Overdue delivery from the Panto-Pak arms emporium

Courtesy of some foreign aid, a long time ago, PANTO’s finance minister acquired some artillery from an arms bazaar somewhere beyond the Khyber Pass … you know the story (well you do if you played the old AK47).  As the photo shows, they finally got delivered.

January is a month for completing bits and pieces, and those who enjoyed the Christmas AK47 game might have noticed a still glossy toy shop truck and some bare MDF showing as the Afghan lorries rolled into treaty organisation territory …

Not any more.

(click on the image to enlarge)

The guns are PP 105s, and the crews a mix of PP AK figures and Pirates with appropriate heads (there are some ‘shirts off’ figures in the pirate range, so good to adapt as artillerymen).

The guns and bases are my usual metal shimmed with magnabase on the crew-base and tows arrangement, and have been done for some time.   Finishing the tows has been overdue (long overdue).

The truck is a toy shop job of that indeterminate size, which has finally had a proper strip, prime and dry brushing applied and now looks a lot better.

The armoured tow with crane has been pressed into service by Panto-Pak (the arms procurement and delivery NGO).   They got it in some dodgy surplus deal after it was withdrawn from its original role as a missile unit carrier/reloader.  They found it much more useful as an armoured crane.

It has a chequered history … Panto-Pak got it from this guy (link), who got it from this guy (link), who might be related to this guy (link), and it probably all goes back to this man (link) …   Not sure I’d buy second-hand cars from the last two.  It went into action on the President’s Birthday – and immediately got commandeered by a local warlord.  Well, it was Christmas …

It is a slimmed-down mintanks model (M113 variant) with some adaptation.  There is more coming on the modelling page (here …).

Also just delivered …

The Gebirgsjaeger got their flak battalion kitted out …

Motorised FlakArtillerie

This is a porteed 20mm on the back of a PP Steyr truck.   Although I see the main function being in operational games, I am an inveterate fiddler, so have provided the option of dismounting the gun. The gun is cobbled together from parts of a minitanks flak gun and a (I think) QRF and PP figure, all from the junk boxes.   Looks good enough to my eyes for all that …

And I’ve also added a 1-tonne Landy and an Alvis Stalwart from QRF to the AK47 motor pool.   

Both of these were bought some years ago on a whim (the ‘Stolly’ is one of those favourites from all the way back when I had one of the BP Exploration Matchbox ones as a child …)… but turned out to be a bit fiddly (so got set to one side … you know that story, too, I expect).

The Stalwart is due for UN livery (but I’ll leave the badging until the next game just in case I end up using it for something else).

(Review and a couple more pics about to go up on the Reviews page)

QRF Alvis Stalwart

Their coverage of the ‘President’s Birthday’ fiasco was typical – exceptional detail … from the official photo opportunities …

(hardware detail from the official photos of the President’s Birthday parade)

… to the heat of the action.

We owe this detailed coverage to a dedicated pack of cameramen and photographers (pack 17/31, actually) …

15mm cameramen and photographers

(pictured here with friends)

Gaz Jeep

(a brightly painted Peter Pig Gaz Jeep)

Although they’ll hitch a ride on anything, the dealer supplied Ferrari red Gaz Jeep (with ‘it girl’ driver) has become a familiar sight and will often be waved through checkpoints …

As professional journalists (+1 for Professionals!) they cover everything …

(tourist Africa)

(local culture – in the tradition of Leni Riefenstahl …)

(political events)

(military hardware)

In these politically aware times, the Press Corps acts as a fully operational unit, shooting during the shooting phase, and scoring victory points and dicing opportunities for the footage they get (if the shots are successful).  I will post full details of the modifiers, VPs etc. when we have a few more runs at the game (and have something less ‘rough and ready’ than at present).

Me?  I’m easily pleased: I like photos of tanks…

If you aren’t already aware, Peter Pig’s AK47 models are available here ( Range 17 )

Anything not otherwise covered is by QRF (Post War) or from the toy shop.

(interviewing President Boyo in the grounds of the Hotel du Lac)

Peter Pig Ski troops with Ushankas added

Continuing with my rather too obvious ‘winter break’ theme, I have completed some proper soldiers this time – a raiding patrol of Soviet Ski troops, all  (well, all bar 2) based on the three figures in Peter Pig’s German skiers pack (just about the only option) …

(Red Army raiding party: a small PBI platoon)

The key conversion component is a pack of PP Ushanka heads (and a pea sized blob of milliput).

