28MM COMMANDO WW2 part 2

 So I did get another packet of the 28mm Warlord Games Commandos in plastic - only this time it was the new version.

So in total its now 55 guys (old pack 25 off and new one 30 off ).

Below: New ones at top - older version in berets at bottom

Below: So I have the original guys in berets...(older Warlord Games version).

And the newer version (30 off) built using the cap comforter...I actually prefer these heads. They remind me of Airfix 1.72 scale...remember the kayak and ladders LOL. Anyway I think it was October 1942 when they moved to the green berets.

                                                    Below: Vickers k  gun on the right

The cap comforters look great.

I used Vallejo English Uniform

The new figure pack has a few Vickers K weapons which is great but it doesn't have any Stirling SMG? ... strange I thought. Apparently with a rate of fire faster than the German MG34. 

I also purchased in metal some heavy weapons ... 5 mortars, 5 Vickers water cooled HMG, and some radios (from Assault Group). I then used some of the new figures as crew/operators. 

Most of the new figures have the weapons already attached to the arms. So again I had to raid the USA bits box to get some arms!

I mixed them up ...some with packs some not. I placed the Bergans next to some of the crew teams.  I also added green stuff to the ammo belts.

I gave the original "beret guys" some Vickers and mortar support. I think this is a cheap and quick way of supplying heavy weapons to a squad.

The radios I stuck onto clear bases - I can choose to use these or not (that way I don't unnecessary lose figures if the radios are not used). If needed I can just place a figure beside them.

Below: Commando on clear single figure base on top of clear based radio...the base blends in nicely.

So as I was using up guys for crew I ended up with only one guy here..but as per the radio...I can place someone next to him if needed.

I still prefer the old comfort cap on the new pack (you get both beret and cap head sets). The new set has still not addressed the "lack of a firing piat" person. The piat is being moved/carried. I think Warlord may have taken the decision  - to not provide prone figures in this pack.Which is how the piat was generally fired. Shame.

But I should have done a guy with a grappling hook and a guy on a ladder lol...those Airfix Commandos fought well LOL

WW2 German Figure 1/16 scale

 So at Christmas I was given this model...its a great resin  1.16 scale figure - with great movement. So I thought I would give painting something bigger a go...I think he turned out ok. I have not painted in this scale for years. I really just wanted to test myself and the German patterns are the hardest for me to paint...So out came the camo paint pack and dotting tools.

A pea dot trouser and summer oak leaf smock and helmet cover.

Getting the actual pattern to work across the figure at this scale was a challenge. 

Even the helmet cover is based on an actual picture.

Achieving the correct amount of base colour spacing and then pattern was hard. 

He's not my usual wargame scale (28mm) and he was a challenge to paint...as a painting project (his gear colours are based on an actual uniform pictured in the Waffen Uniform Book).  But I don't think I will venture into this scale again.

U Boat crew 28mm

 So with our next game in mind we needed a group of German guys...no prizes for guessing what our Commandos will be trying to destroy during the new game..

So this "crew" started life as US Marines and German infantry. I removed/sanded the ammo pouches and all webbing... sanded any jackboots and added green stuff for the trouser bottoms and life jackets.  Then gave them new heads.

I printed out some German eagles at a scale/size so that I could attach to the boxes. My intention is to have the crew loading their boat - with a Captain onboard directing traffic. The uniforms are based on actual pictures of crew.

The beard came out ok on the Captain...and of course deck crew wearing life jackets.

Some of the shore guys are the warlord metal figures...so again I cut the bases away...and mounted them on clear bases.

 The  blue top is colourful for us! LOL

We can re-use our Stalingrad vehicles (3d prints) for transport... the crates/boxes are removable from the vehicles and will become part of the "load the boat" game!

Hey ...put that Van Gogh back..! Schnell !

Clear bases for the HMGs and some dock items (boxes and barrel) and ammo boxes. 

These German Kriegsmarine figures were donated for the game by Gavin 

(p.s. if you wargame in Glasgow you know Gavin!). Cheers Gavin.

The lorry unloading crew...opening boxes to take into boat hatches.

So lots of German guys moving boxes...

These guys are re based.

So its getting there. We have lots more Germans (if needed) but I think more Commandos might be needed! But we will need to also think about location next...can anyone else hear the film/tv theme tune - Das Boot... here we go!

28MM COMMANDO WW2

Its been a while and we have taken this year away from displaying at the big Scottish war game shows  but are planning to return next year.

We are now preparing these guys for action.

I managed to pick up a "half made" set on e bay cheap but I quickly realise that the OLD Warlord Commando set (25 off) was well not quite up to what it should be...(the new sets have 30 off figures) 

So some of the ebay figures were already assembled on the usual bases - they had to be cut off as we prefer clear bases.

