On the painting table (2) and a Big Indulgence

 These chaps are coming along very nicely-

Bases to paint and gun metal to add but nearly finished. I am pleased with the results.

The other day when looking for some information for painting the above I chanced upon a book for sale. A big indulgence l know but the individual prints are so charming l couldn’t resist. Seller was a charity so win win as far as I am concerned. Anyway the parcel arrived today-

I am delighted with my purchase and hope to have an enjoyable afternoon exploring my new acquisition…

On the painting table

 

I recently bought some resin figures, 18th century and WW2 in 28mm . I haven’t started the 18th century ones as they require heads to be attached having removed them from their scaffolding. The WW2 ones came complete and are charming figures in some interesting poses, such as running holding helmet on head for example.. A trial paint job went well and I haven’t started the started on the rest. I have allowed myself an indulgence and painted a section of Chasseurs de pied in their 30s period uniform rather than 1940.

Secondly Eric sent me this splendid armoured car which survived its journey really well through the post. A lovely resin vehicle it is . It will probably, when painted serve with Mark’s Little Soldiers or on the North West Frontier or maybe somewhere else…

Thanks Eric, most appreciated.

Yesterday’s Game- VBCW using Bolt Action 2nd Edition

 The Opposing Forces-

My theme is ex British army regulars.

HQ with Captain, Standard bearer and medic in staff car
7 sections of infantry- all rifles and one lmg
Boys anti tank rifle and crew
2 medium mortars and crew
Vickers Med Mk II tank as used on Friday
Vickers Light tank MkVI B as used on Friday
Carden Lloyd carrier with mmg 
ALL points paid for as REGULARS 
Comes in at just under 1500 pts.

The Free State Recruitment Committee have opted for a much more inexperienced/green force, coming in at 1493 and comprising:

HQ section,, with Captain Standard, NCO, and Medic
All five sections of Liverpool Irish Militia
Two sections of Communist Party Militia
One section of Labour Party Assault Column
One section of Veteran International Brigaders
Two T26 Light Tanks
One armoured car, with turret MMG
One M/C Combo, MMG
Two armoured trucks

Victory Conditions- points for holding two important road junctions and the hill with the church at the end of the game.

The photos-

The Liverpudlian troops gathering and awaiting deployment. Also notice one of the important road junctions.

My chaps gathered prior to deploying. Deployment was facilitated by the umpire  drawing dice from the bag and each side deployed accordingly, one unit after another.

My tank deployed waiting to enter the fray, infantry in front moving towards start postion.

The aforementioned tank firing at infantry as they move through the village. They had better watch out as a T26 is deployed in the field at the top of the picture…

The Gurkhas sheltering in the lee of a building. It is the first time this section has fought in a VBCW game . They are normally deployed in North West Frontier gaming duties abroad.

Out of focus Scottish infantry take cover behind a hedge fearful of incurring the attention of the T26 across the table from them.

The Assualt column advances armed with smgs or shotguns. They advance needing to get closer to optimise firing as they are armed with shorter range weapons. 

One my sections advances cautiously into the village. The  Orleikon anti tank crew have taken casualties and are pinned. In the bottom right hand corner a mortar waits patiently for a target. In the middle of the picture notice a spotter looking for potential targets. It is his first VBCW encounter too as he is just back from deployment in the North West Frontier.

My tank has succumbed to enemy fire and will play no more part in the game. 

Coffee preceded the game and lunch part of the way through. It was fun to play yesterday as I have been umpire quite often of late. Nice to see the Dinky tanks on the table as well as my men and equipment from the NWF . We will conclude the game next week sometime. A grand day out in terms of gaming, company and hospitality.

Friday’s game and a mini arms race

 

I hosted a wee VBCW game here on Friday but didn’t remember to take many photos.

The commanders chatting and setting up.

The old gun deployed and waiting for a target…

The regulars advancing..

The next game is on Wednesday and at the weekend I decided to add to my troops and have a big painting marathon ( well big for me anyway) and mini arms race. First task was to stick together the Wargames Atlantic figures and base them prior to painting . 

A busy hobby weekend ensued fuelled by the Virtual Wargames Club, podcasts and coffee.

The results were l painted three sections of nine men, an Orleikon light anti tank gun, a heavy mortar , crews, a natty Staff Car( thanks Brian) and a command group.

Opps forgot to mention the spotter for the mortar and that I scratch built the mortar from scraps.

All in all pleased with the weekend’s out put and looking forward to seeing them grace my opponents table…

All the leaves are brown, except for those a little reddish.

 

It is not merely leaves on the line that the station staff have to contend with…

Bear necessities

 

A rather frightening encounter today on the Penedredfel Light Railway…

Eventually the bear got fed up and went off in search of other food.

Update

 Things have been quiet here. I am pleased to say the cellulitis has sorted itself with the help of antibiotics and resting. I have reflected a lot on how fortunate we are to have antibiotics. 

A visit from the Black Dog , who popped by , has ended and I am feeling a lot better and more like myself.

Today I will be hosting a VBCW game to continue our familiarisation with the Bolt Action vehicle rules. We will be using these as part of ir-

Both Dinky toys, the bigger was a recent eBay purchase, the smaller came from eBay a while back.

The tank had lost its gun and metal bit to help the turret rotate , easy repairs to make. At the side is an obsolete 19th century gun which was actually used in small numbers in 1940 . I will be using it in today’s game having been painted and a crew found. It will serve as a low velocity anti tank gun.

I noticed a previous owner had scratched a name on the wee tank “ Onward” and that l shall use for it.

It appeals greatly to me using toys from the period in my game , albeit they are more 1/72 than 1/56. The scale doesn’t matter to me. Another appealing aspect is they are the same kind of toy my father had in his youth and which l enjoyed playing with as a boy. On high days he would get the Dinkys out for me in their slightly  tattered boxes and the Dinky/ Skybird figures wrapped in old tissue paper. I really liked them.

Sadly the small collection got lost during some move or storage occasion. The above tanks bring the past and present together for me…

For me l am so pleased to seeing these old toys being used again and not just on a shelf being looked at.

Finally thanks to you all for your kind words and concern, they were greatly appreciated.