Fixed?

Posts from Norm (Battlefields and Warriors) and Mark (Tactical Painter) have appeared on my Blog feed in a few hours, has Blogger fixed it I wonder.

Here is a photo of two Germans from Empress Miniatures Kampfgruppe Arnhem range I completed before our sojourn down the SE, will it appear on feeds as quickly, we shall see.

Until next time KBO

Goths And Dodgers

Firstly the last of the Goths, a cavalry unit to complete the collection. Footsore Miniatures figures, Warbases 120x80x3mm base.

Next some anti-tank capability and platoon command for Italy/Tunisia. AB Figures on bases from Warbases of course.

Until next time have a care and KBO.

Months End

First up some light cavalry for the 6th century Romans, apart from the officer and draconarius who have LBMS shield transfers the others are painted as an homage to my MiniFigs late Romans. Having painted concentric circles on twenty four Legionary shields, no LBMS in the late seventies, I opted for something simpler. Red with a yellow centre for the Equities Scutarii Seniores.

Figures from Aventine Miniatures.

Next up a second warband of Frank allies for the Ostrogoths, again Gripping Beast figures.

Lastly more D Day Dodgers, much overlooked heroes of the Italian campaign. A bren and 2" mortar teams, AB figures.

That's all folks, until next KBO.

A New Generation

With it being the school holidays here Dave was accompanied by grandson Will for a game of Bolt Action. Will brought along his recently painted British paratrooper section for a run out on the table.

Will's paratroopers are the second row in.

For the scenario Dave would be holding the German defence line in the middle of the table ready to repel a British advance. However a paratroop platoon commanded by Will had been dropped in their rear. The arrival of the British main force commanded by myself would be determined by a dice draw and the resulting dice determining how many units would arrive and whether it would be a tank or infantry section.

The Germans await the British attack.

News of the parachutists force the Germans to counter the threat.

The Germans also send a section to occupy another of the the empty buildings. The British too, see the advantage of this building to anchor their attack.

Who will get there first?

Its a close run thing but.......

The British pass the post first, yup the British order dice comes out first! The Germans are obliged to take shelter in an adjacent but tactically less useful building.

The British are also heading this way through a field with the shelter of a stone wall.

Over on the other flank the British deploy a section towards the cover of a small copse their howitzer deploys to engage the Germans.

Their fire is a tad off target though.

Turn four and the British attack is on, the dice decide on two infantry sections, a Churchill and Cromwell in support.

The Germans in the isolated house are now targeted by the sections in the field and adjacent house.

Although offering a tough resistance the firepower from the two sections clears the building. The flank is now clear and the way is open to attack the rear of the Germans who are engaged by the British tank and infantry attack. 

Meanwhile on the other flank the Germans have sent a section to halt the paratroopers advance through the copse but they too are dispersed.

The Germans finally got a reinforcement but only a solitary Stug III arrived, too little too late to effect the outcome. Turn 8 and the few remaining Germans held up their hands.

A spirited defence by the Germans that may have succeeded with more and earlier reinforcement?

Will's attack was well executed, his attack on both flanks anchored on the early possession of the centre building paying off.

Until next time KBO

A Final Flourish

I started June off well after a meagre May output and I have finished the month with another flourish prior to going off on another break up to Flamborough in North Yorkshire this time.

Continuing with the First Carlist War I have painted up another battalion for the Isabelinos, the Espana regiment.

Figures from Perry Miniatures.

Whilst in Black Powder period mode I have also painted two skirmishing units for the War of the Triple Alliance.

Paraguayans from Perry Miniatures.

Brazilians again from Perry Miniatures.

To keep the World War II Italian theatre project going along I have started the second British section.

AB Figures.

No games in the next two weeks as Dave and Sue will be going on their trip up north has we return.

Until next time keep cool and KBO

Top Gear

After a fairly fallow May on the painting front since returning from a week down in Cornwall I have gone up a gear. I am currently working on an Isabelino battalion of twenty figures for the First Carlist War, I have twelve completed so far.

First up I finished off four figures to complete the British infantry section for WW2 Italy action.

All AB Figures.

To break up the monotomy of painting the twenty Isabelino infantry figure I worked in these figures for an Isabelino command base. Perry Miniatures.

Also these British Auxiliary Legion staff officers, again Perry Miniatures

Some time ago probably a couple years, both Dave and I had forgot about them Dave passed these rather nifty metal palm trees onto me for the Triple Alliance scenery. I rediscovered them when searching for something else so I set to and got them painted and based up.

Our first game after our respective breaks in the South West was a French Revolutionary Wars game over at GHQ which currently features on Dave's Blog

Next week all being well over here in Darkest Rawnsley we will feature another Goth v 3rdC Romans game. On checking they last saw the table in 2024 when we thought it was only last year. Tempus Fugit so Carpe Diem and KBO.

Two For Two

World War Two that is. First more Tommies for Italy, 20mm AB Figures.

Next up Waffen-SS Jerries for Arnhem. 28mm Empress Miniatures.

I really must get on to painting something more colourful, the First Carlist War collection hasn't had anything added for a while. Perhaps a FCW game here in OHQ on Tuesday will inspire?

That's all folks, until next time KBO.

Snails Pace

A very sparse month on the painting front, the advance so far.

A Krupp Protze for the Spanish Civil War Nationalists to tow their PAK36. A Rubicon kit with a driver from Empress Miniatures with a head swap.

Next the final six figures for the F.A.R.T.S. Again figures from Empress Miniatures, these will hopefully hit the table over at GHQ next month sometime?

Lastly three test figures for the British half of the Italian campaign project. Figures from AB the acme of WWII figures in 20mm.

Off to GHQ for some early Italian Wars action tomorrow, look out for a report of the action over on Dave's blog in the coming days.

Toodle Pip, until next time KBO

Action Near Kustrin 1st to 3rd February 1945

The scenario is from the Kustrin supplement for Battlegroup rules which aims to combine a Soviet advance over three days into one scenario. The Soviet attack is split into three waves when one exceeds it Battle Rating it will be removed and replaced by the next wave.

The first wave was repulsed in turn five.

Three T34/76s lead the first wave with tank riders.

Supported by a lend-lease Valentine.

With additional support from a M3 halftrack.

The Germans well dug in await the attack supported by two Waffen-SS Tiger IIs

Turn five the first wave is repulsed.

Bring up the bad boys T34/85s supported by two SU76 assault guns.

Come along Ivan we are waiting for you.

Eeek! An off table Katyushka strike precedes the assault.

Resulting in one pinned infantry team, really!

Abandoned! While over on the other flank others are destroyed. Turn eight the second wave is repulsed.

Bring on the last wave, more T34/85s and two ISU152s the 'Cat Killers'

It soon makes an impression.

KABOOM! But it is too late losses on the T34s results in the waves Battle Rating being exceeded the attack is repulsed on turn thirteen. History is repeated although it only delayed the inevitable fall of the city.

A grand game full of drama, shocking dice rolls by both sides adding some amusing interludes for us both along the way.

Until next time KBO.