Wednesday 30 August 2017

Day 100 Update of 100 Days of Hobby

Firstly...

I will do a separate article showcasing what I achieved with all sorts of cool stats etc etc with a complete summary of the challenge.

Secondly...

Day 91 - Chipping

Day 92 - Weathering

Day 93 - Some Zombicide and Poles

Day 94 - 3D Printing among other things

Day 95 - Doug Finished

Day 96 - Doug and Panzers get glossed up

Day 97 - Decals

Day 98 - Epic Game Day for Joe's birthday

Day 99 - More Decals

Day 100!!! Trees, wash and varnishing, also more Zombicide characters
So stay tuned and I hope to get a summary of 100 Days of Hobby up!



Monday 21 August 2017

Scaling It Down - Part 2 Plastic Soldier Company

In this article I return to the wonderful scale of 1/72 or otherwise known as 20mm God's Scale.  I have finally got around to finishing my Plastic Soldier Company Sherman Fireflys.  These are part of my 7th Armoured Division for the 1944 Normandy Campaign, specifically the 4th County of London Yeomanry A Squadron.

These Fireflys will each be attached to a troop of 3 Cromwells.  I really do like this scale.

The Plastic Soldier Company kit is excellent.  It went together easily with minimal difficulty.  It is full of detail and is a strong sturdy kit.  I used stowage from Value Gear.  AB Figures make up the crew.

I used Ammo of Mig Jimenez Olive Drab Acrylic Modulation set for the paint.  I used a number of Vallejo acrylics for the details and AK Interactive Pigments and Washes.  I am not particularly biased to one brand of paints.


1/72 Sherman Firefly Plastic Soldier Company AB Figures
Plastic Soldier Company 1/72 Sherman. AB Figures and AB Crew

PSC 1/72 Sherman Firefly
Plastic Soldier Company provide 3 kits in the box.  Great Value!

Value Gear Stowage scales very nicely and looks great

20mm Sherman Firefly

AB Figures British Tank Crew
AB Figures Crew match nicely



1/72 Sherman Firefly

4th County of London Yeomanry

7th Armoured Division Normandy
Got to paint the eyes in 20mm

Saturday 19 August 2017

Day 90 of 100 Days of Hobby Update

The end is near!!!... I feel it.


Ok lets get on with what has happened over the last 10 days...


Day 81 - Reinforcements for 1939

Day 82 - Blocking in the Zombies

Day 83 - Some Troops for 1939

Day 84 - Panzer IV D Complete

Day 85 - Zombicide Zombies Shaping up

Day 86 - Tank Day!

Day 87 -  Printing a trench

Day 88 - Priming and Bocage

Day 89 - Trees and Bocage

Day 90 - Doug Season 1 Zombicide WIP

So this is only a touch of what I have been up to in the last 10 days.  Make sure you follow my twitter for 4 times the amount of photos.  I have done so much I can't document it all!

https://twitter.com/LefthandedPanzr

Oh... and Winter is coming






Thursday 17 August 2017

My Journey into 15mm Fantasy and Dungeon Crawling

Some of you are thinking... the Heresy of it!  Well I need a break from painting field grey, olive drab, and khaki.  Fantasy is something I have always had a soft spot for.  Using the technology of my 3D printer I have always wanted to do some Dungeon Crawling, the perfect excuse to jump into 15mm a scale I have never painted before!

The dungeon tiles I am using are from Printable Scenery and am using their rampage range scaled down to 60%, perfect for 15mm Dungeons.

I chose to go with the Ral Partha Demonworld Range as they have that old school 1990's feeling to them because surprisingly they are 1990's sculpts!  Oh and must paint eyes! Eyes in 15mm! 

15mm 3D Printed Dungeon
3D Printed Dungeon Tiles... yet to be weathered

15mm Fantasy Miniatures
The Heroes. Some skeleton Warriors and Sir Awesome of House Balkenkreuz

15mm Demon World Fantasy Miniatures
Sir Awesome and his skeleton enemies

Demonworld Fantasy Miniatures.  Shield transfers compliments of the 16th Panzer Division


The rule set I will be using is from 2 hour Wargames.


These rules will allow me to play solo.  In addition I can have a pre-designed dungeon or I can use the random dungeon generating mechanics the ruleset offers so no two adventures are the same.

I have to print off many more 3D tiles and paint them up until I can experiment with these rules.  Some exciting yet laborious times ahead.

So the priority is to paint up the already printed Dungeon tiles I have.  I will then need to print some more to fill in the gaps of tiles I have yet to print.  The first game I will play will be small in size to get a feel for the rules but I will be posting my experience here.

