What a difference a wash makes...

Just a quick post, trying to up the rate of posts, even though I get like 3 views a year (ok more than that, but I'm trying to be modest with my self pity). 

This coming bank holiday weekend, August 31st 2015. I am traveling up to Nottingham UK, to participate in a Bolt Action campaign day. Run by Sam from the Down Order podcast (highly recommend the cast, Sam, co hosts, Dave Hunter and occasionally Rich H. Are all personal friends, in wargaming circle terms. And are all extremely lovely guys) + I'm going to be on it next episode talking about the Welsh Open. 

For the day's campaigning, I will be taking up my beloved 8th Army. 

On the day we are allowed to take two lists. One infantry and one optional Tabk list.  

I have opted to take both, and really do something different with my Infantry list, well I've made it just that - infantry. 

How ever I have taken vantage of one other rule for the day. Warplanes. 

I haven't taken a lot of warplanes in BA before so I thought I'd give it a go. 

Some time last year when the optional rules came out, I got strait on eBay, and bought my self a 1/72 Battle of Britain die cast set, a spitfire and a Me109. I wanted 1:48 but the price comparison, and the amount of use I saw them getting did t way up. 

So I have dug out the spitty and tarted her up, or rather scruffed her up. 

Apologies for the poor photo quality. 

Like the title suggests, what a difference  a wash makes. Ok so I have done some sponge weathering ect. 

I am however happy with the result. I would of liked to completely repaint it, in desert camo. But my narrative suggests it has just been flown into the country, and is strait out on a mission, with no time for paint jobs. 

I'm sure I said at the start this would be a short one.... 

Regards as alway, and thanks for looking. 

The king of procrastination returns, all hail the king!

I'm back.... 

In my defence, I have been doing lots of hobby, just not boring the two people who check this blog, with what I have been working on. 

Also, I wrote out a massive post two weeks ago, forgot to save it to drafts. As it wasn't finished. 

Came back on to finish it, and all my work was undone. To say I was less than impressed is an understatement. 

Anyway, on with why you have visit this blog, unless you have come here through some very strange Internet search... 

The last few week, things have been building up to the Bolt Action Welsh Open, of which I am one half of the To team.

Now the tournament this year has considerably increased in size, so we have invested like wise on terrain. 

Being a bit of a stickler for terrain, I am putting me all into making it look the best it can be. How ever as the title sujests, my attention span is small, and I get way layed. For some reason, my subconscious tells me, that doing everything in the last week prior to the tournament (or anything for that matter) is the better way to do things. 

How ever I have done some work, and this is what I'm going to show you today. 

A little while a go, I stumbled across a small company on eBay, when looking for a curtain type of terrain. 

The company was called Terrains4wargames, a brilliant run company, still in its infancy, based in Poland. 

When making some inquires with the owners about their product, we got to talking. And a long story short, they sudjested they would like to help our tournament grow, and sponsor us.

We struck a deal, and I had the absolute pleasure of putting their train together. 

I simply cannot wait to put it all on the table now. Just need to figure economic ways of filling the rest of then table. 

As this is essentially tournament terrain, it needs to be transportable, and Storables. But for me it also has to all tie together... Who knows maybe some sacrifices will have to be made. 

This last photo shows these two finished. 

I've modified bits, but cutting the girders. Also added some modellers tin roof sheeing. Used an old GW creator in the centre, to really take up a lot of the spare space, without to much effort. 

And then added generic rubble

. 

Of courses in really life there would be more piles of depris ect, but like I have said, this is a tournament piece of terrain and has to be playable. 

I am happy with the end effect. And when I set my mind to it. It is quite a quick way of doing things. 

Which is nessisary as I have a lot to do before September 26th - 27th. 

As always thank you for looking.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder....

So it turns out I am a rubbish blogger, as far as keeping up a steady flow of posts anyway. 

But real life always has to come before little metal and plastic men.... Right?! 

Life has been hectic over the last few weeks again, but the last week I have managed to settle down and revisit a prodject I started a while ago. 

