New Blood?

 My grandson, Ben, came to stay for the weekend and he wanted me to show him an example of a wargame.  I set up a small game based in WW2 using adapted Memoir '44 rules.  The game was based on a German attack to secure a river crossing and an iron works being held by Soviet forces.  

The objective. German tanks have already crossed the river further upstream in a picture taken towards the end of the game:

I played the Germans and began my attack in true blitzkrieg style, with a massive armoured assault, supported by Stuka dive bombers and artillery:

Massed German armour pushing up the left flank is visited by a pair of Soviet Sturmoviks, causing some damage:

At the same time I push some tanks across the river using a ford up on the right flank:

On the left, a well defended hill, with tanks and anti-tank artillery proves to be a hard nut to crack:

In a counter stroke, Soviet armour advances up the right flank, supported by a well sited anti-tank gun:

The Germans take out many of the Soviet tanks but casualties are mounting and the headlong charge is proving to be very costly, with damaged tanks being pushed back or destroyed:

German artillery helps take out the Soviet guns, but are soon out of range of the deeper targets:

As in real war, the rapid advance of the tanks soon outstrips the slower infantry; the tanks attack slows down as casualties mount.  With well over half of the German tanks out of action and only a few infantry units available the germans call off the attack.  The battered Soviets retain control of the road bridge and the Ironworks.

Importantly Ben really enjoyed the game and is considering getting some tanks and figures for himself.  A new recruit perhaps!

More 54mm Japanese..........

 Last night I finished the remaining Japanese infantry, mainly heavy weapons.  There is a light mortar and light machine gun, both by Airfix; also a heavy machine gun.  Two more Airfix charging infantry finish off this batch.

I am not too sure where the heavy machine gun came from, possibly BMC, but I may be wrong.

I have now emptied my toy box of Airfix Japanese and Australians.  I would like to do a few more, so keeping my eye open for some bargains on line.

Punic War Italians

 Last night I finished off the other half of the box of HaT Italian infantry.  

I also managed to acquire two boxes of Italeri Republican Roman infantry, which when painted will complete my Roman army.  They are in the process of being cleaned up and primed for painting.

Australian Infantry 54mm

 Continuing my experiments with WW2 figures and Speed Paints, I have just completed some Airfix Australian infantry.  Getting the green shade was a challenge but I finished up with a 2:1 ratio mix of 'Holy White' and 'Camo Green'.  The white is actually a light grey.  The webbing is 'Pallid Bone'.

The figures were quite clean with good definition and nice detail.

These were the only Australians that I have, so I am missing a couple of poses, including a Bren gunner figure.

Experimenting with Speed Paints

 Most of my painting using Speed paints has been on figures of a more colourful nature.  I thought it might be fun to try the techniques on some WW2 figures.

Choosing the right colours was an interesting exercise, as the paints seem to be tailored towards the fantasy world, with 'Goblin Skin', 'Slaughter Red' and 'Palid Bone' being examples.  However, it is possible to mix the paints and to thin them down to make lighter tones.

As an experiment, I primed and based some 54mm Airfix Japanese and a single Britains 8th Army figure. Here are the results:

I am going to paint some more Japanese and some Airfix Australians.  I have in mind a Jungle based skirmish game.

The Story So Far............

 I thought that I would set out on the table my collection of Roman/Carthaginian figures as they would be for a Command and Colors game.  Just about enough for a number of the scenarios:

With just a few more figures to go I am almost ready for the first game.

Punic Wars Italian Cavalry

 Coming to the end of the production line now.  This latest batch are HaT 1/32 scale aliied Italian cavalry.  

They were a joy to paint using a mix of Speed and Acrylic paints:

I shall soon be in a position to display the two complete armies with a Command Colors Ancient wargame.

54mm Punic Wars Velites and Elephant

 Another batch of figures are completed.  A set of HaT Republican Roman Velites (light infantry) as well as a Carthaginian war elephant and crew.

The Velites wear the classic wolf skins and carry javelins and swords:

The Carthaginian War Elephant has a crew of three, a driver, a soldier with a long pike and a standard bearer.  The set makes up into a nice model; however, it is quite small, probably closer to 1/35 scale, maybe even 1/48.  That said it looks OK and I am sure that it will blend in on the wargames table:

I am currently working on some Italian allied cavalry.  After that, I have some imperial roman infantry to paint.

