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. 

Foy-Notre-Dame - part 2

 As we rejoin the action, Mark is still trying to get his radio to function.

The Americans have had a bloody nose trying to get into the village. 

The company of M5 Stuarts has found the minefield. The hard way. 

On the German left, while the AT gunners and Panzerfausts have had a good run, the infantry’s luck is in danger of running out. 

At last - here comes some US air support. So that’s who Mark has been calling up. 

Amazingly, one of the Panther platoons is hit!

Simon’s British Motor Co pushes into the village, assisted by fire from the accompanying tank sqn and carrier Plt. 

The German infantry headed for their getaway halftrack. 

One of the burning Shermans was John’s OP tank. Luckily a replacement OP has trudged through the woods to join the HQ troop. 

The Puma Plt gets off a cheeky shot before hiding in the woods. This allows John’s tanks to move forward. 

Here comes another flight of P-38s

A British tank sqn working its way round the flank of the Panthers. Much to Mark’s relief!

Boom! The surviving Panther Plt brews another troop of Shermans….

…but is finally seen off by the efforts of more Shermans. Note the burning Firefly troop.  

By now the Germans could read the writing on the wall and withdrew their surviving troops, allowing the Allies to consolidate in the village. An honourable draw and a very entertaining game to run. Well done everyone!

Foy-Notre-Dame - part 1

Last week's game saw us back in the Ardennes.  No fewer then seven players joined me over Zoom and gave their instructions and orders while I shoved the toys around.  The scenario was adapted for a Rapid Fire book and dealt with 2 Panzer Div's KG Bohm as it got dangerously (from the Allies' point of view) close to the Meuse.  

The KG was built around 2PD's recce battalion  - two companies of infantry in halftracks, an armoured car company, two AT platoons (Panzershreck and PAK40), Flak plt and had an attached company of Panthers!  Martin was in charge and looked after the left flank, while Jim commanded the infantry and Panthers in and around Foy itself.  If there's any demand I'll write a post on the toys used in the game.

The German left  (the southern end of the table) - infantry dun in on a hill, flak on another hill.  The halftrack in the foreground belongs to the AT gun plt - the guns are concealed in the house just across the road.

The recce infantry co.  Veterans all!

From the NW came a US cavalry troop (not a horse in sight, sadly) commanded by Ian and some Brits from 3 RTR led by Simon.

In the NE there was another cavalry troop and friends.  They soon found the Panthers.  The hard way.

Martin's HQ and the armoured car co skulking in woods.

The German AT gunners were soon very busy when a squadron of Shermans and John's HQ sqn appeared from the SW.  From the hill, the infantry joined in with Panzerfaust fire.

By now Ian's cavalry was probing cautiously into Foy.  Mark's M8s has fallen victim to infantry AT fire - it turned out there was a platoon each of Panzershrecks and MGs in the house on the left and a whole co of panzergrenadiers in the church.  No doubt with Hauptman Jim leading them in prayer.  Meanwhile Simon's Sherman sqn has begun shooting up the village and his motor infantry co is fast approaching.

We conclude part one with Mark's cavalry having a very hard time.  The halftrack with the gun is a T19HMC standing in for an M3GMC standing in for an M8HMC.  Clear?  

On the other hand, the Bazooka plt has sneaked to within range of the Panthers...  Meanwhile Mark (that's him behind the building on the right next to the HQ halftrack) is making an urgent radio call...

Nebelwerfers

 

Among the toys making their combat debut at the recent Ardennes game was this pair of Nebelwerfers.  These are 3d prints, with crew figures sourced from what came to hand.  They're Tamiya figures, mostly from the 88mm gun set.  

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.

 

More Kriegsmarine Troops - part 1

I decided I needed more German naval troops for a game planned for later in the year.  I already have the Mars set as per this post.  Knowing I’d end up converting ‘ordinary’ German infantry I reviewed my stocks  I wanted guys with light weapons - especially MG34 and wearing fairly light kit  - just water bottles and gas mask canisters, without satchels, bread bags and the like.  This Tamiya set looked promising and it wasn’t one I’d previously tackled.  It contains eight figures and I’ve (so far) built six.  More when the varnish dries!

Japanese 70mm Infantry Guns

These tiny guns were widely used by Japanese forces for fire support.  Being too mean to buy an expensive and fragile plastic kit and too impatient to order a 3D print I decided that scratchbuilding was the way to go.  In the end I built three of them and gave one to PHW.  

The crew for this one were adapted from the Tamiya Japanese Infantry set - often to be found startlingly cheap at under £1 a figure!

The second crew are cut-about Aitfix figures, complete with sword-waving officer!

The pre-paint photos give you a better idea of the construction.  Wheels were an issue but I had a (20mm) metal kit of a WW2 German 15cm field howitzer.  The gun wheels are wider then those of the limber but I can live with that. (The third gun had wheels from another such gun).  Barrels are plastic tube, trail legs bambo skewers, everything else random bits of plastic card.