Israeli Armoured Recon unit part 1

 

 Israeli Armoured recon unit

Next addition to my Israeli army for my Arab-Israeli war collection is a recon platoon of 10 figs, I also plan to add three jeeps, one with a 106mm RCL another with command radio and one gun jeep. I am still looking for a suitable unit to base them on for the six day war. 

The figures are from the platoon 20 range, which I am happy to report that the range has been purchased and will be back in production soon I hear at East Front Miniatures. The radio operator is from the later range, but I wanted one so I purchased him.

Israeli Recon company 

Cheers

Matt

Gladiators Dust and Shadows part 5

 Dust and Shadows part 5

Another 3 completed, really happy with these chaps , again Black Tree Design miniatures. I hopefully will get close to completing the amphitheatre this weekend!

Gladiator Numidian 

Galdiator

Gladiator

 Cheers

Matt

Jasta 10 ww1 WIP 1

Jasta 10 1916-18 Part one

It has been a while since I have built any ww1 aircraft for my Flying Circus but during my three week painters block I watched two ww1 films and put together four kits. Two of these will join Jasta 10, the others are for another Luftstreitkräfte posts. 

In June 1917 Jasta 10 joined the flying circus along and was credited with 118 enemy planes and 33 enemy observation balloons destroyed. In turn, it would lose twenty killed in action, another killed in a flying accident, ten wounded in action, and four held as prisoners of war


First plane off the block is the most famous Pilot of the Jasta, Werner Voss credited with 48 kills, 14 with Jasta 10. I will paint his triplane in the familiar colours of Jasta 10, a yellow nose and tail (as per recorded his shot down aircraft), not sure if I will add the large white field to the cross pattée and yellow tail plane tops (not recorded for Voss)

"Capt. J. McCudden, No. 56 Squadron ... saw a S.E.5a fighting a triplane, so with others dived at it, and for the next ten minutes the enemy triplane fought the five S.E.5s with great skill and determination. Eventually, however, it was destroyed by 2nd-Lieut. Rhys Davids of the same squadron, who had previously driven down a two-seater. . .The triplane was seen to crash in our lines by other pilots and the other occupant proved to be Lieut. Werner Voss, who was killed." Royal Flying Corps Communique

The second aircraft is Lt Hans Klein, he lead the Hasta from the 17th September 1917 until he was wounded in February 1918 flying a Pfalz dxiii. a record of 22 victories, 1 unconfirmed. I have built the Roden kit for this, a lot of work......

lt Hans Klein Jasta 10

The third will be Adam Barth, one confirmed before he was shot down. 

Vizefeldwebel Adam Barth

And another ace Obt Erich Löwenhardt, flying a Fokker Dvii. The son of a doctor, Löwenhardt served with an infantry regiment before he volunteered for the German Air Force. He was wounded in action over Roulers on 20 September 1917. After scoring his 54th victory, he collided with Lieutenant Alfred Wenz of Jasta 11, on the 10th August. Both men jumped from their planes but Löwenhardt was killed when his parachute failed to open. Löwenhardt had 54 victories at the time of his death.

Cheers

Matt 

Analogue Painting Challenge 12th edition

 Analogue Painting Challenge 2021-22

Result of painful overstretching of the Analogue Painting Challenge

I will be partaking in the Analogue  Painting Challenge Again this year, I have reduced my points to 1200 points which is more achievable and less painful than last years stretch of 1500 points, which incidentally I failed by 150 points.

 The figure painting challenge really pushes production in the winter months and will also give me a spring board again into next year.  The challenge commences on the 21st of December and finishes on March 21st 2022.

You may commence the challenge with undercoated figures, and the points are scored thus

6mm foot figure = 0.5 point
6mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 1 point
6mm vehicle = 2 points
10mm foot figure = 1 point
10mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 2 points
10mm vehicle = 3 points
15mm foot figure = 2 points
15mm mounted figure, artillery piece or large crew served weapon = 4 points 15mm vehicle = 8 points

20mm foot figure = 4 points
20mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 8 points 20mm vehicle = 15 points

28mm foot figure = 5 points
28mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 10 points
28mm vehicle = 20 points

40mm foot figure = 7 points
40mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 15 points
40mm vehicle = 25 points
54mm foot figure = 10 points
54mm mounted figures, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 20 points
54mm vehicle, limber, etc. = 30 points

Terrain is based on 6 inch squared areas

My Cunning Plan....

