Festive Fishbed Fun

This was part of the Military Aid Package received from Paul last month and I decided that it might make for a 'quick win' over the Christmas holidays. A rather sorry looking thing when it arrived (see third photo), it was missing the cockpit canopy though Paul had helpfully included a potentially suitable replacement item.  I have no idea what make this kit is - certainly not Matchbox as it differs in several areas from the MB Fishbed I recently built.
After much trimming and sanding the new canopy more or less fitted and was glued into place.  So far so good, except that when I picked the MiG up to begin painting the canopy promptly (and perhaps predictably) fell off.  Fast forward a few days and the canopy  - with the aid of more glue and filler - appeared secure.
A coat of Revell silver was brushed on and the troublesome canopy painted over.  Basic East German markings were robbed from another kit and the ensemble topped off with a coat of gloss varnish.  Up close it looks every bit as nasty as the preceding description would lead you to believe.
In the photos it looks rather better!

More Military Aid - part 2

Back now to the aid package received from Paul last month.  As well as the aircraft already mentioned the box also contained this 1/35 ish scale M-41.  Originally a motorised model, this is in pretty decent nick and may well serve as the basis of a particularly ridiculous bodge.

These US figures are 1/35 Tamiya and similar hard plastic kits.  An initial sort out suggests there are enough for a company for Little Cold Wars.

This 1/48 scale Zero was something of a surprise - here it is after various bits have been re-attached.

2014 review

A couple of days later than intended but here it is.  The blog continues to be an important part of my wargaming life and though post numbers are down to 221 (from 278 in 2013) this still exceeds my 'target' of four per week.  Once again I thank all those who read my ravings - especially those who comment.

Funny Little Wars
Due to the manoeuvrings of a real army we had to put on hold the Tannenberg project but plans are afoot to resurrect this in 2015 - watch this space.  In preparation for this game I added more 'Russians' to my forces.

Command & Colours
The C&C games - both Ancient and Napoleonic versions - continue to be great favourites.  The acquisition recently of part of the collection of the late Bob Plumb will considerably swell the ranks of my pointy-stick period armies so expect to see plenty more of this.

Megablitz
Nothing to report.  No games and not even (I think) any new toys.  Perhaps I'll put together a large game this year.

NATO Brigade Commander
Several games organised by Martin R using his 2mm toys.  Several people have suggested I publish the game when time allows.

Diplomacy
One of the highlights of the year was the PBEM game run by Mad Padre.  This was the first Dippy game I had played since the late 1980s and quite possibly my best ever showing.

Little Cold Wars
This has been the surprise of the year!  From a brief and none too serious chat with Funny Little Wars author PW back in March I knocked together a game and soon a proper cold war style arms race was in full swing.  Playtesting and writing continues and it is hoped to have the thing published during 2015.

Games played in 2014

As usual here is the list of games I played and/or ran during the year.  I suspect there are a few gaps but It's still quite long!

Little Cold Wars:
A Luftwaffe Starfighter sees off a Soviet Mig-21 over British positions near Kakstadt.

Date, Game, Rules, Scale, Players

2 January: Tibbermore 1644, CC17, 25mm, 1

8 January: Medway 43AD, CCA, 25mm, 5

15 January: Captain Bertorelli's Drum, Voyages Extraordinares, 20mm, 6

22 January: Into the void, 1981 (air assault), NATO Brigade Commander, 2mm, 7

28 January: Ukraine 1944, Megablitz, 20mm, 3

29 January: Fleet in motion, Iron Ships & Wooden Heads, 1/6000, 6

19 February: Horse, Foote & Faith, 28mm, 6

5 March: Crisis at Meacri, 25mm, 6

12 March: Edessa 259AD, CCA, 25mm, 5

19 March: French v Austrians, 15mm, 6

26 March: Crisis in Crimea, boardgame, 6

30 March: Cold War playtest 1, 54mm, 1

2 April: Holding Back the Tide, 15mm, 5

9 April: President Fred's Funeral, PBOM, 15mm, 5

16 April: Minden 1759, Neil Thomas, 15mm, 4

23 April: Motorway (a design classic!) boardgame, 6

23 April: Car Capers (ages 6 and up...) 5

30 April: ACW,Neil Thomas, 15mm, 5

6 May: Kakstadt 1 - Operation Damp Patch, Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 2

6 May: Kakstadt 2 - Operation Dark Fumble, Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 2

7 May: Kakstadt 3 - Operation Full Frontal, LCW, 54mm, 4

7 May: Kakstadt 4 - Operation Deep Thrust, LCW, 54mm, 2

11 May: Doodlebuggers (final testing), 1/72, 1

14 May: Doodlebuggers (final final testing), 1/72, 6

17-18 May: Doodlebuggers, 1/72, around 45 games!

4 June: French v Russian, Neil Thomas Napoleonic, 15mm, 4

18 June: Drive on Scheissenburg, Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 5

2 July: Assault on Scheissenburg, Little Cold Wars, 54mm etc, 7

9 July: Microdot, dodgy old boardgame, 6

9 July: Monte Carlo Rally, dodgy card game, 4

11 July: A Mighty Wind, COW Plenary Game, 40+

11 July: Doodlebuggers, 1/72, c15 games!

12 July: Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 8

12 July: Political Justice Sub-Committee, 6

13 July: Operation Seelowe, map game, 8

23 July: Hill 112, Memoir 45, 15mm, 3

30 July: Boudica's Revolt, CCA, 25mm, 3

6 August: Film at Eleven, Boots on the Ground, 15mm, 4

13 August: Elchingen 1805, CCN, 15mm, 3

20 August: Brimstone, Boots on the Ground, 15mm, 6

27 August: Tank attack! (indoor version), Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 3

27 August: Tank attack! (outdoor), Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 3

27 August: Little Cold Wars air combat development game, 1/72, 2

3 September: Kadesh 1275ishBC, CCA, 25mm, 3

1 October: Sambre 57BC, CCA, 25mm, 5

8 October: Counterattack, NBC, 2mm, 2

29 October: Sambre 57BC, Neil Thomas Ancients, 25mm, 5

5 November: Lutzen, Neil Thomas, 15mm, 5

19 November: Rhesaina 243AD, CCA, 25mm, 4

26 November: Congress of Berlin 1878 Committee Game, 5

3 December: Challenges & Adventures, RPG, 8

10 December: Mokre 1944, Battlegroup, 15mm, 4

17 December: West of Kleineburg, Little Cold Wars, 54mm, 3

28 December: Special Reconnaissance Patrol, 1980, Map Game, 4

28 December: Challenges & Adventures, RPG, 4