My Oldest Friend (2) Return of a minature

I came to miniature painting not through war-gaming but through Role playing games. We were a gallant little band Paul, Atticus, Andrew and my self (there were a few others but they came and went).  Paul I understand is now in the Northwest some place and I have no Idea what happened to Atticus but as you know Andrew and I stayed close. 

Andrew die a few month ago and we buried him yesterday at the grave side ceremony his parent gave me a figure I painted for him when I was in high school.  I'm glad to have it and will display it with the pewter dragon they gave me Andrew displayed them together.  The small painted lead figure was probably unnoticed by most people who visited him but I painted him specifically for Andrew representing a dwarf character from the final campaign the group of us run in high school.  I know Andrew was glad to have it.

 Its odd looking at the work a younger me did.  This was a Ral Partha miniature dated 1989 and was probably painted some time in 1994-95 I don't remember exactly. 

All and all its a solid job it could do with a wash and some shading but I am not going to alter it I happen to love it just way it is, as Andrew did. I don't believe I ever used top coat on this so handling will be minimal It will probably stay on a shelf with its dragon companion from Andrew's collection.

The Great Re-basing Project of 2013 (3)

Still hard at work converting basing from V&B to Maurice and Black Powder.

 First up some Hessian Dragoons I was a bit leery of mounting troops one to a stand but with only five figures in this case it seemed the best option.

 The flag actually a Hanoverian dragoon flag but I only have a few a few option and it does not look too out of place.

 Two more Highlanders not wanting to waist figures I did two units that are a little thinner on the figures rather than crowding the bases or having a short unit.

 These are some of the best Plaid I ever did I am proud to say.

 Some of Robert Burr's work is in these too I mixed figures so hopefully the difference in style will not stand out as it would if his were all inone unit.

Maurice at Game Castle

Chris wanted to Give Maurice a try so I helped him put togther an army and we did a quick game do to the late start. Chris has grasped one of the keys to the game keep you forces together as he focused on on of my flanks.

I had to spend several turn bringing in troops from the other flank

His irregular troops over threw mine (one unit) and got me out of line.

He then brought his infantry up and used his Irregular cavalry to hit two of my infantry in the flank. I was getting hit hard.  Sadly the store closing meant we had to end our game before a result but chris has already ordered troops for a Kosciuzko's rebellion based polish army

Memorial Day weekend at the Whiz (2)

On Monday I met up with my friend Mark at the Whiz we more or less had the place to ourselves and set up this table for a "Pincer" mission battle. I "won" the roll and became the attacker on the near side of the table I had a Sturm Company with two infantry platoons, a heavy Sturm platoon with mortars, a Sturm AT platoon, infantry guns, a pair of Tiger Is a Sturm AA platoonand a battery of 3 10.5cm guns.

Mark was running 2nd ID with a specialy 2iC for his company! Inform Red Scull we have spotted Captain Rodgers. 

My plan was to use the Tigers and  AA Platoon to fix his on Board infantry platoon and try to sweep his flank with one or both of my infantry platoons. I had the AT guns following the Tigers to protect them as Mark's Shermans were hiding  someplace.

Mark's 155 Battery makes its presence felt killing one of my Tigers.

Nest turn Mark sprung his Tank ambush hitting my remaining Tiger but he did not kill it.

My little Infantry guns pin the mighty US Long Toms!

While my air support kills two Shermans and bails a third. The platoon breaks! on Mark's turn my AT guns make both saves against a repeat US Artillery bombardment.

My 1st infantry platoon sweeps through the woods and assaults the flank.

We win though but do not break the platoon and Captain Rogers makes two warrior saves to escape death, poor Bucky.

The objective is in our grasp but...

Here come marks Reserves. His infantry try to assault my AA guns but are driven back with defensive fire. My MGs and AA guns do a lot of killing.

I get hit my self but my men are holding well and with some lucky shots I kill some of his 155s (I killed 3 over the course of them game with MG fire a true statistical oddity)

My Tiger launches its first assault as my infantry consecrate on the fare objective(rather than face two HMGs). I kill several men but am driven back hear and in may tack on the US artillery.

The next turn I try again but lose my Tiger. This was probably reckless of m

Over the next few turns I bleed Mark's Artillery but it will not break, I do break on Infantry platoon but cannot finish the other.  The Chaffies make an appearance and stale mate my move on the back objective.  Marks other infantry is down to 3 Stands the Platoon leader, the bazooka and on HMG and the Captain is there too. They kill my AT guns and my AA guns With mark pushing forward I sneak infantry to the close objective a sneaky move Mark applauds.  I am trying to break his second infantry platoon but they just will not take another casualty no mater how much I shoot at them some times the hardest thing to do in Flames of War is kill one infantry stand.

its Turn 9 or 10 I hold the objective but Mark has Chaffies, I can threaten both objective its still any ones game but its now approaching 4 hours and we decide to end the madness calling this battle a draw.  This was a great way to spend the holiday Mark is one of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable opponents I know and we are always a good match for each other.  This was a truly epic game almost "stressful" at times in its intensity.  It was Great fun and a game I think both of us will on remember.

Memorial Day

Red and yellow roses were placed at the headstone of every Marine that rests at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. Taken from the American Battle Monuments Commission Facebook Page

We Play games and every once and a while its right to acknowledge that these games are about something that was terribly real, war. Remember and honor the sacrifices of these who served and especially those who served in the front line and made the ultimate sacrifice

Memeorial day weekend at the Whiz (1)

Yesturday Frencing Frog passed 4K hits in a single month for the first time I was down at the Whiz celebrating by getting my Stugs clubed like baby seals.

 Anothe lovely section of Europe about to be covered in carnage.

 Much of the clubing would be done by Riccardo and his Guards Armor company.

I was ready to go or so I thought... First turn I got 0 hitts

But Ricardo he kills the first two of my Stugs.

Ted and Gerry take may a rules check (we were dong total war) Ted was my Allie though he was running Americans.  Jerry was running his Cassino Indian.

Riccardo was even having good day with his 25 pounder killing one of my StuGs

The High point of my day I bail one Sherman Fire Fly.

As British Recon slips in behind me!

They close in on my Stugs. 

That AT15 is just plain evil.

The British recon hit my Neblewarfer battery though before they did the HQ team won an Iron cross.

Gerry meanwhile killed my second Stug Platoon and well that broke my comany.  I lasted three turns and didn't take any one with me.

Tyler was doing more play testing with Tom, Rob and Mark of his game "Age of Swords and Arrows"

This time the theam was the Crusades and included camle mounted Arabs.

The Great Re-Basing project of 2013 (2)

Up next my highland army for the 45.  They have only seen battle once and got hammered by Luke's Hanoverian British force (Though I did give him a nervous moment or two). These were mounted on 3x2 inch full scale Volley and bayonet but are now ready for Maurice or Blackpowder.

 With the new unit I recently painted I have 6 units of Highlanders ready to go (and one or two more units worth of Highland figures to re-base)

 This one will probably serve as irregulars two men per stand both shooting or ready to shoot.

Two units with Flags one a generic Scottish St. Andrews Cross the other bearing the crest of Fraser of Lovat.

 Two more units Scotish clans men with the Lockbar axes I could call these Pike troops in Maurice but I am not sure that's the best way to portray Highlanders but its an option.

When you paint tartan you should show it off so I will.