15mm Sturmtiger from Zvezda

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You've got to hand it to Zvezda.

Of all the vehicles they could have released to compete in the WW2 wargaming marketplace, they release the Sturmtiger: a vehicle that no wargamer could possibly want more than one of (except for Kev: he needs loads). They only built nineteen of the damn things anyway.

But release it they have, and bought one I have...probably to use as some kind of objective or objective marker.

It's a nice model: easily up to Zvezda's usual high standards. Paints up well. As I said, the only problem is finding an excuse to actually get it onto the tabletop.

Here's a couple of shots of mine:

Q13: Army Lists for the Xar Added

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Inspired by Mr Plowman's painting, I have ordered a whole load of Xar figures from Ground Zero Games to form the basis of a new force for Quadrant 13.

To quote from the GZG website: The Xar - often known to human troops as "Chitters" from the rapid clicks and chirps of their speech - are an eight-limbed exoskeletal insectoid race, with six walking limbs ending in three-clawed feet and an upright torso with two manipulating arms.
Each Xar miniature consists of 2 parts, a 6-legged lower body and integral base plus a torso/arms/head casting with weapon or other equipment as appropriate.

No point in ordering figures unless you can use them in a game, so I have also built a basic army list for them too, available as a pdf download here and from the Q13 Army Lists page.

Only the infantry element are stat-ed at the moment: GZG don't do specific vehicles for the Xar, so I need to have a look around and find some for them from another range. More shopping!

TFL Painting Challenge: Huge Update

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Apologies for the lack of posts over the last week: real world and all that! Work is always crazy busy at this time of year, so just no time to process anything.

Leaving all that aside, here's a massive painting challenge update: everybody getting their entries in before the end of the year!

  • Thomas makes a welcome return and, much to everyone's surprise, pops in a few 28mm figures
  • Doug Melville has markers and a couple of 28mm WW2 squads
  • Lloyd Bowler has gone all Roman on us, and enters a mass of lovely 28's and some galleys
  • Mr Helliwell has been re-basing like crazy
  • Mervyn has been as busy as I am, but still manages a handful of figures
  • Matt Slade sends in his usual army of 28's, plus another army's worth of re-basing. The man is a machine!
  • Mr Hooge remembers the Alamo with some US Mexican War 15's
  • Ralph teases with three beautifully painted entries as we cry out for more
  • And last, but not least, Mr Naylor sends in a mass of 6mm WW2 armour

Today's pictures are from Doug, Lloyd, Mervyn and Ralph:

I'm loving these animal-based markers from Doug

So unusual that I had to feature them:  Lloyd's galleys from Donnington

Guerillos from Matt

28mm Sci-Fi Goodness from Ralph

The scorecard will be updated either tonight or tomorrow night: depends when I get onto my other PC!

TFL Painting Challenge "Cold Sunday" Update

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Not a bad little update this week: quite a few of you taking a rest from Thanksgiving and spending all your money in the Black Friday and CyberMonday sales to send in your entries!

In no particular order, we have:

  • Sapper with some Seven Years War figures
  • Carol with a couple of ACW artillery pieces and limbers
  • Matt Slade with a mass of late medieval types
  • Andy Duffell with a mix of 28mm WW2 vehicles and Feudal archers
  • Mr Luther fills in some of his gaps, and adds almost 200 6mm infantry
  • Mervyn enters some pirates to, as he puts it, "get the party started"
  • Mr Helliwell adds to his Tudors, and continues the Roman rehabilitation
  • And Steve Burt sends in some more Carthaginians

Today's pictures are from Messrs Duffell, Luther and Slade.

An Andy Duffell M5 Stuart

Some of Mark Luther's cavalry in action

Some of Mr Slade's Sergeants

IABSM AAR: Surprise Encounter Northwest of Rossienie by Mark Luther

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Ages since we had an AAR from Mr Luther: so here's one that dates back to June 2014.

A 6mm game played at Gigabites Café, the battle represents the Soviet counterattack by the tanks of the 2nd Tank Division, 3rd Mechanised Corps on June 24th, 1941 near Rossienie, Lithuania.

Clicl on the pic, above, to see lots of really big Soviet tanks in action!

Warfare 2016

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I went along to Warfare today: usually the last show of the year for me.

Warfare takes place at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Caversham, Reading, and just about takes over the entire centre for the day. There is a huge trader hall, and then an even bigger hall full of competition and demo games. There's also a smaller hall that houses the Bring & Buy, and the rather noxious squash courts which is where some more competition gamers are caged.

It's one of my favourite shows of the year, mainly because (a) it's close to where I live and (b) it's got a huge trader hall and I can shop to my heart's content. The only downside is that it's usually packed, which means that parking, even in the huge Rivermead car park, can be quite problematic.

So what was this year's show like?

Well my overriding impression was that it was quiet, very quiet. I only got bashed by one backpack (a square FoW carrying case, doubtless holding an SS German army with US Para allies) and hardly saw anyone I knew.

There were also some key traders missing. Peter Pig weren't there, which was annoying as I needed a single pack of figures that I'll now have to mail order; and there wasn't really anywhere to buy Battlefront figures either - just a couple of buckets/racks of old, discount figures.