For a basic ski patrol, swapping the heads for Ushankas and snipping off one or two obviously German items of equipment will do (in fact, given the realities on the Eastern Front, it is moot whether you need even bother removing the erroneous kit!) …

But as I had the knife and the milliput out anyway, I switched  the odd weapon around (DP machine guns for the LMG bases etc.) and added a little variety (the basic figures are either head swapped to ushankas or hood up  with milliput hoods blobbed over the German helmet) …

The officer is a kneeling shooting figure with an arm swap, and the radio operator is a German figure with a trim and a milliput hood.

I added trims to a couple of the coats to make them sheepskins.

The only real conversion is the scratchbuilt light mortar and team (the team being a prone Russian DP machine gunner and another of the kneeling firing skiers) …

Light Mortar Team

Although I’m pretty happy with the results, I can’t emphasise enough how quick and simple these conversions are (PP spare heads come with a pin already provided – trim to your desired length – so just drill out your hole with a pin vice and your ready to fix).  I still think the Ushanka heads are a little to big, but in amongst the bulk of the ski suits it doesn’t show up so bad.

(raiding party sweeps through the trees with the mortar in support)

Unusually for me with WW2 guys, I gave them a dressing in tinted varnish just to dirty up the white suits a bit (they look too much like a washing powder commercial in bright white) – again, quite a quick job but I’m happy with the outcome.

Bases are the clear plastic with clumps of white flock powder to simulate snow – same as on the aerosan and troika.

I base for PBI although I play other games with the figures also.  PBI works in ‘groups’ on a notional 30×30 square base with a recommended 2 or 3 figures on it.  As PBI is played on squares any clear arrangement would work, including round group bases on coins and washers.

In PBI, platoons have a number of groups differentiated by weapon.   The standard infantry base would be the ‘rifle group’ of three men, or the ‘LMG group’ of 2 men.  Rifle groups can actually be ‘rifle’, ‘SMG’ or ‘assault rifle’/'auto-loading’.  LMGs can be standard types, ‘BAR’s or ‘MG34/42′s.   If you follow traditional organisation, as my local group does, the building block is the section, conventionally of LMG plus one or two rifle groups.  Two to four sections usually make up the platoon.  The platoon will have a command group, and maybe a support weapon or two (say a light mortar and/or an AT weapon).   Heavier support weapons will usually be in their own weapons platoons.  The platoon might be acting independently, or the Company commander might be present (with his own figure on a group base, maybe with some other assets in a HQ section).

I have developed a system of giving some of the groups characteristically shaped bases for ease of identification in play.   This post originates from a correspondent asking which was which.

(front of the base is lower on the page, throughout) … this shows my standard method of clipping the base corners to make identification easier in play.  No front corners = LMG; no rear corners = Platoon Command stand; no corners all round = Company command stands.

This doesn’t differentiate between the various squad weapons Rifle, SMG, Automatic Rifles etc. with or without Panzerfausts and such.

some Germans based according to the diagram

(Peter Pig 15mm figures)

Panzerschrecks are 2-man teams like the ATR, light mortars are on oval bases (long ways as it were) …

Larger support weapons – HMG, larger Mortars – are crewed with three figures on a standard base (and you have to look to see what it is – but hopefully that is clear) and will usually be the sort that need to expend APs to set up.

Engineers: troops equipped with mine detecting gear are on oval bases (facing side ways), and Man-pack Flamethrower teams are on round bases.

Those Germans also have a medic (on a small round base) and a sniper (under the pile of bricks!) – but no L. Mortar.

I could have made a number of additional permutations (covering all the bases as it were), but stopped at those simple ones as I wanted a symmetrical system that was easy on the eye (not too fussy).  You still have to do some looking, but the key player info (which is the LMG?  Which is the PC?  Who’s got the Flamethrower?) can generally be seen at a glance.

It becomes very useful with cavalry …

some Cossack bases

 (Peter Pig figures)

I use the same standard bases with 2 figures on each.  Mounted up, and with weapons slung it can be a little difficult, even for the owning player, to spot some of the equipment differences … so this approach is quite handy (the same key is used as for the foot stands they will probably quickly become when the enemy open up) …

Going to Operational scale, the LMG base becomes a battalion command, the PC a Brigade command, and the CC becomes a Divisional command, generally.  Obviously most stands are basic infantry squares – PBIs as it were …

Late War Germans in North West Europe

Troops in action: this party of German Scouts moving up the road could be a PBI section with PC attached … or a Regimental sized unit for NQM or Megablitz.   I hope a shot like this justifies the aesthetic decision to keep the corner clipping simple and symmetrical (although the differentiation couldn’t be clearer, I think it doesn’t show in a shot like this until you look for it) …

Troika

This is just an addition to the seasonal snowy stuff …

I can’t be the only one to have had the old Atlantic Revolutions Lenin/Stalin set and to have been bemused by the sleigh.   Plastic Soldier Review link.  Well, whilst building the rest of my Aerosans and ski troops, I discovered that rather than cannibalize it for bits (more of which might follow …), 3 spare 15mm Museum Miniatures horses would make it up nicely into a pretty convincing Troika.   Ideal for the Russian winter.

