SELWG Swag

Well I did go to SELWG. For me it is the last show of 2014. There are other shows in the UK but for me this will have to be the last show until Cavalier at the end of February.

I will show you some of the games later in the week. For now however just a simple look at my loot. As you can see it was another restrained shopping trip. I felt that there was a lack of traders for me but I can see a few mail orders to keep them busy. So what did I get and why:( in no particular order)

• Well there was an Osprey book "British fortifications in Zululand 1879" The Osprey collection grows and this may be of use next year when I paint my Zulu army. (Dave Lancaster Books)
• a 20mm WW2 Italian Rifle Squad. It occurred to me that I like WW2 and now I have some more boards it would be a shame not to do a game. (Early War Miniatures)
• 28mm Fu Man Chu (Ironclad miniatures) I knew I wanted this figure but I'll be darned if I can remember why.
• 20mm Britannia Modern British Metal detector soldier. Just to round out my UK vs Taliban Afghan army. (Grubby Tanks)
• Two Resin Vehicles and a spare man ( Grubby Tanks) These will be the start of my 20mm 8th Army figures. Quite excited by these so I hope to start painting one this week. Is this a new project, well I just don't know I have 20mm WW2 but not this theatre so I'll let you decide.

As mentioned above several regular traders for the show were missing which may not be such a huge loss over all but does mean a few things I was contemplating were scuppered from the start. Oh well.

A Quick post today. Thanks for stopping by and with luck I should get some mojo back now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend (I know very little of it left now) And I will try to post soon. All the best and Take care you. Cheers Clint.

Turn 11 Results

The first thing to say is that was quite intense for me. There is no fudging the turn sequence or the gunnery. Sometimes it works in your favour and at other times a lot less so. The same is true of repairs. All this preamble is just to say what happens to a ship happens to a ship.

I will send out individual damage reports this afternoon. But just to say both sides have one or more ships in trouble and for a couple of players the game may be over next turn.

So this turn it was a completely Spanish activation to begin with which left the end of the turn to the British. And here's what's going on!

View from the step ladder
Overall view of the board.

El Interceptor and Unicornio cross beams.
A close run thing but they avoided any collisions.

Three ships were able to fire this time at HMS Beagle.
It was nearly 4 ships. But Unicono was out of arc. HMS Inconsistant
Was able to move out of arc so could neither fire or get hit. 

Not quite Raked HMS Badger takes a beating Three on to one is not
a good prospect for the one!

HMS Cutlass facing into the wind gets a turn drifting.
HMS Agamemnon moves to support the British flagship.
Will he be there in time?

HMS Challenge's Crew manage to BOARD
SS Pina Colada. The on-board battle of quite evenly matched
Forces is currently undecided.

The Bad thing about this boarding is that it screened the target from
getting shot at by HMS Agamemnon and HMS Pachyderm.
A Brave/foolhardy action from Captain Curt. Only time will tell.
I have a clue though! 

Elsewhere Mecedes turns hard to starboard
 and makes a very tactical move to stay away from the goliaths!
Capitan Loki on "The Mermaids revenge" Continues
his break for freedom. Slipping Behind HMS Pachyderm,
still out of range though.
 

Well that's it for now. As ever if you need more photos or more information feel free to get in touch. I will/can not give any advice. Nor can I make any suggestions. I know it's hard to judge at times so ask for photos if in any doubt. SS Pina Colada and HMS Challenge will not be able to move this turn as they are now locked in hand to hand boarding actions. Best of luck guys and I hope the dice work out for both of you.

Thanks for reading today. Watch out for your individual damage reports. All the best Clint.

Opps nearly forgot: Next turn in by the 18th Oct 9am (GMT) please. but you probably already knew that without being reminded.

Next step

Three new boards
with 1 old board

And it may be the last step. I will have to see what this dries like! I can see that I haven't matched the colours but for terrain and without re-painting the previous boards I think is close enough. I am not a factory after all and just want a new set of boards to play on. Not looking to make a living out of it!

As you can see we have bright sunlight outside so I will judge the colour when the contrast softens. (Second Breakfast first). So below is a quick flick through the stages since the last view.

2 coats of emulsion to get rid of the green.
Then a slightly brown coat.

 

Yellow top coat to make it match
the other boards.
Only 1/2 the board done.

I might have to add a bit more red to the paint mix!
To match a bit better.

