WiP Panzer IV's and some WW2 Wings of Glory

Hi folks,

I'm very aware I've not posted much since the challenge ended, but I am still here and still painting! Just not as quickly.

I've had some issues in the last week or so with shoulder and elbow pain, which I think is related to me leaning on my elbow too much at home and work. I'm trying to be more aware of my posture, but it is effecting how much time I can comfortable sit.

Last week I got my first 5 Panzer IV's glossed, then found I had incorrect decals for them. I've had to source some, but I've found very few sets of decals exist for German 7th Kompanie tanks... The ones I ordered arrived today, but I'll have to chop them up to get the correct number combos.

These Panzers will be from 5th and 7th Kompanie of II./SS-Panzer Regiment 12.

I've 12 Panzer IV's in total to paint, but might pick up another box of 5 just to give me the option of a full Panzer IV Kompanie. As it stands, these tanks will be part of my Kampfgruppe Waldermuller force, which was the 12th SS Kampfgruppe that counter attacked on 8th August, along with Wittmann's Tigers. I've also started working on the Flakpanzer 38T's.

StuG included just to compare how the camo scheme looks... Panzer IV's are glossed and waiting on their decals. 

WiP stuff - tracks and treads done on the Panzer IV's, as well as the stowage. Shells and ammo stuff is to go on some of the artillery units I finished in the last few months. 

PSC 15mm Panzer IV's

Gaming wise, last weekend we had a club gaming weekend, and a few of us spent the day playing the WW2 version of Wings of Glory:

The games were more or less balanced, but we found that randomising the approach vectors of the RAF fighters made the game a bit better - head to head vs cannon armed fighters does not go well!

In the final game, I had the little Hurricane that could...

The Hurricane can take 17 points of damage - the damage counters are drawn randomly, and at the point of being shot down I had 19 - with 11 of them having been draws of 0. The Hurri ended up with a bust rudder for a bit and on fire before I eventually took the final damage counters. I think the Hurri isn't particularity well represented stats wise - it's just a worse Spitfire really. I would have thought it would have had even 1 more hit point or slightly better guns (it was thought to be more durable and a better gun platform than the Spit). 

Fun game, and quick!

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!