Land ship WIP

Much as I dislike Work in Progress posts this time I feel I do need to do one.

The figures are shown for scale  and are 10mm Pendraken. The land ship is intended for that scale and for that colonial period. (Being Victorian Science Fiction). So I have put a Mounted officer a Gatling gun and a foot stand all ready to show the scale.

I started with a 15mm "Forged in Battle" tank as I want a certain "Heft" to the model and do want it to look quite imposing and by starting a scale larger it does immediately posses those qualities. The donor vehicle is actually miss cast so I was able to buy it at less than half price.  And while I did originally want to use it as a WW2 German vehicle it works better for this.

So starting with a Char 1 Bis hull (And ignoring the turret) I first reversed the way it was heading and added a "Boiler" to the back. I have yet to add a chimney as I suspect that will be the final piece BEFORE painting as it will probably double the vehicles height and there fore be easy to knock of unless I am careful.


 While I am mostly working with "Green stuff" I am also using some plastic sheet rod and tube to alter the vehicle. Side sponsons are also being added to which guns will be fitted before painting.

The turret ring has been filled in and I will be adding a 1lb pompom gun and crew as a pintle mount up on the top deck.  the kind men at Pendraken will be supplying the gun and the crew and it should be arriving soon! So I should be able to crack on pretty quickly when it does.

As you can see I am not a sculptor, but the beast is coming together reasonably well and I am sure it will look impressive when it is finished and sitting among my British colonial troops be they in Zulu Land, or facing the Mahdi or the Boxer Rebellion or in some imagination setting maybe against the |French or the Prussians.

Thanks for looking today I will get some Burpas done next.  I hope to have 4 finished by this time tomorrow so expect them in my next blog post.

TTFN  and with luck see you all soon.

Cheers Clint

It is all over now!

Firstly let me get my apologise out of the way. I am sorry this is a day late I just had real life get in the way and lost track of time.

This is the final turn of my first PPB Game and I will just write up the actions of the turn. Next weekend I will do a break down of what worked and what didn't. Victory points and a conclusion. So just hold on till then before offering congratulations and commiserations.

I also need to apologise to Lee as last turn I turned his ship the wrong way. Totally my fault as I turned it right instead of left that he ordered. It had no impact this turn but it so easily could have and Lee was very understanding and there was no speaking of walls and being lined up when the revolution came.

The turn sequence had the Spanish moving first and then the British shooting. This worked both for and against them.  Only one ship was able to shoot but it was sufficient in a David and Goliath way to make another ship strike it's colours.

So here is the final situation. It has taken nearly 6 moths to reach this outcome. And a really big thanks for all those that have followed it and more thanks to all the players for taking part each is very valued in their own way.

 Unicornico turns so that she has enough of the wind to move. While HMS Badger now back in British hands still does not have sufficient fighting crew to continue having struck its colours much earlier in the game. HMS Inconsistent (now in Spanish hands) is down to a single mast and in a bad way. But still able to sail.

 HMS Cutlass a frigate manages to get the only shot of the turn completely de-masts San Francis which can only turn AND does enough crew hits to render San Francis unable to carry on and she therefore strikes her colours. Just before she can fire back. (which would have hurt HMS Cutlass quite a lot).

 HMS Agamemnon Sails out of arc of fire and heads towards HMS Pachyderm and El Interceptor.

 Mecedes heads directly towards a shoal but is out of arc when Pachyderm gets the opportunity to fire so escapes this turn un harmed.

Captain Hadley sets himself up perfectly to Bow rake El Interceptor next turn. However El Interceptor is within one turn of escaping from the board with very little damage. So with all the Spanish ships of the line either escaped or captured and only two frigates and a prize left on the board I feel little choice in calling the game over.

Due to the damages and lost ships and of course prizes I have to acknowledge this as a MINOR British Victory. 4 or 5 weeks ago I would have thought it was going to be a Spanish Victory.

Well played everyone. I have had a blast sorting the game out and I will sum the game up next weekend.

All the best Clint

Turn 22 Results

Boy! is it cold up that garage! Yes it is that time of the week again for another turn. And as you can see from the turn sequence it did come out in a remarkable even way this time.

As aleways I have started with an overall shot than then worked from left hand closest the land towards the front and then anticlockwise but this time only as far as the front.

HMS Inconsistent gets underway with a single mast. This ship is now in Spanish control as the Spanish flag has been raised and the Union Jack lowered. 

 HMS Cutlass was able to cross the T and bow rake the "San Francis" All the while HMS Agamennon fired a full broadside into the poor ship. Which is still afloat despite a direct hit to the powder store. (Red Joker Damage card was drawn).

 Mecedes sails back across the middle of the table and with HMS Pachyderm with problems of her own may just make it to freedom and the merchant ships in the Med!

