Xmas Presents: Naval Aviation and an Osprey Submarine Game

From underneath the Xmas tree I was given these little crackers. Two Blood Red Skies (BRS) Midway expansion packs (IJN and USN carrier naval/carrier-based bombers) plus a surprise modelling project in "large scale" 1/48 of the marvellous Royal Navy Sea Harrier. I must confess that I hummed and hared about asking for the Midway expansion packs, but the Devastators have such a soft spot in my heart and I cannot easily see them in 1/144 - the alternative wargaming scale IMHO. I justified the BRS packs as going from a "complete game in a box" to a "complete campaign in three boxes" which was good value for money (see below, one resin project and one traditional plastic project - sharp eyes will also note the Pacific war Vallejo colours in the background [USN Pale Blue and IJN Ivory White]): 

From flying above the waves to swimming beneath the (Cold War) waves! A game from the Osprey stable but written by a former RN Submarine Commander. Also an excuse for a few 1/3000 Navwar modern miniature perhaps (see below, note in the design notes it is very much a "game" rather than a "simulation"  but based upon "the principles"):  

Fun to be had in 2022 with these, but my first (January) 2022 project is cracking on with some British 15mm Malburians! 

Another Falkland's Book: Razor's Edge

Wow this one was an eye-opener - a British account that explored the South American psyche. Not particularly focusing on the naval, or air, giving fascinating details of the small unit actions - platoon and company detail of the land battles. The "unofficial" implies heavy hitting, carrying heavy political weight and criticism (see below, a flavour of the South American perspective is shown on the front cover):   

A real gem for detail and an alternative perspective. A good read to recommend!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Bicheno

Falklands Book: Harrier 809

"Operations Corporate" is on my bucket list of battles to do, so books like "Harrier 809" by Rowland White can only but stir my interest (see below, evocative imagery from my childhood):  

A cracking fast paced read which sent me into the Falkland's shelf for books about teh era still as yet unread. "Razor's Edge" being the next one!

"Take That Hill" - 10mm Falklands Painting (Part 1): British Infantry in DPM

We have been playing "Take That Hill" with whatever came to hand which was Kallistra scenery and Pendrakon 10mm 8th Army figures (see below, Western Desert this is not!):

However as the game instructions were written in contemporary modern terminology I wanted to give the figures a more modern feel. Rummaging about in my "box of treasures" (aka silver legions) I found some 10mm British Infantry and Argentine Infantry from the Falklands War period (see below, the British Infantry mounted on coffee stirrers ready for priming - a little dab of superglue has them fixed in place, I could have used PVA but it takes longer to dry and inevitably some figures seem to always come off when you least want them to):

The Airfix Acrylic prier is now back readily available in good hobby stores (see below, I missed you and have copiously stocked upon my most favourite primer):

Next follows the Vallejo Brown Wash (see below, this epic large tub has done me sterling service over the years and is down to its last thick and clumpy dregs but just seems to keep going!):

A side view (see below, I just love the way 'Wash' both covers the figure in a gradual shade and creeps into the seems naturally - the Citadel contrast paints seem to take this to another level but I have to use my existing stock before I move on to it):

The uniform now gets a Khaki (Vallejo 70988 Model Colour), Black over the rifles/weapons and boots (Vallejo Model Colour 70950), over the uniform bits and Dark Flesh (Vallejo 72044 Model Colour ) was used here (see below, both British and Argentine Infantry are shown here):

I next gave the uniform a Khaki (50%) and Dark Sand (50% Vallejo Model 70847) highlight (see below, the contrast is becoming to come through on the figures):

The DPM camouflage required "Green Sponge" smears which were applied via US Dark Green (Vallejo Model Colour 70893) paint in a random fashion (see below, the difference is subtle - click on the photo to enlarge):

Next Flat Earth splodges were applied (Vallejo Model Colour 70983) were applied in a random fashion, taking care to leave some of the Khaki/Dark Sand mix still showing (see below .. the "factory system" was working well for these fourteen figures):

Madness took me at this point and I applied another watered down version of Vallejo Brown Wash to the figure. To make a contrast I returned to the Khaki areas and applied a slightly lighter mix. This was applied in "tiny areas" to highlight the uniform and bring in a nice meld to the figures with the wash [it kind of worked I think], followed by German Cam Dark Green (Vallejo Model Colour 70979) to the webbing, helmet and packs (see below - tunic, trousers basic webbing [almost] done!):

