Vraks Campaign Strategic Turn 5

Deacon John surveyed the tactical scroll with unease. The Vraks forces were chopped into three, the citadel and two forts to the west. The southern fort was already cut off. The commander had begged to retreat towards the citadel before the trap closed but John refused and issued a fuhrer-order to stand, shooting the CO to emphasise the point. The northern fort commander wisely stayed put, despite having an escape path to the rear.







The expected attack on the northern inner perimeter line duly materialised. The renegades were dug in. Three superheavy Imperial tanks emerges from the smoke of the preliminary bombardment: a Baneblade, Stormlord and Gorgon.

The renegade infantry huddled down in their trenches to shelter from the withering firepower. The Baneblade smashed the defender's self propelled gun with its first shot. It ploughed through the dragon's teeth and barbed wire until it ground the renegades under its tracks. Khorne was delighted.

In the centre, the Gorgon ran into heavy lascannon fire that damaged its transmission, slowing it right down. The anti-tank guns switched fire to the Stormlord. They could not penetrate its thick frontal armour so focussed their fire on its tracks. Repeated hits brought it to a halt.

The Imperial infantry was forced to debus from the two superheavy transports the wrong side of the wire. Their corpses hung on the wire like raspberries on the bush. The Gorgon and Baneblade backed off the battlefield. The immobile Stormlord had to be destroyed by charges.

A Victory!




Unfortunately, the Imperials launched a second attack from the flank that penetrated quickly to the Renegade atillery line. Deacon John had every hope that the artillery could look after themselves. The firbase had a battery of heavy fixed cannon, a battery of heavy mortors and light mortors and a squad of lascannons.

Specialist Imperial Leman Russ siege tanks tore through the defences as the renegades were bombarded by Manticore missiles and long range heavy artillery. The result was a disaster (lower photo) and the inner defence line fell. One of the few Vendettas to survive the fall of the spaceport made a pass across the battlefield, brewing up an Executioner, but it was too little, too late.

Deacon John moved to fortify the Citadel perimeter wall. Soon he would be able to see the Imperials from the citadel window. He was desperate enough to summon potent allies, but would they be more dangerous than the enemy?

Imperials: 15vps
Renegades: 10VPs

Renegades hold the citadel

Fortress of Redemption - Assembly

The kit goes together fairly easily. There was a little warping of some of the wall components requiring the use of rubber bands but nothing excessive. You end up with four components, the tower, two bastions and the walkway, that have to be interlinked. That is tricky and will need some plastic filler. I am a little concerned about the rigidity of the final construct. I think I shall have to add some stiffener underneath, probably Milliput.

All in all, I am impressed. Another excellent terrain piece that makes a great centrepiece on the game table.

Aeronef - Ironclad Miniatures

I have put together the main hull and assessory sections for undercoating of my Ironclad Miniatures Aeronef.

The kit went together easily, I think it had been pre-sanded, and the resin was only lightly greased. Nothing was warped.

The cannon is the WFB dwarf cannon in the starter set.

Next step is to get the airbrush out.

And over the Medway

It's sneaking in below the Flak Towers.

Avis lands on Englefield Green

Be afraid, be very afraid
An Avis Lighter has been spotted skimming over Englefield Green.
The Imperium is coming

Paint Shop Pro

I have purchased a copy of Paint Shop Pro to play with. I have not used this program in a decade. It has not got any easier to use. I am not very good at graphics.

I still can't workout how to place a foreground image over a background to make a composite.

But I have been playing.

My Best Birthday Present

It was back in the later '80s. I had finished my PhD as was struggling to establish a new research team at the British Museum to investigate deep-sea biodiversity. I was paid a salary roughly equivalent to a senior technician and so had to design computer games in my freetime. I had a beautiful wife, a young child and a sodding great mortgage and an annual season ticket to support.

We were so broke that my wife and daughter made me a chocolate tank cake as a birthday present. Now I can afford titans, but you know, this was my best birthday present ever.

John

Vraks Campaign Strategic Turn 4 - The Second Defence Line

There was something wrong with my tanks today. Shaun opened by throwing a second wave at Hab Zone 3 in the south west. This extra pressure proved too much and the defence collapsed. The Imperials were through another line in the south.

Shaun moved a field army into pposition to threaten the second defensive line in the north, maintaining a two-fisted strategy to split the defence. I moved a field army north to cover the line, weakening my position in the south.

Victory Points
Shaun: 14
John: 9

John holds the Citadel

Fortress of Redemption & Doomwheel Sprues

Postie knocked on the door to deliver shiny new toys from Games Workshop.

God alone knows when I shall be able to make and paint them but I thought you might like to see the sprues.

Fortress of Redemption Sprues

Skaven Doomwheel Sprues

Ultramarine Movie

A press release from Codex Pictures tells us that Dan Abnett will be scripting the Ultramarine Movie.

Good choice guys, John approves.

Acclaimed Warhammer 40,000 author Dan Abnett is named as writer of the ULTRAMARINES movie screenplay.

