Broadsides and Glory Play Test

I've been given the opportunity to play test a new set of naval fast play rules for frigate actions devised by David Manley of Long Face Games, aptly titled Broadsides and Glory. I have a free weekend, so will set up a simple scenario between two frigates from my 1/2400th scale selection of models, probably including the 44 gun fifth rate razee frigate, HMS Anson, using the template for HMS Indefatigable, as the rules draft includes the latter record sheet. I'll write up a post action report and hopefully be able to provide some useful feedback for the author as well. 

Mosquito

I've almost finished this and it is far more than I expected it to be, not just a book about the aircraft, air crew or operations, but a detailed account of the Danish resistance movement as well. If you've read some of Rowland White's other books you will be familiar with his narrative style, interweaving the text with first hand accounts, historical and contextual details, but also shifting to and fro between the chronological timeline and different elements of the background story. All very interesting, if quite long winded and lacking in focus at some points along the way. A really worthwhile read if you don't mind a bit of a ramble. 

North West Frontier Family History

 

I've just stumbled upon this excellent website which includes an account of No.39 Squadron RAF and its operations on the North West Frontier in the late 1930's. This is all very interesting as my grandfather flew as a Flight Sergeant with No.39 Squadron at the time and is referenced in the article, both as an experienced pilot and in a photograph of 'B' Flight, in which the author's father also flew as a fellow NCO. How incredible that they actually flew to together, not just in the same squadron but the same flight and even the same aircraft on one occasion! Needless to say I've contacted the author for more information!

 https://fatherflying.com/north-west-frontier-of-india/

Napoleonic French Fleet Frigates

A slow day but here are the additional fifth rate frigates for La Royale, all of which are the Tumbling Dice ASN10 model from the 1/2400th scale range. The two newly built models are both Coquille class 40 gun frigates, Sirene and Themis, while the one I had in the spares box will either be their sister ship Franchise or the 36 gun L'Insurgent. Ooh La La! 

Winchester Shieldwall

The local club is involved in this event, which looks like a very exciting opportunity to explore some early medieval wargaming in a historical context, especially as Ryan Lavelle is involved. I'm not taking a role in the club contribution, which frees me up to join in with the other games assuming I can get hold of a ticket. I'm particularly interested in Mark's Chivalry and Honour game, which sounds very good and might even give me a boot to get my 2mm Hundred Years War project back up and running. It's all literally on my doorstep too, so no excuse not to get involved, even if my wargaming interests have never really focused on the period, despite having studied it for my first degree (in the very same place!)

http://www.ryanlavelle.net/winchestershieldwall.html

Napoleonic French Fleet Extras

It's cooled down a bit here in Brittany which means I can get down to some wargaming model assembly without the superglue going off like concrete in split seconds. So, here we have three more third rates for La Royale c1800, Mont Blanc (74), Argonaute (74) and Indivisible (80), conveniently filling three spare slots in my storage box. Next up are three 40 gun fifth rate frigates to provide some scouting, patrol and repeating duties, assuming they ever get through the Royal Navy blockade? 

Sword

The summer holidays are a chance for me to catch up with some serious reading, usually hardback titles that I've acquired second hand over the year. I started with this one a couple of days ago and have finished bed it already, not that it's a particularly long read. I went off Max Hastings a few years ago, after hearing him talk live about his book on Vietnam, where he didn't really seem to have anything interesting or insightful to say, perhaps because he churns out books that are more popular military history than academic studies. That does make them an easy and enjoyable read, however, so ideal for holiday consumption. This one is actually pretty good and reminds me of his early books on the Falklands and Korean War, which are some of his best in my opinion. I might have a look at another of his recent books next perhaps? 

Happy Bastille Day 🇨🇵

The Full Nelson

This should be published in the not too distant future, which has me wondering about the Black Seas plastic frigates, sloops and brigs that I picked up a couple of years ago, second hand. The rules are clearly aimed at the 1/700th scale end of the spectrum, judging from the play test reports I've been following, although no doubt suitable for other scales too. In fact, I have some Langton 1/1200th scale kits in a box somewhere that would do the trick. However, this does look like a good opportunity to build and paint those plastic models, specifically for smaller actions with frigates and unrated warships, so that's where I'm headed in the autumn I reckon, as I don't need to spend anything to get myself up and running. 

