In Memory of Cassie the Beagle

Our Beagle passed away today - aged 8. R.I.P Cassie

Dismounted Australian Tank Crew

Just in case the lads need to dismount after a freakish Japanese suicide tank attack. Figures are 28mm Black Tree Design. I managed to prep, paint and base these guys in about 4hrs. A personal record.

Star Blazers the Movie

Put your hands up if you got home from school everyday and watched this. Sometime in the late 70's, early 80's I think it was. Well, it's back as a movie. AWESOME. And I found a company that does miniatures.

Some editional information about the plot for those who did not have a TV in their house

"In the distant future, the war between the human race and the Gamilon has taken its toll on the planet Earth. Constant bombardment of radioactive asteroids has rendered the planet's atmosphere uninhabitable. As a means of relief aid, Queen Starsha of the planet Iscandar offers the Earth Forces a device that can completely neutalize the radiation off the planet. For this task, the space battleship Yamato is launched from the remains of its World War II ancestor on a 148,000 light-year journey. However, the crew of the Yamato has only one Earth year to travel to Iscandar and back, or the human race will come to an end".

Rumble in the Western Desert

On Wednesday night the Afrika Korps commanded by Godders attended my house with victory in North Africa on their mind. A small band of Australian Infantry, a British 17pdr and one Valentine stood in their way. The allies were outnumbered 2 to 1. The game is Blitzkrieg Commander. Scenario 14 is the mission. The Allies must hold the town for 8 turns for victory. The Germans must break the defenders and force them off the battlefield.

The Australians and British hold the small desert town of El Whatitsname somewhere in Western Libya. The town is very famous for it goats. The 8th Army have been on the offensive and now the Germans are counter attacking. Godders chose flank deployment to enter the battlefield. An armoured formation will deploy on the Allies left flank. A small armour formation and an infantry formation will deploy on the right flank.

The Allies have three small formations. A 25pdr Gun and a HMG on the left flank. A Valentine Tank, a 17pdr Anti-Tank Gun, and a section on Australian veteran infantry in the centre. And two 6pdr Anti Tank Guns and a HMG on the right. An Australian Forward Observer is ready to call in support from an off-board artillery battery. The allies have spent resources on defenses in the form of gun pits, barbed wire, one visible minefield and one hidden minefield.

Enter the Germans. Godders passed command rolls on all three formations in turn 1 and they entered the battlefield. Three of his motorcycles carrying HMGs drove straight into the hidden minefield and were destroyed. The HMG crews were left suppressed and stranded in the minefield. The Australians thought this was very funny. One German truck was also destroyed by HMG fire. Godders placed his armour formations into good firing positions by the end of Turn 1.

The dreaded and very strong Afrika Korps armoured formation on the Allies left flank was under the direct command of the Commanding Officer with a CV of 10. Very tough. Turn 2 was a general slugfest between the two armies. The Allies took their first loss with the 17pdr being destroyed. The Germans remained unscratched but the infantry on the right flank were suppressed by artillery fire.

Turn 3 was the turning point of the battle lead by Godders throwing a double 6 for his infantry on the right flank. The resulting visit to the blunder table caused his infantry to advance into close combat with one of the 6pdr guns. Normally a disaster but hand to hand combat favours infantry over a gun crew and the 6pdr was knocked out. Firing between both sides continued with the Germans taking out the Vickers HMG on the left flank. Things were starting to fall apart for the allies.

Turn 4 saw the Germans continue to use their ranged shooting. First the 25pdr Gun was destroyed. Then the Valentine. Then the Australian Infantry section. The Allies fired back with what forces they could muster but to no effect. The allies had lost 5 units and were below Break Point. I had to roll a 9 or below from two D6s for the battlegroup to stay on the table. I rolled two 5's. The allies ran. Tabled in turn 4. Victory to Godders. His honour and prestige returned, a fact confirmed when Rommel invited him over to his tent for a late night coffee!

Once again an enjoyable game. I had great fun with the hidden minefield. If playing this game again I would take more armour. Thanks to Godders for the game. Nothing better than sitting around after the game in the spiritual guidance of "Black Powder" enjoying a beer and talking wargaming. Godders supplied some fancy beer from Belgian called Hoegaarden. At $70.00 a block it as very good. Those Belgians know how to make beer. All figures and terrain are 15mm.

Australian 2pdr Anti-Tank Gun

Back to 28mm for a little bit. I have revisited my desert Australians. I have not added any new stuff to this army since 2006. I feel I need some armour and support guns. Inspired by Paul from the Plastic Warriors blog I painted up a QF 2pdr anti-tank gun and crew. The gun is an absolutely superb model from fellow blue brother Crouchie. I hope I have done it justice.

Gun is 28mm from BEF Miniatures and crew are 28mm from Battle Honors. (US Spelling).

Belgian Army Commander

My Belgian Army Commander is done. I'm not too happy with the staff car. I would rate the actual model as poor. A classic case of a worn mold. I found it to be very difficult to paint. The rear end looks like it melted in the sun. However, it will do the job. All my army needs now are two 47mm AT Guns. I have the gun models but I am waiting on Old Glory UK to send a pack of Belgian AT crew. (Ordered early October!) Once they have arrived I can complete my 1000pt Blitzkrieg Commander Army. Staff car is from Quick Reaction Force and figures are from True North, all 15mm.

I have some 28mm figures on the paint desk now. 80% complete. Should have pictures soon. I also got too cocky in Battlefield Academy. I got absolutely smashed in my latest game. Back to the loser corner for the time being.

VICTORY!!!!!

I finally won an online game - UNBELIEVABLE.

Battlefield Academy is a really good game.

Belgian Ford-Marmon Herrington Armoured Truck

Sorry for the lack of miniature posts lately. I have not been doing any painting or wargaming. I have been heavily engaged on the Internet playing Battlefield Academy. And what a poor commander I am turning out to be. There are a lot of good players out there.

Today I finished a Ford-Marmon Herrington Armoured Truck for my Belgium Blitzkrieg Commander Battlegroup. This particular truck will be the HQ for my armour formation. I stuck an officer figure in there to give the vehicle the look of command. I have been doing a bit of research on these trucks. Mainly used by Belgians and Dutch. The Germans and Japanese also used them as captured vehicles. The Japanese got hold of them in Timor. Blitzkrieg Commander don't do stats for this truck as an armoured vehicle so it will played as a normal truck when not in use as a HQ model.

Truck is 15mm from QRF. Officer is 15mm from True North.