VBCW Womens Auxillery Bren Gun Team.

Well I think the title says it all really. I am not sure who makes the figures but suspect it is footsore miniatures. But whoever made them they did a really good job.

The flag is by Solway though if that makes any difference.

The only issue with the Bren team is that the bren gun had no rest and if any of you have ever lifted one you will agree they are not light! Matt did want it resting on a barrel (shown last time) but it just did not feel right so I did the sensible thing and decided to have it rest on a wall, or fence, which actually ended up as a tree!  Not my ideal choice, but it did work out OK.

The Ladies all have a yellow motif, in either dresses or neck scarfs as I did not want to paint them red or light blue and green when I tried it did not look right. So I settled on Yellow which is consistent and looks in my opinion right and yet is not so glaringly obvious as to stand out too much.

Matt wanted the socialist flag with them (he supplied the flag and converted the figure to hold it. So who was I to disagree with his choice. Because of the Black one might have thought it was an anarchist flag but the first word is "Socialist" so politically one has to assume these are more to the left.


Overall nice figures and a joy to paint. I will show my latest moderns in 2 days time as it was finished over the weekend and I am now working on an assortment of things. Hoping to have them ready by Saturday.

That's it for today I have to get out of the house now and get some work done!

Cheers Clint

THE VBCW BROADSIDE game!

Firstly sorry it has taken a week,. Secondly I may have gotten some of the facts wrong as while at the show I was both distracted by the lovely traders and members of the public and yes even some of the games and a few bloggers. But everyone was lovely and I regret no distractions.

The game was very similar to a practice game (Link ) but with a couple of differences, Most importantly the card activation was alternative forces which meant I was not forced to move a tank only twice in a game when the enemy were able to move one of their tanks 6 times and fire 3 time to my ZERO ) which did make it seem a lot fairer, I know It was just bad luck that made that happen BUT being on the receiving end of such bad luck was not pleasant. Also this time it was both Graham (who needed to leave early) and Tim against me on my own, I had Peter  last time which is always nice even if I do consider him reckless at times and I am sure he finds me cautious at time)

So On with the game and this time I "Knew" how the rules worked... OK I did not know them but I did have a clue This time (as did the other players.)

And Matt who ran and supplied the game did a great job!

My troops begin to arrive and move up the board. My objective being the pub at the end of the road (No one say, "Just like real life!")

 As we arrive I deploy as best as I am able. A long way short of my objective as I found the Battle-taxi's slightly too fragile last time!

 The Boys Antitank unit had been upgraded to Veteran status and were so much better this game. First hitting and casusing a morale check that pinned the enemy medium tank to stay in place and not shoot for a turn. I did fire everything I could at the enemy tank even things I knew would not penetrate in the hope of a second morale check. But no need as the Boys fired again this time for a kill shot and the crew bailed out! (well most of them)

 the Antitank gun had no targets so elected to fire at the BUF Battle-taxis with limited success.

Elsewhere on the board some Anglican league fellows left the church and uncontrolled by me started taking and returning fire on my left flank. They all died within 2 turns gunned down by the BUF and I only became aware of them and tried to support them with a light tank in the second turn.

 The Tank never quite reached them and had to withdraw once they were dead or be out flanked by a horde of infantry. (seen on the left of this Picture)
My Infantry were lorried forward and it turns out the random  event was that my army had caught a severe cold and I had to loose a figure each turn to illness from now on.  Random events were a LOT kinder to me in this game than in the previous one, but Tim did seem to get of lightly as the only random event I recall was a light shower which had no effect on the game.


 Along with the Anglican league a wandering band of Morris dancers turned up. Having just sat down from a quick shop at Colonel Bills I was aware they were not mine so gleefully opened up and inflicted 2 casualties. Graham played in his absence.

 More and More Fascists arrive behind the Pub (theoretically my objective but I was going no where near it,) Including a Heavy MG which set up on the top floor. My troops in the centre field took a beating from that gun as it was a short range and they only had a hedge to hide behind.

