Less than a Week to the Director's Cut!

Hello all!

Just a quick service announcement to remind you that we are less than a week from the Director's Cut. There are currently 12 method actors who have not yet submitted an entry to the Challenge and so risk being written out of the script. 

For those unfortunate cast members, you have until midnight Sunday (CST) to grace us with a submission.* Come Monday morning you'll need to fire your talent agent and consider waiting tables. 

Curt Actual Out

* Normal schedule to Saturday still applies, but Sunday is open to all those needing to submit their first entry. (Not to worry Martin, I'll pitch in to help cover any additional entries on Sunday.)

KenR : 28mm French Chasseur a Pied 1867 (120 pts)

Now I've finally stopped mucking about in boats and got an actual wargames unit finished. Last Challenge I did a load of figures for my Battle of Mentana Project, unfortunately the Perrys still haven't brought out French Line Infantry for the period so I've not been able to complete both sides for the Battle so I've drifted onto other Projects.

I did however have some metal Perry Chasseur a Pied undercoated so as a bit of a bookend on last year's project I decided to do this unit of 24 figures to Start this year, it's taken me a bit longer than I expected but 24 x 5 is 120 badly needed points as I am well behind my require pace to reach 1500 by challenge end.

I found these really difficult to photograph, it must be something to do with the dark uniforms so I ended up using a white background to get something like an acceptable photo. My bases are 60mm square with 6 figures on. 

The extended bases provide a bit of protection to the Rifles and bayonets on this models which I have to say are quite flimsy and I've had no end of problems with them bending.

Next week I hope to have a unit of 10mm (yes I did say 10mm) Malburian and maybe another ship 😉 eventually I will get started on my Italian Wars stuff, honest 😀 

Really nice looking unit Ken, love the deep blue with the yellow piping.  Your basing does them justice and I do appreciate the need for going deep to protect gun barrels.  It may have been a pain to get them based, but the end result is really worth it.  

Hoping that the Perry's get you the figures you need, but in the mean time we'll look forward to the tiny WSS and big ships.  And oh yes you need to do some Italian Wars stuff - get to it already would you.

KenR : 1/700 HMS Eskimo WW2 Tribal Class Destroyer (40 points)

 

I appear to have been slightly sidetracked by my 1/700 WW2 stuff, my problem is I'm having way to much fun building and painting these ships, they are so hard to put down and I just love the finished look.

This model is from a company called Trumpeter, they do very nice kits and they are supplied with a waterline version like this one or if you prefer a display piece with the lower hull the parts for that and a little display base are included too. They go together really well and are a great kit to build.

The Tribal Class Destroyers were probably one of the best Allied light ships of the 2nd world war, Torpedoes had be sacrificed for gun power and its 4 twin 4.7 inch guns were a big upgrade on the 4 single gun Turrets of the earlier Destroyers.

I've chosen to represent HMS Eskimo with this model and I've used an early Western Approaches Camouflage pattern of Light Grey / White and WA Green to give an unusual but effective look. I've used a fair bit of weathering on this to tone down the green which was looking a bit radioactive at one point !

Eskimo was badly damaged in the Battle of Narvik and had her bow blown off by a German Torpedo, it's amazing that she made it home looking at the damage she suffered. After repair the Eskimo spent most of the war based at Plymouth before heading out to the far east towards the end of the conflict. Sadly like most WW2 vessels she was scrapped after the war. A single Tribal Class Destroyer remains, as a museum in Canada.

Points wise I will go for 40 again like the last ship, they are about the same size on the same base etc. I've got a second post today with some "proper" wargames figures but I doubt this will be the last ship you will see in the Challenge.

I am loving these 1/700 scale ships Ken, the finished results are spectacular.   The Western Approaches came and weathering look amazing in your photos.  From a 21st century perspective the names of the Tribal class destroyers can be problematic and to Canadians,  HMS Eskimo is the most problematic (see  link).  However, they were fine ships, had very good fighting histories and I've got several in my 1/2400 scale fleet. 