Chain of Command

As for Lardy games, the guys from Evesham put on an amazing game of Chain of Command based around one of the key battles of the Bulge which, I think, won best demo game.

So a quiet Warfare this year...which meant, at least, that I didn't spend much money!

Mounted Scouts

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Here's a first for me: some mounted scouts for my WW2 Germans.

These are to join my 1939 Germans as they invade Poland as part of the play-testing of my forthcoming Poland in Flames scenario pack. I'm currently on #25 out of #55, so powering ahead!

The figures are from Peter Pig, and I had forgotten what a pleasure Mr Pig's minis are to paint, even if you are only a mediocre painter such as myself.

The great thing is that the figures are so detailed and have so many packs and saddlebags, that even if you just block paint everything and then pop a wash on, then they come up brilliantly.

These are the two 8-man squads I need as infantry mounted scouts. Almost tempted to get some more now just for the craic!

TFL Painting Challenge: Huge Update

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Several very large entries this week, with the obligatory ooh, er, madam!

In no particular order, we have:

  • Sapper with two whole armies: one 15mm, one 28mm
  • Koen comes back with a bang: and a vast number of figures: British Paras in 20mm, Star Wars in 30mm, LOTR in 28mm...the list goes on!
  • Stumpy continues his re-basing: more colonials, some Saxons and some Romano-Britons
  • Keith Davies sends in a small viking warband
  • Mervyn continues his Hyborian jaunt
  • Treadhead also makes a reappearance, with some lovely Nappies for SP
  • Steve Burt goes Carthaginian
  • Mr Helliwell also joins in the "I'll just send in an army, shall I?" gang with some Tudor colonials (is that a thing?)
  • and last, but by no means least, Mr Plowman sends in four very familiar characters

So many possible pics today. Here's a selection:

Mr Plowman's very familiar figures (insert your own favourite quote)

Mr Helliwell's Tudor colonials

British Napoleonic officer from Treadhead, and a British Para Jeep from Koen

sappers achemenid persians (i used to be able to spell that!)

6DW AAR: Brawl at the Ruined Fort

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Another Saturday morning battle with the Benson boys...but what to play?

Well, my usual default here is to have a look at what hasn't been on the table recently (if ever!) so today's game must be Six Day War and must involve the Battlefront ruined fort. Add on some "tail" that's never been on the table, and Bob's your uncle: one quick scenario written!

A column of Israeli recovery vehicles has strayed too close to the front line. As they pass a ruined fort on top of a hill, they spot a force of Egyptian tanks heading towards them.

Click on the pic to see what happened...

In Flanders Fields

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John mccrae 1872-1918

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

IABSM AAR: The Biggest Bloomin' Convoy by Mike Whitaker

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Another great battle report from Mike Whitaker: this time featuring, as the title suggests, the biggest bloomin' convoy ever!

I'm a huge fan of tail (no sniggering at the back there), so to see such a huge collection of transport on the table at the same time warms the cockles of my heart!

Click on the picture to see the whole thing and, as I said in my last post, you can visit Mike's Trouble at T'Mill blog by clicking here.

Keep those battle reports coming in, by the way: plenty of room on the site for more!

TFL Painting Challenge: Lions & Hyenas

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I see the end-of-year catch-ups are starting to come through...so we have a sizeable update today including a big contribution from Kev.

In no particular order, we have:

  • 28mm figures from Mr Douglas, who has gone all Conan on us (loving the hyenas)
  • Some sci-fi goodness from Ralph Plowman in 15mm
  • A small batch of tanks from Mr Luther
  • Some spaceships and space stations from Andy Duffell, who moves with ease from his usual 28mm to these teeny-tiny models
  • A huge update from Kev, including all his gladiator material in 28mm and some very stern ECW church militia in 15mm
  • The Mad Padre blesses us with two great pics of some of his 28mm collection
  • and last, but by no means least, Mr Helliwell continues to churn out his pike and shot armies in 15mm

No shortage of candidates for today's pics:

somewhere in Canada from the Mad Padre

just some of Kev's gladiators (and I love the lions)

VTOLs in 15mm from Mr Plowman

IABSM AAR: Bashnya or Bust #4C: Holm (The Llardiff Game)

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This report is from the game played on October 15th 2016 at the first ever TFL Llardiff Games Day that took place at Firestorm Games in Cardiff.

The idea of this games day was that gamers not necessarily familiar with TFL products could come and have a go at a variety of different games, getting a taste of Lard and then hopefully coming back for more.

I was tasked with showcasing I Ain't Been Shot, Mum!, and told that I should prepare for a series of different players dipping in and out throughout the day, with my efforts focused on setting up and umpiring one game in the morning and one game in the afternoon.

Hmmm, I thought, multiple players dipping in and out: my favourite - not! No matter: Lard calls and I answer...so I decided to bring to Cardiff one of the larger (if not the largest) games from my Bashnya or Bust! scenario pack: scenario #4C, Holm.

This is a late war game where a battalion of Soviet infantry (and remember IABSM is a company-sized game!) supported by just a few tanks tries to overrun a German force defending a small village on the Kaunas front. 

Click on the picture to see all the action.