Outremer - Christian Missile Units

What comes first, the painting or the gaming?

Sometimes you need to keep the games going, to drive the painting on. Only a few more Crusader Units left before the decks are clear. 

12 Crossbow Men, with a number in white smocks to show their commitment to the cause.

Next up 12 Archers from Fire Forge Games, these go together really well and are quick to paint.

Dropped into Warbases Midgard movement trays to keep the units together.

Now for the next outing as the march to Jerusalem continues.

Operation Sealion - S Day +1

An opportunity to give Xenos a run out for WW2 and iron out a couple of kinks in the rules to go beyond the typical 24 points. With the German player looking to try out his newly painted forces, I pulled together a scratch force of Police & factory workers (from the AVBCW) to block the enemy forces. 

Scenario: Operation Seelöwe – Day 2 Breakout

Date: 23 September 1940 (alternate timeline)
Location: South‑East England

Against expectations, Germany has successfully landed forces in southern England. A combination of temporary Luftwaffe air superiority, poor weather grounding elements of the Royal Navy, and operational surprise has allowed the Wehrmacht to establish three fragile but continuous beachheads.

The German Primary Goal is to break out of the beachhead, seize key road and rail hubs, and prevent British forces from forming a continuous defensive line, the Germans look to cross a small bridge as they push towards Ashford.

A small wooden bridge facing a Y junction is where the British choose to make their stand, lightly armed Police with the Smith Gun and AT Rifle, would it be enough?

The invader has 2-3 sections plus a couple of Panzers, Armour can only cross the bridge, there is also a ford which the infantry can use.

Despite landing a number of blows, the armour crosses the bridge intact, reinforcements for the Brits attempt to slow the advance, but the Germans aided by BUF allies were across the obstacle.

On the far right the Germans had crossed the meadow but were countered by strange bed fellows of Coppers and Union Men.

In the centre the only British armour available was a 'funny' which rushed forwards it's heavy machine guns chewing up the hedge row only for a couple of AP shells to blow it to bits.

The defenders had no choice but to fall back - Hopefully the Stop Lines will be better a few miles back.

Good fun and Xenos Rampant make for a fun encounter with a decent result in a couple of hours.

Eureka Miniatures - Mujahideen Fighters.

May is one of those catch up months a cluster of bank holidays a couple of free days, a real opportunity to catch up on those projects that needed 'topping up'...

The postman has dropped some reinforcements for Chechnya, these guys have not been on the table for a while, but Eureka Miniatures have recently released some additional Afghan Guerrilla's which with a slightly different paint job gives me a couple of extra Mujahideen units to take on the Russians in Chechnya.

Eureka is still one of those companies where you can purchase individual figures, so you can pick and choose the mini's you need. First up two fire teams, with RPO's.

Another 4 fire teams, the bricks denote squad leaders, based up for Xenos Rampant.

Finally a couple of extra's to bolster the detachment, a heavy machine gun team, sniper and two leaders/spotters.

So many planned games.... :-)

The Battle for Foy - Easy Company lead the way.

Club day and an opportunity to go beyond the usual 6x4.

A WW2 Bolt Action outing and the The U.S. 506th PIR (Easy Company and supporting platoons) attacked the German‑held village of Foy during the Battle of the Bulge. The Americans had to cross open, snow‑covered fields under fire from entrenched German defenders.

The German's held strong positions in the town with the added challenge of the occasional armoured element, marvellous.

Faced with an expanse of open ground Easy Company swung left, trying to keep a number of the Germans out of play and bring the US superior fire power into play.

A large amount of open grounded was covered with limited casualties, until they hit small arms range and then the pins started to mount.

The Germans stripped the line and rushed to counter the flanking move.

Having reached the village outskirts the remaining US Platoons rushed from the tree line, as Easy Company fought to get a foothold in the village and the petrol station.

The clock ran down.... looks the Jerry might need softening up before the next push...

A cracking game with challenges for both sides.

Western Desert - Recon Units.

In a break from the Sino-Japanese project, a quick side step back to Operation Exporter and three Perry Miniature vehicles that that have been languishing in the cupboard of shame for a number of months.

First up a Vichy Dodge Armoured Car, built on a Dodge Commercial truck body with hand cut steel plate, it should protect you from small arms fire but pretty vulnerable to AT weapons. The Dodge saw limited action in Syria, Morocco and Tunisia. 

Next up two additional units for the British and South African/Commonwealth forces, the Marmon-Herrington and Rolls Royce Armoured cars are a useful match against the light forces of the Vichy. More of a challenge when facing the Germans.

Time to get them on the battlefield.

So many projects so little game time.

Oathmark Orc Archers - Scum of the Earth.

Another quick painting session to clear some of the smaller projects sitting on the paint table.

Paul over at movealongnownothingtoseehere has issued the Wyre Forest Club a monthly painting challenge. This month it's Scum of the Earth and these felt perfect.

Having built up Modred's forces back in the Summer for the Excalibur project, I was missing some missile troops for the evil side.

These are Oathmark Orc's but a flesh tone gives them a disfigured human feel perfect for terrorising villagers before the Knights of the Round Table appear to save the day.

Slow boat from China - Battlefield in a Box Terrain

I have had my eye on these additional river sections for several years they were never in stock and when they did appear on e-bay the price was higher than a galloon of 4 star. 

It's been 6 years since I last saw them on the market in any quantity. 

Then suddenly these pop up.... How could I say no...

Straight sections, Ford Crossings, T Junction and Streams, more than enough for what I need.

Add flock and river bank clutter reeds and they are table ready.

 

A great addition to the terrain collection....