There don't appear to be any crew members on this one, can you confirm?  More importantly can you share the recipe for your textured sea bases?  Points wise I'm basically making stuff up on this scale until Miles and Curt tell otherwise so 40 sounds great.

From PaulSS: More WWII US Infantry and supports -- 113pts

 

Following on from last weeks "Under Construction" post, work on the US Infantry Battalion for O Group continues, with the next two infantry companies finished and more supports added.

Second company

The second and third companies both are made up from the Victrix US Infantry set and will complete the line infantry component of the force.

Third company

I've also added a trio of .30cal and Bazooka teams to support the infantry. This group also includes a couple of extra patrol markets and an artillery observer.

Battalion supports

Heavier support weapons options are not available from Victrix, so I purchased a couple of jeeps and 57mm anti-tank guns from Pendraken to see how they fit in.

Anti-tank

Although the Pendraken stuff is nominally 10mm it seems to match height wise well with the Victrix stuff although the figures are noticeably more bulky.

Victrix and Pendraken comparison

Some close-ups of the recent additions.

Infantry section

Infantry section

Jeeps

Bazooka team

57mm anti-tank gun

Artillery observer

.30cal section

I also took the opportunity to paint up a bridge from Battlescale to go with these. I purchased it with all the other buildings I did but it never got painted at the time. I forgot to add a ruler to the photo but at 6" long it's easily a quarter cube.

There are only a few 60mm mortars and a handful of infantry sections left to paint for the Americans. I have placed another order on Pendraken for some more tanks and support vehicles, so this week I plan to be either be working more on the Americans or making a start on some Germans to oppose them.

102 12mm infantry, 2 guns, two vehicles and a 5pt claim for the bridge will add another 113 points to my tally so far.

Squirrel Duel Tally: 3 (40K Kroot, Gaslands, WW2 US)

First I had some aging academic moments with Paul's post on Sunday and hope that I sorted things out properly in the end.

Move great US WW2 stuff Paul, this is a great project to see unfold.  I agree that the Pendraken and Victris buts mix well.  As always your basing is top notch.

From SylvainR: Tray 5 - Regimental and Divisional Assets for the D.A.K. (104 points)

 

 

More goodies for the Deutsch Afrika Korps. This time, I present to you the support units above the battalion: regimental and divisional assets. In my post, last week, I explained the color codes I chose for my combat companies. Within a battalion, the organization is quite simple, but the diagram of a division is quite complex and to try to color code everything would have added complexity while I'm trying to keep things simple for new players. So my solution was as follow: any units above the battalion would be either common (white), rare (grey) or unique (black). A rare unit would be, for example, a 170mm howitzer in North Afrika. A unique unit, would be one that would requires special rules to play, or one that would be used in a specific historical scenario. For example, I coded my Tiger Is with black, as well as Field Marshal Rommel. You can see that the units in the tray, above, are organized in "sections" and can be either attached to the battalion commander or be given their own commander, depending on the needs and the rules system.

Let's start with three command units. There are two commanders for "common" units and one for "rare" units. From what I could gather, yes, Schwimmwagen were used in North Africa, because of their off-road qualities. But their amphibious capacity was certainly not put to the test...

Here are two leIG18 (75mm) infantry guns, with a caisson for ammunition. I think the guns are from CinC and the trailers from GHQ.

For indirect fire, here are 4x leFH18 (105mm) howitzers, 4x sFH18 (150mm) howitzers and 2x Kanone 18 (170mm) howitzers. In the O'Group rules system, the artillery guns are used to represent the number of fire missions and are kept at the edge of the table, to indicate that these "off board" units. One of the (many) reasons why I really love 6mm scale is because you can have models like the massive Kanone 18, a monster that would not fit in my garage. I had to display this behemoth on a 2"x1.25" base, double the size of the standard bases I use. But this is only more opportunities to create some terrain! All the models are from Heroics & Ros I believe.

Next, we have a company of PaK 40 (75mm) anti-tank guns, to plug the holes when the battle line has been breach by allied armored vehicles. Models are from both GHQ and CinC.