 El Interceptor makes exactly the right move and IF the cards are favourable next turn will bow rake HMS Pachyderm with a complete intact undamaged broadside at point blank range. (Needing 2+ to hit with each firepower factor and causing double damage.

 Unicornico facing directly into the wind issued no turn orders so simply drifted in the tides and currents while the drinks cabinet was re-stocked!

Just one lucky shot and it is all over for Lucky Lee. Or Lee could go for the ram!

Well folks that's it for another week. I shall issue damage reports to all the ships either later today or by midday Monday.

All the best folks and brace yourself for the new year!

Turn 21 Results.

Another one of those turns with NO Spanish ships shooting. Mind you only 2 British ships HMS Cutlass and HMS Agamemnon.

Most ships are seriously depleted now and any one could collapse (sink) from exhaustion. Most if not all are very battered.

The turn sequence was a nice mix which did result in long range shooting but nothing at all close. But Damage was done. Sometimes just long range shooting will weaken a ship just enough to make it easy pickings. Other times it just won't!

 Well we should all know the format by now.  First the Ariel view, then working anticlockwise from back left to front right. WE reall have done it a load of times now so I expect you Know the routine better than me.

 While Unicornico faces into the wind this turn safe in the knowledge that no British ships are in range. HMS Badger recovers from the collision with HMS Inconsistent. Crew can be seen untangling the rigging but no other details are apparent. Was Hms Badger playing possum?

 HMS Cutlass tries and very nearly succeeds in crossing the T of San Francis. While HMS Agamemnon and Cutlass empty shot into the Spanish vessel without reply. (The Spanish shooting was before movement so the damage was long range as the pictures are taken after all the runs actions are completed).

 El Interceptor and Mecedes both head out to sea with only HMS Pachyderm able to intervene. But the condition of the Pachyderm (Packy to the crew) is uncertain. But then again Captain Hadley does not know the condition of the 2 Spanish ships.

 At the end of movement El interceptor was now in extreme range. But neither ship was within arch of fire. This has the potential of another T being crossed If the right and wrong moves are made be any ship.

With the end of this turn I would say that the British have just about become even with the Spanish fleet. Next turn may be pivotal. Or it might be a damp squib!

As ever if you need more Photos drop me a line. And next turn will be next Saturday 8am please. As I like to get all the turn processed in the hours of Darkness so as not to Impede my painting!

I WILL SEND OUT DAMAGE REPORTS ON SUNDAY> Please do not send any turn back until they are received or anytime after that..

To be honest I did expect this game to be over by Christmas, Looks like I got that wrong. Milsey has also suggested I write this up  for the Wargames Bloggers Quarterly (WBQ). I guess he means a "How to run a Play-by-blog game and not and AAR! I might be interested in doing that if you think it would have any value and be worth reading. I am flattered to be asked though! (Cheers Milsey).

Turn 20 Results.

Gain very little firing this time, Just two British ships. But It has been eventful despite that. As you can see the turn sequence favoured the Spanish. But alas when they came to shoot not a single target was in arc. Also lots of players did not send any orders in so they just continued in a straight line. One captain sent in about 5 emails. No problem with that at all as It makes intentions clear and allows me to work to them more closely.

 We are used to this shot by now. As You can see all the action is all over the place.

 HMS Badger Commanded by the valiant crew of "Mecedes" Rammed HMS Inconsistent further damaging both ships. But has now come to rest lying along side one another. A risky but hopefully profitable manoeuvre. In the background "Unicorico" is turning back towards port maybe returning home. Who can tell?

 HMS Cutlass turning to port (but not the port) brings HMS Badger out of arc. But has the plucky frigate got ideas of grandeur and is thinking of taking on the 74 gun San Francis?

 HMS Agamennon was able to bring fire on San Francis (every dice I rolled turned out to be a 5 or a 6) and at long range did damage to the Spanish flagship. One can only imagine that Seb the captain will not take this lightly!

 Mecedes and El Interceptor have the open sea ahead of them. As It stands only one British ship could possible stop them IF they choose to leave the table and create havoc in the Med!

 Same ships just a different angle but with Unicornico in the background.

 Unfortunately SS Guano took a Broadside from HMS Pachyderm. Fortunately only one shot hit. Unfortunately for Captain Mills is was enough. SS Guano is now sinking. Her Hull reduced to a sieve and the sea rushing in to fill it as the crew abandon ship. Sorry Lee no prize money here, that ship is bound for Davy Jones. Unlucky Millsy but you did carry the fight to the enemy to the last.

 The Captured "Mermaids Revenge" will make it from the board next turn barring disasters or a Kraken. (There are no sea monsters in this game!)

 

 

 

So that is the end of turn 20. I will try to send out damage reports this afternoon. As always if you want, need or desire any more photos get in touch. I shall look forward to any orders the Saturday next week 8am as per normal. But for Now I am back to the painting.

