Bolt Action Pacific Video

Part 1 of 4.
Aussies v Japs

Part 2 of 4

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4

My first attempt at making a movie.  Will get better in the future.  We played Hold Until Relieved.  I was defending, Youngy was attacking.  The game went to turn 7 and ended in a draw.  My Australians came off worse, losing about 70% of platoon.

My 2012

The end of the year is a great time to read peoples blogs reflecting on the year they had.  Here's some of my thoughts.

Blitzkrieg Commander was the miniature wargame I played the most in 2012.  Although BKC gaming died off in the second half of the year.  Still a great game and I want to play more.  I still have a lot of Panzer IVs that need painting to take on Godders Soviets in 2013.

Bolt Action was released this year and it is now my favourite wargame.  It is such as easy game to learn and I really enjoy every aspect of game play.  The rule book and army books are fantastic, they are presented in full colour and set out in an easy to read format.  10 out of 10 for me.  In March 2013 I am running a 1000pt Bolt Action tournament.  Can't wait.  I have also set myself a personal challenge to paint a 1000 pt army with every army book release.  The pressure is on.

Painting was up in 2012.  In 2011 I only painted 89 figures, this year I painted 105.  Hopefully my Bolt Action challenge will allow me to do better in 2013.

Purchasing was up again and steadily increases every year.  Like all of you, I suffer wargaming ADD.  Big dreams when I see shinny new figures.

Combat Commander from GMT Games is my number 1 go to wargame outside miniature wagaming.  So much fun and chaos, and no-one wins until the last minute.  GMT Games are apparently developing this game for the Ipad so my excitement is high.  Combat Commander has two new releases in 2013, Battle Pack 5 The Fall of the West (Early War), and Battle Pack 6 Operation Sealion.  I have pre-ordered both.  Can't wait,

Podcasts remain a favourite past-time of mine.  I listen to them when exercising and painting.  My top three of 2012 - Number 1 : "Bolt Action Radio."  This podcast is top shelf, very well produced and hosted.  Good work Dano and Judd.  Number 2 : "What Would Patton Do."  Although this is a Flames of War podcast, the three hosts Steven, Jon and Luke are top blokes and make a boring topic such as FOW interesting.  Painting and modeling tips are fantastic and they also cover some new games like Saga and X-Wing.  Number 3 : "Hex Encounter"  This is a new podcast in 2012 and covers the world of wargames in boardgame format.  Really interesting listening and great interviews from wargame authors.  .

Epic Armageddon was the first ever Games Workshop game I played.  I liked it.

X-Box , I played too much Modern Warfare 3 this year.  I could have painted a 1000 figures.  My X-Box name is BeccasAnzac.  Feel free to add me as a friend and we can go to war together.

The Blog , I did a lot less blogging this year, mainly because I was playing too much x-box.

Whats is Store for 2013? Battlefront are releasing their full 15mm Vietnam range between April and June next year.  This includes Anzac infantry, Centurion tanks and Australian M113 variants.  This means Cold War Commander needs to be purchased.  More Bolt Action of course.  Maybe some Saga.  I like the look of X-Wing.  I bought into the Blackwater Gultch Kickstarter so some Wild West action is coming.  And who knows what other shinny releases will distract me next year.  I am travelling to Italy, France and England next year.  Battlefield tours of the Somme and Normandy, and a visit to the Bovington tank museum.  I intend to hug a Tiger tank.

Thanks for reading the blog in 2012.  Big game of Bolt Action Pacific planned for tomorrow so I will take some photos and maybe some video.  See you all in 2013. 

Pacific War Australians

Hi all, finished these ten Australian figures which are my last painting effort of 2012.  My total painted figure count for the year is 105.  A woeful effort.  Hope you enjoy these pictures, figures are from Brigade Games 28mm Diggers in the Pacific range.  Next on the painting table, a squad of German Mountain troops for Crete.  Hope you all have a great Christmas and an excellent New Year.  See you in 2013.

Panzer IV

Here's a picture of the Panzer IV for my Bolt Action army.  All hand painted.  I do have an airbrush but I find stripping, cleaning and assembling an assault rifle is a lot easier than cleaning my airbrush.  The tank model itself is 28mm from Warlord Games, and you do need to buy the commander separate.  The tank is a fantastic resin model.  Very well made.  Highly recommended.

This AT team is my entry into the WWPD painting comp.  From some of the other pictures I have seen this will be a participation entry only.

On the Bench Today

I am going to finish them.  They have been sitting around in this state for too long.  Picture posted for motivation.  Figures are currently block painted and washed.  Highlights, dry brushing and basing to go.

My 1000pt Bolt Action Army

Three minute vid showing my Waffen SS army for Bolt Action.

I am a super nerd -the shame

My first attempt at film making.
Apologies too.  I had to turn the word verification on in the comments section because the blog has been getting absolutely hammered with spam.  Word verification is a pain in the butt. 