My 28mm Bolt Action Russian army. I plan to take this army to a upcoming tournament at the end of the month. So wanted to fancy them up a little, to hopefully get some painting scores, because I know full well I won't get meant playing scores. 

So I've decided to do some objective markers to go with the theme of my army (city fight in the snow) on bare with me, my list for the tournament is from the Silow heights selected as I had originally planned 2 tanks with tank riders. 

Now I say bare with me, as my basing and paint scheme is early snow fall. This army list for the tournament is set in The fall of Berlin, there wasn't much snow at that time to be honest. But hey, imagination right? 

So enough of my waffling, pictures. 

My first scenic objective is a meeting of the small council... Wait wrong topic! 

A meeting of Stalins General staff, in this instance discussing the push into Berlin. How ever, depending on the scenario I set for what ever list I write, the picture will have this underneath *insert appropriate fluff here*. 

 

Next is making use of Warlord Games scout squad, love these models full of character, but I just don't see most of them as models, I would want in a squad I played with on the table top. 

But for stuff like this they are amazingly cool. 

Appolagies for my amature photography. I try my best, also I know my white could do with a bit of practise, I tend to avoid it. 

A quick note, command figures are from Black tree designs, tables and most of the stuff on it scratch built. Scout figures are from Warlord Games. The scenice walled corner can be found at http://www.modeldisplayproducts.co.uk

Martin at MDP is a top guy, and visits most of the UK shows. 

Any questions just ask. 

The third objective I haven't acquired all of the bits I need yet, I will update shortly. 

Also still to come a glance of the army I'll be taking to the Ribble Rumble 2015. 

As alway, thank you for looking. 

The march to war.

I can't really say I'm much of a tournament player. In truth I'm not a conpetative player (much). All this being said, I am Co TO of one of the biggest Bolt Action Tournaments in the Uk, hopfully the world after September, we are hopful we get the numbers. 

But competitive play is not the reason we run the Bolt Action Welsh Open (BAWO hense forth). Myself and my Co-TO run it because we simply enjoy it. We love the rules set, and can't fault the company behind it. 

We try each year (sucsesfully I think so far) to pump enjoyment and fun into the tournament scene. None of this over conpetative must win at all cost nonsense. If I sit at the TO table and look around seeing smiles on faces and laughter ringing out, I class my job as complete. Anyway I digress, I do that a lot.. 

The coming weekend myself and my good friend (my Co-TO) are travling to a tournament in Poole. The tournament is hosted by PGS and run by none other than MAD bob of Mad Bob Minitures. 

We are both looking forward to the event, not only to get our toys on the table, and meet new people. But because it will be our first look, feel and tase of the new BA.Net rules pack. 

We are still in discistions about the format of the BAWO this year, and this is our chance to see for our selfs if this rules pack the lads over at the WWPDforums

Have put together is what we are looking for in out tournament. 

We are going down open minded but we both have our reservations.  

This post was supposed to be about my preparation for a tournament, not a massive plug for my tournament.... So much digression! 

Anyway.. My preparation. I have decided to take my 8th army out to stretch their legs for this one. 

This army was always a plan of mine when I got into BA, having an emotional tie to the army through my Grandad. I started to get the army together some time last year, on the run up to a tournament purely for North Africa themed armies. Long story sort I stayed up to all hours painting getting the army ready, and then didn't end up going. 

So now it's time, I have decided to take them this time, which gave me the kick up the arse to finally finish them. 

I also made a little purchase to add to the list, in the way of a beautiful Blitzkrieg minitures M3 Grant, more on this in a different post soon. 

So the list I am running with, bearing in mind this is a 1250pt tournament with LMG's only costing 5pts each. In all honesty I struggled to spend all the points. 

That may sound stupid to some people, but I new what I wanted to take, and that took me up to 13 order dice alone. And I really didn't want that many as it was. I much prefure my games at lower order dice level. So I found my self bumbling my way around boltaction.easyarmy.com, to find a way of injecting more points into my troops without young my order dice. 

I endeded up putting my officers to First Lt. And making my truck vet, both not bad things really. Having 10 moral on an out flanking unit is extremely handy. I will add the list at the end of this page. 

