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I'm now off work for 48 hours on doctors orders, with plenty of painkillers to keep me happy. Rather than waste the time, I've been fiddling around with the Tumbling Dice Graf von Gotzen and have had a go at converting it into a Sperrbrecher. These were merchant ships used to set off any mines laid in the path of  convoys or warships leaving port. As such they were heavily adapted with anti-mine equipment and additional bouyancy aids, together with a shedload of flak.

As you can see, I've swapped the original bridge and funnel for ones from a Skytrex Vorpostenboot, added flak mountings using some extra sprues from a Tamiya Narvik class destroyer kit, used the radar antenna from the same kit as magnetic mine gear on either side of fore deck and fnished off by adding a barrage cable cutter at the bows. I think it looks a bit like the real thing, which varied in appearance from ship to ship, so I'm quite pleased with the overall end result.

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I'm sitting at home this morning waiting to go into hospital for a minor operation, so thought I'd spend the time wisely by adding some more boats to the coastal patrol. These are two Skytrex Raumboot and a PT Dockyard ex-French sub-chaser, uparmed with approrpriate weapons fore and aft. I like the PT Dockyard stuff but they aren't half fiddly to put together, especially the tiddly guns which would be much better if made of metal.

I've also been playing around with the very nice Tumbling Dice Graf von Gotzen, which I ordered the other day and which turned up in the post in double quick time. I'm planning to turn her into a Sperrbrecher using some bits from a surplus Skytrex VP boat, of which I have enough, together with some spare 1/700 scale AA mountings from a Tamiya destroyer kit. It may or may not work and I'm sure it won't look anything like the real thing above, but who's to know!

NEWSFLASH - Zubuto and Mbote launch joint military exercise (Reuters)

From our defence correspondent in Bjobo

In a sign of recent co-operation between Mbote and Zubuto, a joint military exercise - Operation Rampant Jambok - has begun in the Watumi highlands adjacent to the Zubuto - Bana Soto border. A combined MDF and ZAP mobile brigade has conducted a series of manoevers in the region, with tank and infantry units playing a major role.

The latest addition to the aresenal of Zubuto, the short range WaPongo rocket system, has also been cleared for test firing. The WaPongo has been developed in a collaborative project between the Zubuto armaments firm, Dudu Defence Systems (a subsidiary of Dudu Industries Inc) and the Albanian government. The system has yet to be confirmed as operational but will add a significant capability to the ZAP armed forces.

However, unconfirmed sources close to the project have indicated in a leaked memorandum that the guidance system on the WaPongo rocket has been subject to serious software issues, with a number of simulated launches having to be aborted due to mis-tracking. There has yet to be confirmation of the extent of these problems but, with a test firing proramme now in place, it would seem that they have been resolved.

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A small addition to the Kriegsmarine coastal forces this evening in the form of a Skytrex K UJ1 Escort Trawler. This was a bit of a challenge being a very mushy casting with lots of flash and some nasty seams, but it came out well in the end. I replaced the gun in front of the wheelhouse with a Tumbling Dice AA gun, as the original was a bit of a blob. I also substituted the flimsy mast with a much less fragile spare from the left over Kriegfischkutter bits box. It may not be prototypical but I very much doubt anyone will notice.

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It's nearly 10pm and I've only just finished marking a set of Year 10 books, so it's a good thing I managed to get these four schnellboot cleaned up and undercoated yesterday evening. They're the classic early to  mid-war version, with integral torepdo tubes but without the armoured bridge and weapons fit of the later series. I really like the models so may well get a couple more from Heroics and Ros, along with some of the early war equivalents, although I have plenty to keep me occupied in the meantime.

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This is the first installment of the German flotilla, with a couple of Vorpostenboot, an Escort / Flak Trawler and a trio of Kriegsfischkutters, all from the ex-Skytrex range. I've played around with the armament and layout on the VP boats so they look a little different. They're not the best quality castings and there are quite a few rough edges, despite some considerable sanding and filing, but I'm sure they'll paint up well.

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No time for painting today, having spent the last eight hours marking KS3 assessments ready for a 'data drop' next week, whatever use that will be. However, I have cleared the decks and sorted out the German element of the project, with an emphasis on coastal convoy escort, minelaying and the occasional offensive sweep.

The rationale is to set up a series of linked games in the Channel Islands and off the north coast of Brittany, so the emphasis is on escort vessels rather than just fast attack boats. The first stage will be to paint up a trio of Skytrex Vorpostenboot and a couple of Skytrex Kriegsfischcutters, which are ideal for convoy escort and will be fun to do.

The VP boats will get some individual attention to make them look a bit different, as two of the models will otherwise be identical. This will involve a slightly different weapons fit and a variation in camouflage scheme. I also want to scratchbuild and/or kit bash a Sperrbrecher but have yet to work out exactly how to go about it. After that it'll be on to the R boats and E boats, with a minesweeper as an optional extra.

NEWSFLASH - Mbote and Zubuto sign historic alliance [Reuters]

President Banga Boum welcomes President Dudu

From our diplomatic correspondent in Bjobo

In a surprise strategic move, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Mbote has announced the formation of a military alliance with the Independent Democratic Federation of Zubuto, which has until now maintained a political and strategic distance from the on-going conflict between Mbote and Bana Soto.

It would appear that a recent upsurge in military activity in the Mbote-Bana Soto border zone and the military success of the MDF and PVA, has convinced President Dudu of Zubuto to back the Mbote cause rather than remain on the sidelines of this regional conflict. The President of Mbote, Colonel Banga Boum, has congratulated President Dudu on his decision to back the Mbote cause.

ZAP troops on patrol in Bjobo

The armed forces of Zubuto include a significant number of up to date second hand tanks, carefully used armoured vehicles and pre-owned helicopter gunships, supplied and maintained by dedicated Soviet specialists and top notch military advisors. The Zubuto Army of the People [ZAP] ground forces are quite well-trained and fairly motivated.

The potential for an escalation of the dispute between Mbote and Bana Soto has been significantly increased by this unexpected and highly contraversial switch in the geo-political allegiance of the government of Zubuto, leading to renewed border incursions by combined MDF and ZAP units into Bana Soto territory.

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A very hectic evening, for various complicated domestic reasons, but the last of the RN coastal forces are now done, give or take some judicious application of bow waves and wakes. I'm tempted to add an Isles class trawler and a Bangor class minesweeper, both of which are ready to paint, but that would be a bit of a diversion. It's a bit mental at work this week, to say the least but I should get started on the Germans tomorrow, ready to fill in the gaps in the other half of the storage box.

NEWSFLASH - Bana Soto denies shock defeat (Reuters)

Colonel Ray Bahn of the ABS

From our correspondent in Bjobo 

A sudden and unexpected escalation in tension between Mbote and Bana Soto has, acccording to verifiable sources close to the disputed border zone, resulted in a significant set back for the armed forces of troubled President Washington DeeSee. 

Although reports have yet to be verified, it is highly likely that the Army of Bana Soto [ABS]  has suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Mbote Defence Force [MDF], assisted by local militia units of the PVA [People's Volunteer Army].

PVA RPG backblast moment of truth

As yet there has been no official statement from the Bana Soto government but, in an interview with the commander of the ABS border security force, Colonel Ray Bahn, there was an acknowledgement of a serious breach in the integrity of the fragile border zone. 

'Hey man, yeah, it went a bit **** up but, check out the $100 shades!'

A full press release is expected in the next 24 hours.