Happy Christmas one and all.

Together.

Definitely off topic

No war-gaming this week and certainly none this weekend.

The heirs and I are up the smoke for the rugger.

See you all soon, hopefully.

Rob.

Centuria/Cohort Support Elements

Right slow and easy. Man cave sorted. Troops reorganised and the support elements; found, prepped and ready for completion. This week? We'll see, what with the World Egg Chasing Championship on at the moment.

Armour Platoon

Dr. Holmes, his sisters, the Medical Section

Transport (ammo supply) Section

Courier/REECE platoon

Heavy Weapons Section,with FOO

There are more cyclists and heavy weapons, but they won't join the BUF. I see HaT do a WW1 British Heavy Weapons box containing mortars. Does anyone know where I could get a pack at a decent price?

I hope to get these completed by the end of the week, after which the heirs and I will be going to Wembley to watch Ireland vs Romania. Will I get my wish, I doubt it, but the sooner it's complete the sooner a game is on.

ERIN GO BRAH!

Thanks for popping by, keep safe.

Rob.

Razzle Dazzle: camouflage; a bit of history and a river.

Slightly off topic but Ihope interesting none the less.

My cousin came up for a couple of days. Now you tend to take your home city for granted, but yesterday I did a bit of a tourist thing and took the Mersey River Cruise.

Well we got the 'dazzle' ferry Snowdrop.

Dazzle camouflage, also known as razzle dazzle or dazzle painting, was ship and tank camouflage used extensively in World War 1. Designed by Norman Wilkinson it consisted of complex patterns of geometric shapes in contrasting colours, interrupting and intersecting each other.

Unlike some other forms of camouflage, dazzle works not by concealment but by making it difficult to estimate a target's range, speed and heading. Wilkinson explained in 1919 that dazzle was intended more to mislead the enemy as to the correct position to take up than actually to miss his shot when firing.

The ferries themselves are steeped in military history. For instance:  During WW1 the steamers Iris and Daffodil were taken out of service from Wallasey to be used as troop ships in the navel raid on Zeebrugge in Belgium. Because of their work King George V allowed the vessels to use the word "Royal" in their name. They needed extensive refitting before they could resume peacetime activities.

Just a few shots of the famous waterfront.

Port of Liverpool Building

Liver Building

Wallasey Town Hall

Anglican Cathedral

Well a bit unusual, I do hope that you enjoyed our brief tour. Stay safe out there and thanks for popping by.

Rob.

I'm home.

Well there ends a tough six months. I think it's time to kick back for a couple of weeks and make some inroads into my VCBW campaign.

Plan:
1. Reorg the man cave.
2. Recall the troops and reinforce deficiencies.
3. Play a game.
4. Restart the campaign.

So what did I learn on my little sojourn.

I think the Amish lads summed it up well.

Catch up to you all soon.

Rob.

Callsign - PLAYTIME

Totally pissed off this month. My co-trainer has gone off sick leaving me with the course to finish off. The complete inability of the management team to understand what is going on, the failure to succession plan and the complete lack of resilience in the training dept. All means that I'm doing two jobs! I've put my cards in and should finish this week. However, as a result of the aforementioned my leave has been cancelled so I have to stay on for another three weeks. Hey but don't worry, the Inspector is coming back from his leave on Monday and the Sergeant goes off on leave Monday! Subsequently, my hobby time has ground to a halt. Rant over.

One thing I do like about the World Aflame rule set is the limited ammunition rule. This has added another dimension to my games. As troops need to be supplied I thought the XXth Legion needed a transport section. So I started one. (Excuse the quality, I'm having a bad time.)

A bag of assorted wheels, the remains of WW1 Airfix gun limber, some balsa and a couple of toothpicks. They need tarting up and painting. When I get time.

Callsign - PLAYTIME.

I fancy a dabble at the latest scenario http://panzerkaput.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/other-partizan-and-trouble-in-frisby-on.html . Note to self, find time!

Sorry about the rant I had to get it off my chest.

Enjoy your summer (or winter depending on where you are!)

Thanks for listening and popping by.

Rob

Shelldrake.

Needed some Arty support for the XXth Legion. So here's W battery. I hope that I have time for them to see action soon.

