Autoblinda 41

20MM Italian Armoured Car . Yes I have been working on my ww2 stuff. Here is an Italian Autoblida Armoured car (Link to Wiki ) Perhaps one of the best looking Italian vehicles of ww2.

It is a FRONTLINE (LINK) model, made by Tim at the club. Of course it comes unassembled (6 parts 4 wheels, turret and hull) and unpainted and cast un resin. I admit I get them cheap as he is a club member so they are very good value for me. But will not break the bank no matter who buys them.

I do intend to use this for "Chain of Command" in the western desert. So more Western desert stuff will be coming in the next few months. You have been warned. This particular vehicle is armed with a 47mm gun in the turret although earlier marks had a 20mm gun. While I have little doubt that all the armies in the western desert would have used it I have no direct evidence of it being used by the Common Wealth. But lets be honest in the ww2 desert everyone used everything if they could!

I hope to Blog again tomorrow (Assumes I finish Matts painting today) . I meant to post tis yesterday but alas time got away from me.

Hopefully see you again tomorrow. All the best Clint

Fiat 621

Well I must be honest yesterday was I can't be bothered day! I did manage a teeny bit of painting.  This is a MISCAST 20mm (1/72scale) Fiat 621 Truck.  It was used by the Italians in ww2 Western desert. Captured ones were used by the British And commonwealth troops as such drivers speaking Indian or with Australian accents were not that uncommon. It was also used by the Germans when they were re-captured. As such I have put no markings on it simply because all the forces could and DID use these trucks. 

The model is (MISCAST) Frontline (Link ) and 20mm or 1/72nd scale. I shall SLOWLY be building my western desert forces. So more are on their way!

But  as mentioned above I was in a can't be bothered kind of mood all weekend so got little done!

Thanks for looking and more again in a couple of days! All the best Clint

Lanchester 6x4 armoured car

I have been slow off of the mark.  I blame the football! However I have managed to finish (just) a 20mm Lanchester armoured car (6x4). I accept that many will not have heard of the Lanchester armoured car (LINK) as I had hardly heard OF IT Either. So if you know nothing about it you are completely forgiven and if you know too much about it seriously "get a grip". For those who don't know(Raises own hand) it was built in 1927-28 and served the British empire as a "Colonial" armoured car until the outbreak of WW2. So totally suitable for my Back of Beyond (BOB) games.


As you can see from the photo of a Real one, it is not made up even if I have not seen one in real life. While not that effective in a BOB setting it should I hope do very well. I believe this one is at the Bovington Tank Museum. You can use it in WW2 as well as 2 were given to the Belgium army while the majority served in Malay ad I think Singapore! Elsewhere they were part of the home guard and used to protect cabinet officials on journeys. So unless you are going to make scenarios up they will never get a huge amount of use.


This one is 20mm (1/72nd Scale) by Front Line Wargames (LINK) and I purchased it from Tim as a "Mist cast" for the princely sum of £1 (Bargain) while at the Broadside show.  .In all honesty I do not think it will get a massive amount of use despite in my head (and so far only in my head) a game where British armoured cars have to stop a train! All in my head may come to fruition and may not, so do not hold your breath! The Mis  cast now painted does not show, in fact if I had not mentioned it I doubt anyone would point it out!

This one based and painted for Back of Beyond I have painted sand. but in all fairness I have no idea if any actually were they may all be green. Photos are mostly black and white and of training so I may have taken some liberties with the colours but as it will only be seen by club member (at this stage) who am I to worry!

If Tim Miscasts some more I shall snaffle them up all to bring the Train chase that stage closer. But until then this will just be an armoured car perhaps even captured and used by a different side.

That's It for today. Have fun, Paint if you can or at least plot and devise some fun games.

All te best Clint

BTR APC 15mm for Ak47

yes another vehicles  for AK-47 despite the face I have not played it for over 2 years! I was not a fan of the re-write and as such it as a game fell out of favour with me. yet despite this I am still building up an army. Sheer madness I tell you but what else is knew!

