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Friday 9 August 2013

Flames Of War Japanese Review and 'Adolf Don't Surf' event.

Hi Guys,

I picked up some of the new Japanese models that Battlefront have released for a tournament. The time constraints were very tight from picking up the models to needing them completed. All in all it took me 6 days to get them painted, and onto the table top in time for 'Adolf Don't Surf' which was held in the UK on 27/07/13.


This was everything that was needed for a 1500pts Army, as I decided to take them as Veterans to cut down on painting time. The Army lists have very good special rules for the infantry, so I decided to go with the Hohei Chutai (Infantry Company)

 
First step clean up and assembly. As usual with Battlefront figures you get the correct amount of stands, models and options to create the platoons that are needed in the books. The models are very nicely cast with some lovely dynamic poses. The models required minimum clean up, with little flash and mould lines. The new style infantry bases really help to speed up the basing progress, and actually made it possible for me to finish in time.
 
My favourite 2 models are the 'prone riflemen' one looks to be signalling to other members of his squad to advance, whilst the other is in a firing position engaging the enemy. I do feel however, that perhaps there should have been 2 different poses for the light mortar teams, as you need 3 teams per platoon, they end up looking too similar.
 
The Regimental Standard and banners on the rifles really help to make these infantry to pop. They add lots of character to the models, and make the models that more interesting when on the field of battle.

 
 
 Using my airbrush I managed to get the primer and main uniform colour onto the infantry in good time.
 

 
The completed 1500pts army

 
 
A closer view of one platoon and the 2iC Regimental Standard (note, I chose to swap out 3 rifle teams in each squad for the AT teams)
 



 
 
 
The tournament went very well for saying I had not had chance to practice with the army at all. I faced 4 tank armies and 1 infantry company. Scoring 5-2, 6-1, 6-1, 4-3 and sadly falling at the last hurdle 1-6.
 
The armies biggest strength is definitely the Auto-Attack option at night, using the concealment given to get into position is very useful. My next purchases for the Japanese will be some light AT guns instead of the tanks (they did nothing all weekend)
 
Thanks for reading,
 
Manny

Panther G Work in Progress 2

Hi guys, just a quick update on the progress of the Panther G platoon.

It shouldn't take too long till they're finished now, I just need to weather the last 4 tanks, but need to find the time between projects.



 
 
Cheers,
 
Manny

Thursday 18 April 2013

Panther G Work in Progress

Got my hands on a box of Late War Panthers without Zimmerit, so thought I would try my hand at some Airbrushing. I decided to use the AK Interactive stuff. I plan on doing the Panther in an Ambush pattern Camo.










Friday 12 April 2013

British Airborne Commission - 1st Platoon

Hey Guys,

Been working of some British Airborne for a very good friend. I've finished up the first platoon so thought I would share some pictures of it.







I'll be posting more pictures throughout next week of the finished platoons/company.

Cheers for looking,

Manny

Thursday 11 April 2013

BHGS Challenge 2013

At the last minute I found that I was free to attend the BHGS Challenge 2013, it was MW 1625pts and so i decided to jump on board. Sadly there were only 8 players that attended, but it was a really nice venue, and great all round fun as usual.

I chose to take my MW Russians, as i'm still working on other MW armies at the minute. I took Strelkovy with Shtraf and scouts to get that auto attacking, infiltrating goodness.

Round 1 - Ben Allen - German Grenadiers - Fighting Withdrawl

Standard set up really for the Germans, dug in Infantry on every objective, with the Halftracks whizzing around MG'ing everything. I chose to have a huge blob on each flank, and then just charge them forward until they hit the lines.

After my left flank blob had infiltrated forwards they got spotted, and so the first turn went to the defender. don't really want to talk to much about this game, as some how it timed out after just 4 turns each. I kept urging the defender along, but i suppose every minute mm of spacing between Halftracks is a must every movement and stormtrooper. I suppose i should have called foul after it took 10 minutes to decide to withdrawal the 2 Panthers at the start of turn 3 (utterly useless against 70 infantry).

So the game timed out at the end of my turn 4, thus meaning defender won even though i was all over an objective like a wet flannel. Booooo :(
Infiltration moves on my left flank get spotted. 

Start of Turn 1


Turn 2 -Soviets just keep pushing forwards


Turn 2 - Right Flank

End of my Turn 4

Right flank objective

Round 2 - Chris Smith - Italian Paras - Cauldron

Second round I faced Chris Smith with his Italian Paratroopers. I chose to start with both Infantry companies on the board, and planned to just smash into the objective on my left flank, whilst i kept a platoon of his tied up in a building. I forgot to keep taking pictures after turn 3. 

His Germans that were on the left flank had whittled me down due to mortar and nebs fire, so i had to start moving my other platoon across who finally managed to get into assault with his integral AT guns on the hill. In the end forcing him to take a platoon motivation which he sadly failed, thus leaving my other platoon holding the objective.