I am selecting a mix of 28mm and 20mm figures and vehicles. It works out at 240 28mm figures basically. Plus I intend to complete my two Chateaux builds, Norman conquest of Maine and 100 years war pieces. There is also a side challenge with a sci-fi theme, so I may partake in that to boost points.

• Imperial Romans Foundry (in the pile of shame for 6 years)
• HYW Scots
• HYW English
• HYW French
• Breton Succession French 
• Napoleonic Austrians
• Napoleonic Russians
• Napoleonic French (maybe) 
• Republican Romans (maybe) 
• 20mm Panzer Lehr
• 20mm American 2nd Armoured
• 20mm 9th Panzer
• 20mm British armour 
• 20mm American Armour
• 20mm modern BAOR

Terrain

• 11th century chateau
• 13th-14th century chateau
• Ww2 buildings 

Any other suggestions lads?

cheers

Matt

Gladiators Dust and Shadows part 4

 Dust and Shadows part 4

Another 3 completed gladiators done for the collection, again Black tree design figures. Really happy how it is progressing, still have 16 to complete plus the spectators. I think I will complete the four on the table then switch to some other historical as I need a change. 

Galdiator, dust and shadows

cheers

Matt 

Gladiators Dust and Shadows Terrain Tuesday Arena build part two

 Gladiator Arena 

Terrain Tuesday 

Commenced work on my Gladiator arena tonight, as part of terran Tuesday builds. First I cut out a 600x 600 plywood tile, cut my supporting sides sides, then glued and stapled into place. 

My standard terrain boards are 600 x 600

I then worked out my arena size so I could duplicate it at the other end, plus a central piece can be added for chariot racing, and that way it will fit on my table neatly at one end for chariot games. 

Ruler as compass

I then drilled points into a plastic ruler, one end in screwed into a central point and the other points are worked out to make the circles which increase at 2cm steps . 

The Arena Base 40 x 45 oblong

Lower arena, sand will be used to level out the ground 

Upper arean piece, this will form the walls

I moved the edge in so I could add shops against the wall

The stairs and seating is laid out

Glueing and setting overnight on the first two levels 

I plan to add cardboard to the interior walls and steps , then the exterior walls, place rendered  decoration and possibly graffiti and some market stalls. Until next week!

cheers

Matt

Gladiators Dust and shadows part 3

 We are but dust and shadows

Another 3 completed, again from the Black tree design range of Gladiators, again no names as yet. I have found some suitable styrene  and card to make the steps and walls. Not decided if I will paint the exterior walls yet or add some mosaics or graffiti. 

Black Tree design Gladiators

cheers

Matt

Gladiators Dust and Shadows Part two

 Dust and Shadows part two

As discussed I have been painting more gladiators for my collection here are the first three, no names yet though! 

The miniatures are from the Black Tree range of Gladiators, a little fantasy is explored, they are still available I believe. 

Gladiators we salute you

cheers

matt

Prussian Reserve Regiment 12, 1st Battalion

1st Battalion 12th Prussian Reserve Regiment 

I finally sat down and based these also this week. I plan to build the first and second battalions with a mix of Wargames Atlantic figures with Perry plastic  commands and the third fusilier battalion with Perry metals and plastics. This is the 1st battalion of the 12th Regiment in 1813, I did think about adding a flag but I decided to follow historic procedure and not give them one.

cheers

Matt

Gladiators Dust and Shadows Part one

We are but Dust & Shadows

Terrain Tuesday Gladiator Arena thoughts

Model at the Museum of Jublains

While I was suffering painters block a few weeks back I turned to movies, books and local adventures to put me back on course. All of the options however added some more kit to my painting and construction tables, and some ideas were moved to the front rather than at the back, moj is back happy to say and going through a purple patch now!

On one of the tours we visited our local Amphitheatre at Jublains, the former Roman capital of the Diablintes tribe about 10 klms away from the Maison. This gave me inspiration for two things. One was the Gallic farm buildings (see previous post) and the other was gladiators.