I used the tradition English uniform colour but half of the pre made guys had sterling's across their body as opposed to firing poses...? ( I actually think they may not be able to pose in firing positions?) so I chopped them! I used my US marine arms on some of them.

This gave them better poses. I think. But I had to sand their bodies to fit.

I made a sniper, 3 piat guys, 2 knee mortars and 2 brens. To the mortar guys I added boxes and shells in their hand.  The piat was never going to fit the hand in the sets provided. I don't see how any of the supplied arms would make an aiming figure. This is the old set and notably on the new set they have most of the weapons attached to hands on the sprue. 

I did liked the ropes and Bergan packs. They do look like they are well equipped. Again I used my spares...US Marine or infantry hands with the binoculars.

I added some straps to some  of the rifles with green stuff.

You can see how tricky it is to place these guys in the centre of the clear base....stop sliding around ! LOL (and that's with two paint bottles and blue tac supporting it).

The British uniform colour definitely needs a dry brush - otherwise dark mud and the detail disappears! 

To my surprise these guys came with no patches ....so I might leave them or paint them later.

We are planning a raid style game... I might go for the new Warlord plastic pack (30 off) next.

and of course the Germans...see next post coming soon.

28mm WW2 German Camo

 

So after our Pacific Game debut at Carronade there is now a lack of shows.  So I thought.... its been ages since I painted some German Camo figures - so after a perusal of the internet I decided on some metal Artisan figures..I decided to make them metal..rather than plastic. 

So I then cleaned them up and washed the figures. I think Artisan do some nice sculpts. But I am not sure I will keep the bases as I really like a clear base. But the size and poses are great.

So after a quick undercoat of white - I wanted to try out a couple of new paint sets.

The AK figure series - Oak leaf, palm and plane tree summer and winter boxes. I wasn't sure about these at first as the effect is a little darker than I expected.

So this is my first few test figures...I even brightened up some of the dots.

I have tried to photograph them at a table viewing distance....

as I really wanted the camo to stand out and be recognisable (at a distance). 

Yeah strangely I wanted the camo to stand out! LOL - well at least be recognisable.

I wanted a mix of summer and winter oak leaf pattern with pea dot pattern or grey/green trouser. With some oak leaf trousers maybe (I know oak leaf trousers are rare). 

so this is it so far..on clear bases.  

I will post the rest as they are done

I got some more finished...taking the metal base of is time consuming and numbs the fingers! But I do like the clear bases. Its a balance of scale on a 28mm figure to get the right look on the table - you need to be able to see the camo to recognise it.

 

28mm Pacific

 Well it finally arrived... a day out with our 28mm scale Tarawa game at the Carronade Wargame Show. Thanks to the Falkirk gamers for putting on a great show. Our game is a 12 foot x 6 foot playing space.

It was busy, with queues to get in! With lots of great traders and games to be had for all ages and tastes.

So we packed up a van all loaded with weapons (in 28mm scale) and headed out..

So the USMC head to the beach of Tarawa - we start were we left of...with USMC already with some units on the beach. We will surely get to that airfield today...and yes... we took loads of pictures !!

You tube Video link   ( https://youtu.be/y4_9OwtyLOI  )  Video

   

Left Side of the board - USMC Higgins boats drop the troop at the reef and they wade ashore. How close they get to the beach is dependent on the god dice!

Right Side - Not a lot is beyond the sea wall... except lots of Japanese Special Navel Landing Force -SNLF (basically Japanese Marines).    EEEK. On the far right is the airstrip.

The Javanese SNLF are ready to rush down to any breach in their defences. 

Airstrip is to the right - a prime target for the USMC.

The LVT1's are on track -right at the sea wall...

The jap aircraft are grounded ...and this pilot is not happy.

And get those mules moving!

Two flamethrowers and an HMG move into hiding. The strange thing about 2 of the flamethrowers was that the Japanese player lost sight of these 2 guys until the end of the game (he forgot where he placed them...its a jungle out there LOL)

Can Japanese Officers plan their way to victory...or not?

HMG in the background - on top right

Guys get the washing in - before the USMC arrive! Laundry line !

A lot of people asking about the wading USMC in the sea...these were made from green stuff and spare Warlord Games parts...Supplies is even coming ashore on dinghy's pulled by wading marines.

But at Tarawa a lot of troops came ashore from the water as Higgins could not get in far enough.

The reef and artillery take there toll on the landing LVT's. An LVT1 gets hit.

Coastal Gun - it was stolen by the Japanese at Singapore and ended up at Tarawa. Its a 3d print designed by me for the game.

A USMC General "G" (middle of pic) sips his coffee and considers his options on the beach. 

Check out the wheel barrow (a 3d print) behind the ammo boxes (bottom of the picture)...

Two pack mules...tied up to a trailer.

The are now 250 USMC troops on the beach and another 250 troops in the sea!

