Lardistan Battles: Part 2 - The Pre-Game Patrols and Jump Off Phase

Typical scenes from a Lardistan village. An innocuous donkey and cart with a load of kindle - or - a dangerous insurgent carrying war-gods disguised as everyday wheres? (see below)

A peasant villager with a donkey/mule strapped with 'clanking odds and ends' - or - a forward observer "Dikka" with a mobile phone divulging important intelligence to a hidden insurgent cell (see below):

An aerial view of recent "intelligence mapping" of suspected insurgent (white counters) and international policing intervention forces (green counters) representing patrols and logistical activity. In other words the front-line key points (see below, notice how both sides position themselves base on gaining "terrain cover" indifferent to the wishes of the local populace):

The previous day's "front-line" moves into another configuration as additional intelligence becomes known to both sides; represented by Modern Chain of Command Patrol Phase (see below):

This hardens into fixed jump-off positions; Green and White respectively (see below): 

The final "jump-off" markers were replaced with cunning little Lardistan vignettes. So cunning I challenge to spot them in the picture below (see final pre-battle/patrol set-up below):

During the course of the game we had to remind ourselves where they were with Red and White "poker-chit" markers.

Next: Where Angels Fear to Tread

A Games Workshop FREE Giveaway?

If you go down into the woods today you might be in for a FREE surprise .. from Games Workshop (OK .. I have mixed feelings too, but they are interesting FREE figures .. "I think I have just failed an attribute-based saving throw"). Yes, they are giving sample FREE figures to "newbies". Well I popped in and used two of my children as qualifying this demographic (no lies as they will have first refusal on the figures). I got one of each of the two on offer, the "big" [Sci-Fi] Space Marine (see below, ostensibly for my older teenage son): 

The "big goodie" [Fantasy] Stormcast Eternal Liberator (eh?) was [perhaps] for my daughter (see below: Again the first refusal principal in play - but it's all in how you word the question):

Who I had completely forgotten about was my youngest (to be fair - a bit young for the fiddly brush work) but he was the one most interested .. so he got 'dibs' the big Space Marine. It comes assembled and undercoated black [nicely jumping over the first - "how do I do it" - hurdle for the kids]. However we needed a lighter undercoat because we were being different and going "white" instead of "blue" as recommended on the box. Full marks! He did a good job undercoating it grey (using Vallejo Game Colour Stone Grey) and then applying a Vallejo Black Wash. '

Note: He specifically asked "Can I paint it?" Actually adding a poignant "This time?" Implying I had 'taken control' over other past projects. My wife gave me a quiet smirk on hearing that!

As mentioned he even took the initiative with the colour scheme, opting for his own creation as opposed to the Ultra Marines box cover art and other "standard possibles" I showed him [Internet and some second hand books I got cheap from a charity shop]. In the end he liked the look of the "White Scars" but wanted 'Black Trim' instead of their red. OK, I like the kid's style, he has "hutspar"! We watched a how to paint a White Scar video or two on YouTube and used Google for other ideas [it has to be said he was very patient watching them - but he is tuned in to watching YouTube for all sorts of things, but it is still a little novel for me]:

References:
How to Paint a White Scar: Google Search
Painting Video Part 1
Painting Video Part 2

We then started proper on our painting journey. I took an old "Space Marine" I had already primed and washed (albeit with a Vallejo Brown Wash) from the "ready use rack". My dude had the classic "pointy nose" mouse helmet. I took the lead from the tutorials and raced ahead but my youngest got stuck in. 'Junior' eventually got 'tired' (after about 10-15 minutes) but made it to the Black Wash stage [he also had some 'reading homework' to do] and asked me to carry on. I had kind of got a little bit tired myself with my 'mickey mouse helmet figure' so moved on to his and started the grey undercoat highlight after the wash dried (see below, "Dad and Lad" WIP Space Marines):

Interestingly form the videos I picked up some nice tips. Keeping a wet pallet and thinning down the paint to apply in multiple layers were stuff I typically don't do. I mix paint on thick, which I guess makes me 'old school'. It also explains some "rough textured" paint jobs. I managed to half-paint the Space Marine until my eyes got tired (see the big dude in the background above). Using your thumb as a mini painting pallet was also an interesting technique he used. Thin layers of grey to white are definitely 'the patient way' forwards!