Of course, there’s a scale shift there … the original is 20mm – but as owners of the set will know it’s a very HO 20mm set, and I think it works fine with modern 15mm components.

I’ve modelled the central horse out-of-step with the outers, in traditional troika fashion (despite not really understanding how that really works).

I decided to leave the model empty at the moment, as it can serve as transport for goods or Staff for either side (though I might make some removable contents when the scenario demands), and to base it up using the plastic ice basing.

(Russian Winter: troika being passed by PP German Ski Troops)

(Frosty options: the Atlantic/MM troika next to a QRF aerosan)

This theme will doubtless develop … but as we jingle into the new year I just wanted you to know the three-horse open sleighs are always an option.  Note I managed to avoid the ‘winter draws on …’ patter (oops! well nearly …)..

These options come into their own when everything else is too frozen to work.

One of those ‘bits box’ classics that has been turned into a (sort of) wargame model and promoted to ‘available’.

The President's Birthday: terrain by Graham, Airport and forces by me.

‘The President’s Birthday’ was a trial game I staged last week … Doubling up as pre-Christmas ‘lots of toys’ multi-player game and as a test of some ideas I have had on the back burner.  It certainly allowed the toys to come out and reminded me what bits and pieces remain unfinished.

The Birthday parade

(Astute followers of warlord procurement will see the Dictator has just taken delivery of three tanks paid for by a sympathetic backer)

We had some fun with despite it not being sufficiently tested and corrected to work very well.

(access onto the battlefield at the other end of the table was under a precarious railway viaduct)

One of the key roles in the game was that of the Press Corps some of whom can be sen roving the area in a red Soviet jeep, taking pictures and film footage of the day’s events.    Many of the key players in this troubled land will not like the coverage they get in the western media.   But will there be coverage in the western media?

Airstrike!

(Press Team almost perfectly positioned to film this dramatic scene!)

However, sometime reality gets too close for comfort …

(chaos … as well as scattering the Press, the bungled second run on the convoy very nearly ripped open the UN Peacekeeping force)

The President’s big day just went from bad to worse … not only did the shipment of WW2 vintage artillery (picked up in an arms bazaar … you know the story..) not turn up,  a riot started at the Airport, somebody nicked his speedboat – and then a war broke out …

One of the photographers in theatre getting distracted by village life

(Peter Pig figures and models: village by Graham, figures by Chris)

Then again, that arms convoy was just asking for trouble

Although they did attempt to escort the convoy (because they wanted to borrow some of the heavy lift equipment – must be Brits, then) … the Un observers spent most of their time observing (and very likely making some tea) …

Viewed through the viaduct: UN vehicles laagered up

(QRF vehicles  – some with Peter Pig crew figures added)

Although the ‘game’ left much to be desired, it reminded us all how much we like AK47 ‘classic’ (and that it has been over a year since most of the kit came out – we have agreed we must do better) … When (and if) it works, I will publish more on this emerging scenario.

But we might be due some unit features anyway.

See also (Wargaming For Grown Ups) for some additional comment …

I’ve added a quick look at some new releases from Peter Pig on the Reviews page.

(Reviews)

They’ve been on Partisan duty in the Balkans for the last few weeks, but the Mountain Division was formed for its historical role as a supporting wave to 22nd Panzer‘s assault on Rostov in the opening phase of Fall Blau.

Although they had plenty of vehicles and supporting arms, the Gebirgs divisions were light divisions, and primary transport was by mule train – so I’ve chosen to make the formation up with mostly foot stands and horse or muled transport.By 1942 the third infantry regiment (Nr. 100) had been removed to form the core of a new division (5th Mountain Division) and 1st mountain Division only had 6 battalions (Regts. 98 and 99).  However, the extra bases from the earlier configuration will be useful in providing additional stands for the recce battalion in Megablitz and the like.

For PBI, the unit comes in at platoon strength with 3 sections plus light mortar and sniper – and the guns can take their place appropriately.

