Monday, December 31, 2012

2012 Wrap Up

A good year for the hobby on the painting side, but no enough games played. It has been over 4 years since I started and many projects are mature...but there always seems to be something to add.


Some of the key accomplishments in 2012 include:
1) Liebster blog award

2) Rebased skirmish figures and Flames of War figures (to IABSM)

3) Attended Historicon for the weekend with my son

4) Sci-fi project is now mature

5) Krasnovia project is now mature

6) Renewed interest in WW2 with I Ain't Been Shot Mum (including my custom card decks) inspired by the family trip to Normandy...almost have all the figures/vehicles painted to return this to mature status

7) Bough a batch of Hexon terrain

8) Painting
J: 122
F: 123
M: 0
A: 210
M: 0
J: 31
J: 95
A: 152
S: 150
O: 5
N: 128
D: 103

2012 Total:1119

2011: 1013
2010: 1389
2009: 441

All in all a good year. Now to think about 2013...

Sunday, December 30, 2012

December 2012

December focus was on finishing up a few figures to get ready to start my imagi-nation ancients in 2013.


The new Hexon terrain arrived and it is very nice.

PAINTING

34 x modern figures (Insurgents and survivors): 34 Points

4 x Song of the Splintered Lands Bears: 4 Points

25 x British Infantry (engineers, mortars, and machineguns): 25 points

20 x US and British vehicles: 40 points

TOTAL: 103


Insurgents and survivors

I am 75% done rebasing the Flames of War figures to individual bases for IABSM (more bases on order).

Stated on the Germans (Panzer Grenadiers, MGs, pioneers). Need to get primer for the German vehicles, but I did put them all together.

Two pics of a battle my son set up. I like the hilltop helo base.


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

IABSM - First outing for the British infantry

Christmas vacantion has allowed me to get in a game of I Ain't Been Shot Mum using my new British infantry company on the new Hexon terrain boards.

The scenario calls for a British advance on a German defensive line centered on two farm houses covering a second line behind the river. The Brits are supported by a US weapons platoon (since my British MGs and mortars are waiting on bases).

Still learning the rules, but things flowed well. Have to re-read the use of mortars and smoke. Loved using my custom cards with the picture of my dog on the other side.

Germans lost 25 casualties and both primary objectives but never used the troops in the 2nd defense line...dropping this to a marginal British victory.

British casualties: 21 total (7 dead, 5 heavy wounded, 9 light wounded)
1st Platoon: 6 dead, 4 heavy wounded, 2 light wounded
2nd Platoon: 1 dead, 5 light wounded
3rd Platoon: 1 heavy wounded, 2 light wounded

1st Platoon makes it across the field to the hedge line before drawing MG fire from the house on the hill.

The house on the hill is a key position but the objective is the house by the road.

1st Platoon is ready but the support platoon is not yet in position.

They start taking casualties from the MG in the stone farmhouse on the hill.

When a German squad starts firing from the left flank.

Return fire drops one of the Germans (most ofmy figures are now single based).

1st Platoon jumps the gun and starts to attack before effective smoke obscures the MG in the house. Casualties are heavy.

Only one squad makes it to the cover of the hill by the time the smoke covers the front.

A German squad tries to hit the isolated squad in close combat but are defeated with heavy losses. The attack does make 1st Platoon combat ineffective.

Meanwhile, 2nd Platoon has advanced on the left flank and entered the woods after flushing the lone German squad.

3rd Platoon makes a rapid march under cover of the smoke to continue the attack through the shot-up 1st Platoon.

There were a few tense turns as 3rd Platoon raced to cross the open ground before the smoke dissapated.

They would get lucky and only lose one man in the crossing.

2nd Platoon ran into heavy fire by the second objective but overcame the enemy with a combination of fire and maneuver.

One squad was forced back after charging in, but it was enough to put pressure on the German flank.

3rd Platoon took the house on the hill after the MG and mortar fire from the support platoon finished off the defending MG-42 team.

Then they captured the objective by the road to force the Germans to retreat.

As Regiment sent in some air support to suppress the enemy across the river.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas loot


Santa has been nice to me.

I am clear coating the US and British WW2 vehicles today and prepping the German infantry company for this week.