Mixing a bit of Khaki to the German Cam Dark Green gives a subtle highlight (see below, just applied to the leading edges and flaps):

A highlight of Gun Metal (Vallejo Game Colour 72054) is applied to the weapons in a subtle fashion (see below, looking darkly dangerous):

Beasty Brown (Vallejo Game Colour 72043) is dabbed into the wooden parts of the weapon (see below, importantly for this minor colour "less means more"):

The final painting act is to add a Flesh highlight (Vallejo Game Colour 72041) on the faces and hands [again "less is more" here] so that they "look real" and suggest features (see below, a final sense of relief comes on me at this stage):

The final British Infantry "look" - ready for action and trouble - also they are sealed in a Humbrol Matt Varnish (see below, any more painting and I would honestly cry at this point - the figures are small! I nearly cried as the Matt Varnish also merges colours together, lessening some contrasts):

Pleased and relieved ;)
Time to be a ruthless finisher though and move on!

Next Stop: "basing"!

Footnote: https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-british-dpm-camoflague-sbs.31911/

Something from the Weekend Sir?

Well along with sticks of rock and buckets of sweets from the seaside shops, Daddy picked himself up a curio from a little toy shop (see below):

These ex-Matchbox, new Revell 1:76 figures are real classics. I don't remember Marchbox doing anything as interesting as the Falklands War! To be fair I fancy them taking a crack at 1970/80 era Soviets in the same way Paul down under has been playing recently ;)

Addendum: (see below I already had purchased the British Infantry of WWII pack, silly me, still on the look-out for the others though):

When I see any of this classic old range I have vowed to snap them up.

• WWII German
• WWII DAK
• WWII 8th Army
• WWII Japanese
• WWII US .

Note: The picture does not do them justice :(

Holiday Reading ("A Tale of Three Books")

The Alpha:

The summer holiday allowed me to read a book that I have on the shelf for far too long a time. The trials and tribulations of the BEF have always fascinated me. The totality of the defeat suffered in 1940 by Britain and France defies common sense logic. Having "more of things" sometimes means being capable of doing far, far less. The reasons why were touched on in Hugh Sebag-Montefiore's excellent book, but the essence was that the Allied armies command structure were designed to fight the previous war and operationally could not react to the changing pace of WWII combat (see below):

The Omega: 

Having taken only one book away with me I was rather pleased with myself to "pick up another" after I, in all fairness, unexpectedly finished the first one. I had always wanted, but never managed to get round to getting a copy of "The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan. A classic read (see below):

The armies that came back to France in 1944 were a very different kind of beast to the ones defeated so comprehensively in 1940. Their new capabilities in command structure, as well as their sheer quantity, showed in a steely determination in "getting things done". By contrast the 'well-oiled' German machine was a thing of the past. The striking major Allied advantage seemed to the air with the significant footnote that the Germans did not think it possible "logistics and shipping wise" to do so quickly what the D-Day planners achieved.

Onto the Cold War:

On the last day of holiday another 'read' was found to be required and one turned up in a bargain book shop (see below):

Thirty years later, the passage of time allows more secrets of the 1982 Falklands War to seep into the public domain, placed in the context of the Cold War "Warsaw Pact versus NATO" submarine activities. A good contextual read of politics, The Royal Navy and submarine operations.

A Bit of Quiet Reading

Whilst not a whirlwind at the painting table I have managed to at read put in some quiet reading time. I have completed Rowland White's set of three 1970's and 1980's "small wars" factual accounts (Falklands 1982, Oman 1970's, British Honduras 1971/72). Read in the following order:

Interesting stuff. The Vulcan 607 was food and drink to my interest in the 100 days war, my project would encompass 1/3000 Navwar modern naval and land 1/300 or 1/200 scale miniatures. Aircraft would be probably 1/300 or smaller too (although I have a 1/144 Sea Harrier).

Again Storm Front (Oman) begs for either a full 'deniable war' campaign or 20mm skirmish. I have the impeccable plastic Caesar Miniatures 'Terrorists' and 'other' modern plastics for the SAS and governments "AK47" style troops.

Phoenix Squadron has just ignited my 1970's post WWII interest in things "Naval" (NATO versus Warsaw Pact). If truth be told I was looking for an excuse ;)