Friday, 14 June 2013

Bailen 1808

This was another Command & Colours game and saw the debut of some Spanish troops recently acquired by John and I.  I brought all the French and the terrain.
The scenario can be found here, so I'll not bore you with too much of an introduction.  Most of the photos are taken from the French left/Spanish right.  Actually a fair chunk of each army was made up of Swiss mercenaries which we represented using a variety of Germans from the 'French Allies' box.  The photo above shows the position early on.  A unit of (French) Swiss has occupied the wood in the foreground.
The French soon sent forward a light cavalry unit...
...seen here being cheered on by the Swiss.
Meanwhile the (Spanish) Swiss stood by to welcome them.
The sherry-swilling Spaniards, Jerry and John.
And the garlic munching Frenchies, Peter and Martin
The cavalry charge actually went quite well - here can be seen the Swiss survivors trying to form a very small square...
On the other flank (the French right), Gen Chabert was leading his troops against the Spanish guns.
The cavalry having seen off one unit of (Spanish) Swiss, the other was soon engaged by some (French) Swiss. 
A real grudge match ensued with a stunningly lucky dice roll eliminating the former.
Over on 'Gun Hill' (there's one in every game), Chabert's lads had seen off a host of enemies..
...but the Spaniards still had reserves of uncommitted units.
The failure of this last-ditch cavalry charge clinched a narrow (and unhistorical) victory for the French. 
As with pretty well all the C&C games we've played, this was an entertaining and at times, tense encounter.  

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

A quad of Claudes

The Mitsubishi A5M - or Type 96 Carrier Based Fighter - was the direct ancestor of the rather better known A6M 'Zero'.  It flew on in front line service until mid 1942, the few survivors ending their days on Kamikaze flights.
These little gems are pre-coloured Japanese 'Gashapon' kits by F-Toys - the photo above shows the component parts.  So no painting required, and only a modest amount of assembly!
The set I bought contained four different Claudes - here they are assembled and awaiting additional markings.

Monday, 10 June 2013

Armee de l'Air - 1940 and beyond!

Time for some aviation eye candy now.  But remember - too much can be bad for you.
When I began building my 20mm forces there were no 1/144 scale French aircraft available.  Even now there aren't many, so I'd ask you to take that into account when judging the following crimes against accuracy....
Humble beginnings.  My first effort was this Dewoitine D-520 which sadly still bears a striking resemblance to the old Revell Spitfire on which it is based.  Better luck next time...
Next time.  This Potez 630 was based on the plates in one of the old Funcken books and began life as a Bf-110.  I know, you'd never have guessed....
Things improved (for both the real A de l'A and my version) with the arrival of the Hawk 75.  This one is a Reverisco metal kit.
The most numerous modern French fighter in 1940 was the Morane MS.406.  These are True North metal castings painted by Wg Cdr Luddite.  The Morane in the background is clearly planning ahead as it is already wearing the colours of the post-armistice Vichy administration.
A Megablitz game a few years ago generated an urgent need for a couple of French bombers.  Both were finished in time for the game with several hours to spare....  First was the Bloch 131 above which I produced by mangling a kit of a Japanese Yokosuka P1Y 'Ginga'.  It has French markings - that's close enough...
he Bloch's stablemate (well not very stable really) is this Amiot 354.  This was the result of another hacked-about Jap kit.  I rather like it.
More recently a degree of professionalism has crept in - in the shape of this pair of diecast models found on ebay.  First is the splendidly antiquated Bloch 210.  Actually this isn't as old as it looks - deliveries only began in 1936!  A few were supplied to Republican Spain and Rumania.
Finally we have the very modern-looking Liore & Olivier LeO 451.  These continued in French, German and Italian service throughout WW2.  Production was resumed postwar and the last French versions served until 1957.

Saturday, 8 June 2013

GHQ 2013/14 new release schedule

The forthcoming year's new releases have been announced by GHQ.  As usual, my edit of this list below consists only of the 1/285 scale WW2 and Postwar models. 
At first glance it doesn't look like too expensive a year, my only 'must-have' being the G-Wagen.  I may, however, be tempted by the French infantry.  And possibly the S. Korean stuff.....
A bog-standard G-wagen

June 30, 2013

US-99               M4A2 Sherman 75mm   Sherman used by US Marines    5/pack

R-69                 M4A2 Sherman 75mm   Lend-lease, 3664 received          5/pack

SK-1                K1A1 RoK MBT in use since 2001        5/pack

G-577               Pz III M with sideskirts              5/pack

N-556               LAV III Kodiak w/ 25mm chain gun      5/pack

N-557               ASLAV- Aus/Can version of LAV 25    5/pack

R-70                 ZiS-5 Fuel Common Russian Fuel Truck             5/pack

August 31, 2013

UK-100            M4A2 Sherman 75mm with Sand Shield Lend Lease       5/pack

US-100             WC55 Dodge M6 SP with 37mm ATG   5/pack

N-558               LAV III TUA (Tow Under Armour)      5/pack

N-559               Modern German Infantry (2000-2013)    60+/pack

N-560               Modern German Heavy Weapons (2000-2013)    50+/pack

SK-2                200 KIFV Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle        5/pack

October 31, 2013

G-578               Stug III with sideskirts   5/pack

AC-98              Lavochkin La-5FN Soviet fighter, 9920 made      2/pack

N-561               LAV III ELAV Engineering Vehicle      3/pack

N-562               Modern French Infantry (2000-2013)      60+/pack

N-563               Modern French Heavy Weapons (2000-2013)     50+/pack

SK-3                K2 Black Panther Replacement for the K1A1     5/pack

November 29, 2013

Secret, surprise release.  No, we won't tell you until November 29th. ;-)

December 31, 2013

UK-101            Churchill Crocodile Flame throwing variant with trailers   3/pack

G-579               88mm PaK 43 Waffentrager      3/pack

N-564               M113AS4- Extended Aussie upgrade to M113    5/pack

N-565               Gelandewagen 4-door hardtop Used by many      5/pack

AC-99              F-35B STOVL (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing)      1/pack

SK-4                K55A1 Korean variant of M109 5/pack
An alternative G-wagen....
February 28, 2014

G-580               7.5cm PaK 40(sp) 39 H (f) on Hotchkiss chassis             5/pack

R-71                 ZiS-6 with BM-13 Katyousha     4/pack

W-95                T-72 Bridgelayer           2/pack

AC-100            MiG 21bis Cold War fighter used by many 1/pack

IS-16                Magach 3 Modernized M48 with 105mm            5/pack

N-566               M113 FSV with Saladin 76mm, Aussie "Beast"   5/pack

April 30, 2014

G-581               10.5 cm le FH 18 (sf) 39 H (f) on Hotchkiss chassis     5/pack

US-101             M32 ARV Armoured recovery vehicle on Sherman hull    2/pack

R-72                 ZiS-5 ZiS radio and workshop variants    2/3/pack

TW-23              Ratel 81 Variant with 81mm mortar        5/pack

RC-22              ZBD05 ZBD2000 with 105mm gun        5/pack

N-567               FMTV with HIMARS    5/pack