members of the Penarth and District Wargames Society for putting on the show.  Caught up with a few people, looked at some games and browsed the traders.  Sadly there were a few no shows from the former regulars, such as Dave Thomas, which meant that nobody had any Flames of War stuff or Perrys Mounted Men-at-Arms.  This was a problem as my shopping list consisted of 2 things, some FoW PAVN infantry and a box of Mounted Men-at-Arms.  Borrocks!  So instead I bought a box of Plastic Soldier Company M4 Shermans and a pack of 4ground Rendered Walls, both in 15mm.  See the similarity to my list?  No, neither do I.  Here's hoping for better luck at PAW on Saturday. 

Monday night was spent fighting off a Dervish horde in Nathan's Sudan campaign.  Colonel Pingers was in charge, ineptly assisted by Major Blunder (aka me).  Despite Nathan's best efforts the Brits managed to hold off the Dervish masses and seized the town, so things are looking better for the Empire this week.  Hopefully Nathan will put a report on his blog at some point.

I have also cracked on with some Vietnam period armour, but it's not quite finished yet so no pictures just yet.  Tomorrow night will mostly be spent shouting at the TV as the 6 Nations kicks off in Cardiff.  Catch you all later, I am off now.

Attack, Zulu's and random ramblings

Last Sunday I was taken out for the day by my chaffeur Nathan, with Pingu in the back "resting his eyes".  No matter where we go, what time we go or who drives, he has a nap, poor old fella.

Bless him, he looks all worn out.  It must have been the vast amount he didn't spend at Attack.  It was a pleasant day out, but we are not sure we will be going back as it takes as long to get there as it does to get to Reading which is a bigger show.  My purchases were limited to a can of Necrotic Flesh spray paint for zombie painting and a copy of Duel in the Dark on the bring & buy.  Oh, and some extra D10s for In her Majesties Name.


Monday night was Zulu night, as the Chuckadice lads got together to refight Nathan's Rorke's Drift scenario.  Zulus under the command of myself, Andy and Pingu were attacking the defenders, commanded by Lt Chard(Zob), Lt Bromhead(Colin) and Colour Sgt Bourne(Nathan).
 Suffice to say, the heavy fire from the hospital quickly drove off the few Zulu's in front of them, but the lesser fire from the store only slowed down the advance.  Eventually the Zulu's reached the building and some redcoats were felled.

On the other side the British line looked pretty solid and was holding well for longer than expected.

 Andy looks pensive as he prepares to receive the British fire.  Not much cover down there, so losses were pretty heavy as the Zulu's advanced.

 The store is attacked, as only a few men could fire out the loopholes. 

 Zulu's reach the defences, but were unable initially to break through the line.  Bayonets lunged and Zulu's fell, but the occasional Redcoat fell too.

 Zulu's get around the side and into the building, but its a dead end and the British fired through the window, killing the Zulu warriors. 

 The 2nd wave reaches the defenders, again taking horrendous losses.  Eventually the British will weaken, won't they?

Sniping from the hill finally took effect, with 3 hits on the British reserves as they finished the redoubt and moved to reinforce the wall.

 Bromhead's line was also holding firm, despite Pingu's best efforts to break through.  He did manage to break in momentarily, but Bromhead gathered a few men and drove the Zulu's back out again.

At the same time the Zulu's broke into the main store rooms, driving the few defenders back wounded.  It's was starting to look a bit problematic for the Brits, but at least Chard was holding his section......

Then Chard was driven back suddenly as all his men fall to some damned lucky dice from Andy.  Four d10, 3 of them were 8+, killing 3 defenders and forcing Chard to retreat.  This is were we left it, to be finished next Monday.  The Zulu's are in the compound and threatening the store, but the British still have quite a few men left and should hold, probably......well maybe......



In other news, I have been sick as a dog again.  The new anti-nausea tablets I am on are rubbish so it's back to see the quack again this week.  Hopefully something will sort out soon, as it's impacting work quite noticeably now.  I have managed to paint a few bits, so expect some pictures next week hopefully.

Off now so catch you all later.