Napoleonic Naval Rules Review

I've brought a couple of sets of Age of Sail fleet level naval rules along for the holidays, only one of which I've played previously, to use with my 1/2400th scale ships. I really like the A&A Grand Fleet Actions rules, having played in a number of games at the local club, including Trafalgar a few years ago. They are ideal for 1/2400th and straight forward enough to work well for solo games. The other set is from Long Face Games and is a system I've been intending to try out for a long time, as it is also designed for fleet actions using smaller scale models. Finally, I've been asked by David Manley to play test a new set of rules he's working on for frigate actions, designed for 1/700th scale Black Seas models, but easily adapted to 1/2400th by swapping inches for centimetres (I hope!). They look ideal for the Quasi War amongst other things, so I'm looking forward to giving them a go! With the Full Nelson from Toofatlardies on the horizon, I'm even considering building some plastic frigates, sloops and brigs in 1/700th, as I have a second hand stash set aside but don't really like the Black Seas rules...another project for the second half of the year methinks?

JG5 'Eismeer'

The latest additiin to my research library for the Arctic Eagles project is this Kagero Publishing book, designed for scale modellers but with lots of photographs, profiles and useful historical details, so a great source of information to back up why I've already gathered together. It is usually quite pricey but I got hold of a brand new copy for under a tenner, so a bit of a bargain.!

Napoleonic Naval Summer Holiday

It's been a bit quiet here lately, as I've been at work then on the road, but I'm now on holiday for the summer in sunny Brittany. To keep myself occupied I've brought along my 1/2400th French and British Napoleonic fleets for a few solo wargames, as well as an entire Spanish fleet to assemble and base, with a few additional ships for La Royale and the Royal Navy. It's very hot at the moment so I might wait a bit before unpacking this lot but I'll get started as soon as it cools off a bit! 

Arctic Eagles Project

I ran a poll on the Bag the Hun group last week to see which option the members were most interested in as a submissi7on for the 2026 Lard Mag. I was pleasantly surprised that the Jagdeswchwader 5 - Arctic Eagles - project emerged as the front runner, which means it's time to start putting together the scenarios as my summer holiday project. I'm aiming for no more than three or four scenarios this time, otherwise painting, card decks and play testing start to become a bit too much to bite off and chew through. 

I already have some notes sketched out for this and plenty of ideas but I will be going back to this book, the definitive work on JG5, for more information. I have the translated version, of course, so no need to brush up on my non-existent German. As always, this will be backed up by the relevant Osprey and Helion publishing titles, as well as the Internet for additional references. It's about time I cracked on with this project as it's been hanging about for three years or so! 

'Mersu'

While I finish off the last four Curtiss Hawks for LeLv32, I'll be getting started on four Bf-109G fighters for HLeLv34, which was formed in early 1943 with the transfer of several of the leading aces from LeLv32 including the new squadron commander, Major Ehrnrooth. The model I'm going to use is the Bf-109K (ISA141b) from Tumbling Dice, as it's a better sculpt and a more detailed casting than the actual Gustav in the range. As such, the models have the cannon blisters so are a good match for the G-6 rather than the earlier G-2 variant. If I turn these out looking half way decent, I may well add some more later on, but at the very least it's good painting practice for the Arctic Eagles project.

LLv32 Curtiss Hawk 75-A Fighters

These four are now ready for action, with a final four to be painted and detailed over the next couple of days. I will have enough models to cover all of the scenarios from the Lard Mag, with the Soviets already completed, so some games over the summer are potentially on the cards. Tally Ho! 

Detachment Kalaja

Tumbling Dice 1/600th scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 fighters of Detachment Kalaja, LeLv32, Summer 1941. These will be deployed for a game of Bag the Hun as soon as I can get it organised! 

Winter War Research

I've always liked the idea of wargaming the Winter War air campaign both with Bag the Hun and the Wings at War rules, the latter being a slow burning project for several years, but my knowledge of the conflict is a bit patchy. This Osprey Air Campaign title passed me by when it came out but it's now been added to my summer holiday reading list. I'm hoping it will give me some ideas for scenarios and potential directions for a Wings at War rules variant, assuming that it is feasible. Tally Ho! 

Detachment Kalaja Bag the Hun Scenario

I thought that I hadn't written this scenario for Bag the Hun, only drafting a few ideas on the back of a fag packet, but it turns out I actually typed them up into a proper format for Bag the Hun. This wasnt included in the 2024 Lard Mag article as that focused on the Curtiss Hawk but LeLv32 did have five Huuricanes attached to the Squadron in 1942, so it's all historically accurate. I know aot of players just want to play the game and aren't bothered about the historical aspect, but for me that's what makes it enjoyable - playing the period, not the rules. Anyway, I have some Hurricanes to finish painting today, then I can set up this scenario for a play test. Tally Ho!