Narrow Seas [12]

 

These are the six Skytrex Vosper 72' 6'' MTB's that I've added to the collection, with only the basing left to finish them off. They're lovely little models but a easy to drop if you're not paying attention, hence the lumps and bumps on one of them. I'll tidy that one up when I paint the Fairmile MGB's and ML's, which I'm planning to complete over the weekend. The ERM bases should arrive tomorrow so, with a bit of luck, I'll have a half decent mid-war mixed MTB/ MGB flotilla ready for action pretty soon.

Narrow Seas [11]

 

I'm picking up my coastal warfare project again, adding some additional boats to the dozen or so MTB's that I've already painted up. These include a trio of Skytrex Fairmile B/C MGB's, a Fairmile A minelayer, a Fairmile B M/L and a Fairmile ASR launch, with a Denny SGB to add a bit of punch to the proceedings.

I've also have a couple of trawlers to paint up, one very nice Tumbling Dice Admiralty drifter and a Skytrex Round Table class armed trawler, which I'm hoping will look a little bit like the rather splendid painting above, once I've finished the basic painting and have added some judicious rusty weathering.  A bit of a challenge but I'm looking forward to trying some things out!

 

I've solved my previous basing conundrums too and will be using 2mm mdf rectangles textured with modelling paste, as used for my 1/3000 scale French warships. I've ordered a load of 20mm and 25mm wide bases in varying lengths from ERM, so can start to base up the MTB's that I've already completed. This shouldn't take too long and will mean that I will have a small but well equipped flotilla ready for action within a few days. Then it's onto the Kriegsmarine!

Summer SAGA [12]

 

I finished the bases on the SAGA Normans late this afternoon, so that they are now done and dusted. I need at least one more unit to field a proper four point warband but I'm moving on now to other things, which should be a much needed break. I'll go back to complete the levy archer unit and the warrior spearmen at some point before the end of the year, giving me another unit to add in order to fill out a complete six point army.

And now for something completely different?

I've had more than enough of trying to paint 28mm figures for the moment, so have been rummaging around for something to tackle as a bit of a change. Luckily, I have a few on-going 'things' that I could paint that won't take up much of my limited time.

These include my 1/600 Royal Navy coastal forces ships that I started on earlier this year, so they will probably be the focus of my painting effort this month, alongside the continuing assembly of the Japanese for Chain of Command.

In other news, I've been forbidden any new additions to the lead pile for the foreseeable future as our car / washing machine / tumble dryer are all on the blink.  However, I have plenty of things to keep me occupied in the meantime, so I'll just have to resist the temptation to splash out on shiny new things.

Summer SAGA [11]

 

I've had very little room for anything fun lately, so painting has been relegated to the dark recesses of my extremely limited down time. This evening, however, I managed a very rushed job on the bases for the SAGA Normans, which now look a bit 'rushed' to be perfectly honest. It's nothing that some judicious flocking and clumping can't remedy, although that sounds a bit dodgy to me? Anyway, I'll see if I can whip out the PVA and stick some down tomorrow night. Ooh err!

Whirlwind - Westland's Enigmatic Fighter

 

I've been reading this over the last few days, having dipped into it for scenario material in the recent past. It's a fascinating story and well told, with a range of contemporary photographs to support the explanation. It's well written and the author really knows his stuff, so a good read and worth getting hold of, either in print or in digital format.

 

I need to get my act together with the backlog of Bag the Hun Whirlwind scenarios that I've accumulated, so have also invested in some 1/600 scale Whirlwinds, Typhoons and Fw190's from Tumbling Dice, which will be quicker to paint up than the 1/285th scale planes that I've already based and undercoated but have no time to lavish on.

 

This means I'll may able to playtest two or three scenarios at the club at some point reasonably soon, depending on the workload. This is looking pretty hefty at the moment, as I've been given the heaviest timetable in my entire twenty two year teaching career, with only six hours per fortnight of preparation time for marking and writing teaching materials and forty four hours of contact time.

 

Bonkers.

 

 

Wings At War - A Mighty Fortress - A Quick Review

 

 

The postie delivered my copy of A Mighty Fortress today and, after a quick flick through, it looks like a very cool addition to the Wings at War series. The rule booklet is the usual A5 format with a rather impressive glossy card cover. The contents follow the usual format, with a section setting out the parameters of the game and subsequent chapters laying out the core mechanisms and subject specific variations. The pack includes three B17G's, four P51D's and four Me262's, enough to get you started and very nice models.

 

The usual rule mechanisms are set out with some specific variations to take account of the focus of the game, including rules for bombers, formation flying, ground targets and aircraft specific factors, including the skill levels of Luftwaffe pilots and role of Allied reconnaissance. There are some neat rules for V1 launch sites, industrial targets and Me262 airfields as well, giving a very strategic feel to the game objectives. This has been well thought out and adds an extra historical dimension to the core rule mechanisms, very much in the style of Thud Ridge.

 

This is also not just a game of the USAAF against the Luftwaffe. There's a definite emphasis upon the inclusion of RAF daylight bombing and fighter sweeps, although the absence of night bombing and night fighters seems a bit of an oversight, despite the stated focus of the booklet. In summary, this looks like an excellent addition to the Wings at War series. Well done to the author, Chris Russell, the play testers and Mr Tumbling Dice himself, Mr Paul Sulley.

 

Pauke Pauke!  

 

SAGA Summer [10]

 

I  finished the horses this evening and they're not too bad, given my aversion to painting anything horsey. I fiddled about quite a lot with the details, not that you'd notice, so it took a bit longer than I expected to wrap them up. I'll have a crack at the base texturing tomorrow. I really need at least one more unit to make up a four point warband but it's time to move on.

SAGA Summer [9]

 

I have to say that I'm disappointed with the way these turned out today, after the wash in Quick Shade Strong Tone. I may have made the wrong decision and perhaps should have gone for the Soft Tone option but either way, they ended up a bit slurred and blurred. I'm sure I could have done a better job using layering and shading but that's the trade off for a relatively quick finish.

 

The Little Big Man decals have saved the day to a degree, adding a bit of flash to an otherwise average finish. They really are a joy to use and a very effective way to make a bit of a visual impact. The horses are half way there but need a wash and brush up to be finished. I'm hoping to get them done tomorrow after work, so that I can wrap the basing up by the end of the week.

Wings at War - A Mighty Fortress

 

I spotted an ad in Wargames Illustrated yesterday for a new game in the Wings at War series, available as always through Tumbling Dice. It's a second WW2 variant of the rules and aptly titled A Mighty Fortress (Defending the Reich 1944/45).

 

As usual, you don't just get the rule booklet but also a selection of 1/600 scale aircraft for both sides to use, although I'm not sure exactly what's included in the pack. At £10 a pop, it's extremely good value for money and a simple yet effective rules system as well.

 

I've ordered a copy to go with the other games in the series, which I have yet to actually play despite having based up more than enough planes for MiG Alley. It's about time I gave the system a try out, so yet another quick project to think about!