I'm going to convert something as a tractor for them, so it's off to the model shop for a sheet of plasticard.

I also have a design for the limber and crew, although a couple hae lost their heads to other conversions.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the sunshine.

Rob.

STONKING! More; lazy, cheap, easy: shelling

Well I've had a couple of days off and managed to do all sorts of bits. Why on earth I took up a full time job when I retired I will never understand! Hindsight is always 20/20.

Reacquainted myself with a good book.

Well worth the read if you haven't before. However it takes a bit of prior military knowledge and can get a bit complex and confusing at times. It's worth the read and I fancy doing a similar account for a VCBW conflict.

Did some cellar work in my club.

Celebrated the youngest heir's 12th Birthday.

And managed to make some battlefield markers for 'shot and shell.'

There are plenty of 'how to's' on the web. But here's my photos anyway.

The kit you'll need. Cotton wool balls, pipe cleaners and glue.

Half way through

Finished and undercoated in grey primer

Bit of a close up

Once they're dry, I'll tart them up with some black spray and flick some brighter reds & yellows.

Back at it tomorrow, with luck more VBCW goodness at the weekend.

 Take care out there.

Rob.

Lazy, cheap, easy tracks.

Well another tough week. Wanted to some gaming or some modelling and couldn't get around to it. The training job is getting less training and more battling with the management and pastoral. Why do adults pass on their problems and not take responsibility for themselves? My alternate skills as a cellar man have been in demand as my club's manager packed in expectantly leaving us in the lurch. So it's all hands to the pumps (quite literally).

Anyway to relax I thought I'd lay some roads. So here they are.

The stuff you'll need.

Sticky back floor tiles and sandpaper sheets. All from the pound shop.

Peel off the backing and stick down the sandpaper sheets.

Cut to size and shape.

I rubbed some ruts with an off cut of sandpaper but it didn't photo well.
Maybe a bit of wash would help.

  Viola, cheap, quick, lazy and I've got my modelling fix for the week.

Have a good time out there. Thanks for popping by.

Rob.

38FEST2015: Battle on Fosse Way: A VBCW Batrep, AAR.

Well here is my Batrep for the 38FEST15. I used A World Aflame rules, which I found very playable and I particularly like the limited ammunition rules. Great game, great concept.

The Field of Play

No. 1 and 2 Platoons TAB along the Fosse Way 

"CONTACT!"
A platoon of Socialist Militia, plus the lead elements
of an AL Company.

"3 Platoon, right flanking to seize Brookfield Farm" 

"No. 1 Platoon. Enemy 100 yards, to your front, three rounds.
Rapid FIRE!"

The effect of withering, accurate fire!
Two sections wiped out.

The third section wins the race to Brookfield Farm

No. 2 section left flanks to secure Grange Farm, which has already been taken by 2 platoons of AL.

Havildar Baljit Kaal, attempts to pin down the militia with one section, whilst attempting
to flank  the farm with number two section.

SMG fire takes its toll on No. 1 section.

Suffering heavy casualties 3 platoon fall back.

No. 1 Platoon, engages in a fire fight with the platoons within Grange Farm.

The third AL platoon files into Brookfield Farm to support the Militia.

No. 3 platoon encounter Havildar Major Amarjot Singh Aulakh

Who inspires them to re-engage the far.
Preventing them from adding their support to the defenders of Grange Farm  

A vicious firefight, at Grange Farm, decimates  No 2 platoon.
Captain Matthew Rosewood bolsters their morale and leads the survivors
 to the safety of Bridge Farm. Securing it for the King.

Running out of ammo, the Militia's will is broken and they rout.

A fatal error!
 Spurred on by the retreat of 2 Plt LPR. No. 1 Platoon St.John's Company AL give chase.

Winning the firefight, No. 1 platoon, now led by the Company OC (Maj. Richard Beresford),
 assaults Grange Farm.

The platoon assaults  through the farmhouse, finishing off what is left of the defenders
and falls on the remaining AL platoon. Bayonets and butts are the order of the day.

Not realising that the defenders of Brookfield Farm are broken and cowering.
 The Havildar Major withdraws the platoon to the company position.

After securing the stolen jewels in Grange Farm  and with prisoners in tow
 Maj. Beresford withdraws the company to barracks.