I have a computer! Well a chromebook, but it will more than do for this.

I have been wanting to post as I've actually got quite a lot of painting down since January but my phone for whatever reason wouldn't allow me to upload photos onto here so it seemed like a waste just doing very wordy posts.

You may have seen some of my posts on facebook and twitter (@EnigmaRawsy) and if not then why not. I have been painting a fair variety including a sudden surge in 10mm models - in fact the only thing really holding me back is a lack of bases!

So expect many photos to arrive soon!

10mm WW2 British Commandos

MDF Ruin

As a step back from making hills, I decided to take a couple of my pieces of MDF ruins and base them to make a more usable terrain piece. So far I like how its gone and so I may make a lot more for use for Frostgrave and Bolt Action.

I started off by selecting the two pieces and marking out on a base the outline of the former building. The planks were marked out using a stanley knife whilst the exterior cobbles were formed using a rotary tool.

Once the pieces are glued down I'll be adding sculptamold around the joins and texturing them to give the appearance of rubble piles. I will also add some tufts and flock to the cracks in the slabs.

Rommel - Operation Brevity

Not the best of reports but a few pictures to show my Desert battleboard in action. Another product available on Price upon Request basis.

Original Set Up - Germans to the right, British to left with Italian forces holding Sollum in foreground.

The game ran well - had a good to and fro to it. The conclusion was always in doubt until eventually the relentless nature left the British with insufficient troops to make any more attacks.

British Forces attacking Sollum

All in all, a good game. Mistakes were made and we'll learn before our next game - Dan is keen to swap sides and give this scenario another go before we move onto some more complex scenarios.

British throw up defences around a captured checkpoint. Unfortunately they were well spent and German forces were able to retake the positions.

In future I may look at buying some smaller mins to play out these desert combats in future.

Rommel Updates

I've not had much opportunity to get out to game recently but I'm really motivated to be modelling at the moment. As such I've decided to make myself a Rommel playkit which can be transported easily including scenery, baseboard and minis. I've no pictures for you today so you'll have to use your imagination for now.

I picked Rommel as the grid format reduces things I need to transport as well as meaning that I have a Rommel setup for the future without having to mark it out each time. I have decided to have a play at making desert scenery which I hope to make available soon at Board and Sword and online. There are also a large amount of scenarios on Sam Mustafa's website for the desert.

For the board I have taken two 2'x4' sheets of mdf and hinged them together. I then marked 4" squares across them and I've painted these using various shades of sand from tester pots. I may need to remark my grid, for most scenarios I won't need the entirety of the board but its a good space that I can always cover in a green cloth to play Bolt action etc upon.

For hills I have made some small tokens using polystyrene and filler. I finished by coating in my black paint and PVA mix, overbrushing yellow and sprinkling with sand. I also made a few with rock faces (having a play with cork boulders for first time).

I lied - I found a picture

For minis, I am going to be using some counters for now - however I cam looking at getting some armies made up using either 6mm or 3mm - whichever is the more cost effective. I'd love suggestions on this - specifically for desert usage as I am going to continue using my 10mm collection for NWE and Eastern front.

So hopefully I'm going to catalogue everything I have made this year over next couple of days. If anyone likes what they then see and would like some then contact me and I can see what I can do. If you live in North Lancashire then we can arrange to meet up and you can see my samples in the flesh.

Juno Beach - Rommel Battle

So this Tuesday I played a game of Rommel using the Juno Beach scenario. Few points on this; I know it is a beginner scenario, but why is it 21st Panzer counterattacking - should it not be 12th SS? Also why are the 716th's artillery deployed so far forward - seems unnecessary.

Assault Brigades Advance

The game played well albeit we forgot plenty of rules. The counterattacking forces in the form of the Panzers were very effective in their assaults although the were all fairly spent through attrition by the time we called it. I also feel that I didn't assault very well once past the frontlines and allowed myself to be caught tipped a few times.

Panzer Reinforcements

The order sheets worked nicely, with the interdiction taking out 2 of Alex's artillery batteries which hindered massively his defence.

Allied Command Board

I think this will require a few more games just to get the hang of it but all in all enjoying it.

I have got a lot more Fallschirmjager painted and will get them all posted together.

Flamethrower and Panzerschreck

So been working through my Fallschirmjager - a little each night. As such I've got a couple more teams finished up.

 So I completed 4 more figures - I'm going for a bit of a mix of equipment with sand, luftwaffe blue and camouflaged helmets. I've also found that the metal figures are still a lot nicer to paint as well as feeling more solid in hand.

