Bashnya or Bust! #01

Near Osen

I am currently about halfway through the Bashnya or Bust! late war eastern front scenario pack for IABSM, with fifteen out of the thirty-one scenarios completed i.e. stages one to four in the pyramid. 

This AAR is a report on the playtest game for the first scenario: #01: Near Osen. You'll be pleased to hear that all went well, and the only change needed was a minor adjustment to the number of Blinds each side can bring on to the table at any one time.

Introduction/Rules

Scorecard

Q2 Achievements

Q1 Achievements

As it's the end of the first quarter, I'm going to set up a new list of Achievements i.e. where the details and the photographs are displayed. 

This is both to encourage those who might be put off by the long lists of everyone else's achievements, and to ease the loading of the Achievements page, which has grown into a bit of a monster! 

The Scorecard page remains the same and will total everyone's scores for the whole year, it's just the Achievements that will be split by quarter.

The final list of achievements for Q1 2014 come from:  the Mad Padre; Jason Ralls; Chris Stoesen; Dave Bailey; Jim Weir; and Craig Ambler-Gambler.

Today's picture from Jim Weir: lots of 20mm WW1 Germans. Only the French to do now, Jim!

The Battle of Kerens

A warm-up game for Salute from Tom. 

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Plenty of achievements listed in the last few days, but nearly all from the usual suspects. Those of you who haven't painted much this year (and you know who you are) need to get those brushes out! 

Today's achievements are from:  Vidal Bairos; Jason Ralls; Leif; Mr Luther; and Egg. Here are Egg's Italian tanks:

Infantry Tank Squadron

I have finally finished my squadron of Churchill tanks: all nineteen of them!

These are really nice models from the Plastic Solider Company finished off with decals from the equally excellent Dom's Decals. 

Click on the link to the left to find out more.

The large box from Battlefront has arrived! 

All the vehicles I need to fill in the gaps in my Vietnam US forces and at a 40% discount. I'm generally no fan of Battlefront, even though I buy their models quite a lot but, in this case, they have excelled themselves.

The 40% Vietnam sale is still on until 31st March.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

My call to action seems to have had an effect: I have been inundated with achievements!

In no particular order we have more from Mr Hodge (sterling work, pun intended); Jon Yuengling; WillieB; Matt Slade; Mr Bax; Mr Bailey and Mr Plowman.

Today's picture is from Dave Bailey: some nice Resistance fighters from Peter Pig:

Gallery: US Forces

In preparation for the large box that should hopefully soon arrive from Battlefront (well, if they will have a 40% off sale!), I thought I'd better clear the last few Vietnam-era figures on my existing lead mountain. 

Here are two M48 A3 Patton tanks painted in two distinct styles: one is straight off the ship, pristine and covered in nice bright markings; the other is a more battered, sober vehicle. 

Nice models...and if you're reading this before March 31st, get yourself over to the Battlefront website and stock up now!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A quiet week on the painting challenge: only three updates (from Messrs Stoesen, Erikson and Luther).

Some on chaps:  fingers out!

As inspiration, here's a very nice transformer tower from Leif:

Day of the Panthers

James Mantos brings us an excellent battle report from a recent Normandy game. Some really good photography as well: a recommended read!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Some more achievements logged today. Contributors are Chris Stoesen; Jon Yuengling; Jon Deeks (a late entrant: welcome aboard); Jason Ralls; and Owen.

Here are Jason Ralls' hastati.

Airfield Attack

Chris Stoesen (author of the In the Name of Roma scenario pack for IABSM) brings us a battle report for IABSM in 6mm, put on by Mark Luther. Some excellent looking terrain and a great battle.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A few achievements for early March:  Stumpy continues re-basing like mad (277 infantry counted at half points); Mr Treadhead builds some buildings; Manuel gets ahead of himself by painting double the usual number of Franks; Mr Luther braves the cold to finish his next batch; and Chris Stoesen completes the Peter Pig Viking Longship.

Today's picture is Chris' Viking Longship:

US Rifle Company

Some reinforcements for my Vietnam US infantry: three M551 Sheridan tanks from Battlefront. Lovely models that come absolutely ram-jammed with stowage built into the models. The only negative point is the delicacy of the barrels of the HMGs: you can see from the photos how bent they are...and stay, despite my best efforts!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Today's achievements, the first of the month of March, are from Leif (duck-breaker 1); Jason Ralls (another painting machine!); Egg; Plowman; Bailey and Chris Gilbride (duck-breaker 2).