 Tim got back to the table after a LONGER walk (about 3/4 of an hour) realised that the Morris men were not his and let loose and after 3 turns on the table not a single  Morris man was alive. Like the Anglican league they acted as a good cushion for my troops and really were BULLET Magnets!

Overall a much better game and It did look spectacular on the table and had many pleasing comments from the public. Some of whom had not seen a VBCW game before and were interested in the background and setting, so maybe a couple more players converted to the cause.





The show ended before a game result was achieved but my troops in the field did not fair well and a unit of 12 was still passing morale checks when just 3 survived! 

From my point of view a good game at a good show and a good result.

Thanks for reading today. If you have sun where you are enjoy that this Sunday and if you have rain stay in doors and paint like billie-OH!

Cheers Clint (Warm but overcast here in Kent today). Another post on Tuesday>>>

 

4 More VBCW figures.

Yes just 4 more 28mm figures for VBCW, which reminds me I still have to do the AAR from the show! So AAR on Sunday.

I think the figures are a mixture of Footsore and Empress miniatures but do not actually know. What I do know is that the first figure is carrying a MG34 or MG42 so is probably a WW2 partisan or Volksgrenedier as the MG 42 would be slightly early for 1938, but never mind he can still find a home in the VBCW! The other 3 carry rifles. The one on the far right is of course a lady as ladies did fight in the Spanish Civil War in some years but were usually nurses and or cooks in the later years.  While the third guy is wearing either "Spats" or Golfing shoes! I will let you decide but it does break up the normal black and brown of outdoor footwear. personally I think it is a bit of fun so I went for it.

More VBCW to come next week but that is it for today.

Thanks for looking and see you soon I hope.
Take care all the best from Kent and a thunderstorm!

Russian Cold War Platoon (The Zone) finished.

As I did actually finish these last week I though it about time to share them. All the previous comments about nice sculpts but poorly cast with lots of moulding lines still hold true and NO there is no Platoon Sniper and still too many LMGs, but enough phaffing around they are done and I can start the US/British/west German/ Canadian troops.

You can see in the first picture the platoon leader on the left then the platoon medic (Armband) and finally another (Spare) RPG heavy weapon specialist. All in all it was cheaper to buy them this way than to buy separate packs so no regrets.

 The last Picture is them all together, the force composition is a BMP Mechanised Platoon due to the number of LMGs  BUT I can make it a BTR platoon with little difficulty. Just a single pack of QRF miniatures will solve the issue and allow me to get a man portable anti aircraft missile at the same time.

The next thing is to get the US forces done and then start playing. What a shame I am getting sidetracked at the moment, following the Broadside show.

Thanks for looking, all the best and see yu soon.

Cheers Clint

Broadside Games! (2016)

Friday Night Fire fight club
(I think)

here are most of the games that were at Broaside this year a couple are missing but I was really pressed for time. So I had to travel around in 5 minutes only and manage to take a single photo of most games.

As I was so short of time and as there was no map/brochure or programme for the show (there may have been but I saw no indication of any and NONE were given to me, that is for sure.

Not a lot of chit chat today but I hope you enjoy the pictures.




Simon Miller playing "To the Srtrongest"
American Plains Indians and Dinosaurs!
That sounds GREAT fun to me!

20mm WW2 Eastern Front.

As above
And this games was voted second best in the show by all the other
Groups putting games on.

Maidstone Wargames club
2mm Arab Israeli Wars

Posties Rejects
Donnybrook Tangiers.

This Game won Best game at show
 as voted for by the other Clubs
20mm WW2 Manila Prison Rescue.
 

Another 20mm WW2
This time by
Herne Bay/Whitstable club.

Broadside Swag!

Again not a lot as my wallet is nearly empty.... actually I did take about £90 but carried most of it back home. That is not to say there was nothing there, I could have used it all up but I hardly got out from behind my table. However.... (dum dum dum! Dramatic music) I did have a very good time and met some great people, and perhaps made a few new friends. I may have even persuaded some to come to our club and some were fantastic bloggers and meeting them was one of the highlights of my day.