The last models are anti-aircraft guns. 6x FlaK 38 (20mm), 6x Flakvierling 38 (20mm) and 6x FlaK 36 (88mm). The FlaK 38 came in 2 parts (gun + base), but CinC's Flakvierlings came in 5 parts (core, left guns, right guns, shield, base). In the collection I inherited, most of the Flakvierlings were un-assembled and I can understand why. These little parts really test your sanity.

I'm really happy with the look of the iconic 88mm. The CinC model came with the carriage sections and I decided to put them on the base, to show the gun was hastily unlimbered, but now that I look at the picture, the base feels a little crowded. Oh well, learn for next time! Models are from Heroics & Ros, CinC and GHQ.

For the points:

The vehicles were already painted, so should not be counted.

- 124 figures (62 points)

- 42 weapons (42 points)

Grand total of 104 points.

Thank you for reading!

Très bien mon vieux!  Loving seeing this project evolve and looking forward to playing with/blowing up this stuff on table.  Great basing on all the units.   I quite like the limber for the 88 and the massive howitzers.

Perhaps the schwimmwagens are looking for the water where the rock painted swimmers in the English Patient swam?

AdamC: Zuaves! North and South a Historical Drama 100 Points (2 Squirrel)

Some Years ago I did an American Civil Camping using the Longstreet rules.  Its a been a long time since I added any units to the collection.  Both my Yankee and Confederate armies are laking in Zuoaves so I took advantage of a sale to rectify that situation. 

First up a group Yankees.  I didn't model this unit on a specific unit of Zuoaves but the Red Trousers

and fez/turban are fairly typical of many early war units.  

There are a total of 20 Yankee Zuoaves here 15mm scale for 40 Points which should be good for a Squirrel!  (that should be Squirrel Point #2) 

Next up are some Confederate Confederate Zuoaves. 

Confederate Zuoaves didn't typically show up in regimental strength so I spilt the group into two five stand groups. They could be regiments or a detachment depending on the game.

We have another twenty Confederate 15mm figures for another 40 points (Squirrel point #3) making 80 points plus another 20 points for the Historical Drama studio so 100 points each. 

Thanks to all for the get well wishes but am unfortunately still suffering from COVID-19... Feeling better(most of the time) but still not 100% and still stuck at home because I am testing positive.

A fine collection of opposing Zuaves Adam, I like that you did both sides.  I am with you on the figures and Historical Drama points but will want clarification from a Squirrelminder general whether you get to count a single or double bushy tailed tree dweller here.

Glad to hear that things are getting better and hope that you beat the dread lurgy soon.

From SidneyR: "The Disciples and Acolytes of The Celestial Path" - (Historical Drama): 90 points

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The monk, Makoto, looked at both Lord and Lady Fuchida.  Makotos's company of poor ronin, former retainers and impoverished tradesmen had been travelling for several days.  The information that Makoto had been given was that both Lord and Lady Fuchida were keen acolytes of "The Celestial Path".  Quite the fervent believers, Makoto had been told.  Which was good news - as the long journey from Takasaki had sapped some of the high spirits of Makoto's company as they trudged through rain squalls and difficult terrain.  

All that Makoto needed now was additional funds for food and lodging - enough to cross the palms of ferrymen, innkeepers and friendly farmers along the rest of the journey.  Of course, a few extra coins would be more than helpful to persuade additional disciples to join the pilgrimage.  

Makoto's eyes widened when Lord Fuchida greeted them and passed the heavy coin purse to the monk.  "Thank you, my Lord.  I can see you are a true believer in The Celestial Path", the monk replied gracefully.

Lord Fuchida Ichiro almost blushed, and bowed, introducing his wife.  "This was very much my wife's idea.  There are these fishing rights, downstream, which we have long contested are ours.."  Lord Fuchida waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the dusty, earthen road leading down the valley.  "Maybe", Lord Fuchida added, "..... maybe The Celestial Path can be followed in a direction which guarantees those fishing rights will be returned to the House of  Fuchida?"  

Lady Fuchida took one small step to her husband's side, smiled politely, and counted the swords of the disciples of The Celestial Path.  There were more than enough weapons in the company to secure the fishing rights that had been stolen from the Fuchida.  And maybe 'recover' the woodlands in the valley as well.... 