Today's picture is from Dave Bailey: a dark ages watch tower for Dux from Warbases, which they specially shrunk down to 15mm for him.

Anzio Scenario 17:

Fischfang Day 1- A

Craig Ambler has been working his way through the Anzio scenario pack. Here's an AAR from his last battle (although not the last in the pack) covering the opening phase of Operation Fischfang. 

This was a truly colossal battle (the Germans have two companies of infantry!) that gave an excellent game.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A few duck-breakers this update. Pingu opens his innings with a septet of 28mm Zombie figures; WillieB bursts onto the scene with seventy 28mm WW1 figures (lulling us into a false sense of security, eh?); and Mr Ploughman enters the lists with fifteen 28mm figures.

Elsewhere we have achievements from Messrs Luther; Ström; and Bailey (the man is a machine!); Owen; Craig Ambler; and Danziger.

Today's pic is a little one from WillieB:

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

An exciting update today: we have our first "1,000 point" participant: Jon Yuengling.

In honour of Jon's achievement, here is one of his pictures:

Over The Hill

Here is another AAR from the Mad Padre, but it's a blast from the past: the report from his first game of I Ain't Been Shot, Mum! 

Exciting stuff, even if it was from many moon's ago!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Here's today's update: achievements from Messrs Llano; Luther; Stoesen; Bailey; Weir and Ambler.

Mr Weir also gets full marks for trying to claim a biscuit tin in the painting challenge: full marks, but no points. In consolation, however, the offending item is today's featured picture:

The Cat's Go Out At Night

An unusual AAR from The Mad Padre:  a battle that takes place at night as the Canadians attempt to hold off marauding Big Cats in June 1944.

Whilst waiting for more decals to arrive from Dom in order to finish my Churchill squadron, I thought I'd polish off something that has been sitting, half-finished, on my painting table for ages: the Battlefront US Artillery HQ.

Absolutely pointless in wargaming terms for IABSM, it's nevertheless another piece of battlefield clutter with which to dress the table.

Oh, and for those interested, the maps are made from the QR code found on the cards you find inside the Zvezda boxes. Just cut out a square or a rectangle from the QR code and add a little blue line (for a river) and some green patches (for woods) and away you go.

Counter Attack on the Cameron Ridge

A quick After Action Report from Paul Scivens-Smith, once again from early-war East Africa. Will the Italian counter-attack throw the British off the ridge that they so recently captured? 

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Here's today's update: achievements from Messrs Llano; Hodge; Bax; Stoesen; Nissvik; Slade; Yuengling; and the Mad Padre.

Today's picture? No question but it's got to be Thomas', er, questionable tank. So, Thomas, me old mucker, this fascination with Japanese anime schoolgirls...care to explain?

Good news for those awaiting my next scenario book: the writing bug has bitten me again. 

I am now deep into Bashnya or Bust! - a Vyazma/Blenneville style scenario pack set in late July/August 1944 during the Kaunas Offensive i.e. the latter stages of Operation Bagration.

Can't promise when it will be finished (early summer's my best bet) but I can promise a linked campaign featuring a possible thirty-one late war eastern front scenarios.

If you liked Blenneville, you'll love Bashnya!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

More achievements...always more achievements!

Today's batch are from: Chris Stoesen; Jon Yuengling; Egg; Topi; Richard Danziger; Warrior in the Attic;    I'm also pleased to add pictures of his previous achievements from Craig Ambler.

Three candidates for picture-of-the-update, but I'm going for Dick Bax's 20mm Fallschirmjaeger today:

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A late entrant to the campaign: welcome Jim Weir.

Otherwise, vast numbers of achievements from (deep breath): Messrs Clarke, Ralls, Hodge; Lowth; Armstrong; Bax; Ambler; and Bailey.

To celebrate the breaking of his duck, here's Mr Armstrong's achievement: two beautifully painted sci-fi vehciles...ideal for Q13!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

The end of another working week, and an impressive list of achievements to be added. Today we have contributions from Chris Stoesen; Mr Luther; Egg; Dave Bailey; Kev; Matt Slade; Alexandros; Jon Yuengling and the Mad Padre.