Will I expand my 15mm Fantasy from the dungeon to the table top? That would be grand! However lets stick to one thing at a time which is something I am very bad at!

Thursday 10 August 2017

Bolt Action Solo Play - Case White Scenario 1



Case White and The Invasion of Poland

A Bolt Action Solo Play Series




The 1st of September 1939 is the day that marks the beginning of the Second World War with the German invasion of Poland, known as Fall Weiß or Case White in English. This is a period that is of particular interest to me as you have seen in the blog.  The Poles put up a fight and it wasn't an easy push over for the German War Machine.  

One of the most iconic images of the invasion.  German Soldiers destroy a Polish Border Checkpoint


As someone that does not get to play Bolt Action, let alone any Wargame as much as I would like, I have come up with a set of mechanics for Solo Play.  This is my interpretation only and gives an enjoyable solo experience.  What I have devised has been play tested by me and no two games have had the same outcome.  This scenario can be used by anyone and even tweaked however I request you give recognition for what I have created if published or broadcast by any means or format.  Rather than guess or determine how the battle plays out, I use a series of mechanics to give variety and unpredictability to the game.  These mechanics have been written specifically for this scenario but could perhaps be adopted to other scenarios.  

Scenario 1 - Ambush at the Farm

INTRODUCTION

September 1, 1939, the German Forces have rapidly advanced into Poland.  Months in the planning and lightning fast in execution.  The Polish Lines are stretched and the Polish Army is caught off guard.  Propaganda was key for the German's to justify the invasion and unite the Ethnic Germans in Poland.  A Panzer Column has rapidly advanced and has stopped to refuel and allow the infantry forces to catch up.  A key Wehrmacht Film Maker does not wish to miss out on the action and is hastening to get to the front, however the Polish Forces have gathered a small force in between the German lines to prevent this.

FORCES

Germany will be played and the Polish forces will be simulated by AI.  Bolt Action Version 2 rules to be used.

German Forces

Regular Second Lieutenant - SMG, + 1 Escort with Rifle  
Regular Heer Infantry Squad - NCO with SMG, 1 x LMG, 6 x Rifle
Regular Heer Infantry Squad - NCO with SMG, 1 x LMG, 6 x Rifle
Regular SdKFZ 222 Light Armoured Car
Regular Heavy Field Car
Regular Truck
Regular Truck
Regular VIP - Armed with Pistol, +1 escort with Rifle
8 order Dice 466 Points

Polish Forces

Regular Second Lieutenant - Rifle, + 1 Escort with Rifle 
Regular Infantry Section - NCO with Rifle, 1 x BAR, 8 x Rifle
Regular Infantry Section - NCO with Rifle, 1 x BAR, 8 x Rifle
Veteran Anti-Tank Rifle Team (ATR)
Regular Bofors 37mm Anti-tank Gun (ATG)
5 order Dice 349 Points

A Polish Veteran Anti-Tank Rifle Team well concealed in an orchard

SETUP

The scenario is played on a 4 x 4 table.  There is a winding road leading to the farm with an adjacent river as demonstrated below.

4 x 4 Table - Grids are 12 x 12 inches

The table does not have to be an exact of this however you want to setup and Ambush alley for the Polish forces and a narrow field of escape for the Germans.

My interpretation of the scenario
The German Forces start off the table with the following criteria.  1 Truck must contain a Heer Infantry squad and the HQ, the other Truck contains the second Heer Infantry Squad.  The Infantry squads and HQ must arrive on the table in their transports.  The VIP is in the Heavy Field car and must arrive on the table in his transport.

The image below depicts deployment.  All Polish Forces start on the table hidden and with an Ambush Order.  The Ambush sequence will be explained later.  The ATG and ATR must face down the road towards the German deployment corner, giving it the best possible firing arc.  The ATG should utilise as much cover as possible, preferably heavy cover, likewise with the ATR.   Polish Riflemen and HQ should be deployed in Soft Cover.

The Germans deploy from the bottom left corner in the Grey section.  They must advance onto the table in their transports.  No German unit is allowed to perform a run order in turn 1.

How to set up your forces for the scenario
OBJECTIVE

The German forces must survive the Ambush and protect their VIP.  The Polish Forces must destroy as many German's as possible prior to tactically withdrawing.

The Polish Forces await the German attackers


GAME DURATION

At the end of Turn 6, roll a die.  On a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, on a roll of a 4, 5 or 6 play a further turn.  There is a maximum of 7 turns.