As with my previous models I've gone for a dusty outcrop type look to resemble these troops as they fought in southern Italy and Sicily. However despite previous posts to the contrary I've decided I will do some models with Panzerfausts to give me some more flexibility.

Panzerschreck team which for a veteran force is a whopping 104 points! Is this worthwhile in a low points game - hopefully find out soon.

On the other hand, including a flamethrower within a Fallschimpionier squad as part of an assault squad seems very cost effective. I really like how the bases have come out on these - the dust really helps to give depth.

Hopefully I will get a few more done this weekend as well as a few reinforcements to come. Handan are coming round tonight so should have a game report as well.

WIP Flamethrower

So just a short one but wanted to share my recent Fallschirmjager advances. I'm still moving towards completing this (as a primarily if not solely infantry force) and hope to play a game shortly. I need to buy a couple more squads of infantry to flesh it out especially as I'm looking at incorporating an engineer squad in support as initially at least I'm going to avoid Panzerfausts as most reports I've read suggest they didn't have them in Italy in 1943.

As such here is the first member of that squad - he's not quite finished (still needs a dry dust).

Sorry about the awful picture quality - I'll try and get some better pictures soon as well as hopefully a battle report.

Last 2 Weeks

I've been back to Lancaster Wargames Club again these last two weeks and played a couple of new rule sets (Exciting!!).

Overview of board

Last week I joined in a 6 player game of Dracula's America. Set in the post American Civil War USA,the basic rules are basically Wild West (we didn't play any undead etc). I'm not sure but it did not seem massively deadly and almost impossible to actually get an outright kill. However I think this may have been due to a misunderstanding with regards save rolls. (We were saving with fails being per hit rather than the amount below the save value).

Left Flank - Nutter running across the street - survived and ran back.

With a lot of these games (this one included) there is an error in the set up of terrain - no one wants to cross the "valley of death" (or street as in this example). So it almost just becomes dice wars.

Having said that the card mechanic by which you drew 4 cards for a turn then bid with your cards for where you were to go in the turn had a good blend of luck and game theory.

This week myself and AE played our first game of Rommel. (Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures). So we felt we could judge the rules correctly we played a scenario which was half based off the Breakthrough mission and a Spearkrieg game we played a few year ago over the Battle of Prokhorovka. Scaled down we played 1st SS Panzer Grenadiers against 52nd Guards Rifle Division.

The game worked well with the Germans having to peel a way through the defensive lines (reinforced by the "Workers to the Front" event. Maybe I wasn't sufficiently aggressive early doors (new game syndrome) and it took a while to get through. Eventually a whole appeared and I was able to widen it out. By turn 15 the aggressive use of Recce, Armour and Armoured Infantry allowed me to take an objective where we called it.

Things we learned:

• Tactics and defences really help to reduce casualties; in reverse the fact that my entire force was motorised meant I could evade to reduce hits against myself. As ops dice disappear and attacks are going in by brute force, combat becomes more deadly.
• If you can lure an attack onto yourself and pinning attack has already been used and surprise attack isn't in effect then withdraw is a really good way to make your opponent burn and waste ops dice.
• Recce units with their free scout turns are really useful (even with a 50% success rate). I had a full battalion of recce as the Germans formed their Recce units as fighting battalions which really helped.
• Always plan for the worst. I attacked a single infantry company with one remaining hit in the open with 3 stands. Missed and I hadn't left enough space to retreat. Up until this point these were my only units destroyed.
• Attacking across the narrow part of the table is grim.
• All in all the rules are simple whilst giving a seemingly historical result. Could be really interesting to battle the whole campaign although we discussed it and think we'll go for an ops sheet per division. The ebb and flow of resetting etc could be absorbing as the various attacking divisions have to pause at different times.

As a side piece I also based Schy'yrk. I'm going to do the rest of Gronne Flamme like this to complete my raiding party for Frostgrave.

Schy'yrk

Oh So Close

So I genuinely am making progress and I have now just got 3 stands of cavalry left, as well as about 5 command bases. I've even cut the bases for the town sectors. Pictures will be available soon...

Also news about Morecambe Bay Storm, we finished the season 5-4-1, I've got to admit I was out injured for the last few games and in our play-off quarter final we lost to an excellent team in the Shropshire Revolution. All in all an excellent season and we hope to bounce back even stronger next year (albeit I personally need a lot of work still doing on my shoulder). If you want to give it a go then we have a rookie day on the 8th October - come try it out.

In other news I have also got arriving soon Flashpoint: Fire Rescue. This was recently on Tabletop (although they didn't seem to last very long?). SO I'll review this and show you pictures in action.

