Adventures on the Wargames Table

Yes, the blog is back in action. It's been "off air" for a little while to allow me to do some behind the scenes tidying up, de-cluttering, etc.  It's been going since 2007 so a clear out was definitely required!  It shouldn't (in theory) appear any different. The break has also given me some time to mull over what I want from my blog and to think about what readers/visitors like.  I started way back with two blogs; one for battle reports and one for painting, but quickly combined them.  As time passed it became a more generalised hobby blog with show reports, product reviews and random waffle, etc creeping in. I know from the stats that battle reports are often very popular but I must admit that these are by far the most time consuming posts to write.  They also require me to faff about taking lots of pics during the game along with making a few notes, which can at times be a bit distracting from the enjoyment of play.  So... in future there will be fewe...

I found this little half-track in one of my "bits" boxes.  It's a Blitzkreig model and the casting is okay but, to be honest, not quite a crisp as recent kits from Warlord. I tested a slightly different technique compared to my earlier Panzer II, etc.  Primed with AP Skeleton Bone spray and given a base coat of Foundry Boneyard shade.  Then gave it a pin wash of AP Strong Tone was (from a bottle not a tin).  The base colour was used to tidy up the edges and panels.  Paint the tracks and tyres black and highlight with grey.  Then highlight everything with a dry-brush of Foundry Boneyard mid and light.  That's it! The crew figure is from a Warlord 251 kit, painted the same as all my other DAK. Base from Charlie Foxtrot Models; textured and painted as described for my other DAK vehicles.

More firepower for Rommel's finest!  This time it's a lovely Pak 38 from Warlord Games. The kit was pretty cleanly cast but it was a little fiddly to put together. Not a view any Allied tanker would enjoy. All painted and based using the recipes I've described in earlier posts.  Check out the "Painting" tab above if you'd like more info.

Another January and another chance for this dynamic duo to strut their stuff!  Colin kindly asked me to join him on the Charlie Foxtrot stall. It was suggested last year that Colin and I looked like a slightly camp, ageing boy band... So Colin went for a new corporate look ... it certainly drew a few comments! :-D Colin also had a little present for Lard Supremo Big Rich. Here are a few pics of some of the demo and participation games on offer. Robber Knights using homegrown rules A fantastic AWI table Beautifully painted figures too The British hold the fence line The same Charlie Foxtrot kit (Tidewater) used for both buildings. A superb Star Wars Legion table The Battle of Omdurman - this was so good! An epic Age of Sigmar game The Lardies running a very enthusiastic participation game! Reinforcements! Saga v2 An astonishingly large and crowded Indo-China war table Skirmish Wargames - Normand...

The next step in our desert campaign is the Axis attempt to break through the defences surrounding Tobruk, the Battle of Ras el Madauur, which took place on 13th April 1941.  Dave's Aussies are heavily dug in on a trench line (represented here by a line of sandbags), in front of which were minefields, an anti-tank ditch and barbed wire. The field of battle Here are Dave's brave Aussies busily preparing a very warm welcome for Rommel's finest. After a quick 'command conference', Mike and I decided to throw everything in to an all out assault on the Allied lines.  The battle starts before dawn so the Night Fighting rules apply and we roll each turn to see if the sun has risen. The Panzers go straight for the centre! The view along the Axis lines! Now, silly Warlord don't seem to have actually specified the rules for anti tank ditches (if they have then please do let us know!) so as soon as the Panzers broke through the wire we had to think up ...