Spartacon 2016

Check your 6  game

 Spartacon was a lot of fun this year.  The game tables where packed with players.  Being slow to figure out what I wanted to play the tables fill fast.  I manage to get into a Check you 6 game.  Having the game for several years, I never played it.
 The airwar game game can be very technical.  At the same time very realistic.  Tom who was the game master ran us through the basics and we where off.   Having picked P-47s I figured I would be able to do some damage.  But this is where the pilot rate makes or breaks you flight.  My pilots ended up being Zero and a plus1.  Zero equals green as grass rookie.   +1 pilot equals a guy with a few missions under his belt.  It didn't take long that my P 47 couldn't turn, but had some speed. Second fighting a +2 veteran and +3 ace.   I was pretty well toast.  But I did get a lucky engine hits on a +2 FW190.   Shortly after that the ace ... well you can figure out what happened to my flight.

P-51 +2 pilot hit.

Left upper corner fleeing FW-190.  The P-51 pilot in his last few seconds. My P-47

 just a flash before it explodes.

Massive early desert war Italians vs the British.  The paint figures and armor are amazing

.

A picture of the stat cards for the game.  Not sure of the rule set.

Massive ancients battled

Bolt action Pacfic war battle.  Lots of players yell Banzai later in the game

 Now the large 28mm dreadnought battle.   The playing area was 60 feet by 40 feet.  Had a blast playing this battler.  It was the German Colonial fleet vs the French fleet.  Lots of surprises, drama and stress.   Being a german player we decide to attack the French cruiser.   The four ships race to attack the French Cruiser only to find out is was a battle ship.   How you say ?  When we got hit by 13 guns that out ranged us by 4 feet.    There will be a full account of the battler on Antons blog at a future date.  So won't give into the details.   But I can say the German where lucky to sink the French Battle ship  

The German battle group.  One torpedo boat, a protected cruiser, torpedo cruiser and heavy cruiser.

The French  battleship, heavy cruiser and torpedo cruiser

French fleet advancing

This German gunboat with 13 inch guns turned out to be the hero of the German fleet

The Thor getting hit.  and laughing off the damage

The end of the Thor with the captain leaving the ship.

The badly maul French ships.  The was done by the Panther and Thor.

The final second of the French battle ship sinking below the sea.  The mauled German fleet pulls out a victory.

War game luck video

I knowing that this happened to everyone that played a war game.  It seem there is one figure on the battlefield that is invincible.  You shoot at him, throw grenades at him and mortar rolls.  And still he keeps coming.  The figure that hit after hit...This nothing.  Why because you dice roll stink..   Hope you get a good laugh out of this.

Crazy Russian

Team Yankee M163 VADS and M901 ITV platoon

Just received the Team YankeeM163 VADS and M901 ITV platoon.   I'm impressed! They are the nicest models in 1/100 scale.  I had planned to wait for Khurasan to product the M901ITV.   With the unknown waiting period for some of their coming items I opted for the new Battle front.

 The best part is I have already a lot of unbuild M113 for the IDF.   With these I now can get 4 of each types built.   M163 VADS  I can make a couple for the IDF which received these in 1975.  The others for my cold war army that I'm building...

  On off to the modeling table to built this new toys.

 Scan of the parts

What I what to make.

 

Above photos are from Dutch modeling site.  

WWW.TWENOT.NL

Khurasan IDF never released M-60 & Sh'ot Kal 3 & 5

Like most I have been waiting for Khurasan to release the promised IDF Armor.  They release was to be in Oct of 2013.  At this point I believe that these to armor vehicle will be never released.   This leaves a large hole in my IDF forces.  Wonder what they looked like....   Here they are:

Sh'ot Kal 3

Sh'ot Kal 5

Magach 6/M60

link to the website article:  15mm Isreali IDF Armor

AoW and Warweb are gone

Yesterday while reading the articles on TMP I discover Architects of War has disappeared.  The bad part is that they took a lot customer money with them.   I had purchased all my Saga items, victrix and gripping beast miniature from AoW.   They had provide excellent service.  Unfortunately they have gone dark, not returning phone call or emails.    

Another Internet shop was Warweb.  They too have disappeared with customers money.  Currently they to closed down.

I have removed both shops from my  buy from list.

Here is the link to TMP about Architects of War :

AoW gone?

Happy New Year 2016

 First I would like to wish a very Happy Year to the people that follow my blog.   Knowing that I have only 44 follower after 4 years is nice.   My hope was to hit 50,000 view last year but that didn't happen.   Maybe my blog is a little to boring.  :)

  Started a new blog on Aircraft modeling.  The blog started trying to find and add pictures of  the F-4C and D of my old unit the 191st Fighter squadron.  F-4 where an awesome aircraft.  

 Projects up coming this year.  