Finally (in this fast paced piece) I am also looking to buy Rommel by Sam Mustafa when it is released. I already have a good amount of 10mm WW2 models and if it works it could be possible to build up to some of the huge battles of WW2 including Operation Market Garden, Leningrad, D-Day or the Bulge! Already looking at a grid marked battlemat (although unsure which sized squares to buy).

Sniper!

Been a while since posted; away at the weekend and still trying to recover stuff from flooded shed. Ordered a new carry case for my Fallschirmjager from Feldherr which should be with me Monday (should give me motivation to at least get 750 points worth painted).

Speaking of Fallschirmjager I've got a couple of squads half done and I finished off my Sniper team. Pictures are crap - couldn't get camera on phone to focus properly sorry.

Jeez, they look even worse on here - in reality the bases have come out really well with variations of colour - have to get my actual camera out at some point.

3 More Regiments

Last night I also did a bit more work on my Austrians once the kids had gone to sleep; my plan is to split each session I get now in half - some on my Lobositz forces and the other on either my Fallschirmjagers, Frostgrave or Vietnam stuff just to keep me going.

I've also ordered a couple more bags of bits from Baccus before their price rise towards end of April, get your orders in fast!

Tale of Three Armies

So I've currently got 3 Forces that I'm working on at the moment although I'm also going to go through my 10mm stuff and see what I've got there too, due to the shed flood issues.

Got a few bits done last night but I'll show some more pictures of these once I've got a decent amount finished. Closest to finished is my Prussian Army - just short commanders and some Kuirassiers and Dragoons.

Prussian Army

I have also started on my Austrians to oppose these, and I've already got all of the Artillery done - ALL OF IT (2 stands).

2 Regiments of Austrian Infantry and the 2 Units of Artillery I need.

Finally I have my Bolt Action force. Everything to the left of the armour is done so I reckon I'm about a quarter of the way through.

Although its not a priority, I had a bit of a go at my StuG last night (getting nowhere near a 750 point list), heavily washed in brown and I'm going to give a light green too I think. Decals go on and then its going to be sand glued to tracks and road wheels before a lot of drybrushing.

I then need to get myself a decent carry case.

Next up - the return of Sch'yyrk.

Hundred Up!

So One Hundred posts on here for a blog I keep primarily for myself, albeit its nice to know people are looking :). I've no pictures to show you; life has been hectic at moment and I've been doing (as I keep promising) more of a production line on my work (although not the most effective).

Having said all that I should have a fair few bits to show soon as well as news that I will hopefully doing the Lobositz game this summer, so a reason to keep going with it. I also hope to be playing bolt action soon - although working my list out - I've realised I may not have the figures witht he right equipment.

Also going to get my MDF buildings based and painted - need to make fairly generic as meant to be for both Frostgrave and South Italy - might be pushing that one!

Finally, I've decided on my OPFOR for Bolt Action against my Fallschirmjager as US Combat Engineers - basing it around 16th Engineer Battalion (1st Division) - although with the flexibility to remove the M3s and use as Engineers from an Infantry Division.

US Combat Engineer Platoon (16th Armored Engineers) - 10 Dice
All Regular
2nd Lt + Buddy
1st Squad: NCO (SMG), 1 BAR, 8 Rifles
2nd Squad: NCO (SMG), 1 BAR, 8 Rifles
2 x MMG Teams
1 Bazooka Team
2 x M3 H/Track (Both with 1 addtional MMG)
1 Jeep
1 2 1/2 Ton Dump Truck

So its a case of spotting bargains and building up slowly (based around the Armoured Fist box set). I also intend to do a Sherman Dozer to maintain the theme when I go to 1000+ points.

As per usual, let me know what you think.

From the Tallest to the Smallest

Last night I got on with a few bits, and I'm quite pleased with the results albeit I need to start production lining and getting stuff done for both armies.

Scale Variations

So as previously shown, I was working on my Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar and I got this done. Meant to represent Southern Italy hence the dusty ground.

The stages of the basing went: 

1. Polyfilla to give weight and texture
2. Grassy patches attached (sticky bases)
3. Sand mix glued on
4. Models and base washed
5. Dry brushed base and boots

Whilst the stages of this were drying I got in with more Lobositz bits. I already have 2 Grenadier units for the Prussians but the first one I did weren't there. As I have 4 units worth of models I figured I may as well dot he right ones and so here they are.

5/20 Grenadiers

I also completed one of the 2 bases of Austrian Artillery required.

Playing DnD on Saturday so doubt I'll get much painted although I may try and get a few bits done tonight if I've got everything sorted.

