I love the smell of laser cut mdf

Since I last posted, I have been putting together laser cut mdf buildings. First up were two factory buildings that I got at Salute this year; one is for 28mm and the other for 15mm, or so I am told. In my personal opinion it didn't make a lot of difference; basically they were cheap! I think they have scrubbed up quite well.

This is the 15mm factory with some 20mm troops inside and I think it looks quite good and seems to scale perfectly fine.
Next photos are of the 28mm; marginly bigger and also, I think, looks pretty good.

The above three photos are of the larger of the two buildings. Added a few piles of rubble just to delineate different areas of the factory. Next up were three buildings from Starfort Miniatures, I think. These were pre-painted and went together very easily and I quite liked them, despite a few short-comings, which I will show you

Scalewise, not too bad but some of the painting is a bit iffy. The left hand picture you can see where all the joins are and, if you look at the right hand picture, on the roof you can see the slots have not been painted. This means I will have to touch them up if I can find the right colour. I will be getting some more of these at some point, as they are nice little buildings, but I will not get the pre-painted ones. I still think, the guy who is producing these, is working out a few design kinks. That being said, I like them.

Last up are three buildings I picked up on ebay for next to nowt. I can't tell you who they are made by as I don't know but they went together really well - two are definitely for Russian front and the other is a western european house. I will probably leave the Russians in their natural wood colour; just painting in the doors and window shutters and see how that looks. The house will get the full treatment.

Finally, Lion Rampant - new rules by Daniel Mersey - has arrived from those lovely people at Amazon. I have high hopes for these as I never really got on with Saga; with all their silly dice and battle boards. Gave it a go but it all just ended up with us arguing about who could do what. We like to keep it simple we do.

THE MONDAY NIGHT DUST UP

The Monday night game was a Battle Group Kursk affair, with two Russian battlegroups each consisting of 6 tanks, an infantry platoon, a foo and some offboard artilary. They were both about 25 br each vs a German battle group consisting of 3 tanks, 1 infantry platoon with a mortar and a mmg plus a 50m anti-tank gun. They had a marder as well. Their br was about 25 as well.

The reason I  had separate battle groups for the Russians was that I did not know what time various individuals would turn up.  Whoever turned up first got the pick of the two groups. As it was, the two Russian commanders, Larry and Chris, arrived together; leaving the German commander, Adrian, as the tardy one.

One of the Russian battle groups ready to roll: 6 T34s and some infantry.

Larry and Chris getting lubricated and looking confident.








Maybe it's because they outnumbered Adrian 4:1 in tanks, at least 2:1 in artillary and 2:1 in infantry.

The Russian infantry certainly seemed confident but, after one mortar stonk, didn't do a lot as the command group became pinned down.

If you look closely, you will see that the command group and two other infantry sections are pinned and one group, marked by the dice, have taken a few casualties.

The Germans are waiting for them behind a low ridge. The opening moves by the Russians were all steal, steal and oorah, oorah with artillary exchanges.

A marder waiting in ambush that never came! It was suppressed by area fire from the T70s and then ko'd without firing a shot.








Russians capture the first objective: The 'T' Junction.
Germans draw a chip ... guess what? Kaboom! T34 drives over a mine.

The Russian charge comes to a sudden and painful stop; two rounds of shooting from the German mark 4s on the ridge, exit 5 T34s.

 The perpetrators of this foul deed. The Russian commander's aplomb seems to desert him at this point.

On the other flank, German infantry are close assaulting tanks successfully. Burning T70s and KV1s are testament to the old adage "don't drive tank into urgan environment unless they are supported by infantry".

If you look in the top left, you will see the Russian infantry are still a long way back and don't really ever get into the action. The only effective Russian response was to drop their artillary mortars onto the ridge line which killed one section and suppressed others as well as one of the tanks.

Russian a long way back and, in the background, a slightly despondent Russian commander. It turns out, at the end of play, the Germans were actually nearer their break point by 2 but everybody agreed they had given the Reds a pasting. Here are a few random pictures of the game. A good time was had by all.

The calm before the storm

A few pictures of tomorrow night's game. We are playing Battle Group Kursk.

A sleepy Russian village.

As you all know, a village is only a village and not a hamlet when there be a church.

One of the low ridges that the Gerries will be defending. The windmill is also one of the objectives of the Russians.

A view from the Russian end looking at the three objectives: the t-junction in the middle, the church and the windmill.

One of the low ridges seen from the German end; the small chain which you should be able to see is there to help define where the ridge line is.

Will post more pictures of the game sometime next week.

The painting season has started

Well its that time of year again when i get most (2 thirds) of my painting done, normally the painting season starts in late september early october but this year it started early. Why you may ask. Well my wife has a lot of overtime at this time of year, so, becaues i quite like my wife, i time most of my painting for this period - me at the paint table and her at her desk typing up reports.This all works out very well as we chat away to each other about work, the kids, and life in general; all very relaxing and, if one of us needs a short break to rest our eyes, then tea is made. On average 2/3 hours a night of painting gets done 3 sometimes 4 nights a week. Monday is game night mostly! and friday is the weekend. This will go on 'till some time in March. Obviously, life gets in the way occasionally. Sometimes, we simply can't be arsed! and a bottle of wine is cracked open, feet up to watch the TV; a film or when there is some rugby on. Which reminds me, the season kicks off this Friday - hoorah!!

My painting table still looking reasonably tidy. Probably because I haven't done a lot of painting recently.

Some marders that i have just finished. They are resin from 20mm zone. Just got to find some crews.

Norman crossbow man from conquest games. Just got to tart up the bases and they are done.

More normans and some 105 revell howitzers.

A 4ground 20mm house that i got at salute this year which i am finding is a bit of a bugger to put together.

Plenty of stuff to keep me going.