BenitoV: Arrival at Klendathu - Canadians at Leopold Canal (35 points)

 

Greetings from planet Earth to all travellers, this is my opening shot in this year's Challenge arriving to Planet Klendathu.

As in previous years, my intention is to complete a core project and get complementary points painting (mainly) leftovers from previous years' Challenges. The core project this year is a WW2 Canadian infantry force for Chain of Command.

 

The idea emerged after watching in November the appalling Netflix film, which bored me to death... but on the positive side sparked my interest in researching the much neglected Scheldt Stuary campaign.  Mike Peterson (aka Marshall Luigi) and James Manto, recommended reading Terrible Victory by Mark Zuehlke and one thing lead to the other.

 

This first entry is the squad's Brent Gun team comprising the Bren Gunner and two privates carrying the spare ammo.

 

The models presented here are a mix of metal Empress Miniatures Late War British range and Warlord's plastic British & Canadian Infantry released in the summer of 2021. Despite both ranges being "28mm" you may notice that Warlord's is thicker and somewhat taller. Empress models also present a more "wintery" uniform and gear, with head and neck wool scarfs.

 

 

 

I know some gamers can be very picky and  be bother by this. The truth is that once on the table and looking at a couple of meters away, any difference gets totally blurred to the eye.

 

 

 

Why Klendathu? Inspiration came from the introductory chapter of Zuehlke's book describing the ill planned and worse executed first attempt to cross the Leopold Canal at the Moerkerke area. The understrength Algonquin regiment chosen for the task, was almost wiped out after the crossing with 8 officers and 145 other ranks becoming casualties (killed, wounded and captured). This clearly aligns with the planet theme: "an invasion gone bad".

If I've done my maths right, this first entry scores 35 points:

 

3 models @5 points =                     15 pt

Klendathu (outer ring) bonus =       20 pt

 Total =                                             35 pt

 

     

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Welcome back to the Challenge, Benito!

I've always enjoyed your well-researched projects, and your brushwork is, as usual, beautifully on-point. I agree with you on not getting too hung-up on details like cold weather gear. As you say, our toy soldiers typically 'live' at an arms length from us, and details such as this simply aren't noticed. 

I have a personal connection with the Algonquin Regiment as that was my great-uncle's unit. The Algonquin's existed under a very ill-favoured star, being also mauled by the 12th SS during the previous year's Falais Campaign (where my relative was killed in action). The Scheldt operations were a continuation of their very bad luck.

I look forward to seeing more of this project over the coming months, Benito. Well done!

- Curt