Today's picture was a toss up between Alexandros' 28mm Churchill (love the stowage) and Egg's 15mm Centurions (a very nice green)...so you get both:

As regards my own painting, nine of the nineteen 15mm Churchills from my squadron are painted and half-based, and my pack of tank names from Dom's Decals has just arrived. I shall be slamming back onto the scoreboard soon!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

So many more achievements that I can't possibly list them all here. What I will do, though, is feature some very nice Saxon-types for Dux B from munsterfan8.

Oh, okay then...if a job's worth doing...

Achievements from Andy Miller (first timer); Chris Stoesen; munsterfan8 (obviously), Egg, Manuel Llano, Benito (I've corrected your numbers!), Craig, Dave Bailey, Joakim, Jon and Vidal. And there are some more as well!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A few more people have joined up: welcome Egg and Bond, Geoff Bond. I'm looking forward to your first achievements.

And there are new achievements from Topi, Chris, and Mr Bailey. Today's featured shot is from Topi: ten Shermans for his US Normandy forces.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

A few more uploads: achievements from Owen, Treadhead and Mr Hodge. Here are some of Derek's 10mm Vietnam figures: a couple of Vietcong platoons plus supports from Pendraken.

Armies Gallery

Soviet Rifle Company

Those of you who visit regularly will know that I am in the process of painting a whole squadron of Churchill tanks: 19 vehicles if you include the full HQ Troop. 

Boxes of tanks from PSC come in fives (although they also do single sprues if you need just a single tank etc) so the four boxes I bought at Warfare left me with one left over. 

This I painted up as a lend-lease tank sent to the Soviets. It gave me a chance to practice painting a model from start to finish, which was very useful in terms of finding out if the spray paint I was using would melt the plastic (it didn't) and such things as checking and then repainting the road wheels not in black 'tyre' colour but in 'rest of the tank' metal colour - doh!

So here is my single lend-lease Mk III Churchill from PSC (with Battlefront Soviet tank commander). Lovely model but, as always, the turret was a pain to put together. I'm just glad that all my British Mk IVs have the cast turret! BTW, note the way the varnish has frosted the (very thin) gun barrel...must remember to watch out for this when painting the '19'.

Now I am not normally particularly fussed about making my tanks from specific units: I use the same Panzers for every theatre they fought in. With the Churchills, however, I am endeavouring to paint up one specific unit: C Squadron from 4th Coldstream Guards, part of 6th Guards Tank Brigade. This is mainly because Dom's Decals provide a sheet with the names of all the C Squadron tanks on them, so I don't have to go mad painting the little blighters' names myself!

I thought, therefore, I'd share some of the research I used when deciding which unit to paint up, all of which came via the excellent TFL Forum.

June tank returns:

http://niehorster.orbat.com/017_britain/44-06-06_Neptune/Land/z_tanks_44-06-22_21AG.html

A complete list of British tank names (this is incredible!):

http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/tables/Vehicle_Names_V3.pdf

The Armour in Focus page of the Churchill tank:

http://freespace.virgin.net/chris.shillito/a22new/

And, finally, the FOW page on Churchill tanks in Normandy:

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=404

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Loads of updates today:  it's taken me all evening!

In no particular order, we have Kev's first entries (superb ECW troops); David Bailey's catch-up entries; and more from Mssrs Luther, Bax, Yuengling, Ralls, Nissvik and Ambler.

Today's picture?  Has to be a close up of some of Kev's ECW troops:

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Updated again. 

Achievements from Mike Whitaker; munsterfan8; Thomas Nissvik; the Mad Padre; Jason Ralls and (shock, awe) the big man himself, Mr Richard Clarke!

And Kev (Fat Wally) has signed up as well, although he says he's only going to enter the stuff he paints for himself. I say no! Enter it all!

Anyway, as I know what's good for me, today's picture is from Mr Richard Clarke: a rather nice Panzer III from the Western Desert.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Updated again. 

A couple of new participants:  Stumpy and Alexandros. That makes thirty-six people striving to increase their productivity!

And this weekend saw achievements from Benito, Mr Hodge, myself, Stumpy, Jon Yuengling, and Manuel Llano, with Manuel and Stumpy breaking their ducks.

Today's picture is from Stumpy: a Soviet T-35 with converted T-70 ammo carrier and three T-26 escorts. All in 15mm.