Well that's it for today. Generally the boards are getting there so I am quite happy but still no figure painting mojo! It will come back soon I am sure, no point in trying to force it!

Tomorrow is the next turn on the Napoleonic Naval game and SELWG show on Sunday. SO quite a busy weekend.

Thanks for looking today. Have some fun and enjoy any sun and tune in for the next naval move tomorrow afternoon after I process all the results.

All the best Clint

2 more Boards

Well it's raining heavens hard here at the moment so I am reluctant to walk across the "Somme" of the lawn and get to the shed. So here are the three boards ready to be painted. Luckily I bought some more pain yesterday so I should (I hope) be able to get the first coat on them today, this afternoon. After the monsoon!
In keeping with the other boards each board has 3 road entrances and while this does not give as many possibilities as 4 would is sufficient for a fairly random layout.

Thanks for popping by today, all the best Clint

Kicking the doldrums

Well it's a "Ronseal" title in that it does what it says on the tin. No I Have not quite kicked the arse out of the Doldrums and I am still in a wargames rut. But at least I am coming out the other side. So here is what I am doing!

An existing Afghanistan board

The answer is simple, I have taken one of my old DBA boards (I have two others so don't panic or at least don't panic for now, panic later in your own time.) I have filled the holes where some trees went, you will note the darker green patched around the whit blobs which identifies how far the canopies spread! Additionally I have added a road. The Road is a thin coating of ready mixed plaster that I can slightly smoother than the rough ground.

This board will become another Afghanistan/Arabia board (the other two will as well). By doing this I will have a total of 9 interchangeable boards, each 2 foot square. All the hard work is already done so this will be a repaint and a slight re-build. SO I am expecting some rapid results. When I have the boards complete I will have a 6 foot square area ready to fight over.

But fight what I hear you ask? Well more Afghanistan and Arabia in a nut-shell so when I go to SELWG Show I now have a focus for my Squandering carefully thought out expenditure. So I will be looking for more 20mm Modern British and Russian stuff to fight against the Taliban. (I also need a better set of skirmish rules for this). As the Terrain and architecture has hardly changed for a millennia I may also be looking for Earlier (Colonial Period and Napoleonic Period) Afghans. So I anticipate some Colonial skirmish games next year.
When I use the boards for North Africa/Arabia I will also be looking for some 20mm WW2 Italians and some 8th Army (although the 8th Army is less needed as I already have some British to paint in 20mm). In addition to 20mm WW2 and WW1 (Laurence of Arabia) games Newline Design also make some 20mm Mahdist figures so that's another colonial option. Newline also make some 20mm Metal Ancient ranges so maybe some ancient skirmish as well. So maybe some 20mm Romans vs Lybians or Numibians Skirmish. Maybe even earlier.... New Kingdom Egyptians, Assyrians or even Summarians.  Oh so many options shame there are only a couple of companies making 20mm other then WW2.

WW2 will be the main focus though, unless I get sidetracked into Arab Israeli wars

Thanks for reading my waffle today. With luck I will hope to have something new to show soon.

All the best Clint

Turn 10

Yes It has all kicked off now. I will be sending emails out to MOST of the ships captains. Basically if you have anything to repair, which for some of you might be a problem and for others not an issue at all. As always if you want any rules clarifications or more photos of something specific I expect to reply within 12 hours but leave me 48 hours just in case.

The British were able to shoot before anything else in the turn. So that did put pay to a couple of repair orders nothing tragic but at least one Spanish ship had less repair crews than they had sent to fix things. Obviously that means that they ran out of crew to a lot before they ran out of things to patch up.

The High shot from the step ladder.
one day I will fall I am sure
but as long as I don't land on the table or the camera
it will be fine!

Starting top left and working
anti clockwise. !st of we have 2 Spanish ships rapidly approaching the action.

The centre of the table.
Things really are hotting up now. Getting
packed and dirty. But no one is getting it easy.
 

HMS Badger has been rocked by an explosion on board. Good shooting Milsy.
And also very good shooting from Seb.

2 Masts gave come down
1 on HMS Inconsistant and
1 on HMS Badger.(who again has just drifted in the wind)
Although I think that will change (ed.)

HMS Inconsistent should get a mention for excellent gunnery as every cannon hit the target.

HMS Cutlass is almost in the battle.
Shame they are directly into the wind now.

SS Pina Colada did not quite cross the T.
Instead 2 British ships got to fire at her!
HMS Inconsistent from her right
and HMS Pachyderm from her left.