With more than 30 Black Library titles to his name, including the Gaunt's Ghost series, the Eisenhorn trilogy, the Ravenor spin-off and two of the Horus Heresy books, Dan's storytelling skills and extensive knowledge of the Warhammer 40,000 universe made him a natural candidate for the role.

Go here for a clip of an interview with Dan:
http://ultramarinesthemovieblog.com/blog/2009-11-18/dan-abnett-writing-ultramarines-movie-screenplay?utm_source=Ultramarines%3A+The+Movie&utm_campaign=6d957de758-email_issue001&utm_medium=email

The director is Martyn Pick whose previous credits include The Age of Stupid, which I confess is how I sometimes think about the times we live in.

Incursion - West Wind

I have received an email from West Wind concerning their Strange WWII theme.

The Incursion board game is now up for pre-order on the West Wind website, RRP £35.00. The game will be ready to ship mid Jan 2010. Pre-order your copy now to avoid disappointment as the run is limited to 1000 copies and they are selling fast. Each copy of the board game pre-ordered from the West Wind website will receive a FREE pack of Bomberzombies or a Grunt APE (our choice) that will ship with the game. Check out the great Package Deal on offer too.

Europe and UK, order here:

http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/catalog/

For more information about the game, and customers ordering from North America or Australia/New Zealand, go here:

http://www.incursiongame.com/

INCURSION is a board game set in the world of Secrets of the Third Reich. Armoured troopers of the US Lucky Seventh hurtle through underground bunkers and combat the monstrous forces of the German SWD in a furious race against time. The Doomsday Device is ticking and neither the Allies nor the Axis can afford to fail. The mechanics for this two player game are simple to grasp allowing players to instantly focus on their tactical options. Play is incredibly fast-paced and tense and players choose their forces through a card-based Requisition Point system. The game may either be played with cardboard stand-ups that are included in the box or with highly detailed metal miniatures that are available from West Wind. Miniatures are NOT required to play this game but they are really cool! The exquisitely designed and produced contents of the boxed game are as follows:

• Rigid two piece box covered in art
• Glossy 28 page rulebook
• Card rules summary/playsheet
• 4 sheets of two-sided heavy-duty die cut pieces (132 total) including counters, doors and stand-ups for all models that might potentially be used in the game.
• Super Heavy duty two-sided six-fold game board
• 87 cards including the full deck of battle and all model cards in multiples where appropriate.
• 3 black dice
• 36 black plastic stand-up holders for doors and models
• Vac-formed plastic holding tray
• More fun than you can shake a stick at!

Imperial Navy VTOL Scales

As requested by my many fans, all two of them, I hereby show a variety of scales of VTOLS from different manufacturers. The pictures are a bit grotty, as I had to use a flasgun. It is dark enough here at midday for cars to need running lights. Some of them are unfinished but they will give an idea of relative sizes.

The models are:
1. GW Valkyrie being modelled as a Vendetta using Forge World bits
2. Two Old Crow Crows modelled as Valkyries
3. Two Old Crow Ravens modelled as Vulture gunships
4. Arvus Lighter with Old Crow gatling added to give it a defensive weapon (treat as twin linked autocannon)

The last pic shows my larger models that I use as terrain.
1. Space Fighter based on a Y Wing from Toys 'R Us
2. Scratch Built Assault Shuttle

Old Crow VTOL as Valkyrie

I have finished respraying another Old Crow VTOL rebuilt as a 'Valkyrie' with Sand and 'pink-brick' camoflague.

I will probably add a bit 'o soot to the heavy bolter barrels, two underwing missiles and some kill markings below the cockpit but it is essentially finished.

I hate competitive gamers

I hate competitive gaming – I hate competitive gamers



http://to55er.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/

I feel so much better for getting that off my chest.

The problem is not that I am not competitive but that I am ultra-competitive. You know that game where you have to describe yourself in a single word? No? Well there is one, right. And the word that describes me is ‘competitive’. I was in a personally competitive profession until the stress got me. I tend to turn everything into win and lose.

Wargaming is my hobby, my escape, my distraction. I do not want to care whether I win or lose. I do not want to play people who care overmuch whether they win or lose since I will only rise to the challenge. I do not want to be like the man whose terrain included gaps in forests that exactly fitted the width of his heavy infantry regiment. I care not to emulate the chap who spends three days trying to use up the last two points in his army list. I thumb my teeth at the pedant who pores over the rulebook attempting to prove that he can set his super-heavy tank up on the fourth floor to get a better field of fire.

I, like girls, just wanna have fun.

As Black As Hell

I have posted my first ever published story on my other blog here:

http://madgeniusclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/as-black-as-hell-by-john-lambshead.html

John

Ironclad Miniatures Scout Aeronef

The resin kit from Ironclad of a Scout Aeronef has arrived.

My first impressions are favourable. The kit is mostly resin apart from the prop and ventilators, which are in white metal.

It is a proper kit. Everything fits together well and the quality of moulding is good. It is not airbubble ridden and the resin sprues have been smoothed off. Nothing is warped. The finish is excellent.

