Sabre 2

I got some new decals from Paul last time I saw him, and have only just got around to fixing up the Sabre with them. Try as I might the old ones simply would not lift off the model, so the new ones ended up going on straight over the top.

Decided not go with any extra 'bling', decal wise, and am happy with the result. Must get on to sorting out this decal solution that Geordie has been telling me about.

The Russell Collection 2

A few more pictures from some of Dave's stuff, this time Japanese infantry. The first picture shows a regimental command flag stand, which gives a bonus morale modifier to any troops from the same unit within a certain proximity.

This one just a standard command infantry platoon from one of the line companies.

Last one, a weapons platoon. Dave is a very tidy painter compared to myself, no wonder his Russian infantry is taking so long.

The Russell Collection

My good friend David Russell came to visit over the holiday weekend and brought a few models of his along with him. In addition to Inchon we played a small Eastern Front game which I will post the write up for later, but in the interim here are a few pictures from the Russell Collection.

HaT T34/85s, with a couple of platoons from my Guards Regiment; Dave's' still painting his, I think tread-heads always leave their figures until last!

Italeri's IS2s. Quick build kits that look quite good when painted. These are also very reasonably priced by modern standards, however, unless you're gaming 1/1 how many IS2s' does one need?

Another Hat winner from the later war tank destroyer formations, this one an IS122 I think - not really that up with late war armour from any nation.

Inchon The Landings 2

The last seven turns from Inchon. Here is the last wave of the assault forces crossing their start line. Most of the fighting was a fair way inland by this time, so most of these units were engaged only in some minor mopping-up actions (beer bottle is for scale purposes).

Here the Asai Brewery garrison is outflanked on two sides and still fighting to their front. I would have liked to withdrawn this unit to a new line but the RHQ positions were just behind them and couldn't move because of poor morale, so they were ordered to fight till the last.

This shows the right of the brewery position and the main road leading through Inchon towards Seoul. The company making the attack here should have performed quite good as they were reasonably well supported, and had the numbers. However, the North deluged the area in shell fire, and the NKPA Air force made one of its two successful strafing runs as well.

Here is the result, which the North didn't see enough of. Several Marine platoons suffered casualties, and one under strength company surrendered outright.

This is just past the freight station where one of the T34/85 platoons ran into the Pershings, NKPA resistance actually wasn't too bad around this area until this happened.

This is the extreme rear of the massive Observatory Hill position. Here one of my last two intact companies held off repeated Marine assaults for several turns.

The NKPAs only anti-tank gun fires at extreme range in support of the Soviet volunteers on the left.

And were rewarded with the destruction of the quad 50. It didn't really make much difference at this stage however, Marines were sweeping through large holes in the Communist lines in company strength and greater.

Not historically correct this one, but I was taking whatever I could get by this stage. The last T34/85 platoon gets off a couple of rounds into the side of a Pershing, whilst battered and broken NKPA infantry flee towards their rally point in the foreground; they arrived just in time to be overrun by Marines detached from the Blue Beach area.

The Pershing cooked but it made no difference, the last decent NKPA defensive position now came under a battalion strength assault, supported by the surviving tank platoon and some Amtraks.

Desperate for more time, several out numbered and out gunned NKPA platoons are thrown back into the line by their commissars.

Although this unit was largely intact the complete destruction of the rest of their battalion, in sight of them, was too much and could not be rallied in time to affect any change on the outcome of the heavy fighting still going on in their area.

The last of the brewery defenders tried to regroup near its RHQ, but this whole area was overwhelmed by fresh Marine units before it could recover its broken morale.

This is the end of the NKPA Air force. It managed two ground attacks before being shot down, and did nothing at all to affect the overall outcome of the battle, unlike the Marine air support which featured well, where ever it went.

The final defense in the main Inchon railway station, which was supposed to be a rally point.

ROK Marines complete the last assault on the summit of Observatory hill, where a couple of NKPA platoons held out to the bitter end. The game was well and truly over by this stage, and we were pretty much just rolling dice and drinking beer.

This is the platoon of the game, it held out against attack from turn eight until turn nineteen, surrounded and unable to receive orders from about turn ten - exemplary behaviour, medals all round.

Some aspects of the game went according to history, some not. In the end the Marines won by 35 victory points to 21, and although they took far greater casualties than the real thing it was an interesting and different actions to research and re-fight.