From the other side of the table.
HMS Challenge starts to get close to SS Pina Colada. While
HMS Agamemnon and HMS Pachyderm keep some sea room.

Captain Loki is moving behind HMS Pachyderm
But they are not within range yet.
Mercedes the pluck frigate has decided to head closer to the main battle.

Back to the other side of the table
just to show that they are coming within extreme range next turn.
They just have to get the arc right now.

Well that is the action this turn. No New ships on fire and a couple of fires been put out (Ok and one more small one started). 2 ships have lost a mast ( just as well they start with 3 each) and one explosion (very small but still worth mentioning). Clearly not everything is getting repaired now and all ships have taken some damage if they are involved in the fight (Some still moving into the fight). It is unlikely that any ship will become knocked out next turn but I think in 4 or 5 more turns blood will be on the carpet.

Right that's it for today expect damage reports a little later so you know what you can try to repair.

Thanks for looking and I will need your next turn orders in by 9am (GMT) 11th October 2014.

All the best Clint.

Yet More Donnybrook figures

Well this is about the last of them for now. I have a couple more cavalry to do. But they can wait for now. So anyway here are another 16 French War of Spanish Succession, there should be a flag but I don't have one just yet so I will add it later. So we have 12 rank and file soldiers and 3 characters. From left to right; Drummer (Musician), Officer, Flag bearer and Sargent.

The flag at this stage should be the bourbon flag and not the French Tricolour as the revolution has not had not yet happened (French revolution 1789). I could perhaps use a white cross on a blue or red field, but the Bourbon Flag would be better.

Still enough procrastination about getting the right flag I have a show next weekend so maybe I will pick one up then.

Again these are Black Hat Miniatures. 15mm scale and part of the Malbrurian Range. In my mind I will buy a few more, if just to get the 15mm sedan chair they do. I am not sure I have a use for a Sedan Chair but I know I will get one.

That's it for today. Thank you very much for looking and tomorrow I will do the next turn of the PBB game. But the best news is that I think I am coming to the end of my wargames doldrums as I have a few ideas of what to do next now and may even start some terrain next week. But nothing too exciting so anticipation should be at a minimum..... really boring stuff like piles of rocks and the like.

Take care and look after yourself. All the best Clint

More Donnybrook figures

As regular readers will know I have not been in a wargames mood for several weeks! I know shock horror! Well with that in mind painting has slowed down and telly watching has gone up. Not that I need to watch more telly but these things happen. As such I have not wanted to start something new. As such I have been working through my Donnybrook WSS figures. Like the others I have painted these are BLACK HAT Miniatures that I bought a few years ago.

So today we have another 15 British line infantry including a Sargent, a drummer and a flag bearer. The Flag is the English/ British flag before 1707. So just right for Queen Anne's War. The flag changed and was different after 1707. From then on it changed by adding the Scottish flag but not at that stage the Irish flag which when all combined make up the Union Flag.  It is only the Union Jack when flown at sea. I know it's picky to point that out so Moving on...

Now looking at it I have missed the white cording on the drum so that must be done today and then re-varnished. I do have several flag bearers but you only need 1 for each side in donnybrook rules so they may sit unpainted for a while.


That's it for today. I am still scratching my head and wondering what I will buy at the show next show. (10 days away).

Thanks for looking and I will try to get some more painting done.

All the best Clint

Turn 9 Results

Turn sequence.

Well that took a while (85 minutes) to work that turn out. And Oh boy it was bloody. Firstly let me say thanks to all the players. I can only imagine how hard it must be to command one of these ships with the information I give you. And I really do appreciate you all playing. Secondly the damage cards have been very harsh the entire game. In the last two turns 3 Jokers (1 red and 2 Black) have been drawn. Considering that with a normal pack of cards (52+ 2 Jokers=54) each shot would/should have less than a 2% chance of being drawn with each hit I think we can all agree that 3 Jokers in 2 turns is unusual to say the least. But from my point of view I can only play the cards that are drawn. And this is what happened.



Ariel View from the step ladder

Spanish Ships on the left hand side of the table.

The General Battle with those two Spanish ships getting closer.

HMS Badger did put his fire out but now it seems to have re-started
Infact he now has 4 fires started.
While HMS Inconsistent has 5 fires raging away.
Makes you wonder what the Spanish are firing!

The British Frigate is rushing to join the action.