The main hull is a single block of resin. The upside is that it provides a solid support for the rest of the model. The downside is that it adds considerable to the weight.

The base of the model is predrilled for a stand. This level of attention to detail reminds me of Old Crow.

The model is good value for money for £25. I am pleased with my purchase.

John

Flyer Base

I have been working on my Vendetta, more on that story later. I acquired this oval base from Black Cat. I am rether pleased with it.

Combat Barbie

Gentlemen, may I introduce you to 'Combat Barbie', aka, L/cpl Katrina Hodge from Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent. She serves in the Royal Anglian and earned her army nickname in a tour in Basra.

Currently, the Army has delayed her posting to Afghanistan so she can serve as Miss England. The previous Miss England has been dethroned after decking Miss Manchester in a nightclub catfight over the affections of the Gladiator, Tornado.

Blood Pact Urideshi AT70 Reaver

This is a very simple vehicle. It is kit-bashed from a model of a Czech tank, made in Russia, as a copy of a mid-war British design.

The AT70 is a nonSTC Medium tank that is the equivalent of a Leman Russ so if one wants to be codex legal then just use the same stats.

I have equipped it with a flame thrower as the secondary weapon. I have omitted sponsons on the grounds that the AT70 is less sophisticated than an Imperial Tank.


John

Remembrance Sunday

Today is Remembrance Sunday in Britain where we remember those who have died while fighting for us in our armed services. Every city, town and village in the UK has a war memorial and today poppies will be laid there in remembrance.

Today, the 200th British serviceman, a Rifleman, died in Afghanistan.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".
Laurence Binyon

Image from: http://witchdoctor.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/poppy-fields-in-february/

Samakand the Blind

This is an Enigma figure from their Massive Darkness range, Ujahu the Lethal Breeze.

http://www.enigmaminiatures.com/en/massive.html

I have painted and based it to match my Pig Iron Blood Pact renegades. This will be their commander, the thrice evil Samakand the Blind.

Their agent in the UK is All Sorts Emporium. I have bought from this supplier a number of times through their eBay shop and been very satisfied with their service.

More Ork Sales - Battlewagon

My spare Ork vehicles went well so I have decided to sell anuvva won.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190347397551&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

John

PS I have flu so don't expect intelligent posts or what passes for intelligent posts on this blog.

Army Painter Colour Primer

Since the demise of Tamiya spray paints I have been trying new products.

I acquired a can of Army Painter Colour Primer while at Selwg for about £8 for a 400ml can.

The idea of these paints is that they prime and apply the base colour in one go. The two models shown are a plastic GW Valkyrie and an Old Crow Resin Vtol. The resin model was painted olive green while the Valkyrie was straign out of the box.

The spray paint covered extremely well, easily covering the dark olive green in light sand. I can see no difference between the colour tone of the two models. I was a little worried that the paint was too thick and that it would fill all the panel lines. However, it shrinks on drying and only one coat is required. Nevertheless, I would go easy on coating finely detailed models.

I like this product well. It comes in a number of useful colours including grey and olive green.

Recommended.

Skaven Doomwheel

Popped into my local GW to advance order the new Dark Angel Tower. Rob was painting the new Doomwheel. Naturally I had to order one of those as well.

Sigh, yes, I know.

Guardsman

Guardsman

I went into a flop house to get some sacra clear,
The barman points me to the door, “We don’t serve guardsman here.”
The girls sat at the bar, they laughed and sniggered ‘til they burst,
I walked into the street again and damned them with a curse,
O it's Guardsman this, and Guardsman that, and "Guardsman, go away";
But it's Our Brave Imperial Soldiers, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's Our Brave Imperial Soldiers when the band begins to play.




I went into a temple as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but the priest had none for me;
They sent me to the courtyard because without so much a grunt,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! Then I’ll be in front!
For it's Guardsman this, and Guardsman that, and Guardsman, wait outside";
But it's first aboard the shuttle when the starships on the tide,
The starship's on the tide, my boys, the starship's on the tide,
O it's first aboard the shuttle when the starships's on the tide.

Yes, making mock of uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, and Emperor knows they’re cheap;
And hustling drunken soldiers when they've had a little bit
Is five times better business than parading in full kit.
Then it's Guardsman this, and Guardsman that, and Guardsman, how's your soul?"
But it's Our Brave Imperial Soldiers when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's Our Brave Imperial Soldiers when the drums begin to roll.

We’re not Our Brave Imperial Soldiers and we aren't no heretics too,
But single men in barracks, in other ways like you;
And if sometimes our conduct don’t show enough restraint,
Why, a single man in barracks don't make a very good saint;
While it's Guardsman this, an' Guardsman that, an' "Guardsman, fall behind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk of better food for us, and prayer schools, and holmes and all:
We'll wait for extra rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about with cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Emperor’s Uniform is not the Guardsman's disgrace.
For it's Guardsman this, and Guardsman that, and "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of the Imperium when the guns begin to shoot;
And it's Guardsman this, and Guardsman that, and anything you please;
And Guardsman ain't an utter fool -- you bet that Guardsman sees!

John
With apologies to Rudyard Kipling