Finished!: 6mm Recon and 15mm LCA's

Hi folks,

I have fully intended to try and post more regularly this year, as I've found myself using my Facebook page for more 'work in progress' type posts. Still, I have managed to break my duck a bit with the AHPC, getting a themed round entry in the form of some hastily painted 6mm Modern Brits for Team Yankee, as well as this week getting 6 Battlefront 15mm LCA's done.

LCA's post (with some historic info) can be found there:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/01/from-jamesm-15mm-scale-battlefront-lca.html

Basically, I've painted six craft which are numbered for craft used on Juno (the Canadian) beach.

15mm scratch built LCT with 15mm Battlefront LCA's

Pretty pleased with these - the ramp position came about as I wasn't sure whether to do them raised or lowered, and Garry stated I should do them half way, representing them lowering on the way in or on the beach. Great suggesting from Garry, which proves that even a stopped watch is right twice a day ;)

The 6mm figures were painted in a hurry, and are not my best work:

Currently I am working on a Gunuary project - six limbered 6 Pdr A/T guns, modelled to be towed behind my UC Carriers. I've also got a 'wrecker' truck converted by yours truly, which will form the basis of a small REME Light Aid Detachment - just need a jeep and a spare 3 tonne truck to complete this little unit (the jeep and truck might go on a diorama base similar to my Regiment Aid Post).

I've also been converting some 15mm AA and Artillery figures into Royal Navy crew for my large landing craft, green stuffing anti flash hoods and gloves onto them to hide the uniform's being wrong... More on those soon, as hopefully they won't take long to paint.

That't it for now!

2018 roundup!

Hi folks,

I wanted to do a little review of the years work, as much because I've felt that I wasn't as productive this year as I have been previously. I had two lengthy breaks from painting, both following holidays away from home. I also struggled a little with my motivation at times, and as such I thought getting they full years finished pictures all together in one place would help.

I started the year pretty strongly, between the start of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge in late December 2017 and March 2018, I managed to exceed my target for the challenge and get a lot done artillery and FlaK wise for my Germans, as well as getting some 3mm stuff finished:

I carried on with the German theme following the challenge, trying to get a chunk of my 12th SS and supporting German armour painted by July. I overshot this target by a few months (mainly due to being sick of painting Germans... it was November before it was all done), but in that time also managed to build and paint an LCT...

I also finished off my 10mm ACW collection:

And managed to paint some 3mm Sci-Fi, 6mm Modern and 15mm Terrain stuff:

3mm Prototype Skinners

Quantity wise, I don't think I did too badly and I'm pretty happy with the quality of the German armour. I'm pretty proud of the LCT as well. The 6mm stuff was definitely given less time and effort, and could do with revisiting at some point, although for the size of it, it's very much 'good enough'.

From a productivity standpoint, I think there are about 30 individual 'groups' of mini's that I would have taken between one and two weeks with, plus a few small add ons. I guess I can be pleased with that - my logic is generally that I should be finishing a platoon every two weeks (which is an internal measure of how likely I am to ever finish what's in the lead pile).

I also spent time building plastic kits when I was not painting, organising and planning as well as  taking stock of what I have to paint - all of which is productive time even if it didn't end up with models being painted.

I've also one last unit I am working on currently I hope to get done in December, but it is looking like it might be the start of the year before it's finally done.

Show wise, I managed to get to quite a few, including some new ones thanks to Dave D and Martin. Museum wise, I got back to the Tank Museum and spent the day in the archives, as well as getting to quite a few air museums all over the country. The collection continues to grow both in painted and unpainted models, and I've branched out into D-Day. I've not played as many games with the collection as I would have liked, but am trying to rectify that in 2019 by hiring a local hall regularly to get some big games in with the lads (for both mine and their collections). Blog post's have been slightly down this year on previous years for some reason, but I think that is because I've cut down on WiP posts (using Facebook instead for this), and only posted to the Blog when I have finished things to show.

In 2019 I am planning to step things up a notch and try to learn how to use my airbrush. I've too many vehicles in the painting queue (and an ungodly number of them are halftracks) and I need to speed up how I do these. Other than that, play more, paint more...!