1. Build some model for the upcoming IPMS nationals in July.
2. Finish up my IDF and Syrian forces for the  6 Day and Yom Kippur wars.
3. Start creating a German, US and Soviet force for the cold war era.  1950-1980
4. Finishing Romans and Carthaginians
5.  Starting working on my Celts, Romano British, Saxons, Viking and ancients.
6. Maybe I can starting painting my 28mm Napoleonic troop.   Lord know I have way to many of      
   them.

Need to put my photo work bench together.  This is the main reason for not posting pictures.

Enjoy the New Year.

Painting Linen Banners. Added Twin Cities gamer to my blog list

 Twin Cities Gamer has an excellent blog.  His current theme is Saga's Cresent & Cross.  Currently he is demstrating how to paint Banners.   Here is his current post.

Painting Linen banners

  I have the Cresent and Cross rules. But have not played them as of today.  Hope you enjoy the post. Have several posts to created on models I'm currently putting together.  Just need to take pictures.

Hope everyone in enjoying their Holidays.

Impetus new website.

 Here is the link for Impetus new website.   The rules are interesting and fun.   Just need to find people in my area that likes to play Impetus.   So far no luck.   The Detroit seems to have become a waste land for games historical Minitures.

New Impetus website

M79 grenade Launcher... Yes I used it in Vietman

 Lots of misconceptions about the use of the weapon during my tour 68-70.  Yes I was one of the dummies that got to picked as a grenadier.    First of all I only had HE rounds.  All buckshot round where taken away from my unit.   It seems President Johnson didn't like the idea of causing a problem with the Geneva convention...  No Fletch rounds...   Why, they didn't work and had been withdrawn for use. 

Here is a brief history.

The M79 saw combat in the Vietnam War beginning in the early days, when M79 Grenadiers assigned to major Army divisions first arrived to see combat in Vietnam in 1965, including the 1st Cavalry Division, the 1st Infantry Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Typically, one M79 Grenadier would be a member of each Infantry Fire Team (4-5 men), with two Fire Teams composing an Infantry Squad, headed by a Squad Leader.

However, its single-shot nature was a serious drawback. Reloading after every shot meant a slow rate of fire and an inability to keep up a constant volume of fire during a firefight. This led the Navy to develop the China Lake Grenade Launcher, which a were produced for deployed SEAL Teams. For close-in situations, the minimum arming range (the round travels 30 meters to arm itself) and the blast radius meant a grenadier had to use his .45 cal. pistol, or fire and hope that the grenade acted as a giant slow bullet. Special grenades for close-in fighting were created to compensate, though a soldier was not always able to load one in the heat of battle. Moreover, its size meant that a soldier with an M79 could be only a grenadier, and he used up his limited rounds, he had only a pistol to use in a firefight. Underbarrel grenade launchers, such as the XM148 and the M203, where the grenade launcher attaches to an M16 rifle, were developed during the Vietnam War, allowing the grenadier to function also as a rifleman. Some grenadiers opted to carry a slung M16 rifle in lieu of a pistol.

The XM148 was plagued with problems and the project was dropped. The M203 was a success, and was standardized in 1969;^[8] it had replaced the M79 by the end of the war, though M79s were still used in Reserve and National Guard units.

Some US Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces in Iraq have been seen using the M79 in recent years^{[citation needed]}, due to its greater accuracy and range compared to the M203 (350m effective versus 150 m effective on the M203). The M79 has seen notable limited use during Operation Iraqi Freedom, such as for clearing IEDs

Fletchees..

For close range fighting, two styles of M79 rounds were developed. The first was a flechette or Bee Hive round (so named for the sound the flechettes made while in flight)^[11] that fired 45 10-grain steel flechettes. Flechettes proved to be ineffective because they would often not hit point-first and penetrate. Instead they would hit sideways and bounce off. About 1966, this was replaced by the M576 buckshot round. Containing twenty 24-grain metal pellets^[12] (M576E1) or twenty-seven 24-grain metal pellets (M576E2), this round could be devastating at close ranges. However, as range increased, the shot spread out so rapidly as to be ineffective. The M576E2, despite the greater number of shot, was less effective at range than the M576E1, because its shot spread out much more quickly and could completely miss the target.

  As if they improved after Vietnam I couldn't tell you for sure.  Maybe a currently Veteran can tell me if the rounds had been improved...

Wonder if this painter enter the Analogue paint challenge

Unfortunately the poster didn't give his name on the facebook page I follow.   Amazing work..

oldSarges Wargame and Model blog: Found with blog and Arab - Israeli war vehicle an...

oldSarges Wargame and Model blog: Found with blog and Arab - Israeli war vehicle an...: Just discovered this great blog with a lot of great pictures of the 67 & 73 wars..  The photos help paint my vehicles with the correct paint schemes...

Found this blog and Arab - Israeli war vehicle and aircraft.

Just discovered this great blog with a lot of great pictures of the 67 & 73 wars..  The photos help paint my vehicles with the correct period camouflage.  All photo are from this blog. 

