Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Never thought I'd ever get one of these!

The venerable Arirfix Handley Page 0400


This was obtained for me by my mate Paul at http://plasticwarriors.blogspot.com.au/?view=classic

They are an extremely rare kit nowadays and I am really grateful, I have always wanted one of these. Will build this kit to a wargames standard (hopefully better) and use it in games. These were operational by 1916 and served various nations into the 1920s; might even see a game out one day with my small Nationalist Chinese collection. Anyone else made one of these? A real beauty!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Jungle Playset

My jungle animal playset score is looking like a winner


Got a copy of Port Royale 3 at the same time, great video game :)



The palms will get a bit of paintwork and basing


four different kinds of trees, still have the fences and other stuff to base and paint too


Not the greatest stuff really, but it will do for a start and better than nothing. The value is that it gives me a lot of stuff on the cheap and plenty of minor projects to do. I'll still make a trip or two to the Maryborough Warlords once and a while but it's a wee way from where I live now, so not quite so accessible. 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

1939-40 British Infantry


These figures have been long overdue for representation in this hobby, in plastic. Zevezda has done a very good job of these sets, and I plan to get some more to try a few conversions with now



They are about as multi-part that I can be bothered with but they fit nicely and don't need too much filling


So far, two versions achieved of the advancing rifleman, the top one uses the ammunition carrier from the machinegun set with the arms of the one below 



All have the basic paintwork on, just the final tidying up left to do


Not really enough poses as would have liked but they'll do for a start


Rifle company, command platoon. Will get a few more stands to this stage and then decide if I'm going to use the lot for a full battalion, based for CD3.  


Thursday, April 18, 2013

New Bridge

Starting to build up a few scenic bits and pieces



This cool bridge came in a jungle animal playset that I found in K-Mart the other day, along with a few other jungle accessories that I'll get around to at some stage



Here is the finished product



A couple of coats of a dark brown, washed, then lightly highlighted and dry-brushed




The river will be added as soon as I find some suitable materials to make one from.


Friday, April 12, 2013

Cruiser Repaint

One of my favorite tanks, pity I only have two them for my early war collection. Long overdue for a repaint 



Cant remember who makes them, they are lead ones, SHQ maybe?


When I got them I didn't know anything about their colour scheme  or unit markings



Command platoon, crewman is a chopped down paratrooper



I found a small  bag of mixed decals in a garage sale in Brisbane a few days ago, and there were a few British tank marking in with them; from the JB/Airfix MkVIb I think



Together they form an under-strength company for CD3, might try pick up a couple of the resin ones Frontline has to offer, later this year


Monday, April 8, 2013

Arrived!

Apology accepted, will post some pictures tomorrow, when I have more light and time.

Calais: Day Two, the first ten hours

14 out of 24 turns played so far, the rest in a couple of weeks or so. All of the kit is a mixture of mine and Paul's. Here is the German point of view...

Extreme right of the German line, here are some of the British start positions near the railway station.

Extreme left, the village of Nielles les Calais defended by elements of the Queen Victoria's Rifles.

Early German moves against this village by SS Motorised Infantry came up against some very determined defence, and suffered unusually heavy casualties in the process.

Paul rushed his MkVI company into the fray to help the defenders who were outnumbered by about 5-1. This unit enjoyed an outstanding game , moving from one position to another plugging gaps and offering armoured support for the stretched infantry.

Me110 on a spotting flight during the opening moves. This is an old Revell kit.

In attempting to locate British positions, German recon units moved a bit deeper into the outer suburbs than they should have and quickly found themselves cut off and way out gunned.

Back on the left the SS get organised and the British begin start to take hits.

This flanking of the village by a second battalion of SS comes to a grinding halt when they are attacked in the rear by MkVIs.

Despite being cut off and taking fire the German recon units continue to locate the defenders main areas of resistance.

Two companies of infantry and one of tanks mount a rescue attempt on the recon units in deep trouble in the outer suburbs.

The attack on the far right flank went well until it ran up against the defenders of the railway station area. The fighting here went on for several hours before the British and French platoons were eventually forced to retire, in reasonably good order too it has to be said.

A9 Cruisers make the most of the lack of armoured support for the SS. The battle for this village became a small game in itself as both commanders committed ever greater numbers for its control.

Two turns later the A9s were on the other side of the village mixing it up with two companies of panzers. The SS infantry close-assaulted the village and house to house fighting went on here for several turns. German figures here are by Pegasus.

The A9s were confronted with superior numbers of German armour. The Germans always had more units to spare, and the British too much ground to cover for the numbers they had.

The infantry regiment's gun battery firing in support of the assault on the railway station area.

German infantry platoons in the streets of Calais. The Matilda at the end of road kept these units at bay for several turns, their own armoured support delayed in a fight with another A9 company.

Air support for both sides was fairly consistent. Here an Airfix Ju87b attacks British platoons holding the centre approach to Calais.

Still the British hold out on the left and attack aircraft made their presence felt, adding to the German woes.

The British did everything they could to prevent the village being outflanked and cut off. This is one of several sorties by LMG armed carrier platoons, who made a nuisance of themselves for several turns before they were eventually destroyed.

This is a company of search-light troops that were part of the flank defence. Despite being repeatedly attacked by SS troops and on occasion aircraft, they held they positions throughout the whole days fighting in this area - VCs all round.

This is from about turn 9 or ten, in the early afternoon. A large German attack slams into the British centre, with the panzers passing through the British infantry line leaving the motorcycle to take care of them. Again the versatile carrier platoons provided invaluable support.

Broken British tank company forced out of the fighting with its morale in tatters. Several times British units with shaky morale were forced back into the fighting. Airfix and SHQ Matildas.

Casualties building up inside the citadel.

Part of the harbour area continues the evacuation. Royal Navy troops along the dockside, one of which is a naval artillery observer.

Here the British 25lb battery goes into anti-tank mode out of desperation. They actually enjoyed some success, destroying a panzer platoon at long range.

After finally securing the railway station German infantry began moving against the last of the British positions guarding the the approaches to the citadel and the inner harbour area.

Only to be foiled once again by the ever present carrier platoons, obliging the Germans to fight yet another pitch battle before they could continue to secure good field position for the final assault.

British aircraft strafe the point elements of the German assault in front of the railway station.

Late in the afternoon the British centre finally began to seriously bend as the last of their tank companies in this area is forced from the fight with broken morale. Only the timely intervention of bomber aircraft prevented them from being destroyed outright.

Pressure mounts on the British positions, and without infantry support the tanks have no choice but to retreat deeper into Calais to the next line of resistance. Paul's most excellent French 25mm in the right of the picture.

Undamaged German infantry in numbers. The British would liked to have held this position but simply lacked the numbers to do so.

SS units finally secure control of Nielles les Calais.

A pretty hard fought game thus far. The next phase will almost certainly see a lot of house to house fighting as the Germans move to secure their objectives. Both sides will need to spend some time rallying and regrouping broken and depleted units. Next installment in a couple of weeks.