Battle of the Boyne - Part 2

 Yesterday, Bob Black came over with the aim of completing our unfinished Battle of the Boyne game.  We left the game a couple of weeks ago with the Williamite forces struggling to gain a foothold on the Jacobite side of the river.  Several attempts had been thwarted with the loss of two foot regiments.  

Jacobite cavalry charges had also succeeded in pushing back William's advance, destroying a Dutch unit, but the Jacobite cavalry had suffered with two horse regiments having to leave the field.

We catch up with the action once again over on the Williamite left, as Schomberg's cavalry crash into Dillon's Irish Piquets.  Kirke's regiment crosses the river in support. The Irish infantry are pushed back as William gains a toe hold on the left.

In the centre, James orders more infantry to advance down to the river bank, facing Danish and English troops.

In a counter move, William advances into the river once more in the centre and the Dutch advance on the right.  The Lord High Admiral Regiment, in yellow, moves up in support.

A major action ensues as William's army begins to gain ground on the Jacobite side of the river.

Meanwhile on the opposite flank, alarmed by the advancing Williamite cavalry, King James orders the Jacobite cavalry to charge into Schomberg's dragoons.  A large cavalry melee takes place.

The battle in the centre swings back and forth and despite heavy casualties the Williamite troops continue to edge into the Jacobite lines.

In an attempt to restore the situation Bob's Jacobites make a determined counter attack.  It does not go well and despite damaging the Danes they fail to destroy them and William's force clings onto their gained ground.

The Jacobites are forced back, losing more troops in the process.

Then King Jame's army collapses.  A cavalry charge by Schomberg's horse, supported by Oxford 's blue regiment destroys the Jacobite cavalry.  Their rout causes the Jame's men to break and head for the rear.  the battle is over and William wins 6 - 4, although most of his units are severely damaged.

This was an excellent game which we both enjoyed.  Plans are being hatched for a rematch, possibly an early Jacobite Rebellion action set in Scotland.

Republican Romans

 The first batch of Romans is now complete.  These are HaT 54mm figures, consisting of 20 Hastati. Once again I have used Army Painter Speed paints and this batch took three days to complete.  Day one was basing and priming, day two the painting, day three touching up and painting the bases.

Next up will be the Velites which are going through the basing and priming stage.

Numidian Cavalry

 I have now finished the Carthaginian forces with the last unit coming off the production line.  These are 1/32 HaT light cavalry figures, again painted using speed paints:

I now have a whole pile of primed and based Roman figures that I have begun to work through. The first batch should be completed in a day or two.

African Infantry

 The other half of the HaT African Light Infantry set is complete and ready for the table.  Not brilliant results this time, but will do if viewed from a couple of feet away!

More Punic War 54mm Figures

 Speed paints are allowing me to produce a unit every 24 hours or so.  I have a bit of a production line with a unit being based and primed, while another is being painted. Off the conveyor belt today is a unit of Italian allied infantry:

And some African light infantry.  Their grey tunics are supposed to be off white, but the Speed Paint comes out as a murky grey colour.  I am not too happy with the way the paint has gone on to the shields, looking a bit blotchy.  I think the reason for the latter is a different primer.  I ran out of my trusty Halfords white and the alternative was a bit glossy which may explain the result.

Off to Halfords tomorrow to replenish socks!

54mm Punic Wars Spanish

 Another Speed Paint project.  These are 54mm Spanish infantry from HaT Industrie.

Based and primed on Saturday, painted yesterday this group of 16 HaT figures joins the ranks of my Carthaginian War figures.  I used Speed Paint washes over matt white primer.  The figures were touched up with acrylic metallic colours:

More fun with Speed Paints - Gallic Warband

 I continue to experiment with Army Painter Speed Paints.  Here is the latest effort.  The subject is a 16 figure box of HaT 54mm Gallic Warband.  

Having sprayed the figures white, I left them for 24 hours to properly set.  Over Friday evening and a few sessions yesterday I finished them off.  Speed Paints certainly live up to their name as the paint covers large areas evenly very quickly.

I will leave them for 24 hours and then apply a matt varnish spray:

I have a few boxes of these figures which I will work through when the mood takes me.