WIP Fallschirmjager 8cm Mortar

Not much more to show you but I did do a quick half hour session starting on my Austrian Artillery as well as continuing with my Fallschirmjager.

Still needs wash and drybrush applying as well as the base doing (should get done tonight if dry) but looks good. Also a really hefty weight with the metal figures and polyfilla base.

Looks like this weekends DnD is off unless someone else can join in (be warned that is a beginner level game).

Lobositz Update

Not much exciting to show but I am moving forward with the Lobositz project as well as slowly moving with Fallschirmjager force.

The fallschirmjager now have a Kettenkrad, 28mm AT gun and an MG42 on a tripod constructed and undercoated. So for now the force is all together - just need to finish painting it all up.

For Lobositz I have a map, Volley and Bayonet orbats which I have in full detailed format, simplified format and have now made labels to put on bases. I need to colourise these and print on a colour printer but I'm happy with the formatting on them.

Prussian Infantry

Painting wise I have now done the following:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments (1 half needs brass fronts painting on helmets)
• 6 Kuirassier Regiments
• 1 Hussar Regiment

Still to paint for Prussians:

• 6 Infantry Regiments
• 2 Combined Grenadier Regiments
• 3 Dragoon Regiments
• 2 Hussar Regiments
• 6 Artillery Batteries (Undecided on basing)
• Command Stands

Still need but not got for Prussians:

• 3 Kuirassier Regiments

On top of that I've got my Austrians (and Hungarians) to paint.

I may well need more standard bases - I will need some skirmish bases for Austrian Grenzers as well as whatever I'm going to base commanders on.

Other things to do:

• 10 village bases (9 wood, 1 stone) - probably just bigger than 3"x3"
• 1 chapel sector (big enough to fit skirmish base)
• Roads (including sunken road section)
• 6 Single and 4 Double Vineyard Sections (probably just bigger than 3"x3")
• Major River (Elbe)
• Stream (and ponds)
• Colourised and Laminated Order of Battles
• Colourised and Laminated Maps (For deployment)
• Colourised and Laminated Quick Play Rules

Fallschirmjager Platoon Orbat Take 2 + Rookie Day 2017

So been playing with my orbat (both with regards to points, capability and expense) for 750 point list. As such here we go (again going for historical list and none cheese). All Veteran unless noted.

Defence of Italy Reinforced Platoon Total 748, 8 Dice

Platoon HQ Oberleutnant (SMG) and Rifleman (AR) 103
Rifle Squad 1 NCO + 6 Riflemen (3 SMG, 1 LMG) 127
Rifle Squad 2 NCO + 6 Riflemen (2 SMG, 1 LMG) 124
Rifle Squad 3 NCO + 5 Riflemen (6 AR) 114
Support Squad 1 MMG 65
Support Squad 2 Medium Mortar 65
Support Squad 3 Sniper Team 65
Support Squad 4 Kettenkrad (Regular) and Panzerbusche 41 85

Image from Warlord Games Website

So this is the force I'm going with - although I am painting the extra Riflemen needed to flesh out my squads if needed.

At the same time, I need to get fitter as rookie day was last Sunday and was really good. Had a few new guys down and saw some good talent (hopefully reinforcements for our Secondary).

Also got the news that we have been accepted into the league!!!

We have a new logo, there's another rookie day this Saturday and we have a Super Bowl Party coming on the 5th February - GO PACKERS!!!

Bolt Action Force Orbat Take 1

I have stated previously that I paint more when I have a specific targeted plan in place. So at the moment I have my 1501 point boxset (as well as an extra MMG I've ordered) which I've assembled and undercoated. However I wanted to break it up a little and as such have come with an initial 750 point army (needed anyway for practicing for tourney play). I've already painted the "normal squad" and am now moving onto the assault rifle squad and support.

Generic Reinforced Platoon (Armies of Germany v13) (748pts)

Hitler's Buzzsaw, Initiative Training

• Headquarters (103pts)

  • Platoon Commander (103pts)

    • Oberleutnant (103pts)

      SMG, Veteran (90pts)

      • Veteran Soldier (13pts)

        Rifle

• Infantry (346pts)

  • Fallschirmjaeger Squad (Late War) (156pts)

    7x Veteran Soldier (91pts)

    • Veteran NCO (16pts)

      SMG (3pts)

    • Veteran Soldier with LMG (33pts)

      LMG (20pts)
      LMG Loader, Team Weapon

    • Veteran Soldier with SMG (16pts)

      SMG (3pts)

  • Fallschirmjaeger Squad (Late War) (190pts)

    Veteran Soldier (13pts)

    • Veteran NCO (18pts)

      Assault Rifle (5pts)