Just to finish off some pictures of the army ready to go (I say ready to go, it is 6:52pm on the eve of the tournament and it's still not really finished).

Apologies for the poor quality. 

My new favourate model in the Man Cave. Blitzkrieg minitures are some of the most amazing kits going! 

My Finished squad of Gurkhas. 

And finally got these finished up quickly. 

These are the objective markers we had made by the fantastic Mad Bob, of Mad Bob Minitures, for last years Bolt Action Welsh Open. 

Everyone who attended the tournament walked away with one of these, plus a price of their choice. 

So this is the list: 

Officer
First Lieutenant  (page: 20)	Regular	85
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    First Lieutenant      with Pistol 6" 1 n/a Assault      with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault      with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry (equipped as modeled) - -

Infantry Squads
Regular Infantry Section (Mid/Late War)  (page: 22)	Regular	105
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 8    Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 30" 3 n/a Team (2 men)
Regular Infantry Section (Mid/Late War)  (page: 22)	Regular	105
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 8    Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 30" 3 n/a Team (2 men)

Headquarters
Free Forward Observer (Artillery)  (page: 20)	Regular	10
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    Artillery Forward Observer      with Rifle 24" 1 n/a      with Pistol 6" 1 n/a Assault      with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault 1    Infantry (equipped as modeled) - -

Special Rules
National Characteristic  (page: 18)	Regular	0
Rapid Fire       Rapid Fire

Artillery
Light Artillery  (page: 30)	Regular	55
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    Light howitzer (0/24")-48" 1 HE Team (3 men), Gun shield, Fixed, Howitzer, HE (D6), 25-pdr AT shell   (firing as light anti-tank gun) 48" 1 +4 HE (D2)

Armoured Cars
Daimler Armoured Car  (page: 53)	Regular	115
Qty    Vehicle Type Transport  Damage Value         Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    Daimler Armoured Car Wheeled - 7+ Recce        Turret-mounted light anti-tank gun 48" 1 +4 HE (D2)        Co-axial MMG 36" 4 n/a

Transports
3-ton Truck  (page: 58)	Veteran	47
Qty    Vehicle Type Transport  Damage Value         Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    3-ton Truck Wheeled up to 12 6+     Tow: Light howitzer, light or medium anti-tank gun, light or heavy anti-aircraft gun

Tanks and SP Guns
M3 Stuart I  (page: 46)	Regular	125
Qty    Vehicle Type Transport  Damage Value         Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    M3 Stuart I Tracked - 8+ Vulnerable        Turret-mounted light anti-tank gun 48" 1 +4 HE (D2)        Co-axial MMG 36" 4 n/a        Forward facing hull-mounted MMG 36" 4 n/a Front arc        Forward facing hull-mounted MMG 36" 4 n/a Front arc

Platoon #2

Officer
First Lieutenant  (page: 20)	Regular	85
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    First Lieutenant      with Pistol 6" 1 n/a Assault      with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault      with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry (equipped as modeled) - -

Infantry Squads
Gurkha Section  (page: 25)	Veteran	117
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 6    Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 30" 3 n/a Team (2 men)   Tough Fighters       Tough Fighters   Scary Blighters!       Scary Blighters!
Veteran Infantry Section (Early/Mid War)  (page: 23)	Veteran	135
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 8    Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1    Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 30" 3 n/a Team (2 men)

Artillery
Light Artillery  (page: 30)	Regular	55
Qty    Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    Light howitzer (0/24")-48" 1 HE Team (3 men), Gun shield, Fixed, Howitzer, HE (D6), 25-pdr AT shell   (firing as light anti-tank gun) 48" 1 +4 HE (D2)

Tanks and SP Guns
M3 Grant I  (page: 47)	Regular	210
Qty    Vehicle Type Transport  Damage Value         Weapons Range Shots Penetration Special Rules 1    M3 Grant I Tracked - 9+ Easily catches fire, Vulnerable        Hull-mounted medium anti-tank gun 60" 1 +5 (75mm) HE (D6), Front arc, Right arc        Turret-mounted light anti-tank gun 48" 1 +4 HE (D2)        Co-axial MMG 36" 4 n/a

Platoon Points:

1249

As always, thank you for looking.