Yeah OK cutting the waffle, this is what I bought:

1 Zvesda BTR 80 kit. I did want a pack of Team Yankee vehicles, but could not find any at the "Right" price, so that will be an eBay purchase in the future

3 Pots of paint, just to replace paints that were running frightfully low.

6 metal 28mm figures from Colonel Bill, which are waiting for the next Analogue Painting Challenge!

1 Resin 15mm destroyed M113 Apc. This will go with my 15mm Cold war game which is in the planning.... so guess what the US troops will be driving!!!! Yeah that's right!

Other highlights include being given permission by a figure manufacturer to write a set of rule which they intend to make figures for. (And I will say no more about this until they are written OR Not written.) ..... So feel free to ask, BUT know I will make no reply on the subject.

A very Brief chat with Simon Miller about Samurai armies in his "To the Strongest" rules. he has the army lists already published and I have 2 Sam armies ready to go. He was playing a very interesting game about American Indians and Dinosaurs...... But I still am not sure I believe him when he was telling me he did not know the film "Valley of the Gwangi" one of Ray Harryhausens stop motion monster flicks.

A brief chat with Karl of Crooked dice and it looks like I will be back on the forum soon. Well quite soon after I have both changed my email address AND forgot my forum password.  He said he will set me up with a new account!

And of course walking around and seeing everyone and for a few hours NOT feeling like some outcast circus freak because I was among like minded fellows.

Thanks for reading my waffle I will TRY to do a show report tomorrow!

All the best Clint

More VBCW figures

 As you can see 9 more 28mm VBCW figures are finished. They are a mixture of Empress Miniatures and Footsore Miniatures. All painted for Matt and ready for battle. I should have finished these 2 weeks ago but  what can I say real life got in the way! I have used the common colours of the time and they all fit in with the others painted previously.

Along with the usual weapons, there is a mortar (second Picture far right) and a Dinamentero (A Term used in the Spanish civil war for special troops who hurl sticks of Dynamite in slings, I believe this was started by some Austrian miners and turned out to be very unpopular with their opponents) SO no reason It cannot happen in a Very British Civil War as well.

I am off to the BROADSIDE show tomorrow so there will be a loot/swag post and a show report early next week and maybe an AAR from the VBCW game we are putting on as well.

All the best and Take Care Clint

Crew

Paint Monkey strikes again! Again Painting for Matt here are 4 Spanish Civil War/VBCW artillerymen. They are made by Empress miniatures .When I asked Matt what faction/colour arm bands to paint he did say one red and one blue. But as you can see there are four figures so that's 2 red and 2 blue. Red for socialists and blue for Anglican league. So let us hope he has sufficient artillery for the crew, I suspect he has. But I can see me painting a few extra armbands on for other factions.

That is my  quick post for today. I will post again on Saturday. And It will almost definitely be more VBCW 28mm figures as I intend to finish 8 more tonight. Well it is either that or watch the TV and I don't think there is much on!

So with luck see you all on Saturday. I did post today as I am hoping to get some wargames fudge finished tomorrow for the show on Sunday. And yes I know to give a bag to the Rejects although most will be going to the traders!

So until then take care enjoy the sun and smile if you can.

All the best Clint

What! More than a week!

Yes I know it has been more than a week since my last post. But I am still alive and well and (as far as I know) no problems.

So to get back in the swing a quick post.

Just a single 20mm SHQ NVA figure. I did think I had finished painting pretty much all of my Vietnam stuff and then at the back of the painting table I found a single  figure. He was obviously hiding ready to ambush.

So Not a massive addition but an addition non the less. All this does mean that I will need to rake out the box to put it away, and I can see from the stack of Boxes the Vietnam 20mm box is right at the bottom (Typical).

