Megablitz and more

Saturday, 12 November 2022

The Wargame Developments handbook - new edition

The new and much expanded edition of the WD handbook can be found on the WD website here.

Wednesday, 9 November 2022

Sinai 1967 - a Megablitz game revisited

Last month's Friday game saw seven of us gather to play through the 1967 Sinai campaign with my 6mm toys and Megablitz rules. I'd actually run this game back in 2000 and it was good to have two of the original players - John and Martin - present this time. We were joined by Lloyd, Russell, Simon and Pete for an excellent day of pushing toys around, punctuated by a splendid lunch.

As well as the original toys, I still had my orbats and notes from 2000 so it didn't matter much that I ran out of time to do more research. We started from the point at which the Israeli Air Force was returning from administering a decisive kicking to their Egyptian foes. The action took place on three parallel tables, each 12x3 feet, covering the area from the Israeli border to the canal. The action broadly followed the historical campaign. In brief, following some unpleasantness in the north, the Israelis made good progress along the coast road. Further south, an Egyptian armoured division caused some worrying moments with a spirited flank attack. Eventually the Israelis got a firm grip of the situation and bottled up the surviving Egyptian armour in Sinai.

Thanks to Russell, Pete and Martin for allowing me the use of their photos. I don't pretend they are in chronological order but should at least give the feel of the game. For those of you as yet uninitiated in the mysteries of Megablitz, most stands represent battalion sized units.

The toys are a mix of GHQ, Heroics & Ros and Scotia. I had treated myself to some new IAF aircraft but all the other toys were present for the original game.

An Israeli column rushes along the coast road. The nearest stand is a logistic unit.

Fighting just west of the border.

Heading west at speed! Some of the Israeli toys date from the late 1970s.

The IAF puts in an appearance.

Unpleasantness near the Giddi Pass. Two Israeli brigades in action, supported by IAF Magisters.

A scary looking Egyptian armoured task force.

Another scary looking Egyptian armoured division.

Literally, heading them off at the pass!

A senior general flies to the front

My new Fouga Magisters in action

Some recommended reading. I've had this since the '80s.

A relatively new book - very good.

A classic!

Another new book with newer orbats and nice maps.

Monday, 7 November 2022

Plane brown box…

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a post on a motoring forum I frequent. A bloke was offloading some built aircraft kits in scales from 1/72 to 1/32. I sent a message saying that in the event of him failing to receive an offer of actual money, I’d be happy to re home them. While not exactly local, Ken (as I’ll call him in accordance with my usual witness protection programme) happened to be visiting the neighbouring county last weekend. Thus it was that on Saturday a drive into a dark and rainy Derbyshire saw me return with…..

…this box of mystery!

I unpacked it the following day and swiftly arranged to rehome the 1/32 WW1 models (3) with Tom, various 1/48 scale models (4) with Richard & Paul and then I got to the main business of the day - the 1/72 scale kits. All beautifully built and painted to a high standard. And here they are. Apologies as usual for the hurried photos.

Stearman Kaydet, a US 1930s trainer. No markings. Not sure yet what I’ll do with it.

Meteor. I really don’t need this but it’s sooooo nice!

Se5a. I’ve since dusted them all and added a coat of varnish. I think the WW1 models are mostly Revell.

Sopwith Camel.

A striking Fokker D.VII. The ‘camo’ is decals.

Gladiator.

Spad in unusual but welcome Italian markings.

You can probably work this one out for yourselves! It’s very red.

Fokker E.1 - like some of the others this has rigging wires made of thread. Well beyond my skills and patience!

Another Fokker D.VII.

Bonus view of the eindekker.

What a great collection. Well worth a couple of hours and 56 miles worth of petrol! I assured Ken that all the models will get used and appreciated so expect to see them again.

Sunday, 30 October 2022

Raven Two is down!

Having seen and taken part in Ian Drury’s Raven 2 game at COW in July I was keen to run it myself. It provided a ‘filler’ after the 18th Century game I ran a few weeks ago. The game concerns the rescue of a US pilot (the eponymous ‘Raven Two’) shot down over North Vietnam. A controller in a Skyraider (know at the time as a ‘Spad’) directs the search, strikes against enemy forces and the rescue helicopter.

We ran the game through twice. In game one it took an age to locate the pilot but then the recue was effected quickly and safely. In game two the pilot was located early on - but not only by the US players! The NVA were in the neighbouring square when the chopper crew plucked him to safety. Happily there was no repeat of the debacle which occurred in one of the COW games, where at one point there were ten(!) US aircraft in the area and rather more worryingly three downed pilots stumbling around the jungle. Anyway, enough of this, lets see the toys. The photos are in no particular order and show 1/72 scale aircraft and 1/32 scale figures.