Bolt Action near Caen AAR

Hi all.  Another snap shot of a Bolt Action game played this week.  I travelled to Guido HQ with my Waffen SS and I had a crack a Guidos British infantry in a small village setting near Caen in 1944.  We played scenario 1 - Envelopment.  I was the defender.  Defending my base line from the attacking British.  Left side of the table above.  I get 2 points for every British unit destroyed.  The attacker gets 2 points for every German unit destroyed.  2 points for being in my defensive area.  And 3 points for exiting a unit off my base line.

The British start off with a Preparatory Bombardment.  Every unit I have on board is targeted.  The British have a special rule where they get to throw 2 D6 in Prep bombardments and pick them highest result, effectively giving them a double chance at hitting my units.  The attacks left my SS in disarray.  Men blown to bits and everyone pinned down.  My units were spread out evenly across the base line not knowing where the British would come from.  And from the left flank they all came, in a hoard.

 The British set up their medium mortar.  I rate this weapon as one of the best in the game.  The British drop smoke and conceal their advance from MG42s.

The SS mortar crew lost one of their crew in the prep bombardment and took a pin, but they fight back and target the British mortar to no effect.

 A squad of SS are hidden behind a wall.  But no British can be seen because they are going all out on the other side of the board.  Time to redeploy.  Will there be time to get there?

 The British reach the safety of soft cover but are still concealed from a huge smoke cloud out of shot.

 The British dash for the dead ground at the base of the hill directly underneath a MG42.  Bolt Action being true line of sight means the SS cannot see them and the British are now in assault range.

Very blurry picture of the British taking the hill, wiping out a mortar team, HQ team and causing the MG42 to flee for their lives.  Nothing can now stop the British leaving the battlefield and claiming big game points.  The game ended.  British 16.  SS 0.  Big win to the British and I have hell respect for bombardments and British Forward Artillery Observers.  Deadly.  Great game.  Thanks to Guido for whipping my butt and his son Jake for being the rules expert and dice drawer.  Bolt Action is a good game.

Bolt Action AAR

I have been playing a bit of Bolt Action lately.  The rules are the new wargaming hotness from Warlord Games.  Godders came over for his first go at the rules and we set up the desert board for a round of Australians v the Afrika Korps.  Pictured above is the table.  I took control of the Australians as the attackers, Godders commanded the Afrika Korps as the defenders.  We played Scenario 4: Hold Until Relieved.  Basically, defender has two units on board holding the centre objective which was a water well.  The defender can bring on his remaining forces from turn 1.  The attacker starts on board and can deploy anywhere 18" away from the objective or any enemy unit.  As this was Godders first game, I came from one side only to keep it simple.  The game goes for 6 turns.
 

Three Australian units on the hill.  Above consist of a 10 man squad, 3 man command team, and a medium mortar team.  We gave units on a rocky hill +1 cover save.

 Medium Mortars.  The best killing unit available in Bolt Action.  If you can range in on an enemy unit they will be in all sorts of pain.  My mortar team took a direct hit from the Germans and was wiped out in turn 4.

Godders has a squad of Afrika Korps infantry in the centre guarding the well and a HMG on the small hill to the left.  He has a squad just forward of the centre which in this photo has been whittled down to three men from my fire.  This squad was later charged and wiped out in close combat.  His command team is behind the olive bushes and he has a mortar team on the hill in the lower left corner.

The Australian 1st Lieutenant lost his two offsiders and has a pin marker but he still functions.  He was mowed down shortly after this picture was taken.

The most heroic moment of the game.  Last turn.  Australian squad has 6 pin markers.  I had to roll a 3 or under on a 2D6 command roll to issue a run order.  If successful I have a chance to contest the objective and force a draw in the game.  I roll and get 3!.  Unit runs forward, but just short of the objective.  And I loose the game.

Godders successfully holds the well.  The Afrika Korps are victorious for today.

I am really enjoying Bolt Action as a game.  Its fairly simple to play.  You don't need many figures.  The missions in the rule book are excellent.  The game has a definite ending at about a 2hr mark, theres no all night gaming required.  The rule book is full colour.  Great game.

Painting Spot

Paul on the Warlords forum has asked to see pictures of everyone's painting tables.  Here's my not too impressive spot.  Good view out the window though.  Its a spot where I can leave my stuff out which is key for mini painting.  I am working on a Panzer IV for Bolt Action.  WWPD are running a Bolt Action painting comp and I am entering the Panzer IV.  Little hope of winning but it's motivation to get the tank painted.

Action in Vietnam

Vietnam - Battle of Long Tan

Empire of the Blazing Sun Flyers

 DFA-170 Bomber

Finally finished these few Dystopian Wars flyers for my Empire of the Blazing Sun Battlegroup.  Next up, another 28mm Australian platoon. 

