WW2 ‘German’ Don Cossacks

 

I've had these in stock for a while now and as I may have work for them in a forthcoming game it was clearly time to paint them!

They're certainly a colourful crowd.

Panzer people

I originally started work on this interesting set three years ago but promptly mislaid it. It surfaced again yesterday (while I was searching for something else entirely). I’ll shortly be menacing these poor chaps with the dangerous end of a paintbrush.

The Last Redoubt - Belgium 1914 - part 3

 

As they galloped (and pedalled) into contact the world held its breath. Imagine then everyone’s surprise when the charge succeeded! This effectively ended the German 5th division's offensive capability, a further blow being the untimely death of the divisional commander killed by a stray artillery shell. It would be ungallant of me to identify the nationality of the responsible gunner, right Simon?

 

By now the German 6 division had crossed the canal in strength and was approaching Louvain from the north east. Helped by corps assets, German gunners had battered the defenders of  the village sufficiently that the surviving Belgian guns were withdrawn to Antwerp, together with the far more important horse drawn field kitchen.

 

At this point we called Endex and talk through what might have happened next. We agreed that the  that the German 5th division would regroup and be reinforced over the next couple of days and the delay would effectively prevent the Germans sealing off Antwerp for that period of time. We talked through everyone’s objectives and individual victory conditions. On balance , the Belgians did slightly better than their opponents.  In terms of the victory points for objective locations, honours were even.

 By popular acclaim the “men of the match“ were the Belgian cavalry cyclists and armoured car crew. Clearly then these are the weapons of the future.

 Everyone claimed to have had a nice day and I was particularly pleased to have deployed my 54 mm Belgians so soon after completing them.  My thanks as always to the players for entering into the spirit of the game and providing such fine entertainment.

 Without wishing to cause undue alarm I can see possibilities for a sequel to this game. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Finally, for those of you wondering about the game's title, I refer you both to the individual objectives and the following quote:

“Accent is the last great redoubt of prejudice.”― A.A. Gill

The Last Redoubt - Belgium 1914 - part 2

 A note on place names.  As this action was very much 'inspired by' rather then 'a recreation of', except for the outer area of Antwerp I hadn't got round to naming the other towns and villages.  Perhaps inevitably, the large town which ended up being heavily shelled and fought over became known during the game as Louvain.  I hear they've had to close the library...

The peaceful citizens of 'Louvain' going about their business.

A particular book seemed to be selling well

The Belgian cavalry, inevitably referred to during the game as the “cavalry mechanised group” started mostly in Louvain but swiftly withdrew when the head of the German column drew near.  They then took up positions near the eastern Canal Crossing. 

The cavalry leave town...

...and close in on the eastern canal crossing

An original* 1914 photo with the mighty Minerva armoured car detachment leading the way..

The Belgian infantry regiment deployed with two companies and the machine gun company in Louvain and the remaining two companies supported by both of the brigades artillery batteries in village A to the north Northwest of the Canal.

 

The other two companies of 27 Rgt.  The crafty Belgians had flooded the fields round this village.  Note the Belgian artillery and German scouts.

Belgian Commander Martin set up his HQ in the Fort and looked to have plans of spending a comfortable war therein.

The medical detachment having a nice lie down.

The German 6th Reserve Division advanced up the main highway and soon engaged by Belgian infantry and machine gun fire. 

The 5RD peeled off to the North and initially busied itself desecrating a monastery.  

German air reconnaissance (it’ll never catch on) found the suburbs of Antwerp to be free of troops. 

And just who was the intrepid aviator?  

Why none other then your humble correspondent.  Looking far too pleased for a supposedly grown man playing with a toy aeroplane.

After a costly struggle 6 division took Louvain and spent some time re-organising and preparing to move on.

As they closed in and prepared to assault village A, the Belgian artillery let rip with some (party popper) shrapnel which rather discouraged the lead German battalion. 

A further salvo or shrapnel discouraged a second German battalion at which point the attack on the village stalled.

Meanwhile, the Belgian cavalry and armoured cars made a nuisance of themselves at the eastern Canal Crossing where the Minerva attachment held up a German division for around half a day. 

While the Germans reorganised, the cavalry redeployed and soon arrived north of Lovain.  At this point - and in a shock development - they heroically charged a German battalion!

And....that seems like a good cliffhanger.  The final part of this sorry tale will follow.

30cm Nebelwerfer - part 2

Here is completed lash-up.  It's not quite a replica of the original but conveys the message - a big scary rocket launcher!  I cannibilised two of the rocket crates to provide 'empties' as clutter and rockets for two of the crew to lug around. They don't look too pleased about it.

I rather like the result - what do you think?

 

30cm Nebelwerfer - part 1

Perhaps inevitably there was a chat about Nebelwerfers over lunch during the Twin Villages game a few months ago.  It was agreed that the 30cm version was a relatively rare sight in wargames, so needless to say I took this as a challenge!  I knew I had some suitable(ish) rocket crates from a 1/43 halftrack model, so these were swiftly adapted and mated with a chassis frame and wheels.  Crew were sourced from a Tamiya gunners set. Dubious origins but really no worse than the real one. 

Munitionschlepper Wespe

I am fortunate enough to already own two 1/48 scale Wespe SP guns, so when I found I have a (part built) kit of a third I decided to build it as an ammunition carrier.

Build proceeded very much like the real one - miss out the gun and plate over the aperture.

Plenty of spare ammo!

Here is the finished model with a better armed friend.

Panzer 38(t) - part 1

 It’s been a while since I posted, which in no way indicates a lack of interest or actual wargaming! 

Here are some 3D prints (in 1/50 scale) I painted a few months ago  

Sdkfz 10 - sows's ear to silk purse?

This Sdkfz 10 was acquired in a box of tat and has seen service in several games.  While fundamentally quite a nice model it looked like the plastic tat it is!  Painting it, therefore, was an easy decision.  I went with an early-war look and I'm very pleased with the result!

3D Demags - Sdkfz 250 variants

I painted up these models a couple of weeks ago. They are resin 3D prints, in 1/50 scale to fit in with my Solido Sdkfz 251 fleet. 
 

The print quality is quite astonishing. I painted over my usual black undercoat. Decals were added from stock. 

More Kriegsmarine troops - part 2

Here are the completed Tamiya adaptations, along with some friends (in the final photo). I’ve tried to convey the impression of movement and action. 

I'm particularly pleased with the guy leaping through the window frame.