 

A Big thanks to all the guys playing and with luck I will see you all on the internet very soon.

 

Kindest regards Clint

Turn 19 results.

As I wait for basing materials to dry I have time to post the latest turn of the PBB game. That being turn 19.

As always I will start with the overall board and then working anti clockwise from far back left to the front and them to the right. The turn sequence let the Spanish move and fire first. Not that they had so much shooting to do. But they (well Misley did some). Many ships have got a second wind and are returning to the fray while others are using the discretion better part of valour and leaving the table. Not sure how this one will end now.

 The overall shot of the battle clearly shows the level of confusion and the complete lack of organisation. 2 Ships HMS Challenge and Pina Colada have now left the board both under their own power and command. HMS Challenge being very slightly better off may take Pina Colada as a prize IF the British win the game. If the Spanish win Pina Colada will return to Spanish control.

 HMS Badger has ben reactivated this time with a prize Spanish crew from Mecedes. Which has now turned left and sprinted up the board.

 HMS Cutlass was then able to bring fire on HMS Badger but with very little effect due to the very long range. But at least one hit was done. HMS Agamennon has now managed to turn back into the fight. And now is at extreme range for Capitan Seb in the San Francis.

 The two Spanish Frigates are now heading across the board towards HMS Pachyderm but at this stage are so far from the fight that it will take them 2 maybe 3 turns to get in range. depending on what they and HMS Pachyderm decide to do.

 As you can see in this picture HMS Agamennon and San Francis really are at extreme range. No wonder when Captain Douglass ordered the crew to fire not a single shot landed.

 Captain Milsey did manage to fire at HMS Challenge as the ship sailed from the board, but did not inflict sufficient damage to slow the exit in any way. So Captain Curt and the remaining crew of HMS Challenge are now safely out of the game. But Captain Milsey did manage to get the parting shot.

 This has bought Captain Milsey and Captian Lucky Lee now into EXTREME range of each other. You need a 6 on a d6 to hit at that range. But both ships are damaged and only I know which one is better off. So for both captains it is a test of nerve to see which one (or both) breaks for open water.

The Mermaids revenge with her prize crew are heading to safty and the open seas. Anyone looking for a loan might want to talk to Lee's captain in 6 months time when the prize money comes through!

That's it for today. I will send out damage reports tomorrow as I want to use what light I have left to paint. As usual you will have 6 days to get your turn back to me before the next move is carried out.

All the best Clint

Turn 18 Results.

Well as said last week I have had to post this a day early as I am busy all weekend. So here's what happened.

Well the turn sequence meant British repairs were carried out before anything else. Which meant they did not get ant worse due to enemy shooting before the end of the turn. If (or more likely When) I do this again I will have a more regular turn sequence this way works great on face to face tabletop games but is a little clumsy in a Play By Blog game or so I have found.



Anyway, this turn nothing really went the Spanish way. Indeed it is fair to say that not a single Spanish gun fired this turn while 2 British ships did. (Yes only 2 due to arch of fire !)

Starting back left and moving anticlockwise to end at the far right of the overhead picture.

 Meccedes suffered two broadsides at LONG range. but due to accurate firing from HMS Cutlass and somewhat less accurate firing from HMS Agamemnon she lost a whole mast in a single salvo. but has now taken refuge behind HMS Badger, Unicornico the Other Spanish frigate has turned and moved out of range and is now heading for HMS Pachyderm.

 HMS Agamemnon and HMS Cutlass, are not crashing or trying to board each other and due to sail settings will pass without incident next turn. Unless they want to try to board each other, but that just would not be cricket. If they were enemies I feel that it would. They do need to give each other some more sea room though!

 San Francis has turned around and looks like she might be coming back for seconds. As El interceptor and SS Guano head for the open seas. Or are they both chasing HMS Challenge?

 HMS Challenge and SS Pina colada will probably exit the board next turn. There to await the outcome of the battle and determine in SS Pina Colada becomes an English prise or a free Spanish ship. Capitano Millsy may start to engage and be engaged with HMS Pachyderm if they continue in this fashion!

 La Venganza de Serria failed to take HMS Pachyderm in the boarding action and has now been boarded its self and been taken as an English prize. Whether Captain Lucky Lee decides he wants to keep it is of course up to him. The morale of this action is that you should not try to board a bigger ship as they tend to have more crew and more marines. Hard Luck Loki!

Well I am out all day Saturday and all day Sunday so the next post is most likely on Monday. needless to say those captains still in the game I will need their turns BY 8am Saturday the 7th December.

But just before I go. My 2 anti-heroes for Curt's Analogue painting challenge have now arrived.  And that picture is just to tease you as I am aware that Bombshell Miniatures are not commonly known. So don't all go looking to see what anti-hero I have selected to do. But I will give you a clue it is the nickname of a well known blogger! (Saying no more!)

Thanks for looking again today. All the best Clint!