Friday, December 21, 2012

Liebster Award



I have been given the Liebster Award that has been making the rounds on many wargaming blogs. 

My thanks to Archduke Piccolo for recommending me. Getting recognized (or even just a blog comment) makes the blog worth while.
 

Now to follow the directions:
 
"- Copy and paste the award on your blog linking it to the blogger who has given it to you.
- Pass the award to your top 5 favourite blogs with less than 200 followers by leaving a comment on one of their posts to notify them that they have won the award and listing them on your own blog.- Sit back and bask in that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing that you have just made someone's day!- There is no obligation to pass this on to anyone else but it is nice if you do."

 
MC Monkey-Dew's Miniatures Games
I like this blog that covers the Slaughterloo fantasy/Napoleonics from Alternative Armies. Keeps tempting me to add a Slaughterloo project back to my list.

Dartfrog's Adventures in 6mm
A great blog the piques my interest in 6mm and using the Command and Colors system of games for quick miniatures games.

Fire base Ares 15mm
One of my go to blogs for 15mm sci-fi.

Wooden Warriors
A great blog with a different way to wargame...a great way to get kids involved in gaming.

Splintered light Miniatures
These guys make some of my favorite miniatures, the 20mm armed animals.





Thursday, December 13, 2012

Kallistra Hexon terrain

Just got my very large order of Kallistra Hexon II terrain tiles...enought to cover my 8'x6' board, plus extra water tiles, desert tiles, and loads of hills and features.

My son and I will try them out with a game of IABSM using my British Company.


Thursday, December 6, 2012

More Song of the Splintered Lands

I finished up 4 bears from Splintered Light Miniatures to complete this collection. I now have one of each animal pose. I had missed when the bears were released and just found them a few weeks ago.

The SLM figures are my favorites in my collection. My paint job can't do them justice. For anyone with kids, these would be a great way to introduce the hobby.

 
 
My son also set up a diorama using the Hares and Otters.

Hare warband advances.

Otters defending the custom Otter Fort.

Movement to contact.

Friday, November 30, 2012

November 2012

Good painting month despite the hurricane that tore through NJ.

British Infantry Company: 128 points

TOTAL: 128 points


I have about 30 figures painted that just need basing. These will get added to the December total.


Bought the Song of the Splintered Lands bears (4), a huge collection of Hexon terrain (to be delivered), and a big batch of US, UK, and German WW2 figures (on sale).


Will get the bears and some vehicles done to close the year.


My son set up a diorama with a whole backstory using a bunch of modern figures.




He also had a friend over and they beat me in a hasty Tomorrow's War game.






Monday, November 12, 2012

British Infantry Company


My WW II British Infantry Company inspired by my trip to Normandy in June. Three full platoons with 2in mortar and PIAT teams. A gaggle of extra figures to serve as "big men". 128 total figures.

Based individually for IABSM. I may make some squad sabot stands to go with them.

Need some MG support and a few vehicles.

Rebasing the Flames of War German Panzer Grenadier platoon onto individual bases and then I can have a game.

Plan on using Platoon Forward (upscaled to the full company) to add some variety to my solo play.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

October 2012

Started out  slow month of painting after the past two months of great progress, then I picked up the WW2 British company and made good progress during the storm. Will finish them up next month.

PAINTING
5 x 15mm sci-fi vehicles: 5 points

After the British, I have 40 modern skirmish figures on hand ready to go. That should close the year unless I get to them early and start the ancients.

Starting to plan for the new year too.

I was thinking of going to Fall In this year, but I did not see many games that interest me so I will save some money for Cold Wars and Historicon next year.

A few pics from a game with my son:




Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sci-fi vehicles

The first of my sci-fi vehicles, all from Khurasan Miniatures. CMG figures used for scale.

Like these alot...painted them very generic to use with any troops.

Next sets of vehicles will be dedicated to my son's company and my motor company. Looking at Combat Wombat vehicles for those forces.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Books

I like reading books with a long series.

I am currently working on:

Redwall (on book # 4 Mossflower)

Eagle Series (on book # 9 The Gladiator)

Jack Aubrey (stalled at book # 4 The Mauritius Command)



I have also enjoyed the following in the past:
Forgotten Realms (D&D)
Horatio Hornblower
Richard Sharpe
Song of Fire and Ice
Honor Harrington
Temeraire
Jack Absolute



I also read lots of military history with an emphasis on the Napoleonic period and World War Two.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

September 2012

Completed a large sci-fi force this month and took stock for the rest of the year.