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For my second post in the Challenge, I’ve chosen “Historical Drama” as the theme. This requires a small jump from 'Under Construction', which I’ve made with the small submission of the wife of a rural samurai Lord.

She joins her husband, and the company of disciples and acolytes of “The Celestial Path”, on a journey.  She might even be the person funding the company's journey through Kōtsuke province on the long road to Edō. 

Hopefully the finest female Samurai of all Challenges, Lady Sarah, will grant the company safe passage to the “Historical Drama" location in her plush, studio limousine.

So... on to the submission, proper...

There were some themes I wanted to experiment with in painting this small company of figures. The miniatures are - with the exception of the female noblewoman - all Dixon Miniatures from Mark Copplestone’s "Legends of Japan” range. These were sculpted in the late 1980s, so I think that qualifies as ‘historical’ enough!  All the figures are going to be used in our Japanese skirmish games of “When the Last Sword is Drawn", set loosely in Tokugawa Japan - which I hope also adds to the ‘historical' requirement.

And as for the drama, that’s fictional - although The Celestial Path as a company is themed around the various groups of religious fanatics wandering Japan both in the Sengoku Jidai (the Age of the Country at War), and afterwards. I wanted to create a company of adventurers for our skirmish games, themed around a religious pilgrimage. So here we have seven adventurers, including a rural samurai nobleman and a monk and the company's portable shrine.

I painted the figures with a limited palate.  I thought this was the right choice for a company of masterless rōnin and impoverished tradesmen. I used Vallejo Sky Grey, Dark Grey, Medium Grey and US Field Drab as the base colours. These themed well together, and complimented each other (I hope!). 

I tried to add a splash of suitably-Buddhist orange - even if just an emblem, sash or set of prayer beads - onto each figure. This hopefully unifies the company together, along with the colour scheme. I painted the two nobles, Lord and Lady Fuchida, in black - no doubt an expensive cloth, but also a sombre colour as befits members of the samurai class following The Celestial Path. I did make sure to add some item of orange clothing or pattern on both of their robes, just to keep the theme going.

But, Sidney, what (idiocy) is The Celestial Path, I hear you ask? 

In game-background terms, I hope that its a good background for an unusual religious group, who can then be the focus in a small campaign. Religious groups such as the Ikko-ikki were my historical inspiration for The Celestial Path.  The Ikko-ikki were the product of various populist movements arising in and around the Oni Rebellion. The principles of self-determination taught by the Oni spread widely among the population of central Japan, with the most extreme members of the group insisting that each individual had the right to their own expression of reality. In that regard, maybe the acolytes and disciples of The Celestial Path are seeking their expression of reality in following the stars in the heavens, from adventure to adventure.

And to do this, I needed a ‘Path’ for the acolytes and disciples to follow. In wargaming terms, I wanted this to be a map, with various destinations for the players to follow in a small mini-campaign. 

Tracing the campaign along a heavily wooded valley - complete with hamlets, a small monastery, several shrines and culminating in a fortified samurai’s house - gave me the ‘Path’ I was looking for. I prepared the map earlier this month and finished it with some watercolours last week.

The circles on the map can serve as encounters for the acolytes and disciples to fight through. For those successfully completing the Path, a suitable reward - whether Celestial or not - can await them.

So, for the points, there is:

= for the 28mm female samurai and passage in Lady Sarah’s limousine, 20 plus 5 points = 25 points;

= for the seven 28mm disciples and acolytes of The Celestial Path, 35 points;

= for the shrine, in 28mm, I felt this was the same sort of painting challenge as each of the 28mm figures - so could I suggest an extra 5 points (same as a 28mm figure)?; and

= and for the “Historical Drama”, 20 points,

totaling 85 points.

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This is an absolutely stunning post. I honestly don't know what to say as I'm too slacked jawed in amazement . It's got female figures and historical drama, it's got movement, colour and looks spot on (although I essentially know bupkis about the subject matter). I am rounding you up a few points because...everything.