As ever, Cheers to the guys on the Miniature Modelling Mayhem Paint and Chats for helping me stay motivated and chatting while painting. I have been doing these for a few years now, and while they are not for everyone they really are a good way of getting stuff done while exchanging small talk, talking about the hobby and really just being a good bunch of people to talk to. Thanks also to those people who comment on the blog, which also helps me stay motivated! And to Dave D and Martin, who's enthusiasm and participation in my 15mm madness has really helped me stay on track, and who have been willing guinea pigs as we continue to develop an interesting style of play!

Finished!: 6mm British Moderns (part 1...)

Hi folks,

I had intended to post this last weekend, but didn't get around to it and have had a hectic week this week which has seen little painting being done.

I've been trying to clear some of the models that have been cluttering up my painting shelf for the last 12 months, some of which has been my Brits for Team Yankee. These are a mix of GHQ, Heroics and Ros and Butlers Printed Models miniatures, and I'm about half way though currently.

So currently, a full squadron of Chieftains, with the front two on the right being BPM models, while the one on the front right is a GHQ model.

The Harriers and Lynx's are H+R models, which came out quite well. Blowpipe models are H+R while the Spartans on the bases are BPM. The Swingfires are GHQ, while the Abbots are BPM and the M109's are (I think) H+R.

Still all the infantry to do, and a load of AFV's. The models are quick to paint, as I've kept them very simple. However, the basing is time consuming!

In other news, despite my better judgement I've volunteered to take part in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge again this year... So need to start organising what I plan to paint as part of that!

Team Yankee recap - but still nothing finished!

Hi folks,

Not a huge amount to report on for this weeks efforts. While I have progressed my german tanks - they now have decals and radio aerials - I've still not actually finished anything!

I thought I'd post a bit about last weeks gaming club effort. The Old Guard Wargames Club met in Northallerton last Sunday, and myself and Dave played some 6mm Team Yankee games. 3 to be precise!

The other club members were playing a home brew rules set, which was set in the French and Indian Wars (I think!). Possibly AWI.

The Team Yankee game was the 3rd in the series of scenarios from the Iron Maiden book, and sets Brits against Russians. In the first game, I played the Brits. The scenario has the initial British deployment as being pretty limited, with only an infantry platoon, artillery, Chieftan troop and Swingfires available, one of which can be in ambush. The rest of the British force is in immediate reserves and come on through the course of the game. The Russians, on the other hand, start with their whole force on the table. Which includes Hinds and fast air... Note the lack of British AA!

My initial setup, artillery at the back, Chieftans in the centre and infantry holding the factory complex. Swingfires were in ambush. 

Dave went for a broad advance, deciding to ignore the defensive minefields, which cost him a couple of tanks. 

Dave makes use of smoke to block my fire, while his tanks attempt to flank. 

My Swingfires ambush from the woods and start killing tanks, which forces Dave to deploy his Hinds to combat them. His tanks take out my artillery, and the Swingfires are a nuisance for a while before the rout. 

Russian fast air (SU 25's) arrive, but thankfully doesn't do much. 

I was really unlucky with reserve rolls. Not having some of the stuff from the scenario, the Brits swapped out helicopters for some Milans and Rapiers. My Rapiers arrived and dealt with the Hinds. 

Swingfires bug out, but not before inflicting heavy damage to the Russkie armour. 

Rapiers and Chieftains arrive to support!

Dave didn't make much use of his infantry, and the BMP2's were knocked off one at a time. Carl Gustav teams did some damage here. 

My OP was parked up by the church. We decided he would be able to use the church tower...

Lots of burning T 72's. 

After the first British win, we switched sides, with me as the Russians. I decided to put everything down the one flank. I think this might be the only way the Russians can win the game. While drawing the game would be easy for them, I was aiming for a win. As it turned out, I should just have kept dashing and got to knife fighting range...