A Band Of Bell.... I mean Brothers

I have been going back through my DVD collection of late, looking for some themed movies to watch while I am furiously painting up my 8th army. I settled for WWII themed, rather than specific theatre. 

So up cropped Band of Brothers, the Tv serious. 

Thursday night saw the birthday celebrations of a very good friend, and chairman of the club. 

He requested that I put together a Bolt Action scenario. 

So naturally, with myself owning a painted 105mm howitzer for my SS army. 

I turned to the Assault at Brecourt Manor. 

The orders and scenario setting I sent to the players:

Gentlemen, 

The morning of D-day, elements of the 101st Airborne were dropped deep behind Germans lines late the night before. 

At the time of the invasion, A German battery was stationed a few miles from the coast at a town called Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, in the grounds of a manor house called Brecourt Manor. The battery comprised of four 105mm Howitzers, formally believed to be 88mm guns. 

Once the allied landings commenced, this battery disrupted the unloading of men and supplies by shelling exit 2 leading off Utah Beach. Exit 2 runs from the beach to the village of Sainte Marie Du Mont. To ease the problems faced by the allies, 1st Lieutenant Richard Winters (Mr Baldric) and his men from Easy Company were tasked with destroying this artillery position.

Orders to follow shortly...

German orders, 

Oberstleutnant Frederich von der Heydte (Ian) has ordered the immediate reoccupation of the artiller battery at Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. 

Orders are for all avalible combatants able to crew the guns at this position, to report immediately to the manor house.

Also any any avalible combatants with no orders to report to defend the position from possible attack.

The orders to defending combatants once you have reported, is to hold the position at all costs. Orders for the crews once reported, to immediately commence firing on the location marked on designated maps. 

Hold the line and do not retreat, for the fuhrer. 

American Orders 

1st Lt. Richard Winters (Mike) is to take charge of easy company's assault on the German position at Sainte Marie Du Mont. 

No solid information on the enemy position is available. A quick recon is advised. Radio traffic from Utah beach suggest some form of long range artillery.  

Expect a heavily fortified position with an unknown number of combatants. 

2nd Lt. Lynn 'Buck' Compton (Phill J) is to take charge of units, under 1st Lt. Winters 

2nd Lt. Ronald 'Bloody' Spears (Alex) to also take charge of units, under 1st Lt. winters

Time will be of the essence, American lives depend on your quick success. 

The table set up.

The 105 howitzer, harassing Utah beach. 

Rear MMG in placements, providing covering support to the defenders in the trench. Although not alway at the guys on their side. 

The First gun destroyed, by the plucky airborne troops. 

Over all a fun game, I took away a couple of things from this game. BA is one of the best rule sets I've ever played. And I am a massive champion of it (the main reason I am one of the TO's for the BAWO). But when it comes to large games, it really needs an overseer IMO. 

I spent most if the game, picking out dice and keeping the tempo of the game going (of which I had no problem with). 

I also lernt, that other people's interpretations of an historicle event can be a lot different to mine. 

And also that, people have different ways of playing. Myself, I like just rolling dice and having a laugh in these big game. I have no problem with making up little rules on the spot to make the event in the game a little more funny. I have no problem with saying roll a dice and find out. 

In that respect I am a very loose gamer when it comes to being strict with the rules. I would like to stress I am only every this loose with the rules when it is a big participation game. 

But I do also find myself saying "ah go on you can do that" or "yeah no problem" in personal games also. I just like having fun, and making my games fun, for myself and people who are playing them with me. 

To some up that was a long way around saying I'm not a neck beard/rules lawyer..... I was trying not to offed..... But what the heck. 

Just one last thing, a friend of mine, who happend to be in the position of the famous Dick Winters in the game. 

Has done his own write up of the game on his blog, please go over and check it out. A really good blog, that comes across exactly as he dose whitty and sarcastic, that will make you laugh. 

https://despertaferres.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/brecourt-manor-an-exercise-in-leadership-and-initiative-for-the-criminally-insane/

As always, thank you for looking.