This is actually the Zvezda kit of the BTR 80 at 1/100th scale. yeah I know it if not true 15mm but it is close enough for me.  We can all get perdantic. This is my first and Only (so far )armoured personnel carrier for AK 47 But I hope to get one more. Like all the Zvezda kits they are easy to put together and assuming you have at least 1/4 of a brain you will get all the pieces in the right place. I am not saying they are idiot proof but pretty close!

Overall a worthy addition to the AK force. And while only (in the rules) able to carry 4 stands at least that is 4 stands they will not have to walk to the battlefield!

Yesterday I went to Rochester Games and Model shop Yes here is a horrible Face book link. (I say horrible as I do not like Facebook) Link and I am sure if you live in the Medway towns you are at least aware of them. While there MHWC (Sittingbourne wargames club) and they had a game of Rapid fire going on. this is turn 1 and 2 in the photos I had real life to get back to.  As usual with ww2 game far to many tanks. A realistic ratio is 1 tank to 600 soldiers.  But we all do it.
Things when I left were not going in anyones favour. Yes the allies had lost more vehicles than the Germans But the Allies were ambushed and they would be able to replace their vehicles which at this stage of the war the Germans would not. My advice to the allies would be pull back and call in air support and let the infantry move it to mop up. hell but no one asked me and I was not playing so it was all up to them. But at this stage of the war the Germans could not afford to loose tanks or Fuel so no matter how the game was played the Germans were bound to loose!

A very Jaundiced view I realise, but that was the truth at this stage in the war. Why through away lives, call in air support and sit back and make a brew!

Should have some figures painted by Tuesday so enough of Tank and Tank things for a while. All the best and enjoy the long weekend!

BoB AAR (Number 2)

Board layout from my seat

Sunday at the club I put on another game of Back of beyond. (AKA BoB). The forces were Tim playing white Russians with graham as an ally who was also white Russians but secretly working for the Red Russians. Matt playing ti Indian British troops) supported by Peter Playing Askaris troops all the way from Africa... (Just don't ask it's complicated, just go with it.) All the troops are IT Miniatures and all the vehicles ae a mixed bag from all over the place.

Tim had been told that he had to rescue a cousin of the Tsar (Teresa was her name). Graham was to twart him but still assist and report back if need be about Tims Activities. Matt was to send a telegram and put an end to the Russian (white Russian) troops on Indian soil. Peter was to aid him as best he was able and to perhaps show the African troops as being superior fighters.

At this stage no one knew anyone elses objectives, nor should they, Telepathy does not exist as far as the players know....unless of course you know better.

View while sitting down
British or the left and Russians on the right.

below is a very brif aar. lots more happened and

Peters Askaris turn up
on paper they are weak troops

Grahams Red Russians turn up

Tim's white Russians turn up



Matt had choice of star, BEFORE he knew what his
objective was






Tim with a tank moves to a position where he can extract Teresa.



Grahams Red Russians rush in lorries
to get into cover



Matt approaches the telegraph station
ready to send a telegram



Peter moves up and starts to shoot at the Red Russian Trucks.
With some success.

He hits the engine and forces it to a stop.

Local militia are not happy to let Teresa go with tim
but he makes a convicing argument and they agree to help out
well a bit, but they are just not effective at all



Peter moves his troops to catch Graham in a pincher.
Yeah but Graham has played before and knows that is far easier said than done.

Matt has now sent the telegram and starts ineffective fire
at Tims white Russians.



Graham unlimbers his HMG and takes his troops out of the damaged truck
1 is wounded but the rest are ok just shaken up.



Tim continues his oratory (took more than a simple question
 to determine an outcome
mean while he advances on Matt laying down fire as he does so.



Tims return fire is very effective though and Matts
 second unit is nearly wiped out!















Peter continues to try a pincer action and runs into
 return fire from the HMG



Peter opens up with the armoured car.
Armoured vehiles are a lot more effective in this game
a duel, tank vs Armoured car results

Peter does finally manage to circle around the flank
he closes for the melee

While the tank is unhurt it is forced to retreat and several of Tim's infantry
catch bullets in an unfavourable way.