Russian forces were 2 companies of T 72's (6 tanks each), plus a HQ of 1 tank. A company of motor rifles in BMP2's, 3 Carnations, 2 Shilkas, 2 SAM carriers, 2 Hinds, 2 SU 25's. 

The Soviet's prepare to go!

Halfway, and only a few burning tanks... My Hinds deployed to stop an ambush in front of me.  

BMP2's let the infantry out - I did this too early, the plan had been to use their ATGM's and theinfantry to flood the defences, but I should have dashed again and got them onto the objective instead. 

Dave's firepower rolls to kill 4 BMP2's with tank gun fire. 

Dave was much luckier with the reserve rolls. I ran out of steam and he rolled me up. Another British win!

The 3rd game, I didn't take any pictures of. But I kept with the Russians and went down the covered approach on the Russian right. Similar results, getting shot to bits without making any progress! A very tough scenario for the Russians to win. To draw however, they just have to have a unit in the British half of the table in turn 6, which would be easy to do as the infantry could hole up in a forest and the Brits would struggle to shift them.

The other chaps had a big table set up, and I think they got two turns in:

So that's it for now!

6mm Team Yankee game

Hi folks,

Despite painting all week, I've nothing to show today as my Wednesday entry was not posted on the challenge blog due to me getting it in too late at night (still, 5.30pm Canadian time on Wednesday.... but nevermind!).

Instead, I thought I'd post up some pictures I took of a 6mm Team Yankee game myself, Martin and Dave D played at Dave's last weekend.

This was our first outing with TY at this scale, and the terrain is currently based on what Dave had available from 10mm projects and the likes.

My deployment - Swingfires on the left, arty at the back, Chieftains, infantry and tracked rapiers

Objective is the T junction

Red tufts mark unit leaders

First blood to the UK forces takes out a load of Russian armour - there is, however, more on the way!

Myself and Martin were fielding Brits. We just put models on the table and didn't worry about points as it was really a game to see if the system worked and Martin and Dave were happy with it. Myself and Martin had a Squadron of Chieftains and about a company of infantry, plus support. Dave had... a lot! Points wise we may actually have been fairly close.

I had the right flank, Martin took the left. Objective was to seize and hold the T junction.

Dave's Hinds show up to support his flank attack on me!

Martins Recce units, with tanks on the road

Dave's advance continues!

As expected, the Russians took a beating closing the distance, but managed to kill half the Chieftain squadron and were pushing hard on Martins flank - who had lots of recce vehicles but not a great amount of tank killing power.

I lose some Chieftains, but my Rapiers pay the Hinds back (had missed the rule about SAM's firing in enemy turn!)

Securing the objective... till the 3 Chieftains died, then we dug in and held on!

More Hinds! This time harassing Martin - these ones proved harder to kill!

Our centre takes a pounding - tank knife fights hurt!

Lone Hind, which I am ignoring! It failed it's morale check and flew off...

My tanks on the road are supporting Martin!

Because he needed the support!

I managed to get some infantry dug in near the T junction, then Martin decided to put another squadron of Chieftains on the table...

Martin's reinforcements make all the difference - markers are bailed out tanks

A lot of dead russkie armour - T-64's and some T-80's

End of the game - good time had by all!

Martin's reinforcements led to the Russian advance being stalled... but I think without the reserves that suddenly appeared, Martins flank would have broken off and I would have been forced to disengage as well!

Great game, played nice and quick and I think we all really enjoyed it. It looked good as well! I think all three of us are happy to commit to the rules and will be using TY as a baseline moving forward - although with fan made stats for kit not yet covered by the official material. We're looking forward to seeing what we can do with this, with a campaign being discussed as an option!

We also played some Wings of Glory WW2:

Nice fast paced game, and Dave's table mat for it is stunning. I've got my own little Hurricane fighter, but am a bit let down by the Hurri's stats (worse manoeuvre than the spit, same damage points, same guns - despite it having a reputation as being sturdier and a better gun platform)!

Hopefully more to post next week, as I've finished a Flak battery of quad 2cm guns as well as a battery of 15.5cm French guns in German service! Plus I've three Wespes nearing completion - my first SS vehicles!