Dogger Bank Scenario from SPI's Dreadnought

Especially for Father's Day, my daughter bravely took the Grand Fleet (or part there of) out to chase off the Imperial Germany's High Seas Fleet (or part there of).

If it looks upside down it's not because the game is being played in Australia, 

it's because the daughter took the camera to fix it.

So the British sighted the Germans and gave chase.  

Apparently the British knew of the raid having intercepted and decrypted German naval codes.

(And dad has grabbed back the camera so all is now right with the world)

The Germans head south west into the British screen and the first torpedo attack.

The British look a bit scattered and have taken some damage.

More torpedoes that the Germans are having to manoeuvre around.

This set of torpedoes caused a drastic change of plan.

The damaged Blucher is left behind as the Germans break for the south.

The Blucher is wrecked, but takes out the New Zealand.

The chase is on.

The Germans get to damage some of the British destroyers by using their secondary batteries.

The Seydlitz is damaged, but is still able to make good speed.  

However the Germans are now seriously out gunned.

Twilight

And the Germans sail off into the sunset.

Middlesbrough is saved 

(I made that up, the historical objective was fishing vessels operating in the Dogger Bank).

But the cost was high 20.8 VPs as against 31.5 for the Germans.

Apart from the Blucher and New Zealand being wrecked, a British destroyer flotilla was wrecked and another one damaged.

Elegant and simple system allowing simultaneous movement with simple record keeping.  Counters are a bit small and of course has none of the visual appeal of playing with miniatures.  But if I was to make some big hex sheets and get some small scale vessels...

A lunch of fish and chips overlooking the Indian Ocean and with me regaling family of the game's progress had the mother of my daughter ask if we were playing in the water.

The source of my 54mm collection

I'm reliably informed that Romer Parrish in Middlesbrough was where my birthday and Christmas presents from my wonderful Godmother were sourced.

As I was only five when I left Middlesbrough I have no memory of ever visiting this store myself and now regret not investigating when I had one of my rare trips back to the old country,

In looking this up I came across this great site for Middlesbrough nostalgia:  http://untypicalboro.tumblr.com/

My 54mm Collection

When I told my daughter that I painted these around the same age she is now (18), she replied, noting the immense number of years since I was her age "but they are so well preserved".  "Lack of handling" was my response.  So, secret to looking young, avoid contact.  There is probably some truth in that.

Airfix Collectors Kit Coldstream Guard.  Rival to Historex.

A very block style of painting.

It looks like I did a better job of this laddie, having discovered shading.

Minot - I think painted as 33rd Foot.

Another Minot, this with a worry...

The paint is flaking off the bearskin.  

This one is a Lasset, LNF3, but with a Historex flag.  No idea why I changed it.

It is one of my favourites.

I'm thinking Lasset, LNF5

Has a wicked bayonet.

Minot and I did a dreadful job on him.

Lasset, LNF4.  White uniforms are a challenge.

I think I also converted this figure from French Grenadier to Dutch.

Another favourite.

I'm guessing Lasset.

Also a fave - started experimenting with basing.  

This was one of the last figures I did before a long break...

Another one I like too.

I used Funcken as the main (and possibly only) source.

This was a present and I don't think is really meant to be painted.

So it's not.

Now we get interesting.

My mum, who loved to paint - mainly copying old masters, tried her hand with this Lasset figure.

It turned out okay.

However her attempt on this poor chap must have got her on a bad day.

A few of the figures I painted have dates on the base that indicate 1975 was my year for 54mm figures.  Having been rescued from under lead mountain they will go into my display cabinet.

Bringing up the rear

Last night it was time for chariot races.

Well I got off to a good start (that's me in second place)

Slipped back to middle position

You have to admire my style

Second place and feeling confident

Round the bend - went out a bit wide...

And now I'm behind :-(

But it's still anyone's race

Oh dear, the crowd are not pleased

And now I'm coming last.

Some kind of switcheroo going on here

At least I'm catching up

Or not...

Not looking good now

Not getting better either

Who said money switched hands?

Olivier, the experienced driver, without his whip and no use of his burst of speed, crosses the finishing line in style.  Dave in the "Greys" comes second and I, due to Brendan and Gareth crashing when they tried to supercharge their chariots, came third (or last depending on how you spin it).

A second race was held, but I retired shamed,

Thanks Dave for organising the game.  I had lots of laughs.

PS Thanks to the NPBC for returning the money after they discovered I'd handed over too much when I'd paid the rent.