It's....AK-47 Competition Time!

After a long and tedious day at work, there's nothing better than a little competition to cheer things up a bit. I've started a not very serious competition over on the AK-47 Facebook group which involves a simple objective, namely to present a photo of a single 30mm x 30mm foot group, small arms, heavy weapons, commander or whatever, to show off your best painting, basing and modelling. No prizes, just for fun, but I'm hoping it will give people some inspiration for their own armies and encourage new players to have a go. Deadline 25th May.

Re-thinking Rugen

I've been re-thinking the 1/2400th scale Tumbling Dice models that I'm going to use for the Danish and Prussian ships at the Battle of Rügen. The gunboats will remain the same but the larger ships will use different models after a bit of research into relative dimensions and tonnage. I'll post a full breakdown later but I have decided to start from scratch with the models, as the ones I assembled previously are not very well constructed. I've got a lot more experience converting and detailing the TD models, so it will be worth the extra time and effort.

Strafing Rules for Algernon Pulls Its Off!

 

I spent a couple of hours in total over the last week or so, drafting a set of simple ground attack or 'trench strafing' rules for Algernon Pulls It Off!, based on the core mechanics of the rules but with a few adaptations to fit the task. These are very much experimental and will need to be play tested but I think the basics are about right. There are no rules for dropping light bombs or hand grenades, as the former is already covered in the rules and the latter is factored into the system as a means of target suppression, rather than to cause damage. I've posted it on the Facebook group but I'm not sure that anyone will bother reading them, so I'll have to try them out myself to see if they actually do the job...I'm already thinking of a few tweaks to the range bands, for example!

SPAD VII Scenario Research

This is the latest and quite possibly the last addition to my stack of Osprey Publishing WW1 aircraft books, a gap in my bookshelf that I've now filled and a source of potential ideas for Algy scenarios. I like the format of this series, at least for the aircraft focussed titles, and Jon Guttman really knows his stuff. I'm going to see if I can find enough information to put together a historical scenario that can be the basis of a good multiplayer game, with some cross referencing and research to fill in the gaps.

Chilean Pre-dreadnought Fleet Review

The additional ships and torpedo boats that I've been painting up for the Chilean pre-dreadnought fleet are now finished, apart from the recently converted model of the Blanco Encalada. I've now got a decent cruiser squadron to deploy, as well as the compact but powerful Swiftsure class battleships and some nippy torpedo boats to discombobulate the Argentinian opposition. I'm quite pleased with this lot and I'm looking forward to some more solo games in my ongoing Broadside and Salvo campaign.

Chilean Chop Shop Cruiser Conversion

A quiet afternoon for a change meant I could take some time to convert a Tumbling Dice Yoshino into the Chilean protected cruiser Black Encalada. This involves quite a lot of filing, cutting, filling and fettling, but I'm pleased with the end result, although it's not exactly an accurate reproduction. I'll base it up and undercoat, then add it to the Argentinian pre-dreadnoughts now sitting on the workbench for painting. 

Argentinian Pre-dreadnought Painting

I've now finished painting the Chilean pre-dreadnoughts, which just need base labels and a magnet strip applied, so it's on to the Argentinian ships this weekend. These consist of the two armoured cruisers that were sold to Japan and the two proposed Ansaldo designed fast battleships that were never built, based on the Regina Elena model from the Tumbling Dice range but with twin main armament in both turrets. The first thing to do is to block in the hull and superstructure in Vallejo Cold White, mixed 50/50 with Warpaints White for extra coverage. 

Digger Dogfight Club Game

I'm lining up another game of Algernon Pulls It Off! at the club next month, this time a straight up dogfight between No 4 Squadron AFC and Jasta 18. I've played this scenario a few times and it's always good fun, with lots of manoeuvring, firing and the occasional spin to live things up. I've not set a date yet but probably early June, which might give me time to paint some 1/300th scale Camels and Albatros DV's, if I get cracking over half term in a couple of weeks time. Tally Ho!

Return Ticket to Rügen

For my next 'tying up loose ends' project, I'm going back to a naval wargaming project of many years gestation, the Battle of Jasmund / Rugen in March 1864 during the Second Schleswig War. I've had the models for this, assembled, based and  ready to paint, for well over a decade, so it's about time I actually ticked it off the 'to do' list. After a review of the 1/2400th Tumbling Dice models I previously prepared for the Danish and Prussian flotillas, I'm making some significant changes to the line up, but the Prussians are good to go as soon as I finish the Argentinian pre-dreadnoughts currently on the workbench. It will be great to finally have the chance to re-enact this obscure but significant naval clash, then hopefully work toward the other actions fought during the war. 

Chilean Pre-dreadnought Painting Final Stretch

The 1/2400th scale Chilean pre-dreadnoughts are now nearly ready for the final base painting, varnishing and labelling, which I'm very pleased about as I can then move onto the Argentinian ships. I just need to dry brush the bases, add some wakes and now waves, then varnish in two stages before I can print and attach the labels. I'm actually thinking of sprucing up the labels on the test of my models, as they've seen some action and are looking a bit tatty!