The teeth of the division: elite specialist infantrymen

(figures by Peter Pig)

Although not part of the official division, you will notice the Stug battalion in the picture which was attached to beef the division up for the city assault operation.

For variety, and for use when the stands get switched over for company scale use (PBI) I have given the artillery Regiment a mountain infantry gun and a mountain artillery gun.  Both were commonly transported broken down into mule loads.

7.5 cm le.GebIG 18

The le.GebIG 18 was the light, mountain gun version of the IG 18 with spoked wheels, no gun shield and a split trail … this one is converted from a Peter Pig model which they happily supplied with the spoked wheels (which was a start, then the knife came out) ..

7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 (7.5 cm GebG 36)

The standard mountain artillery piece was the GebG 36 75mm.  This one is by Battlefront, and you can buy them individually from the Flames of War special orders list (the service is prompt and not too expensive).  I have assembled it without the gunshield  supplied as most of the ones I see in photos are without.   The crew is a FoW/Peter Pig mix.  The whole gun is pretty chunky for a small light 75 but looks the part.

Both guns can be seen in action towards the of the Wochenschau clip at the bottom of this post.

Admin stand ... Signals unit

(I have added a couple of figures from PP’s Afrika Korps Command pack to the HQ transport)

As a nod to the Alpine traditions of the Gebirgsjaeger I have decorated the bases with rocks and model railway heather … the eidelweiss would be a bit too small to show in 15mm scale but the hardy plants I can do give the troops a distinctive look I quite like.  I have given a very loose indication of the eidelweiss emblem on the side of the soldiers’ caps (although I don’t really think it would be big enough to see) and where the epaulettes can be seen, I have used the light green mountain troops waffenfarbe.

Ski Troops markers (Peter Pig models)

There are just a handful of markers to designate the specialist skills of these troops.  I’ve half done them envisaging players deploying them in snowy conditions from unexpected directions (‘most people can’t move but these guys can!‘) – and half just because Mr Pig makes them so how can you resist?   Actually, I have removed some from their skis to use withing the foot bases (as they have nicely modelled windcheaters etc.) for a nice touch (e.g. the rearmost figure crewing the small mountain gun).

Here comes trouble...

I think these are some of only a very few ski troops available in 15mm.  Piggy’s range of separate heads means that enterprising enthusiasts can put then to a number of uses (and, just a thought, QRF do that aerosan … !) …

After battering their way into Rostov, the Gebirgsjaeger marched through the scorching Caucasus and into the mountains in the most southern thrust of Fall Blau.  22nd Panzer and its tanks, of course, got sent to Stalingrad.

Phil's QRF NKL-26 Aerosan

Another new addition to the WWII collection (and I’ve added a ‘quick look’ on the review page …)

REVIEWS

Sorry if it goes quiet on here from time to time.   My SoA commitments sometimes take over.  In addition to shows and reviving an ancient collection of flats, I’ve also been trying to limp a 6mm Zulu War collection into refurbishment (another donation to Phil’s retirement home for unemployed miniature soldiers)

I’ve not been sure in my own mind to what extent I want Zulu War and Sudan stuff cropping up here.  I’m loose about date brackets and such, and have subtitled  this blog wargaming in the mechanised age – so maybe the odd note about troops who travelled to the front by train and whose equipment included Gatling Guns is OK (but really I think this period starts when Young Winston does).

Blundering Brits at Bullock's Bluff

So this will be just a brief, ‘off topic’ note … I’m quite pleased with the way my little exploration of the Anglo Zulu War has gone with Black Powder under our arms, and I am going to get some of Pete Berry’s splendid Baccus figures to modernize the collection.   6mm has been an obvious gap in my catholic collection of wargame and toy soldiers, and so I am pleased it looks like that gap will be filled.   It also means I have done my first ever 6mm figure sculpture – a horse to make a single into a pair!

NB the crew has not been repainted yet as I don’t have the uniform details for them … but I’m please the little horse came out OK (the one with a rider is by Irregular, and the one without is by me – but I guess you could tell).  Not time for the Baccus team to throw in the towel, then, but a little bit of fun for me.

I’ve run the PBI Fugitives game Martin has been circulating a couple more times, progressed some long overdue external projects, added new items to the collection and finished the Gebirgsjaeger (who will get their own little unit feature directly).

FoW SU57

I picked this Battlefront SU57 cheap at Derby as the pack was broken … it will become available to Red Army Tank Destroyer Battalions later in the war.  I also rediscovered my first ever AFV acquisition … a Matchbox M3 from the early 60s (so long ago I can’t even remember whether it was begged, borrowed or otherwise gotten).

