The Citadel

So I found an article in a back issue of Wargames Illustrated this week showing how to make your own sherman Crocodiles. I had some spare hulls so thought I'd give it a go. Materials used 3 donor hulls (these started life as open fire sherman v). I prepared the hulls by removing the cast lines from the front lower hull so they fit as a M4 US issue sherman. 2mm square plastic card.. This was added to the rear and sides of the hull for the fuel line which will run from the trailer at the rear.. I already own the trailers for my British Churchill crocs.. Finally some green stuff to fill in the area for the flame nozzle and the Croc is nearly there.. So what bonus does this unit give me in Flames of War?? Well first and foremost it makes my company always attacks a key thing for a tank company. Why you ask?? Well alot of missions in flames of war require a defender to hold off half their army in reserve with an attacking army most of the time I get to fully deploy my entire forc...

Forged in Battle Armoured Mortar Carriers.. Finally got around to finishing up this platoon for my US forces in Flames of War this week.. For those that don't know Forged in Battle is a UK based company producing resin and white metal vehicles and infantry. They are reasonably priced and to my mind good quality although do please wash the resin so the paint doesn't flake as they really do need to be properly prepared.. I have a number of the forged in battle kits now and they are in general around half the price for a vehicle platoon compared to the 15mm big manufacturer of battlefront.. The resin vehicles have bases pre moulded(a killer blow for some not bothered too much myself). The casting for the most part is fairly crisp although there are a few bubbles to be found here and there.. The driver had to be coaxed into position for these vehicles but overall I'm happy with how they came out... Each vehicle comes with a mortar/loader in one piece mold, 2 crew and...

So it's been far too long since I did any of this blogging stuff. What can I say you start the year with good intentions and then life throws you a curve ball... So game time has escaped me this year.. So to try and fix this problem I decided to pick up Tank's from Gale Force 9/ Battlefront, a 15mm skirmish game likened to xwing. In preparation for a hopeful game of Tank's later this week I decided to build up some card terrain for the 3x3 tabletop required for Tank's.. I shall endeavour to report back on my first thoughts of this new game,I hoping that it fulfills the need for a quick play game that can be fitted in around the life stuff... A test run of the battlefield

So I finally made a start on the bargains I picked up in the black Friday sales. I forgot how detailed a proper scale model kit actually is after assembling wargames minis for the last couple of years. I've decided to build the kit in 3 main sub assembly sections. The chassis, lower body, wheel arches and doors, then finally the roof and side panels. I plan to mask off the clear panels and then paint. Thoughts on the kit, overall an improvement on earlier airfix stuff. The plastic is much improved and easier to work with, still some pin ejector marks in odd places and some flash is noticeable too. A few parts needed trimming to fit their correct locations. Overall if you see the set 8 men, land rover plus paints and glue on offer its not a bad buy for some fun, I paid £10 in the sales is it worth the £25 rrp I'm not so sure...

Went to an art gallery today, here's a Fabrage jug from around the 1900. Amazing detail and colour's some of my favourite artwork...

Today I got to make a trip I've been planning for a long time...the tank museum. A brilliant place to visit and we'll worth spending a day or two at. Big shout out to the staff at Bovington who let me and my mum have our photo taken on Chieftain MBT and I got too go in the turret...brilliant day a highly recommend place to go...

So after a solid year of 15mm gaming, I decided to revisit 28mm gaming again. I love 15mm but fancied doing some larger kits for a change. The airfix black Friday sales landed me with some 1/48 Operation Herrick Afghanistan kits and I've armed myself with a copy of Force on Force. Next stop some insurgents from Empress Miniatures who make some very nice kit and based in the UK. As always I have more projects than one can shake a stick( or paintbrush at) still it's good to have a project or two... Am starting the first Land Rover patrol this week... what projects have you got planned for 2016???

Been a long time since I tried blogging so here goes. Got an extra present of Escape from Goblin Town over the feastive season so have cracked on with scenery sharpish. I used drybrushing and vallejo colours over a black undercoat. Main colours were English uniform, tan earth and pale sand...no washes used at all...