Chris was a great guy, and a pleasure to play against, i feel he was really unlucky in this game to lose 1-6, as he forced lots of morale checks on one of my companies. Their Commissar has his work cut out, killing 4 of his own company just to keep them in the game :) 



End of turn 3, and then i forgot to take more pics :-/


Round 3 - Brendon Cummins - German Infantry - Free for All 

What a great way to end day 1, Bren is a very polite young man, and he has an extremely good grasp on the rules and tactics of FoW. Being FFA I decided to spread out along the line, and advance forward. I knew if Bren could sneak his tigers passed my advancing Infantry then i'd be hard pressed to budge them from my objective. 

Sadly his infantry on my right were very spread out, and this then made it easier for me to dodge defensive fire, and squeeze my way onto his objective. However, his Tigers roared into action and immediately went on the offensive trying to reclaim the objective their brothers had just lost. He had his CO in command of the Tigers, urging them on, but after the 8th round (and 11 dead Russians) they finally failed the motivation to counter attack, leaving the objective in the hands of the now very sorry looking Russians.

This is one to watch out for people, his Dad has obviously decided to start training him up at a young age, so maybe Bren can be the one to challenge Lord C? ;-)







Round 4 - Dave M - Panzer Company - Pincer


Obviously don't want to spoil the surprise, but wow, Dave whooped me sideways here people lol.

I decided that infiltrating to just beyond 8" was the best thing to do, automatically giving him Turn 1, but at least I managed to get lots of teams into a position to better assault onto the objective. Sadly, Dave's Mk4's had other ideas, and proceeded to bombard the Hell out of my infantry. 

I had to keep pushing forwards though to try to get into the building with the objective before his reserves arrived, if that happened before i closed the gap it would all be over. My artillery was less than useless, failing to range in repeatedly, even though i only needed 4's. 

Once i managed to get to within striking distance, failing some key dice rolls sealed the deal, as my infantry decided not to dig in and failing a tank terror test. It was then a matter of a couple of turns whilst Davee just kept forcing tests on my infantry, awaiting the inevitable.

Dave was a gentleman, and at the end of the game let me have my last couple of Arty strikes to see if i could claim a platoon. However, even after seeing a second Panzer 2 explode, the platoon commander knew it was worth sticking around for sour cabbage and medals.




Round 5 - Paul Cumming - US Armoured Rifles - Encounter

First and foremost I would like to apologise to Paul. I hate encounter, as it means i can't attack with this force until everything is on table, so defending against Halftracks was the only option.

Again I forgot to take pics at the start and end of this game. (what a mong)

Paul started with both armoured rifles and a platoon of mortars on the table. These began dismounted and advanced to within striking distance of my lines. Somehow though, I managed to whittle both rifle platoons down to 7 stands each and removing his tracks, basically stalling his attack.

His Turn 4 and his Stuart finally turned up, and began assaulting at the nearest opportunity. Sadly after he broke off, my 2nd infantry company showed up as reserves right infront of the poor Stuarts and managed to hold tight as the Stuarts came in again.

Later in the game his M10's decided that all was not lost, and charged into the now very depleted looking Soviet lines, after a brief exchange of combat they decided to break off, awaiting the chance to strike again. My 122's however, had a different idea, and manged to destroy and bail 1. The remaining 2 TD's fell to grenades and Molotovs.

The game was all but over, but if the Americans could keep forcing Morale checks on the Soviets, then sooner or later they would get some points. Pauls last throws of the game saw him break a platoon, but then sadly fail his own Company check next turn.

What an epic game, and Kudos for assaulting dude. 5-2




Overall it was a very pleasant tournament, with only one game leaving a sour taste. Chuffed to have come 2nd, and a very well done to Dave and Paul who came 1st and 3rd respectively. Also a big thank you to everyone that turned up and to all my opponents.

Cheers Manny

PS, on a side note, Dave wins the Stalin award with 70 infantry kills :) (I really need to get a trophy made up)





Friday 5 April 2013

Best Leaving Present ever? I'll let you decide! :-D

Got a surprise of a lifetime today as I received a leaving present from the medical centre I work at. What can I say.....I was shocked as I opened the box to realise that they had bought me a Pz 1000 'Ratte'



Wednesday 13 March 2013

Now Accepting FoW Commissions

Hey Guys,

I've been advised by a couple of people that I should start doing a few commissions. I can't paint to the works of art that you see on the Forums by Ritterkrieg, MoW and WPB to name a few.

However, I do paint to a consistent standard and really enjoy painting as basing, and seeing the whole army come together. I've won 3 painting award in the last 10 months, so I hope this means people like my work.

Rough costs will be around £1 per man (plain uniform) £1 for a standard basing (filler, static grass and tufts) and around £7.50 per large gun team and medium tank.

Prices for other sized guns and tanks can be worked out on request. I also really enjoy making platoon 'Vignettes' so that the infantry stands come together to form a bigger picture.

I'm currently finishing up a British Airborne force for a good friend, and then will be free to start new projects.

Kind Regards,

Manny