Inchon, The Landings

Selected pictures from the first stage of the game, up until turn thirteen. Here the Marines come ashore at Wol Mi Do.

The initial actions around this feature work out fairly close to historical events. This is the battalion support company getting in position to cover the advance across the causeway towards the Nippon Flour Company, whilst another rifle company engages in mopping actions in the background.

Crossing the causeway with the Pershings' bringing up the rear, these caused great negatives to the morale of the already unreliable NKPA platoons defending this area.

This shows the only survivors from the island garrison trying to make cover, with the Marines in hot pursuit. Air support turned up to strafe the unfortunates this turn however, and the Marines missed out.

Upon seeing the island defenders eliminated and Marines and tanks take the causeway, part of the flour company garrison promptly failed morale and fled their positions, the center of the NKPA line never really recovered from this, and the US troops secured excellent field position for the drive inland.

This shows some of the support elements coming ashore at Red Beach, mostly HQ units and engineers.

More Marines coming ashore on Red Beach.

Resistance around the mill was pretty much over by this stage and several marine platoons were well on their way to taking Observatory Hill, which was directly behind it.

This is what's left the the NKPA HQ which was blasted off their hill positions by naval and air bombardment.

And this is the hole in the center that they left in their haste to retreat, leaving only a 50mm mortar and a couple of SMG platoons holding the heights.

NKPA T34/85s finally make an appearance, however they were quickly spotted by the omni-present American air support.

Extreme left of Red Beach, this shows the NKPA survivors of Cemetery Hill. This unit actually held out for long enough for the brewery defenders to get better organised.

This shows the brewery defence HQ holding off the Marines who had flanked the Cemetery Hill position. Despite intense mortar and mountain artillery fire onto them they gained the brewery perimeter without too much damage.

The NKPA enjoyed a bit of success as the forward Marine companies moved onto Observatory hill, their support platoons were caught in a combined mortar and artillery barrage.

Things were moving along pretty much as they did historically by this stage, with US air support making it very difficult for any NKPA reserve units to make it near the front unmolested.

Russian advisor units did a bit to bolster the morale of the North Koreans for a while, but eventually they were forced to give ground as well. The NKPA was desperate for fresh units in the forward areas as most were at 50% strength or less by now.

Here is one of the reserve companies that never made it to the front because they ran headlong into the point units of the Blue Beach assault.

More from the Blue Beach assault. Marines fighting it out around the freight station.

Finally, an untouched NKPA company makes it near the crucial center to the rear of Observatory Hill still holding out, but only just.

The last of the North's reserves attempt to reach the front. The whole thing is going well so far, will post a few more of the final showdown for tomorrow.

Completed Sabre

I am quite happy with the finish of this kit. In the end I left off several of the decals that I considered superfluous; the ones I did use went on reasonably well, and in fact I had more success with these than I have had with other decals at least half their age.

The last thing to do is make a small hole in the bottom so that it can be mounted on a stand, and I also need to apply some more black paint to the wheels. I'm going to make a concerted effort to get some of this decal stuff Geordie has been telling me about in the not too distant future. I had planned to start the Japanese aircraft tonight, but with the Inchon landings about 24 hours from kick-off I thought I better attend to some minor detailing on that first.

The Sabre

Decided to paint this one incomplete and on the sprue, which is highly irregular for me. Usually I just bash them together, give them a quick coat of paint, and that's it. However, I have been recently inspired by some very good work and so will take a bit more time with this one, and see how it turns out.

Not too fussed on the shiny silver finish, so I've gone with Bolt-gun Metal, followed by a wash of Chain mail, both from the Citadel range, and quite versatile colours they are too. The decals will probably be a little more modest than the actual scheme also, but I might look at other options for those - keep you posted.

Latest Arrivals

Joy! The postman can bring such light to an otherwise dark day at the coalface of children's education; I must think about re-enlisting at least twice a week. Anyway, here are the latest additions. The only other plane I need now, before making helicopter additions, is a Meteor. The Korean War expansion of my collection is going well.

This will become the standard air support model for my Japanese forces, never heard of UPC but the kit looks alright. Both aircraft came with pilot figures, which should be a mandatory inclusion in all such models, I would suggest.