More Brits for North Africa

I recently finished a second batch of 1/32 Brits for WW2 games in N.Africa. Like the first they are a mix of ancient Airfix, Matchbox and Timpo plastics. I’ve daubed them in my usual ‘toy soldier’ style, topped off with a coat of Ronseal light oak satin varnish.

 Senior officers look on in despair. 

 The earlier batch can be seen in action near Sollum here.

Staying solemn at Sollum

I ran this skirmish game a couple of weeks ago using A Fistful of Lead rules and a scenario from a Skirmish Campaigns book. Jerry, Martin and Gary were the Italians while John represented the Coldstream Guards.

The Brits had but a single rifle section with part of a platoon HQ.  If front of the dug in infantry they also deployed some wire and a minefield. The white building is one of a batch I bought last year while the others are my recently made high-quality Libyan mud huts.

 Though the Italians looked to have a tough job ahead, things quickly went wrong for the Brits. Their Bren team was killed early on.  Here, the veteran Sgt. Bass takes to the rooftop to hose down the enemy with his Thompson SMG. The Brits were a mix of Airfix, Matchbox and Timpo.

 The photos are rather out of sequence - this one is from late on when the Brits are on the run and the southernmost Italian section is advancing.

 The Italian figures were a mix of CTS and Waterloo 1815 (HAT). Jerry seemed to strongly identify with the bare-chested machine gunner. Worrying.

 Earlier in the game. The northern Italian section (Gary) has neutralised the Bren team while the middle (Martin) lays down a hail of fire.

 Jerry’s chaps rush forward. Eventually...

 Empty positions are occupied.

 The British officer having being wounded, Sgt Bass MM was the last man standing...

 ...but it couldn’t last. Eventually he too expired in a hail of fire. A sad end and an unexpectedly glorious victory for Il Duce’s forces. On to Egypt then.....

Birmingham Toy Soldier Show 2019

 On Sunday I again visited the Birmingham show and had an enjoyable day out, this time accompanied by Graham E.  As well as picking up some random toys at attractive prices I met up with several friends - so hello again to Mike, Anthony, Graham A, John and Mike C. As a bonus, we had a very smooth journey in both directions.
Well done again to the show organisers, traders and punters.
Above - the green figures are Black Cat Napoleonic Russians - very rare and beautiful figures. Do I need more Russians?  Er.....  I also found three Barzso 18thC Highlanders.

Approximately three feet of stakes makes me think it might be time to revisit Agincourt. The (1/32) figure is there for scale.

I’d chucked the rest in a box before remembering to take photos. Three Timpo wagons - all a bit tatty, a pair of broken Timpo guns and a quartet of ancient/medieval twangy things. And a still bagged Timpo Gatling. Oh, and a tent.  It may be tat but at least it’s cheap tat!

Horsing around 3

This is the final batch of the figures Neil P kindly sent me for the recent Waterloo game.  These elderly Timpo chaps are - I decided  - Prussian hussars and have been re-horsed on Supreme nags.  That aside, work was confined to some repairs and touching in of paint.

Horsing around 2

You'll perhaps recall me mentioning the box of figures donated by Neil P* shortly before September's Waterloo game.  Getting some of the figures sorted out meant a 'quick win' during my frantic preparations for the game.  As the figures lacked horses I raided my stocks of Supreme (Italeri rip-offs) horses for suitable mounts.  The lances are sharpened steel, originally sold as pikes for 28mm figures.

The figures were indeed used in the game - thanks again Neil!

The original post is at: http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/horsing-around.html

Horsing around

When I noticed a post on the Funny Little Wars Yahoo Group offering some slightly down at heel but cheap figures I happily speculated the required tenner.  A package soon arrived from Neil P containing not only the apparently random selection above...

...but also these promising looking chaps.  They mostly seem to be Timpo figures, several with head swaps.  Clearly of some vintage, a fair bit of repair work was required, so I set to with the surgical PVA.  While that was drying I addressed the issue of horses - the package had contained only one.

Happily I had a load of these Supreme horses - which appear to be from the Italeri moulds.  Actually I have riders for them all but the figures from Neil looked much more interesting.  I can now report that all of the troopers in the second photo above have been re-horsed and are ready to take the field at Waterloo next month.  Photos soon, and thanks again to Neil!

Yet another box of delights - part 2

In a shock development, only 24 hours after getting these chaps home I had them PVA'd onto my usual mdf bases.  Next will come tickling up the paintwork and applying a lot of varnish.  There are about 30 French infantry (2 units) and 10 Old Guard, plus the four Brunswickers and 20+ Brits.  Not in the photos are the 7 French Dragoons and 5 Brit cavalry.  That there are only 11 horses isn't a big issue as I have plenty of remounts.  The figures seem to be a mix of Airfix, Timpo, Italeri and Call to Arms.