At which point junior reappeared [after reading homework] and gave me his critical seal of approval after inspection and said "Stop please as I want to do the rest later" .. again my wife laughed as I must have looked a little crestfallen - ownership rights had been re-invoked ;)

Painting Steps to date (before I took a break): 

1. Undercoat Grey
2. Black Wash
3. Highlight block areas in Undercoat Grey
4. Start mixing in white to layers and progressively get lighter
5. Use Black to fill in the Trim areas
6. Mix Black with Gun Metal to base coat shiny metal area 

To be continued ...

Late War Allied "Odd One": British Crusader AA Tank (SHQ)

With still some superglue spare I decided to fix up and construct the next metal monster. This time from the later part of the war. Attached to the Command HQ of a British RTR was a nominated AA tank, converted from an obsolete model. One such tank was the Crusader chassis, although I remember seeing a picture of a Light Vickers Mk VI having four BESA upward pointing machine guns in an old encyclopedia. This Crusader has twin 20mm Oerlikon guns (see below, Note: There was a Bofors 40mm version too, but I think that requires me cutting up an additional Airfix kit!):

A much nicer professional fit and it went together no bother. I positioned it with an "open hatch" so I need to fit a sky scanning commander in it. I was thinking of the Airfix Bofors spotter figure. Just a matter of finding that particular needle in a haystack ;)

This leaves my resin Britannia Miniatures ARV the last element if my 1944 [British in Normandy] Command Decision RTR project as a must do model. Yes I have lots of painting still to do!

Dutch Ersatz Panzer 1940 - Carden Loyd Carrier

I have had this little beast for some time, As I was rooting through some stuff for the 28mm Romans and Ancient Britons I had also opened up some cheap superglue which I had to use it up as it would not keep. This was a perfect little project. Maybe not crisp lines but plenty of character nevertheless (see below, note I went for hoods up so everybody could see where they were going):

The Dutch had a some total of five of these, some of which were used against German Paratroopers. Now there is a scenario to start thinking about ;)

Note to Self - You Tube Videos of Interest: Ralph Astley

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPItZtqYzi69-AUxZ1nAiXA/videos

Also check out on BBC Parliament on iPlayer: APJ Taylor's "Why Wars Begin"

Ludology Podcast

Ludology, Episode #178"  http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-178-coin-operated   

Lardistan Battles: Part 1 - The Village Setting

They call it Lardistan.

A fictional place that does not too look fictional IMHO, with a very modern asymmetrical war theme that produces more than one moment of of reflection during the course of play? But we played it and I feel honour bound to report the game. Let's start with the scenery which is a work of art, all lovingly hand crafted from plasterboard and 'acquired' house hold objects like doormats (see below, a kitchen table is transformed - please see following http://rangoruk.blogspot.com/ for the creative genius behind the scenery and Renko his co-conspirator https://twtrb.blogspot.com/):

The central canal ditch that splits the village effectively in two with its reflective water is a "work of art" in itself (see below):

Local crops (don't ask what) in enclosed fields to keep them sage from wandering hands (see below):

Trees alongside the watercourse offer some shade from the oppressive heat (see below):

Notice the rickety footpaths that cross the waterway at various points. Their use or avoidance will be interesting to follow in the skirmish game (see below):

A beautiful sleepy Lardistan village whose inhabitants are about to go about the course of a 'normal' day as the sun rises and spreads its warmth down the valley (see below):

The setting for a standard operation for a Modern Chain of Command scenario.