Una volta un bellissimo villaggio.

On show today are some Italy themed terrain pieces I produced last week. I'm building these in anticipation of a new army I'm starting, which is the 5th Gebirgsjager division in Italy. This will also be the start of an early war army, for which I will use the Burning Empires book. I intend to make some more buildings, walls and maybe roads.

Rear

Overview

Saga Viking Warlord

My entry for the Tapestry's warlord painting competition.

This was really a motivation to sit down and spend some time on a nice miniature. For the shield I went with a freehand reindeer decoration. I'm not sure whether it's really historical, but I think it looks cool.

Black Powder: French Cuirassiers, Hussars and line

Here's an update on my Black Powder French army, I've finished two more cuirassiers, painted my first two 8th Hussars, and some perry infantry.

Here's the pictures:

Tilted a bit to catch the light.

From the rear.

Perry infantry, Victrix on their right.

From the rear.

And my Pride and Joy, the 8th Hussars.

Finished horses.

From the rear.

A Yorkish Saga warband

Encouraged by some more people in the area who are starting Saga, I started painting these perry-miniature war of the roses figures, which I originally bought for my Empire army (I think). Since I'm not aware of a War of the Roses game system I'd have to use them for another game any way, and although they're not really 'dark age', they come pretty close. Close enough for me to use them as a Norman warband. Every thing is there, levy archers, crossbowmen, mounted kniggets and even a suitable warlord can be made.

At the moment I've got a started warband assembled, being a warlord, 2x4 Mounted Heartguard, 8 crossbowmen and 12 levy archers. To upgrade to 6 points I can assemble more crossbows or archers, but I've only got 3 horses left.

Here are the photo's:

Warband WIP

Warlord WIP (still in need of a suitable name)

Painted stuff

better view of 4ground silhouette cut cottage, very nice

BP, BA and starting Saga

Hello Folks

Might I first wish you a colorful year of happy brushing and plastic dudesmen who will have a go at the hun, bayonets fixed!

Last wednesday I played my first game of Bolt Action and third game of Saga, with mister Corver. Both games play fast and are really enjoyable. They also inspired me to get some more painting done. We are also planning to have a game of Black Powder in the future, probable using the Albion T. book for 'point'values.

First up:

Black Powder, napoleonic French infantry, with wound counter.

I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took a die to the knee. Hmm, no not funny indeed.

Next:

Bolt Action, Hermann Göring Medic and Panzerfaust carrying jerry

Lass mich durch ich bin arts

Lass mich arts ich bin durch

Next!

Wednesday I learned of the availability of the Byzantine warband for Saga. I've always loved the Lord of the Rings figures for the easternlands, so I thought this would be the perfect time to use them again. It's also a good excuse to get the plastic easterling cataphracts. Now only to find me a copy of WI issue 301, and the Saga rules, and dice. All in due time.

Goldclad lads, or ladies?

Redcoats

Warband WIP 

That's it for now, see you around!

Gepanzerte Panzergrenadiers vs. Grenadier guards/Airlanding FoW Batrep

Yesterday Peter, Guy and I met up for a second battle. Peter once again ran his gepanzerte panzergrenadiers,  but this time Guy took his Grenadier Guards and I took my airlanding.

General overview of the forces:

Germans: Totenkopf" SS-Panzergrenadierkampfgruppe.
HQ (2 panzerschrecks, 3 halftracks) 
Gepanzerte panzergrandier platoons 
Gepanzerte panzergrandier platoons
1 Panzer platoon (4 Stug G)
1 Armoured anti-aircraft gun platoon (2 armoured sd kfz 7/1)
1 Armoured mortar platoon (HQ, 2 observers in kübelwagen, 4 sd kfz 251/2)

British: Grenadier Guards combined with 1st Airborne
This time we played the British as one company, only using the airlanding HQ

Grenadier Guards 
Motor Rifle platoon I
Armoured platoon (3 Sherman, 1 Firefly)
4 Sextons

1st Airborne HQ
Rifle platoon I
Light tankplatoon (3 tetrarchs)
HMG platoon (Vickers)
AT platoon (6 pdrs)

The battle takes place once again somewhere in Normandy, despite the fact that the Germans are organised in an eastfront roster. The British find themselves once more on the defensive, facing a full force of gepanzerte panzergrenadiers. The objectives were placed on the west end, with Germans approaching from the east (pincer scenario). Para's hide in the woods, while the sextons prepare their barrage. The third platoon that starts on the table are the 6pdrs in ambush.

British positions ()

German positions (east)

In their prepared positions the British can't do more than wait and hope to stem the German tide long enough for their reinforcements to arrive.

Did we hit them? Did we?!

Hold on to your hats men!

Halftracks race through the little, quintessential french village, only to receive the full force of 4 six pounders opening up on them. The result is devastating for the halftracks, but the grenadiers press onward.

                           

The stuggs on the northern flank swing to the center, which proves to be their undoing. After 1 of the tanks is destroyed and 1 bailed out by combined fire of sextons and a six pounder, the stuggs present an easy target to charge for the nearby infantry. After the paratroopers destroy the 2 remaining stuggs they can safely return to their foxholes with minimal casualties.

After their moment of glory, the six pounders are easily swarmed by the grenadiers, opening up the southern flank for the German infantry. Luckily for the British, reinforcements arrive in time to defend the objective.

Right on time chaps!

On the other flank some tetrarchs come up to harass the remaining halftracks, destroying them all.

The shermans park in front of the objective to screen it from the infantry. The Germans however are not yet considering a retreat, and boldly charge the tanks. The overconfident shermans pay the price and must retreat with 1 remaining tank.

Wir brauchen die panzerschreck!

Tanks go up in flames

At this point the only remaining German platoons are the kubelwagen scouts, the first in command and a grenadier command team. When the british receive their last reinforcements Peter reluctantly concedes the battle.

We once again played a very enjoyable battle, I hope you enjoyed the report too.

Austrians and French cuirassier

Last week I received my 'starter' army for Black Powder, consisting of victrix British 6pdr cannons, Austrian infantry, French infantry and perry-plastic-fantastic French cuirassiers (one of the most lovely plastic sets I've seen). I started with putting together some Austrians, which turned out to go pretty fast, certainly compared to the french infantry, which consist of some more separate parts and also have some more flash. The poses of the french are great though.

I tried painting my first Austrians from a white undercoat, as their uniforms will be white anyway, but it seems I can't get used to starting from white, so I primed the rest black. Beside the Austrians I've started on the French cuirassier's horses, and finished the first one of them completely. I'm quite happy with how he turned out.

Austrian Infantry

French infantry

Form square! 

French cuirassier