I am yet to build the amphitheatre, however I want it to be around two x two foot tile, oval which will look a little different, with a removable rear wall so I can remove it then also add a straight section and second corner for chariot racing on the big table.

The arena tile will then also fit on my chess table for extra transportable use around the house.
I have six gladiators already completed for around 10 years or so, but also had a lot unpainted gladiators, animals and chariots, so this week I added another 20 odd to the table front and centre, and most will be off the table this week over the coming days while the blood is up!


I am yet to find a suitable set of rules which would be good for French Wargame Holiday evening games, looking at Steve Barbers gladiators set and possibly the old board game set, any other suggestions ?



Jublains Amphitheatre 1st Century AD

Artists Impression of Jublains Arena I will build something like this with removable wall

Cheers
Matt

Prussian Reserve Regt 12 2nd Battalion

 2nd Battalion 12th Prussian Reserve Regiment 

These guys have been breaking my back for about six weeks and I finally sat down and based them this week. I plan to build the first and second battalions with a mix of Wargames Atlantic figures with Perry plastic  commands and the third fusilier battalion with Perry metals. First off the table is the second battalion of the 12th Regiment in 1813. 

Cheers

Matt

2022 French Wargame Holiday Packages

 French Wargame Holiday Packages

 We have been working over the last few days to update the website and 2022 Wargame Holidays, plus our upcoming special walk the battlefield wargame events will be released this week. 

We have a full collection of 3 day and 5 day holiday packages for you and your partner or you and a mate. We also offer special event, battle or campaign tours of Normandy, Pays de Loire and Brittany from Caesar to WW2. 

To check out the deals click French Wargame Holiday deals

Cheers

Matt

Colonel Ythier-Sylvain Prive, 2nd French Dragoons

 Colonel Prive 2nd Dragoons 

As always when I commence a new dragoon regiment I paint the colonel first, however this chap had to wait for a new Mount to join his regiment.  

I have painted him on a rare coloured horse called in French “isabelle” bay, the Americans and Australian a Buckskin. Not a very common colour, in Europe,  a specialty however of the Swedish kings and the Prince Conde de Bourbon in the 17th and 18th century. 

The miniature is a Elite figure which makes up 80 odd percent of my French Napoleonic collection. Hope to crack on and have this unit completed before December. 

Cheers

Matt  

Oh la Vache (holy cow!)

 Oh la Vache! 

One of my more favourite local French curses! After almost three weeks of low motivation I am back at it, completed a lot of all jobs and two large projects over the last two days.

First up cows, I know however I do use them in a few games here at French Wargame Holidays and I now have a modest herd of 12 beasts, which will serve well my purposes plus can be used as table clutter for bigger games. Miniatures are from First Corps range but I cut off the neck hump which is more of a southern thing on cattle. 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday Gallic Village and buildings Part 1

Gallic buildings

My next terrain project is to get back to building some ancient terrain, first thing to complete is some Gallic buildings that can be stand alone or part of my hill fort build.


Inspiration will be taken from our local museum and the archeological report from Moulay Gallic fortress, the oppidum / hill fort is about 5klm from our house.


When wargamers build typical Gallic building they predominantly build round ones, looking at the archeological report on the 60HA site at Moulay only 10% were round and mostly animal shelters, workshops or storage. The majority are rectangular and some are quite big and include a theatre /council amphitheatre in Greek style, and a shrine.

I plan to build a number of buildings for residential, central buildings theatre and shrine and maybe a workshops area and some farms on the exterior of the Gallic Oppidum fortress. 

typical Gallic buildings

artist impression of the workshops

Gaulois building typical at Moulay 53BC

Gaulois building typical at Moulay 53BC

Theatre

one of the buildings was a theatre or perhaps a parliament council, or sale yard, I want to add this model to my village.

Gallic Farms

Gallic Farm steas with it own boundary ditch and walls, these are all along the roads leading into the village along the route of the modern motorway

Gallic farm model

Gallic Head Hunter Shrine

Moualy does have a shrine but no evidence of a head hunter shrine as the current church is built over the site, the Diablintes and Cenomani may of taken heads so I will add one I think.

Gallic head hunter shrine near Tours

Stone pillars the heads were placed in the hollowed out pieces

Excited to get cracking on these!

cheers

Matt