For those of a mathematical gaming inclination .. check out a new Blog called Wargaming Mechanics

http://wargaming-mechanics.blogspot.co.uk/2017/

Fantasy Board Gaming circa 1978: The Sorcerer's Caves

The 'state of the art' fantasy board game circa 1978. Handy if you have an expanding floor surface to play on (see below): 

In my case the living room carpet was used! (see below):

I eventually roped in my wife and two sons (12 and 7) in to play. My daughter escaped for most of the action by being out with a friend until later in the "dungeon delve". Despite my wife reaching level four of the dungeon and being laden with magical artefacts (something I never achieved in the whole of my D&D role playing career, getting down a flight of steps to level two was a thrill for me - two many combats and too little a sense of discretion), she was put off by being described as a "creature" in the rules [she had fallen into a viper pit and was fighting for her life]. My youngest son was the treasure magnet wandering from cavern to cavern picking up mercenaries and the treasure of Midas. Meanwhile my eldest wandered into The Sorcerer in the first cavern, beat a hasty retreat (I'll give his online gaming experience credit as he new when he was out-classed and made a sensible run for it) then had the misfortune to wander through passageways missing out on the exciting caverns filled with treasure and monsters!

All in all as DM "rule master" I thought it was a hoot.

Dangerously Shiny Sci Fi miniatures

Best just go look and see:
http://warzone.prodosgames.com/
http://shop.prodosgames.com/en/alien-vs-predator/202-avp-alien-stalkers.html

Thanks to SmallScaleOperations for the "show and tell" post:
http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/avp-more-alien-stalkers.html

1941 The Denmark Strait Project: 1/1200 Prince Eugen "The Consort"

Not quite being able to face the modelling knife dilemma of HMS Norfolk just yet I decided to finish the KM Prince Eugen up to wargaming standard for the table (see below):

I quite like the overall effect and it is nice to finish off a model started a long time ago! Now back to HMS Norfolk!

1941 The Denmark Strait project: 1/1200 HMS Suffolk, "I am the Walrus"

On a "project roll" I painted up the Walrus so I can show stern of HMS Suffolk (see please note the hand painted FAA roundels):

Researching HMS Norfolk I see classic wargamer's dilemma, she is different to HMS Suffolk. I could just paint up the second County Class and let her simply be called HMS Norfolk, but really I should remove the "hanger area aft" and remodel the aft portion of the ship accordingly according to me lovingly collected naval books ... hmmm. Now that "I know" the difference I feel obliged that I "have to have a go"!

1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait Project: 1/1200 HMS Suffolk gets her Colours (WIP)

Painting update: I managed to undercoat the bare plastic of a 1/1200 County class Airfix RN cruiser black (could not honestly tell you if it was the Suffolk or Norfolk yet) and the started the process of experimenting with paints for the RN colour scheme. The one on the  box cover of the 1/600 Airfix kit looks too pretty for the North At;antic to me. Initially I started with the paints that game with a Revell HMS Kelly/Kipling starter set but these were too shiny (IMHO) so I reverted to my Vallejo Game Colour range, Stonewall Grey and a White and Black for the most part. However I started mixing the two ranges together and liked the results (see below for the current WIP):

Hardly noticeable is the "bit of blue" at the stern of the ship (more photos later). I was 50:50 about the dark grey deck but it is has grown on me. From scanning the Internet I found some interesting links that truly inspired me:

• https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=HMS+Suffolk+painting&safe=strict&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLgqT-6IzXAhUElxoKHRQtBu4QsAQIJw&biw=1517&bih=653
• http://www.friday-ad.co.uk/worthing/antiques-collectables/hms-suffolk-ww2-rn-heavy-cruiser-10474074/
• https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/airfixtributeforum/airfix-hunt-the-bismarck-gb-davecov-s-hms-suffolk-t26567.html
• https://pbeyecandy.wordpress.com/category/naval-games/
• https://paulywaulysotherwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/battleships.html?showComment=1508970593017#c7558776102117891627
• https://paulywaulysotherwargames.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ships?updated-max=2012-01-22T05:58:00-08:00&max-results=20&start=36&by-date=false

Gawd bless the Internet ;)

Note to self: I still have to do the Walrus reconnaissance plane.

1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait Project: 1/1200 scale and Fletcher Pratt Rules

Courtesy of the old Airfix "Sink the Bismarck" kits (and the re-release some years back), Revell Mini-Ships (aka KGV) plus a strange eBay acquisition of some "destroyers" I have gathered the ships required for both the 'historical' and 'alternative historical' screening destroyers present battle (see below):

It is just a matter of finishing the started paint jobs. The Prince Eugen is almost completed, HMS Norfolk and HMS Suffolk next then those strange destroyers that look "close enough" to be A-H" class RN destroyers of the period. Note: They are are actually supposed to be Brazilian RN pattern destroyers sold by British shipyards on the export market. I cannot remember the manufacturer!