Vornid Army List

Vornid Gallery

Finished off the rest of the Horrid support for the Vornid army. The plantmen now have four tanks and a scanner courtesy of Ravenstar's Horrid range. Time to get them onto the tabletop!

Armies Gallery

Mid/Late War Panzerkompanie

I've now had a chance to update my gallery of later war German tanks. I really do need to get an infantry company to go along with them, but the thought of painting all that camouflage (as I could use early war troops for non-zeltbahn wearers) is making it difficult for me to even make a start! I have all the vehicles for the infantry, now all I need are the PBIs themselves.

Here are some PSC Panzer IVs. Painting a camo scheme on five tanks I can do!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

Achievements from Dave Humm, Jason Ralls, Jon Yuengling, Chris Stoesen, and Benito. 

Top choices today, chosen by my daughter Catherine, are from Jason and Benito:

Scenario 01: Eyes & Ears

A battle report featuring a game played using the first scenario from the Five Planets scenario pack: the Avians launch their invasion of the Gitungi controlled Pankova star system!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

More participants and more achievements for the 2014 Painting Campaign.

Additional participants (in no particular order) are Ralph Plowman, Joakim Ström, and Steve Parry-Harries, 

Lots of achievements as well. Top of the list has to be Warrior In The Attic who has managed to complete three Napoleonic French foot units plus officer and artillery. Lovely paint jobs worth a stunning 607 points. Here's a detail shot:

Other achievers are Jon Yuengling, two T-62 15mm tanks; Dick Bax, two 20mm Universal Carriers; Mike Whitaker, two 15mm anti-tank guns; and Jason Ralls with thirty-two 15mm Napoleonic British infantry and their mounted officer.

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

More participants and more achievements for the 2014 Painting Campaign.

Additional participants (in no particular order) are Mark Luther, Leif Eriksson, & Richard Danziger.

Matt Slade smashes his duck with 96 points for some gorgeous 28mm horse, with the Mad Padre right behind with 76 points mostly for nasty German pulp types. Richard Danziger scores 24 points for some lovely 95th Rifles, and Chris Stoesen re-bases a platoon of Italian infantry for 21 points.

Today's photo is a close up of some of Matt Slade's horse:

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

I'm pleased to be able to add some more names to the participants in the 2014 Painting Campaign, and to record some more achievements.

Additional participants (in no particular order) are Craig Ambler, Derek Hodge, WillieB, Pingu, Dave Humm, Mike Whitaker, Jon Yuengling, Topi Mikkola, John Thomas, Jim Catchpole, John de Terre Neuve, Dick Bax, Warrior in the Attic & Chris Stoesen.

There have been some big scores notched up already. Jon Yuengling earned 144 points for his twelve 1/6000 ships; Mike Whitaker achieved 106 points for his 106 WW2 British Infantry; and Jason Ralls and Craig Ambler both managed about 60 points for 15mm figures again.

There have been some lovely photographs sent in as well. I'm going to feature two today. First up, Jason Ralls' British WW2 tanks:

And for my second choice, Benito has recorded his first points with a 28mm Italian LMG team:

Vornid Army List

Vornid Gallery

15mm SciFi Manufacturers

I've mentioned before that one of the frustrations of 15mm sci-fi gaming is the fact that some brilliant ranges are incomplete, in that they might have a good selection of infantry, but they have no support weapons or vehicles.

One range that is a case in point is Khurasan's Vornid range of plantmen. Great infantry, nothing else. People weren't buying them, so the range wasn't expanded. Fair enough, but it means it's difficult to use them on the tabletop, as more rounded opponents take them apart too easily.

I've already expanded the Vornid army list with the addition of GZG support weapons crewed by Fungoid mushroom men (also from Khurasan), and Slishian Big Men and gunners from Hydra, and can now report I've found a source of vehicles as well in the form of Ravenstar Studio's Horrid range.

These are, well, horrid, as you'll see from the first additions, below. Ordering them involves e-mailing Ravenstar, but if you want a source of most unpleasant sci-fi creatures, with guns, then the Horrid are worth the trouble. Just to give you an idea of scale, the tanks below are over six inches long: this is Starship Troopers territory!