Tim hustles Teresa and Yacob another cousin, into the truck
and starts driving for the board edge.



Graham rolls high and Peter low/average and peter losses the melee
Both sets of troops are forced to retreat
leaving the HMG and an officer all on their own



Matt has very few troops left and each time he recovers
enough to do anything Tim fires at them
and forces a morale check.



With half of Tim's troops incapable of fighting on the tank slowly
OK very slowly reverses continued fire at Peter
armoured car jam the turret and Peter has to move to fire each time.



Over the wall and round a corner the officer goes.
You can almost hear him say "Hang on I'll be back!"

Grahams officer says something about the better p
art of valor and leaves a lone
machine gunner to face all of Peters troops.



Continued reverse, now with a damaged engine as well
finally sees Tim's tank safe



Peter finally assaults the HMG which is facing the wrong way
one sitting down man against a whole squad
The result
 Peter recons he should have a truck and an MG in
the next game!

The Game ends and peter still has a functioning armoured car

In the campaign matt is now on 2 points as is Tim, Graham is on 1 1/2 points and Peter is on 3/4 points. I know I have never mentioned a campaign in this before. It exists ONLY in my head. That way I can stop it when I want.

Overall. the rules work pretty good and I do like the setting so this will continue for a while longer. Tim may or may not buy the rules and Matt already has a copy. So the only thing stopping us is enthusiasm. Which at present is above average.

Each faction does have a secretet mission and knowledge of these has not as yet been revealed. But I promise they are all logical and with that I will say no more.

WIP and Spendz.

Yes it has been a SLOW week wargames wise. However here are the first Work -in-Progress (WIP) photos of the Dieselpunk project. I HASTEN (Capitals and underlined) to add that is only the rough and is subject to change  in a very big way. In fact I have reached this stage before and scrapped it all so I am aware that it may happen that way again.

The "donor" vehicle is a Matchbox "Yesteryear truck and equates to about 28mm. All good so far. I have to add some armour to the sides and a turret and maybe a mine or oils slick dropper to the back. I will have to see as I get closer to completion.  The biggest problem of course is that each panel is a 3d curve so it has to be cut and shaped separately, tried in place and then attached with superglue. It's tricky time consuming and frustrating BUT when it is finished I am sure it will look very Dieselpunk and will become a much cherished vehicle, even if it is horrible in game terms. As for game terms we will just have to wait and see. I have at this stage NO clue how it will do.

Wargmes Terrain Workshop
A great display
I am told Dave is a regular
visitor to the shop
so if he wants to meet face to face one time
just let me know and we will
make it Happen.

LUCID EYE
in sock

You may remember that 2 weeks ago we (as a club) could not attend a local show due to the POOR weather. So I thought I would cheer myself up and have a little spend. I was of course in Rochester Wargames and model Railway shop.  They seem to have a lot more stock in most of it of interest to me

LUCID EYE (LINK) are now stocked. A figure range I have seen on eBay but not in the "Flesh". If youi do not know the range click the link to find out more.

The shop has also started to stock 15mm figures. WW2 Flames of war has been in stock for ages, but now some ancients and I must say BRAVO for that.

I was also interested to see some 15mm Vietnam stuff. I am VERY picky about Vietnam wargames so I did not get any. However it is a pleasure to see it  among the usual GW fodder.

No I did not look for necromunda. I meant to just forgot.

Here is what I did buy!

• A 1/100th scale JS 2 This will be a quick add to my AK 47 force for battles in Africa. After all we all need some heavy tanks!
• A pack of Savage Core (lucid eye) figures. More of these when I paint them. I hope to start them this week
• 2 pots of much needed paint
• A rules supplement. I had to import this from America, took about 9 working days and is the supplement I really wanted for "Force on Force" but was never able to find in this country. (sold out was the most common answer) again more on this (but so far not able to put down) in an upcoming post.

Well that' it for today I promise to get on with some hobby stuff today after I make the Roast Dinner (No none for you) wash up and then paint the kitchen cupboards. So that is my day planned out.

All the best Clint. Have a good day folks.