Move!

Japanese get another hit - kaboom!

The big navel gun is holding the line.

A Jap officer gets medical treatment bottom right at the airfield.

A USMC takes on the coastal gun with a flamethrower.

There is a build up on the sea wall..."get some TNT on the sea wall"! twice the dice fail us...we are stuck.  

The sea wall is just made of blue extruded foam hot wire shaped and "engraved" then painted and flocked with various ground cover and plants.

Tanks at Tarawa don't carry US Army white stars as they are Navy tanks. On red beach they use a prancing elephant logo on the side -with the tank crew naming the tank. 

I recommend the book "Tanks in  Hell".

This picture just looks right for the day.

Japanese HMGs are waiting

A Japanese flamethrower jumps out and torches a Sherman.

Its all about numbers on the beach. Note John Wayne (Sgt Stryker right up front!(far right)

As USMC get over the sea wall and its all going off! Hand to hand.

A USMC hits a SNLF with a rifle butt

The Japanese are well dug in around the big navel gun. Just look at those bamboo trenches.

The foliage looks ok on our clear bases. 

The watch tower is just wooden dowels, hot glued thread added for twine, earth magnets hold the legs to top and the roof is also detachable by magnets.

The USMC keep moving forward.

Two Shermans are dumped into the sea to swim for the beach (bottom middle).

The Japanese General is thinking over his plan

That Japanese Flamethrower guy is at it again... the dice gods are also shining on him.

A lucky mortar round hits a Sherman 

The Japanese officer to the left is hit by a shell burst. 

Its a nice picture of the gun crew with the range finder periscope.

A Japanese 88mm sits waiting whilst the crew bring more ammo. This is covering the main road.

 Their rifles are stacked close to hand.

This is the mortar crew that took out the Sherman ... 

The Ammo boxes have ammo written in Japanese....I think (google translate!).

The centre gets very hectic as USMC spearhead through the centre gaps in the sea wall.

But the Japanese have a second line of defense ready with HMG and Mortars  They have the area ranged up on their maps (in the picture Tarawa map to scale).

First wave is over the sea wall...but I need more USMC on the beach for a second wave. 

This Japanese truck with the fuel drum on front and on the back is not selling ice cream to the beach party!

Japanese reserves at the far end are visible

A good picture from the Japanese side.

USMC medics are busy and bar gunners send lead!

Stretcher Corpsman

Awaiting rescue transportation.

Beach area is busy with medics .

Every where you move these guys pop up from spider holes.

SNLF reserves moving up top the front line in force - where that offshore barrage!

A marine offers another wounded marine his canteen.

Flamethrowers work on both sides...

Two more Shermans arrive

This guys still stuck arguing with the mules! LOL

More reserves using the cover to move up

Medic... corpman needed

Two medics with a stretcher

The Japanese use these obstacles to stop tanks (concrete, steel and coral).

USMC casualties pile up at the beach. Its chaos.

Note below: the pistol on the oil drum for close range!

Japanese medic treats an officer

This guy is getting out the ammo vehicle

Your kidding me on ....not more spider holes.

Marines on the move - far left -that's one less spider hole

This group of guys are causing to much havoc (mortar team + HMG). Especially the HMG on the high ground.

I liked the tank camo these are 3d printed with magnet turrets.

The tower is all made from scratch...bamboo sticks with thread to tie it together, the roof and legs are stuck with magnets to allow storage, roof is just old brush hairs. Then all painted up.

Once over the sea wall its 50/50! Spread out. Jap mortars are stopping us.

Japanese are taking hits

Is that another flamethrower or is it two in that concrete emplacement? mmmm

Weight of numbers...starts to pay off.

A blown up Sherman stalls in the sea in the background

Japanese use spider holes to pop out at tanks/vehicles (bottom)

Mortar team and officer - the boxes say AMMO.

Japanese poster on the radio hut.

Get that engine in a Zero! LOL no chance...

    Shells stream out of the AA gun onto the floor - more ammo they are coming!

You can see the spent rounds piling up. Pistol at the ready on top of the oil drums on the right.

3 of the 4 Higgins are now submarines...eek

Medic/ corpsman

That Japanese engineer vehicle has 3 flamethrowers on it.

So its late in the day and a last Bamzai charge comes down the road.

Banzi! up the road..

Bunker is finally hit - but at a cost!

So hang on... here comes John Wayne AKA Sgt. Stryker (from Sands of Iwa Jiwa) standing on the top of the sea wall - those Japanese don't stand a chance now! LOL

So it was great to get everything out and all the players had a ball. 

Thanks to the Falkirk for putting on a good show.

We had loads of interest at the table, lots of questions, lots of photographers and great banter and load's of compliments - which makes it all worth it.

Thanks to the all the Glasgow Warhog support team (incl. John Wayne for turning up)!

It was great.