It last saw action in the ‘Founders Day’ School Wargames Society Battle of the Bulge game in 1976 (pretending to be 20mm although it is more like a Minitanks size).  Without a box, tracks, or the signs of really early manufacture, it is worth about £1, so I have decided to chop it down to 1:100 scale and I’ll add a 50 cal. AA installation in the back so the Soviet air defences have something to look forward to as well.

Work in Progress

More of this when the job is done.  I think 35 years without seeing action is too long.

Writing of work in progress, I made up a civilian jalopy out of QRF, BF and PP bits ages ago, but it never got painted.  Well it did eventually.  It will give those Germans something to commandeer as they police the rear areas.

Civilian Jalopy/Ford(ski) delivery truck

Given Martin’s little game allows that a foot group in one of the trucks can become a LMG stand I made a loose MG42 gunner who can stand in the back (of this or any other truck  – who knows): I’m pleased I did as one of my players took up the possibilities and wove it into the story …

Commandeered truck with FoW machine-gunned letting rip

As you can see, I have given the truck a clear plastic base: it is mostly expected to be scenic and sit in town centres or farm yards; like all vehicles in sensible wargames it needs a base (or it would look silly) but it has a non-military one that more or less blends into the background (well that’s my reasoning, anyway).  Yes, I know it has imperfections as a model, but really it is just bits of junk, so I’m quite pleased.

The good news is it came straight out of the paint shop and into action.

After the game illustrated in my last blog, Martin made some clarifications and issued the rules in the Peter Pig Newsletter.    So I’ve run the revised version a couple of times and, given it is just a give away bit of fun, rattles along quite nicely  ….

Fugitives II

The first try was in a Chelmsfordy Yugoslavia, and was splendidly verdant with an old Roman building in the park.   It still had the familiar French people chatting by the park bench, even though it is the middle of the night (but no bicycles)

How can we play Petanque if there is no gravel in the town square?

In a quick fun game, all the Germans came on quickly, and the SMG armed Officers easily caught up with and gunned down the Partisans.  One of them successfully assaulted a German square and despatched the enemy – but only ended up adjacent to one of the Officers and was shot.  The other fugitive likewise tried his luck but was killed in the attack.

figures and game by Peter Pig

painted by Phil Steele

No pity - we ask the questions later ...

The second game was a more Kettering-style Tyrolean Yugoslavia with a very muddy road (which I confess ran too close to one of the destination corners – but it all adds to the narrative) …  This was a much cagier affair with only half the Germans getting on and the Partisans playing a clever game of hit-and-run or run-and-hide which very nearly paid off …

You Must Find Them Now, Captain

Running ...

Hiding (don't forget the scenario is after dark)

But the final act was played out in the glare of the headlights, and just yards from the escape objective.  Cornered but determined, the plucky rifleman assaulted a road square manned by an MG42-toting truck … a lucky outcome would take the deadly gunner out of the equation but leave the runner in the open for an enemy turn before the dash off table.   Unexpectedly, the trucker took the  ‘AVF retires’ option, and reversed out of trouble, forfeiting his next turn.  None of the other Germans could quite get close enough to do anything in that next turn (the darkness effect in the scenario cuts visibility to one square) …

Denouement - caught in the headlights

So … a Partisan player choice … take a free one square move or dice for action points (getting D6-1 APs for movement and shooting) with a chance of getting enough to race off into the corner (and probably win the game) … No hesitation: the die was cast and the score was … 1!  No action points, and the Fugitive remained stuck at point-blank in front of the truck – which would now be fully active again.   A quick opportunity shot was missed and with plenty of Action Points, the MG opened up and the last Partisan fell in a heap..  Game Over.

It felt like the partisans had given it a good go, but the score was emphatic.   Another merciless German response.

I’ll post some pictures of the Gebirgsjaeger shortly …

And after the kicking I took on TMP for respecting Remembrance traditions recently, I’ll also include a note on my late father’s cousin and friend, Bill Malins DFC, who died earlier this year.  In 1945 he witnessed the realities of Belsen and noted in his memoirs that on that day he knew that the sacrifices his country had made had been worthwhile.   Whether the loss has seemed worthwhile or futile, once a year in particular we remember them, and as, year by year, we lose the witnesses to world war I see no reason for not respecting their sacrifice without rancour (mindful of how they viewed events rather than printing out own politics on them).