1 August 2016

Exciting days: Konflikt '47 and Bolt Action v2 incoming

Exciting days coming for Bolt Action fans




 

Looks like both Bolt Action v2 and Konflikt are about ready to launch.



Prelude to a game...

"Konflikt '47 is set in a world very much like ours. In fact, its history is indistinguishable from our own until 1943 when the Manhattan Project's test of a prototype nuclear device opened a rift in the fabric of space. When the Fat Boy atomic bomb was dropped on Dresden on 12 March 1944, it created a second rift, and German scientists quickly set to work studying it.

Both rifts began to relay signals from unknown sources. These signals were largely indecipherable, but occasionally one would convey a formula or scientific theory that permitted huge technological advances..."


Looks like there was a collaboration with Clockwork Goblin minis on the futuristic vehicles; produced in 15mm. Anyway they look delightful !


"Both the US and Germany were reluctant to share these advances with their allies, and in May 1944, Stalin declared the US to be an enemy of the Motherland.

Fully compatible with the incredibly popular Bolt Action rules, this standalone rulebook takes the war to a completely new level. Players are given everything they need to field forces incorporating the incredible weapons and technologies made possible by the rift signals, and to engage in tabletop battles for supremacy and survival."

Great review of Konflikt on WWP:
http://www.wwpd.net/2016/07/konflikt-47-rulebook-review-and-first.html

Using the basic WW2 infantry sets, most Bolt Action players will already be well underway to a Konflik Army...

So the just beautiful Clockwork goblin 15mm models:





I'm even thinking of using my Olleys Armies Scrunts or Hysterical Games Panzerfauste minis, and Confrontation Wulfen, if the size fits!

I really like the look of the Hysterical Games minis:

Panzer Fauste Dwarf Truppen
Panzer Fauste Brits
Undead Russians

Don't know how I missed the Kickstarter!

Who does not want a Panzerbär...










22 June 2016

SAGA Crescent and Cross: Playing with myself

SAGA: Cross and Crescent - 1st two armies at Siege: 

Spanish vs Muslims


I couldn't make it to the wargames club tonight (like many other Wednesday nights, unfortunately) as I had a meeting on endocrine surgery.

Very interesting stuff that, all about adrenal glands, thyroid glands and parathyroid glands, mammary glands... So I got home after 9, too late for club. I had to be content with playing with myself.

No, you dirty minded gamers, you! I have mostly finished my Muslim and Crusader forces, and contented myself by setting them up as a siege.  All wargamers will admit to playing with themselves at some point. I even took some photos:

Lets call it the Siege of Al Zabells.

El Cid's Spanish Crusaders/Reconquistadors taking on the fortified Moorish desert town of Al Zabells:


The trumpets sound, as the Reconquistadores of El Cid pour over the dunes. 
To arms, to arms!


Next to appear over the dunes are lightly armoured knights on foot and archers.
The Moorish archers take aim.


Heavy spearmen and archers prepare to defend the battlements of the mud-brick and sandstone fortified town of Al Zabells, as more and more Spanish bear down on the town.



Rachid Al' Din and his Berbers respond to the trumpets and call of the Muezzin
Every man to defend the Mosque!


Mighty siege engines roll forward



Mounted light archers pour out of the town gates to harass the advancing Spanish.



While Mutatawwi'a and Moors unite to repel the Infidels














As the Crusader cavalry draw close to the gate the Muslim cavalry come thundering around the corner of the Mosque




Victory will be ours! Who will prevail? 

13 June 2016

SAGA: Crescent and Crosss: The Crusades Part 2

Not slacking on building and painting. Just not posting very much.I have purposely built and painted by Muslim forces so that they can be mixed and matched to form different factions from the Crescent and Cross book. The buildings are also starting to look middle-eastern (I think)Anyhow, here goes:



Mutatawwi'a and light horsemen emerging from the dunes

Generic Muslim Infantry with swords


Camel Riders and Warlord, Archers and Tuareg-styled infantry. 
I particularly like the look of the fez-wearing hadji figures
(Muslim warriors who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca) 


I painted the camel riders and command group, as well as some spearmen as Tuareg warriors


  







                                                                 from Crusader (Chris De Burg):

A messenger came, blood on his feet and a wound in his chest,
"The Christians are coming!" he said, "I have seen their cross in the west,"
In a rage Saladin struck him down with his knife,
And he said "I know that this man lies,
They quarrel too much, the Christians could never unite! 

I am invincible, I am the king,
I am invincible, and I will win..." 
Closer they came, the army of Richard the Lionheart,
Marching by day and night, with soldiers from every part,
And when the Crusaders came over the mountain and they saw Jerusalem,
They fell to their knees and prayed for her release




They started the battle at dawn, taking the city by storm,
With horsemen and bowmen and engines of war,
They broke through the city walls,
The Heathens were flying and screaming and dying,
And the Christian swords were strong,
And Saladin ran when he heard their victory song; 

"We are invincible, God is the king,
We are invincible, and we will win!" 



"What do I do now?" said the wise man to the fool,
"I have spent my whole life searching, to find the Golden Rule,
Though centuries have disappeared, the memory still remains,
Of those enemies together, could it be that way again?"



Then the fool said "Oh you wise men, you really make me laugh,
With your talk of vast persuasion and searching through the past,
There is only greed and evil in the men who fight today,
The song of the Crusader has long since gone away...
...Jerusalem is lost,Jerusalem is lost,Jerusalem is lost, 


Jerusalem...




SAGA: Crescent and Cross. And now for some buildings...

SAGA Crescent and Cross. Buildings taking shape

Been doing some scratch-building of  arab style buildings for Saga. Progressing slowly but getting there:



Quality Street octagonal chocolate box and a toddler's toy:
 on the way to becoming a mosque


Arab hut


City wall defenses having taken a hit from a rock lobber

31 May 2016

Scary military images I came across while researching things on the interwebs

Some unusual military images I came across while researching on the interwebs thingy


On my latest tangent I came across some rather unusual (and sometimes startling images when typing in search terms related to my searches for recent posts.

First off I was looking at Zeltbahnen, the German shelters used in WW2, which led me off on a tangent to the SADF Bivvy, and the cadet forces. I was thinking how, in some senses, it was not really unlike the Hitlerjungend in philosophy, a feeding conduit for the army, and them OMW!

These pictures from the late 50s appear:




 Good grief! Where did the inspiration for the uniforms come from? The DAK or Hitlerjungend? 

By the time I got to high school, and had to wear the cadet uniform to school every Wednesday, it was quite different. We wore brown berets. It appears this was the uniform for most of the 1950s through the early 60s. 

I remember my father remarking how they wore "caps"  when he was in the school cadet shooting team in the mid to late 50s, but I never realised it was a feldmutze peaked cap. I had envisaged a cricket-style English school boy cap!

These other disturbing images came up when I googled cadet:

From the US:



From the UK: