The AB40 & CS9 from Gaming Models: A Review

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Originally posted 22nd January 2011

I have now posted a proper review of Gaming Models' AB40 and Morris CS9 armoured cars

BATTLEFRONT AB41 COMPARED TO A GAMING MODELS' AB40

Vehicles from Gaming Models

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Originally posted 20th January 2011

Some new and somewhat rare additions to my collection. For the BEF, there is a patrol of Morris CS armoured cars; and for the Italians there are two AB40 armoured car patrols: one for the desert and one for Sicily.

All the models come from Gaming Models, a company that I have eschewed for a long time, put off by early reviews and the pictures on their website. A full review will follow, but suffice to say I am very happy with the AB40s and pretty happy with the Morris CSs.

Morris CS9 from Gaming Models

AB40 armoured cars from Gaming Models

The AB40s painted, more correctly, in dark green

Blasts from the Past

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Originally posted 16th January 2011

Whilst sorting through all the files on my computer, I came across some photos of some of the first games of IABSM that I set up and ran myself.

Those of you who notice that some of the hedges in both these games are made out of green ring binder spines will be relived to know that I now have huge numbers of "proper" hedges!

AAR: Action within Tobruk

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Originally posted 3rd January 2011

The first game of the New Year: a scenario taken from the Operation Compass scenario booklet covering the early war in the Western Desert.

Today, deep within the heart of the Italian stronghold of Tobruk , the assaulting Australians find themselves on the end of a rather nasty looking Italian counter-attack. 

Final batch of painting for 2010

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Originally posted 27th December 2010

Soviet heavy mortars; Lion class transports for the Felids to join the barn force; and a battery of US medium artillery.

Soviet 120mm mortars from Battlefront

Lion class transports from Khurasan

US medium artillery battery from Battlefront

More Soviets & Italians

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Originally posted 12th December 2010

A catch-up on photography this afternoon. First up, some T-34/85s for the Soviets; and the second platoon of M11 tanks arrives for the Italians.

Soviet T-34/85s from Battlefront

Italian M11 tanks from Skytrex/Command Decision

'Beer & Lard Day': Slim River

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Originally posted 18th November 2010

Here's the second AAR from the Burton-upon-Trent “Beer & Lard Day”. This time we're off to the jungles of Malaya for action along the Slim River.

Click on the pic to see all.

'Beer & Lard Day' at Burton on Trent

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Originally posted 15th November 2010

This weekend saw the first Burton-upon-Trent “Beer & Lard Day”: a day’s wargaming that gives those people unable to easily travel down to Lard HQ for our annual events an opportunity to try out games from the TooFatLardies stable of rules.

My role was to run the games using I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum!, the Lardies’ WW2 company level ruleset.  I ran three different scenarios on the day, the first of which was 3RTR at Hames-Boucres: the third game from the Defence of Calais early war scenario pack.

AAR: IABSM at Farnborough

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Originally posted 30th October 2010

Battle report from a great game at the Farnborough Wargames Society: action from the Anzio beachhead in February 1944.

Gallery: WW2 Italians

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Originally posted 18th September 2010

A couple more units finished for my Italian WW2 army: a platoon of light tanks for the western desert and a platoon of Semovente 90/53s for Sicily (both shown below).

L6 Light Tanks from Battlefront

Semovente 90 from Battlefront

Gallery: WW2 Italians

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Originally posted 4th September 2010

A couple more units finished for my Italian WW2 army: a platoon of tank destroyers and a platoon of armoured cars (both shown below).

Semovente 47s from Battlefront

AB41 armoured cars from Battlefront

Gallery: Western Desert

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Originally posted 11th July 2010

A couple of pictures loaded: 2-pounder portees for the desert Brits, and light and medium mortars for the desert Italians.

Gallery: WW2 Western Desert British

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Originally posted 17th June 2010

A couple of pictures loaded: Matildas for the desert Brits, and 20/65 AA guns for the desert Italians.

Matildas from Battlefront

AAR: Buq Buq (IABSM: Operation Compass)

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Originally posted 22nd May 2010

The second AAR from the Operation Compass scenario booklet. Action similar to that of Sidi Barrani, but this time east of Buq Buq.

AAR: Sidi Barrani (IABSM: Operation Compass)

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Originally posted 9th May 2010

The first AAR from the Operation Compass scenario booklet. Night time action at Sidi Barrani as 6RTR attempt to crush the last resistance from 1st and 2nd Libyan Divisions in the dunes to the east of the town.

AAR: Les Drouieres

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Originally posted 26th April 2010

A fantastic I Ain't Been Shot, Mum! AAR from Softie02: US Paratroops in action in Normandy. Plenty of pictures, great terrain!

 

IABSM: Operation Compass Scenario Pack

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Originally posted 9th April 2010

Fox Killed In Open!

Cruise the Blue with Robert Avery's latest pdf scenario booklet for "I Ain't Been Shot, Mum!"

An extensive history of the Italian invasion of Egypt and the British response: Operation Compass, the Five-Day Raid that turned into a campaign. Set between June 1940 and early February 1941, the booklet contains twenty-three unique scenarios for “I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum!” including attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences, and the types of action typical of desert warfare: tank vs tank and tank vs gun battles.

From the 11th Hussars’ initial reconnaissance and harassment missions; through to the assaults on the network of Italian camps in the Western Desert; the Australian assaults on Bardia, Tobruk and Derna; and on to the thrilling climax at Beda Fomm, you’ll encounter British, Australians and Italians of all shapes and sizes.



Operation Compass contains the following scenarios: 

1. The Road to Fort Capuzzo; 

2. The Battle of Girba

3. The Invasion of Egypt

4. Nibeiwa

5. Tummar West

6. Tummar East

7. Alam el Dab

8. Sidi Barrani

9. Buq Buq

10. The Road From Fort Capuzzo

11. Bardia One

12. Bardia Two

13. Bardia Three

14. Tobruk One

15. Tobruk Two

16. Tobruk Three

17. Mechili

18. Siret el Chreiba

19. The Derna Wadi

20. Sidi Saleh One

21. The Pimple One

22. The Pimple Two

23. Sidi Saleh Two

Gallery: WW2 Italians

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Originally posted 12th March 2010

A few more Italians added: Motociclisti and the first of the Fucilieri. Have now got a bit distracted painting Felids: 15mm sci-fi figures from Khurasan.

Heads up for my next scenario book: Operation Compass. Should be available within the next couple of weeks. Twenty-three early war scenarios for the Western Desert: time to get those Italians onto the table!