Tenkei Class Sky Fortress

Bolt Action - The New Hotness

Really can't wait to get my hands on Bolt Action from Warlord Games.

Soviet Squad

My latest painting efforts see me visit the Eastern Front for the first time.  Just finished this nine man Soviet squad.  I call them the furry hat squad.  I really enjoyed painting these 28mm figures from Black Tree Design.  Currently working on my Dystopian Wars carrier and a couple of Blazing Sun bombers.  They have been on my desk half painted for about 12 months so I need to get them out of the way.   

Australians in the Pacific Command

 The platoon command team.  Officer with a .303 rifle, Sergeant with the Owen SMG, and three riflemen.

Radio Operator Team

Here's a few figures I have been working on.  Not very happy with the command teams faces.  But very happy with the uniforms.  All I have left now for Aussies in the Pacific is one more 10 man section, a flame thrower team, an engineer team, a mountain gun, a 2pdr AT and two Australian variant Stuarts.  Figures above are 28mm Brigade Games.

Stonehenge II

I just got home from holidays in Esperance, Western Australia.  A 9 hour drive from Perth City.  A crazy farmer in Esperance built this 100% true scale replica of Stonehenge.  All the stones were quarried and cut to shape, transported to the site and moved into place by big heavy cranes.  You can walk in there and have a look around for the price of your sole, or about $50.00 a family.  My wife and I are travelling to the UK next year to see the real thing so it was worth checking out.

My daughter dances a jig on the Stonehenge alter.

Disposable Heroes - Japs and Aussies Clash

Youngy came over today for an epic 4 hour clash of Disposable Heroes in the Pacific.  Youngy commanded the Japs and was attacking a small native village on Bouganville, defended by me with a small Australian detachment.
 

 The Battlefield.  Aussies in the middle with the support of a Matilda Frog flamethrower tank.

 Japanese enter on the right with a HaGo Type 95 Tank.

 Japanese entered from the left with another HaGo, and a man pack mountain gun in support.

 Japanese everywhere.

 The Australian Vickers MG crew activate and start firing into the oncoming horde.

An Australian Bren gunner comes under heavy fire, his team pin down in front of the wire.

 Surrounded, the Australians poor out rifle fire.

A Japanese medium mortar crew take cover in a shell hole and start lobbing bombs into the Australian positions.

The Frog confronts a HaGo.  Flames v pop gun.  Who will win? 

The HaGo catches fire and two of the crew jump for their lives as the trapped driver burns.

Suddenly Japs burst from the trees carrying satchel charges and poll mines.  It's a suicide run. 

Meanwhile, the second HaGo is swamped by Australian infantry attempting to drop grenades into the crew hatches.  The Aussies fail.

Crikey, the poll mine carrying Jap charges through MG fire and reaches the frog. 

BANG, the poll mine explodes and rips the Frogs turret apart.  Fuel from the flame tanks ignite and the tank explodes killing all the crew.

The battle ends.  The Japs swamp the Aussies and take the village.  Three Aussies melt into the jungle and live to fight another day.  Another good game of Disposable Heroes.  The pacific rules are interesting.  The Japs are subject to a random chart when pinned down.  The Jap player rolls a couple of dice and the results vary, from making the Japs Banzai attack, or even just kill themselves.  Youngy had 4 soldiers commit suicide.  In the end the battle was costly for both side.  36 Japanese killed.  1 Jap tank and 1 Jap Mountain Gun destroyed.  The Australians lost 33 killed and one tank destroyed.  Thanks Youngy for the good game.  I have pre-ordered Bolt Action from Warlord Games.  I will be interested to see if Bolt Action takes the place of Disposable Heroes as my number one 28mm wargame.

Finns fight the SS in Disposable Heroes

Tuesday night Godders rocked up to my place with a platoon of Late Finns and requested a game of Disposable Heroes.  Who was I to refuse?  I got out my SS, stripped each section of a MG42 to make the game a bit fairer.  And away we went.

Very basic scenario.  Take that hill.  The centre hill is worth 2 points.  The two shell holes worth 1 point each.  The Finns enter the game from the right, the SS from the left.

 The Finns grab the first victory point and set up a HMG in one of the minor victory locations.

 The SS sprint their full 9 inches and take the second shell hole.  Game even so far.

 The Finns Lieutenant waves his arms, and yells "lets take that hill!"

 The Finns hit the crest first, but the SS are nearly there too.  It's time to fix bayonets and fight to the death..

 Sneaky Finn sniper takes out the SS leaders.

The Finns win the close combat battle and take the hill.  The SS try a few sneaky maneuvers but they are countered by the tenacious Finns.  The SS are beaten to a standstill and are force to concede the hill.  Finns victorious.  The battle was costly.  The Finns lost 18 KIA, the SS 20 KIA.  Another great game of Disposable Heroes.  Good win to Godders.  All figures are 28mm.  The SS are Bolt Action and the Finns are Battle Honors.