PAINTING
150 x 15mm sci-fi troops: 150 points


Next Up...
1) WW2 British company, individually based for IABSM

2) Last batch of 30 sci-fi/modern figures and 5 sci-fi vehicles


This should close out the year with both of these projects mature.

2013 will focus on ancients/fantasy although I will continue to add to the mature projects as I wish.


Thursday, September 20, 2012

New Vistula Legion

A large company of sci-fi troops...these will be my main force. They are the New Vistula Legion troops from Oddzial Osmy.

Enough troops for a HQ, three platoons, plus special teams and heavy weapons sections.




Total of 150 troops.

HQ
-5x Leaders
-1 3 man comms section
-2 x 2 man medics teams

3 x RIFLE PLATOONS (31 men each)
- PL
- 3 x Rifle Squads (10 men each)
   - Squad Leader
   - SAW
   - LAW
   - Grenade Launcher
   - 6 x Riflemen (some aquire extra weapons)

SUPPORT PLATOON
- 3 x 3 man SAM teams
- 3 x 2 man scout/sniper teams
- 3 x 4 man ATGM teams
- 2 x 3 man heavy machine guns
- 2 x 3 man heavy plasma guns
- 2 x 3 man mortar teams
------ The SAM, sniper, and ATGM teams are sometimes attached to the Rifle Platoons



The manufacturer is working on some LRRP troops. I will also get some vehicles to make it a motorized company...thinking wheeled vehicles for these guys.

Looking forward to the new sci-fi rules from Too Fat Lardies to get the whole company in action.


PAINTING
Prime- Brite Touch General Purpose Grey
Boots- German Grey
Helmet/armor- pastel green
Gear- dark grey
Rifle- gunmetal blue
SAW- gunmetal grey
SAM- deep green
ATGM- intermediate green
LAW- military green
Heavy Rifle- oily steel
Sniper Rifle- olive drab
Heavy Weapons- German field grey
Helmet Strap- basalt grey
Sights- green flo

Saturday, September 8, 2012

I Ain't Been Shot Mum

I played a solo game of I Ain't Been Shot Mum from Too Fat Lardies. Set up a very modified scenario from the Scicilian Weekend scenario book.

A US para platoon with attached MGs is defending a crossroads. A German FJ platoon makes an initial attack with a PG platoon in halftracks and two STUGs coming on in support. Once the STUGs appear, the US side calls for a rifle platoon and two Shermans to come up in support.

I used my custom cards for the game. These consist of two large packs (red and blue sides) with generic cards for all the TFL games. Picture of my dig on the other side.

Only took a few pics in the game. The US MGs fired up the GE FJ at the begining causing lots of kills (more than shock) but two of the FJ squads managed to work in to some rough ground on the flank.

The PG platoon arrived and sped down the road only to have one track forced back by MG fire and another to dismount. The dismounted squad (along with the platoon leader) then got caught in the rough ground with the PL getting killed.

Things got better for the Germans as they took out one MG and forced another off the hill. The PG and FJ then massed to take the hill with the pillbox, catching one US para squad in the open in close combat.

By now, the two STUGs arrived and advanced down the road only to take bazooka fire. Shrugging off a few hits, they machinegunned the offending team and forced the US paras to begin falling back. Things looked good for the Germans at this point, but then the US reinforcements arrived.

The rifle platoon took cover behind the hills with the PL leading the bazooka team on a flank attack. He would end up getting two shots off at the side of a STUG, hitting once but not destroying it and then missing by 1 when running out of ammo.

The two Shermans slowly advanced and took the lead STUG under fire. They exchanged a few shots until the STUG crew at the crossroads bailed out after being immobilized and having the optics knocked out.

I called it a draw with a slight German advantage. They took the hill, and advanced to the crossroads, but with only one AFV left, might not have held on.

13 men lost per side including the one German BigMan.

End game shot...PG digging in at the rough ground with the FJ on the hill.

Rifle Platoon on the hills with the paras on the right flank.

Halftracks in support.

Hull down Sherman has the advantage.