Arab - Israeli vehicles

Charle Company Rules

Last night I played this rules last night with the regular crew from Anton's wargame blog.  Being a Vietnam veteran I was asked to play the VC.  Being old a treacherous  with knowledge of how the VC operated I was yes.  

Here is the basic idea game is below.

Charlie Company – A set of rules to game Vietnam on a tabletop with miniatures!

The players are all American NCOs and officers “in country”; the referee designs each scenario and controls the hidden forces of the NVA/VC enemy. This makes Charlie Company a unique tabletop miniatures game, for a substantial amount of role-playing is involved; you will have a figure on the tabletop that is you – 100%. You can’t even talk to the other players unless your figure is in a position to do so! You have to survive twelve missions (12 months game time) to complete your tour and rotate home.

The question: What is winning?

A: Defeating your enemy

Or

B: Surviving your tour of duty?

The choice is yours. Charlie Company is unique in the fact that you must balance the achievement of your short term goals – defeating the VC – with your ultimate objective – lasting until your DEROS date comes up and you (your miniature at any rate) can hop that freedom bird back to the world.

In most other miniature battle simulations, players are in a contest with one another and the miniatures do the dying – a certain detachment is achieved and artificial morale rules are required to represent your men’s sense of self preservation.

Charlie Company places you – the player – virtually on the tabletop, in harms way, so to speak. The other players are with you on the table, facing the enemy. You must co-operate together, execute and follow mission planning and orders to win and survive – good luck, have fun and get some!

“The enemy may be operating from the delusion that political pressure combined with the tactical defeat of a major military unit might force the US to throw in the towel” – Gen. William C. Westmoreland. November 1967

Nine Rules for Personnel of US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

     The Vietnamese have paid a heavy price for their long fight against the Communists. We military men are in Vietnam now because their government has asked us to help its soldiers and people in winning their struggle. The Vietcong will attempt to turn the people against you. You can defeat them at every turn by the strength, understanding and generosity you display with the people. Here are nine simple rules:

1.    Remember we are guests here. We make no special demands and seek no special treatment.

2.    Join with the people! Understand their life, use phrases from their customs and laws.

3.    Treat women with kindness and respect.

4.    Make personal friends among the soldiers and common people.

5.    Always give the Vietnamese the right of way.

6.    Be alert and ready to react with your military skill.

7.    Don’t attract attention by loud, rude or unusual behavior.

8.    Avoid separating yourself from the people by a display of wealth or privilege.

9.    Above all else you are a member of the US Military Forces on a difficult mission, responsible for all your official and personal actions. Reflect honor upon yourself and the United States of America.


 Needless to say the American players broke every rule listed above.  They hammered the surrounding countryside is mortar fire.   Recon by fire on everything.  They should of ran out of ammo.  No fire control.   One of the player who just return form Afghanistan who was a platoon kept tell them don't do that.  You will get shot! Was the only player being in control of his troops.   He use sound tactics. But he may one mistake.  The M48 driver was buttoned up in tank.  In order to get attention to fire on target.  Sarge waved his arm and pointed to the target.   That was his only mistake of the game. The VC sniper said to himself.   That guy must be important.  Sarge got hit.  Lucky for him it wasn't serious. 

The game major objective was to run a truck convoy across the broad.  The trucks moved well over ten inches a turn.  4 turns they could of been off the game broad.  The VC objective was to destroy as many trucks as possible.   They ended up taking out three of the 8 truck, 7 kias, 5 wounds G.I's.   Not sure if  I made enough points to have  victory of not.    The VC lost 20 KIA, 20 wounded.  Their job was to hit hard and run.  

 In the end the players turn the villagers  against Americans.  So any a convoy ran down highway one.  They would be taking a lot of fire.  So much for hearts and minds.   Check out Antons blog is the future.   As pictures of the battle will be posted in all of it glory.

All in all is was a fun night of gaming.

Scale struggle! What to keep and what to sell

 I'm most likely not the only one that has a problem with too many figure scales of figures.   My ancients are all 25/28mm.   Napoleon period is 15mm & 25/28mm.   The problem is my WW2.  I into all three scales.   Started in WW2 in 72nd/20mm scale.  But got sucked into 28mm Bolt action.  After which my son and I got sucked into Flames or war.    My 15mm collection is now huge IDF, WW2 and now cold war.   With that 20mm is pretty big also.   The problem is not too many folks I know play WW2 in 28mm...  Now what to do?   Need thin  the herd so to speak.


Many people that read this have the same problem?   Would like some input.


Just saw some great miniature and accessories on the early war miniature site..   Damn them these are all 20mm items.

These are for the Armourfast models.   Just what I need is more headaches,,,,

Digital map of Ancient Rome

This map was posted on TMP.  The map shows all of the roman empire.  More information and satillite image can be found by clicking on the right hand top corner.  It will take hours if not weeks to look at all the important.

Map of the Roman empire