To the left are links to the updated Vornid Army List, the updated Vornid Gallery, and the updated 15mm Sci-Fi Manufacturers list (where you'll find a link to Ravenstar Studio's blog). Below are the Chitin Two-Gun tanks!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

The first few entrants into the 2014 painting campaign have registered, with some already submitting their achievements.

So far, the following have signed up, with their current points total in brackets afterwards:

Bairos, Vidal (20)

Bloggs, Fred

De Smedt, Koen

Gilbride, Chris

munsterfan8 (17)

Nissvik, Thomas (16)

Padre, Mad

Ralls, Jason

Vera, Benito

visbellica (30)

December 2013 Game

Here's an AAR for IABSM from Kazenstein, who took advantage of the Christmas break to get in a game. The Germans are counter-attacking!

Introduction/Rules

Achievements

Scorecard

The end of the year saw the customary collection of posts where Lardies listed their gaming achievements in 2013.

Most prevalent was the recounting of how many figures had been painted over the last twelve months, with posters gasping in amazement at the achievements of some members (especially the professionals) whilst bemoaning their own sad efforts!

Thus was launched the idea of a 2014 TFL Game-Ready Campaign or TFLGRC for short. It's a way for Lardies to collectively track what they have painted over the year, hopefully as a spur to self-improvement and an encouragement to greater productivity. 

Details of how to take part are in the links to the left or in the Contents column, as well as the links to where you can see who's managed what so far.

So pick up those dust-covered brushes, bite your thumb at your lead mountain, and join us all in the TFL Game-Ready Campaign!

Retimo

Here's the final Whisperin' Al IABSM AAR downloaded from his blog. It's short but sweet, and covers action on Crete during the German airborne invasion.

Firebase

I mentioned below that Whisperin' Al's blog had a CDS battle report in it. It's only a short one, covering an attack on a Free World firebase. Here it is...

Praesentia Army List

I've finally got around to completing the Praesentia army list for Q13, based on the superb range of figures from Critical Mass Games.

I've been wanting to do these for some time as I am strongly tempted to make them my next sci-fi army purchase. They are the first Tech 4 army to be included within the lists, and have some excellent chrome to make them complete. 

Here's a picture of the box set showing the basic robot infantry force with Praesentia Big Men and various drones for support.

Coulogne

Coulogne Redux

Rearguard at Pevensey

Those of you who regularly visit VL (bookmark us now!) will know that I love finding and collecting After Action Reports from all over the web. I especially like seeing how other people interpret scenarios that I have either written of played. So I was very happy, yesterday, when I found Whisperin' Al's blog which has several AARs for either IABSM or CDS.

Here's the first batch covering scenarios from the Defence of Calais and Sealion scenario packs. Lovely photographs of well set up tables and nicely painted figures. More to follow.

Fallschirmjaeger Gallery

A bit more Christmas painting: I've added some Leichtgeschultze 40 recoilless rifles to the Fallschirmjaegers. Thinking about it, I should have used a slightly different yellow for the guns and for the base smock colour; and camouflaged the guns as well. Lesson learnt: laziness always leads to a slight feeling of dissatisfaction!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, another year goes by and, with that, a chance to reflect on 2013 and look forward to 2014.

IABSM:  

No releases this year, but am currently planning my late war, eastern front scenario pack. It will be along the lines of Vyazma and Blennevile.

As for figures, no new armies, but loads of filling in of existing armies, especially where vehicles are concerned. Thirty tanks/armoured cars for the Soviets, a whole squadron of Cromwells for the British, and the transport for my late war Panzergrenadier company. 

CDS:

Almost nothing in 2013, but did finally get around to painting four M113s for the Free World Forces.

Q13:

The Five Planets scenario pack released in November: pleased to have finally completed that.

Figures-wise, the Gitungi as a new army, but mostly filling in: a Hauk airmobile platoon for the Harook; more walkers for the WWW2 US; a Royalist platoon for the Quar; Lesser Ursids; and a few bits and pieces for the Protolene Khanates and Felids.

Now all I have to do is get some more games in!

2014:

Resolutions for the new year include the aforementioned IABSM scenario pack, finally getting round to buying and painting the foot element of a late war German Panzergrenadier company, and then maybe starting on the Poles. 

For Q13, another scenario pack, more army lists, and the resolution not to start any more armies...a resolution which I am sure will crumble in the face of new releases!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy 2014, and keep checking back here for more updates.

Happy New Year.

R