    • 7x Veteran Soldier With Assault Rifle (126pts)

      7x Assault Rifle (35pts)

    • Veteran Soldier with LMG (33pts)

      LMG (20pts)

• Infantry Support (234pts)

  • Anti-tank Team (104pts)

    • Panzerschreck Team (104pts)

      Veteran (104pts)

  • Medium Machine Gun Team (65pts)

    Veteran (65pts)

  • Mortar Team (65pts)

    • Medium Mortar Team (65pts)

      Veteran (65pts)

• Tanks, Tank Destroyers, Self-propelled Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Vehicles (65pts)

  • SdKfz 7/1 and 7/2 (65pts)

    Regular (65pts)

I can't recommend Battlescribe enough - has most if not all of the available units and gives all the important details (I've removed the stat lines here for space purposes). Most importantly it does all the maths without you constantly questioning yourself if you've done it right.

I get that these games are by there very nature "gamey" but I want to keep my force both historically accurate (or at least reasonably so) and so my whole infantry force is Veteran throughout rather than saving some points by making mortars regular etc. The Flakwagon is support from Corps level so I don't have a problem with this being regular. I'm also basing my force as a unit in Italy in 1943-1944 so no Panzerfausts for me as sources I've read state they weren't issued until late 1944 on that front. I'm not too bothered as at 750 I'm hoping there won't be too many vehicles too worry about as my Schreck team can't be everywhere at once.

Having said all this, I only decided on all this AFTER I put together the models so I have attached Panzerfausts as recommended on the box - A few spare sprues are going to be ordered to replace these.

Anyway we'll see how it works out.

Canucks vs Green Devils

Last night I got out and played a Spearkrieg Commander game at House Lancaster to introduce DW to the rules. He'd played Black Powder before so knew roughly the command system and we were playing a basic scenario without recce or artillery support.

View from the German lines

3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade were attacking with a Regiment of Churchill IVs in support. In defence were the 2nd Battalion of 1st Fallschirmjager Regiment (with promise of StuG support).

Canadians begin to advance

DW advanced slowly initially as he got to grasps with the rules. As indirect fire was called in and my PaK 40 screen was deployed, casualties were mounting on both sides.

PaK 40 deploys

With no artillery it was a bit of a tough ask to weedle out the dug in Germans until the Canadians whittled them away and managed to get into combat.

Canucks charge in

The 2 lead Canadian Battalions were approaching breaking whilst the German reinforcements were yet to be seen.

Hole smashed through German lines

With the removal of the forces from the hill and the eventual capture of the village sector in the centre (thank you snake eyes in combat), the Canadians pushed on and I was getting nervous. A pair of StuGs arrived but had little impact.

Canadians reach the last village.

Finally the Canadians hit morale - one routed back whilst the other held but it was enough to stop them for now.

A good game with good ebb and flow - I'm going to try and get some more games going. I also really enjoyed the feel of the club - saw some games of Warhammer 40k (and variants) with actual maneuvering going on which was  a major reason I didn't get into it at school. I have a definite reason to get my Bolt Action force finished for a potential tournament. (Anyone got a 750 point concept army for Fallschirmjagers which is historically appropriate?).

Fallschirmjager Squad 1

So I've mostly finished painting a squad of my Fallschirmjagers for Bolt Action (minus a touch of luftwaffe blue for helmets and hats as well as metallic grey for weapons. I still need to apply decals to panzerfausts as well as texturing bases but I thought I'd post them anyhoo.

I think they've come out quite well - having said that I do feel the detail on the jacket fronts could be better. I also would have preferred a few more options for the panzerfausts (say a firing pose?).

Now I've done these - I'm going to work out a 500 point list and paint up the necessaries including the platoon commander.

The squad is made up of an NCO wielding an MP40, a second man armed with an MP40, a MG42 (with a second man as loader), 3 Riflemen and 3 Riflemen with Panzerfausts.

For my records (and if you want to know);

Part	Colour	Make
Skin	European Skin	Colours of War
Hat/Webbing	Mechanised Standard Grey	Citadel
Base Uniform	Worn Canvas	Colours of War
2nd Uniform Colour	Battlefield Brown	Colours of War
3rd Uniform Colour	G. I. Green	Colours of War
Uniform Lines	Army Green	Colours of War
Bag	Wool Brown	Colours of War
Rifle	Dryad Bark	Citadel
Leather	Dark Leather	Colours of War
Boots	Abaddon Black	Citadel
Trousers	Sicily Yellow	Colours of War
Uniform Wash	Athonian Camoshade	Citadel
Skin/Trouser Wash	Agrax Earthshade	Citadel