SS Pina Colada also has a single fire blazing having taken shot from both port and starboard sides.
And returning fire at HMS Pachyderm as well as HMS Inconsistent.

HMS Agamemnon and HMS Challenge were both either arc of fire or range
so did not manage to shoot this turn.
Next turn however I suspect they will.

Just a reminder of the shoal the British right are
skirting around.

The last two Spanish ships are now well out of the port.



That's the latest update. I will of course contact those that have taken any damage and let them assign any repair parties. Generally speaking this turn was rather messy for all involved and no one did much better than anyone else.

 

Remember those playing I will need their turns in for turn 10 by 9am (GMT) Saturday 6th September 2014. And if any of you want extra photos don't be frightened to ask for them. I will try to get them back to you within 12 hours but please allow 48 hours just in case I am having an off day.

 

Thanks for looking folks and take care Probably update the blog on Tuesday. Have a great weekend and with any luck I'll see you soon. All thew best Clint



Old Guard (VBCW)

As I keep struggling with my wargames doldrums I have managed to motivate the paint monkey into finishing some more "Dad's Army" type figures for Matt.

The Flag is for A Very British Civil War Anglican force. Not sure where Matt got these figures but I suspect that they are from Colonel Bill (AKA Stu) and I also suspect that they are foundry figures but I am not sure on this.




 It is the normal motley crew including figures smoking as well as wearing scarves. They also carry a variety of weapons mostly Rifles and a couple of tommy guns,a Molotov Cocktail,  but also a couple of pistols and a BAR. The guy with the flag also has a walking stick, personally the flag would be enough for me. I might be encumbered with a stick and a flag as well as a pistol.


That's it for today, thanks for looking. And I shall update the PBB tomorrow. So if you are reading this and have yet to send in your turn kindly do so!

I am Not so sure what I shall start next as the afore mentioned doldrums have sapped my enthusiasm so that will be interesting for the both of  us.

OK I am now back to the DIY for today.

All the best folks see you soon,
Cheers Clint

15mm Colonial Sudan game.

The Port where the boat would dock
 and the British could leave the board!

While at Skirmish Tim "Frontline" Wade put on a colonial Sudan game.
The idea of the game was for the British players (Bob and Myself) to rescue the British forces and get them on the boat down river and back to good old blighty! The Mahdi players (Peter and Graham) had vastly different ideas! The British would be under Egyptian officers to begin with (until our own chaps arrived by boat) which game them a command and leadership value of 7. The Mahdi had a leadership of 8 for his officers. To make it more tricky we had no officers at all out in the desert where our forces were so they were not allowed to make their way back to the port UNTIL they had received orders to do so.

To make matters worse these British and Egyptian troops had limited ammunition.

The Egyptians got one chance to fire

Before they got swamped!
The Marhdist troops rolled 15 dice in close combat
The Egyptian rolled 4.
I think you can guess the result.

The relief column hampered by bad command dice
 had not made it far from the town
before the advanced Mahdi forces got close
so they formed square.
These Camalry die very quickly but do stop the
British from moving!

The boat arrives!

Egyptian Cavalry totally chew up one Mahdi unit!
Get a follow through charge.
chew up a second unit and
then badly fail (I rolled 2d6 and got 3) their morale
 and left the board!

Oh dear the Mahdi's troops destroy my thorn bush barricade
and souround the British! Gulp!
 

I dock the boat in the wrong area at first.
My mistake!

I re-docked the boat the following turn where it was not
vulnerable to the newly arrived Mahdi reinforcements.
Like they really needed more!
 

The troops sent out to get the British back get attacked on 3 sides.
And die gloriously for the Queen!
Allowing the Egyptian cavalry to get back into the town.

With now no British to pick up the boat sails.
and Leaves the town to it's fate.

Conclusion:
It was a good day to be a Madhist. I can't really say too much more. Bob and myself were really playing the game and it felt like we had our hands tied behind our backs. Shooting was not effective in any way. Morale and leadership values were too low. The Sudanese got a lot of reinforcements while we got very few. Yes we had a nice boat to play with and I could have taken the naval landing party ashore. But as they has worse stats than the British Army I was reluctant to do that. As I had seen just how fast they could die.

But it was enjoyable and I must say it did look very good. And the enjoyment is the important thing!

Thanks for reading today. I should have some painted figures for the next post.
Take care all and see you soon.
Cheers Clint