Sunday 18 January 2015

From Curt - 15mm LRDG Raiders and Afrika Korps Targets of Opportunity (63 Points)


Here is another submission from me this weekend. This time it’s a North African LRDG raiding patrol along with some Stukas, supply dumps and fuel depots to serve as appropriate targets.




When I first saw these 15mm models come out from Battlefront a few years ago I knew I needed to get some to do up some sort of airfield raid scenario. 

I don’t know about you but as soon as I look at a Chevy 30 cwt, festooned with its gear, automatic weapons, and packed with bearded maniacs it just screams for sh*t to blow up. 


'Yoo Halloo! Lock and load the Twin-Ks lads, we're going to partaaay!'


So, with that in mind I’ve been picking up assorted ammo dumps fuel depots, etc from Battlefront and Baueda for the raiders to mess with.  (Thanks to Nick for the tips on crate/drum colours.) I hope to make up around a dozen of these as targets for the LRDG raiders.


The fabulous desert mat is from Alf over at Barrage Miniatures. It’s roughly 8x5 feet and will serve admirably for our future North Africa raiding game (and I imagine for any post apoc games). 

Alf's (from Barrage Miniatures) desert mat


The Stukas are 1:100 scale diecast models I picked up cheap-as-couscous on eBay. I’ve dorked around a bit to dirty them up with some sand erosion and exhaust staining but otherwise they are pretty much stock. Again, they exist purely to sit on the airfield and get blown to smithereens. (I'm on the search for a 1:100 scale Ju-52 to serve as another juicy target...)


I’m thinking of either modifying ‘Formula De’ or ‘Chain of Command’ for the core rules (who knows, maybe I’ll mash them together). It will be a quasi-cooperative game where each player will command a single vehicle along with 2-3 LRDG raiders - the winner being the team who amasses the most damage points, while still managing to stay alive and escape.


I need to find some sort of tents or Quonset huts for the aircrews and airfield staff. If anyone has ideas I’m all ears. I’m also working on some Afrika Korps personnel and assorted vehicles and equipment but that will be covered in a later submission.

As for points, we have 24 for the twelve dismounted raiders, 36 for the six LRDG vehicles and I'm going to give myself 3 points for tarting up the Stukas. So that makes 63 points. 

Next up will probably be some more Russian Civil War stuff in an endeavour to crush Phil in our 'civil war' side challenge (no pressure Phil).  ;P

42 comments:

  1. Interesting stuff Curt and really well executed. I like the colour scheme and it all looks glorious on that wonderful terrain mat. I can't say I'd ever do something like this myself but I'd love to have a crack at it as a participation game or similar.

    CorSec do quonset huts...
    http://corseceng.com/blog/2013/2/4/new-product-15mm-quonset-hut.html

    PS. How exactly do you "dork" something? And I'm pretty sure you made "cheap-as-couscous" up. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the quonset tip Millsy. I think I may get a couple of those.

      According to the Urban Dictionary, to 'dork around', is to do something in a silly, haphazard or foolish manner, which pretty much sums up my entire approach to life.

      I was going to run with 'cheap-as-chips' or 'cheap-as-borscht', but they really didn't seem region-specific enough for the post. Again, refer to: 'dorky'.

      :)

      Delete
    2. Urban Dictionary is all very well but I much prefer Roger's Profanisaurus...

      Delete
    3. Oooh, being a great vulgarian myself I must pick up a copy of that!

      Delete
    4. It's a UK institution.

      And couscous is reasonably cheap, so works for me.

      Delete
    5. Ah,so I managed to hit all the high points: UK, North African and 'cheap'. Excellent...

      Delete
  2. The minis look fantastic, Curt! The board is grand, and your thoughts on scenario sounds like a heck of a fun game! For tarting up, the stukas are very nice.
    If you are after 'cheap-as-couscous' check out Finger and Toe on wargamers vault. For a buck or two you can get the Quonset hut kit which has 28mm and 15mm PDF kits in the same package. You can fill tour whole board with huts for the entire DAK force! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now, the PDF idea is a good one. I'll have to check that out as well. Thanks for that Dave!

      Delete
  3. Awesome stuff dude - I can already see the Stukas burning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I've already ordered a schwack of those burning smoke column thingies in anticipation of the mayhem!

      Delete
  4. Beautifully done Curt, some very nice looking figures and love that terrain mat too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ray! Yes, the mat is very sweet (and quite robust I might add). A great investment.

      Delete
  5. I love it. Don't limit yourself to airfields there are plenty of other targets as well from docks to fuel dumps to lorry parks. Hey you could even shoot up an office block. I like the fact that players are to control a single vehicle as otherwise someone has to be the "Victim" Great idea and great painting. I look forward to seeing it progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Clint! I know there is a host of possible missions but I have a almost child-like fascination with the Stuka (and blowing them up) so am always drawn to the airfield raids.

      Yeah, we ran a similar game years ago where all the players were LRDG/SAS teams and I ran the DAK. It worked really well because, as you say, it gets REAL boring if you have to be the poor sucker getting smoked for the entire evening!

      Delete
  6. Everything you touch with a brush ends up excellent and these are no exception

    Ian

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fabulous work Curt. There's just something about the LRDG :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they are a very romantic force to be sure. Thanks Tamsin.

      Delete
  8. oh now all of that is nice..

    i need to get me a mat like that too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dave! Yes, the mat would work very nicely with your Serenity stuff for sure.

      Delete
  9. Looks fantastic Curt. The game sounds fun and may well work as a play by blog with you as the sleepy DAK. See Roy's blog http://rwhobbyblog.blogspot.ca/ if you are not already following it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it might work out nicely as a PBB game. When I retire from the Challenge I'd like to give that a go.

      Delete
  10. LRDG awesomeness and more. Excellent post. Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love those tricked out Chevy Trucks. I don't have any tents or Quonset huts but I do have some 15mm Guard posts/shelters you might be able to use. Send me an email if you want them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Adam, I'll definitely drop you a line.

      Delete
  12. To some of the Fawcett-eers, this will be like LRDG 2.0! I remember a great game of something similar in 20mm - can't remember what rules we used though...? Anyway, they look great! (always thought of picking up that FoW set as well!) Should be a fun game!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cripes I had almost forgotten that! Yes, if memory serves we used some form of Crossfire I think.

      Delete
  13. Great entry, Curt. The models are very nice and the mat is simply fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is Alf at his best - a wonderful product.

      Delete
  14. Great idea and even better painting! I could have sworn you're doing something for the 'hot' bonus round...
    Once someone is coming up with 15mm plastic figures for North Africa I'll certainly give it a go too.
    The desert mat is great too. If I hadn't a desert mat already I'd probably go for the Barrage one too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have something else in the hopper for the 'Hot' round though I was tempted to just roll with this. Thanks again for the colour reference photos - they were very helpful. Now to track down some tents...

      Delete
  15. Very nice as always curt - and the game sounds like a lot of fun! Small enough to travel with you? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everything except the mat unfortunately. (Though Sarah might arch an eyebrow...)

      Delete
  16. Very nice work there, Curt, lots of desert goodness for the aficionados!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Evan! I just a few more bit for the lads to blow/shoot up and I think we're set to go.

      Delete