But I do have the Sanpan to put away as well so I really think I should. And then I think I have a show on Sunday and I might buy some more so perhaps it can wait until then! Not that I need any 20mm Vietnam stuff at the show, but you never know! Maybe some brown water navy.... NO that way is madness I have more than enough for a game. And we all know that means I will probably think of something to add.... "just one more wafer thin mint!"

I have go another post ready to put on for 2 days time and my bout of apathy and wargames doldrums seems to have passed so I should get back in the swing pretty soon.

Thanks for looking, all the best Clint.

The Zone Russians (Part 2)

Well not the largest amount painted, but here are the second squad of my Russian cold war Platoon. a few posts ago I was able to show the first squad, and this is the second squad. Similar issues with the figures and similar weapons as well. There is a slight difference in the weapons though as I am painting what was purchased in a single pack of Battle Front Team Yankee Russian Rifle platoon.

Because Team Yankee is based around BMP platoons and not BTR platoons there is 2 PKM in this squad and most likely the next as well.  So I may have to buy BMP -1 or BMP -2's as opposed to BTRs. This may not be a big issue at all as I have yet to settle on the transport that I would choose to start with. You Know me I will eventually get everything! (Well not everything but sufficient Variety to represent different vehicles in different regiments. I do know what I am intending for the opposing forces so I must try and get the forces to balance.

Anyway another picture of the Russian Uniforms that I have tried to replicate and like the first squad  I am happy with the outcome.

I am now cleaning up the third squad and will begin painting that soon. So expect the third squad and platoon command next week. I will try to get some 28mm VBCW figures done as well, IF I can tear myself away from "Minecraft!"

All the best Cheers Clint

Boot Fair Finds (2)

Well here is the other building! Yes I could have done better, but it is good enough for me. The model is out of Model A&E and doing well.

So what needed doing? Firstly one corner was chipped and had to be re-built. It is actually the bottom right corner. It is now slightly more rounded than the other 3. You will not notice it unless you either have the model or have read this post. I am quite pleased with it. yes it could be better but it could be a LOT worse.


The roof should have been in 2 pieces, but being broken was in 4 pieces AND the top ridge was completely re-built which dos show but does look better than it was

You can see on the right top section the repair. Not totally obvious but visible. More so from the underside, which I am not showing you.







The model finished repaired and ready to be put away. A Boot fair bargain and I think the lady was Happy to get rid of them. I suspect it was an ex-boyfriends that she wanted to forget about. But that is only me speculating so It could be any reason at all.









And the last picture does show the wonky ridge line from the back. You can also see the corner dips slightly but hey who cares The building is now usable although I am currently looking at it and wondering if I should paint the thatch grey-brown to look weathered. (But I probably will not!

Now I had best get back to some figure painting! And get my Russian modern platoon finished.

Cheers For looking.
All the best Clint

Boot Fair Finds.

Yeah I know It sounds crazy BUT you never know what you may find at a boot fair. Yes there were Loads and LOADS of children's clothes, and exercise devices and "Friends" Videos/DVDs and Loads of other things. But I also found 3 of these...... One more is in Model A&E and I think it will make a good (if not full recovery.

They are Resin 15mm (or close to) buildings. I suspect they are 15mm and were planned for wargames as why else would there be a ruined one? No "Jerry Building" jokes please.  A quick dab of paint later and they are fit for purpose.  So once I rushed back from the boot fair I gave them a lick of paint and they are ready to go.  The paint was mostly applied in washes over a white undercoat and allowed to dry. Luckily the sun is out and the South facing conservatory can get quite hot so drying today was quite quick.

No Idea what I will use them for yet, but 3 buildings for £2 is about my price and I was not going to let them slip through my fingers!

I have no idea who makes them so if they are recognised would you be very kind and put a comment telling me where to get some more.

All the best, and thanks for looking

Cheers Clint

Post script: The term Boot fair can also be translated to Garage sale or Flea Market in different parts of the world so just go with the term that suits you.