VICTORY!

At the end of the game calculate which side has won by adding up victory points as follows:

Germans:
6 - The VIP leaves the table at the blue zone
3 - A unit leaves the table at the blue zone
3 - For Each destroyed Polish unit
1 - For each German unit that survives on the table

Polish:
6 - The VIP is destroyed
3 - For each destroyed German unit
3 - For each Polish unit  that survives on the table

The Polish Anti-Tank Gun

SCENARIO AND SOLO MECHANICS

Turn 1
  • Polish Forces start Hidden with an Ambush Order
  • All German vehicles must arrive onto the table during turn 1.  German forces must only make an advance order in their transports until the Ambush is activated
  • All German infantry units including the VIP must be embarked on a transport when arriving to the table
  • It is up to the player to chose which German vehicle enters the table first
  • At the completion of each German vehicles advance order (eg when the vehicle stops moving), determine if the ATG activates its Ambush.  Roll a D6, on a 5+ the Ambush is activated.  The point of aim must be where the German vehicle is most vulnerable (eg least amount of cover, side armour) to give the ATG the best chance of a penetrating hit.  If the Ambush is unsuccessful, bring on the next German Vehicle and repeat.  If the Ambush is activated the rest of the Polish forces will activate their Ambush.  The vehicle being Ambushed can not fire back if able to.
  • After the ATG has triggered its Ambush, the ATR must trigger its Ambush.  Roll a D6, on a 4+ it must target the nearest armoured vehicle.  On a 1,2 or 3 it must target the nearest soft-skin. If no armoured vehicle is on the table it targets the nearest soft-skin. 
  • To simulate panic, any German Transport hit, with the exception of the VIP transport, the troops embarked on it must disembark and follow the rules for troops dismounting a transport.  The VIP may disembark their transport after turn 1 however must disembark their transport if it takes damage at any stage.
  • After the ATG and ATR have activated their Ambush, Polish rifleman will activate their Ambush with the following targeting priorities in order if in range - disembarked infantry, nearest soft-skin, nearest armoured vehicle
  • Once the initial Ambush has been activated by the ATG the Germans can play as normal with the exception of vehicles not making a run order for turn 1 only
  • If a Polish unit is out of range of an enemy unit for its Ambush order at the end of turn 1, return the Ambush order to the dice bag
  • If the Ambush is not initially triggered by the ATG in turn 1, proceed to turn 2 repeating the above sequence however the ATG Ambush triggers on a roll of a 2+ instead of 5+
Turn 2

  • Activate units as per normal.  When a Polish Dice is drawn the following priorities are to be given to that dice to be allocated to a unit in order of - ATG, ATR, The Polish unit closest to a German unit.
  • The Polish ATG will have the following targeting priorities.  Roll a D6, on a roll of 1,2,3 or 4 they will target the nearest vehicle.  On a roll of 5+ they will target the nearest unit on foot (including the VIP if he qualifies).  Round down if the unit does not exist that you roll for.
  • The Polish ATR will have the following targeting priorities.  Roll a D6, on a roll of 1,2,3,4 or 5 they will target the nearest vehicle.  On a roll of a 6 they will target the VIP regardless if he is on foot or mounted in a transport (the transport obviously takes the shot).  If no more vehicles are available substitute infantry for the vehicle on the roll. Round down if the unit does not exist that you roll for.
  • The Polish HQ and Rifleman will have the following targeting priorities. Roll a D6, on a roll of 1,2,3,4 target the nearest infantry unit, on a roll of 5 the nearest vehicle and on a roll of 6 the VIP or the unit he is mounted in. Round down if the unit does not exist that you roll for.
  • The Polish forces will remain static and will only execute a Fire Order once they have used their Ambush order.  No other orders will be given to Polish units with the exception of an advance on the spot for the ATR and ATG to open firing arcs if required.
  • Repeat the above sequences for the remainder of the game
A Daunting Task for the Poles

Polish Anti Tank Gun and Anti Tank Rifle await


The Germans arrive

The Polish Ambush Activates

Chaos breaks out

Too good to miss... the VIP films the action
Final Comments

This seems a little complex at first but once you get used to it, it is a very exciting way to play when you don't have an opponent.  Of the 7 play tests I conducted, the Germans won 4 and the Polish secured 3 victories.  Each game was completely different to the last.  This is just the first of my Bolt Action Solo Scenarios.  I am already working on my second.  My next scenario involves armour and is based on a historic encounter.  Stay tuned.