Turcopoles

These were at the almost completed stage when I received the Carthaginians to rebase.

Not sure I actually need these "young turks", but they served during the period of the Crusades, as locally recruited mounted archers and light cavalry employed by the Byzantine Empire.  I have depicted them as provided with standard arms and equipment worn over individual dress.

 Boring, bog issue shields.

 I made three bases out of the single packet.  

Could have made more, could have made less.  

Hopefully three will be plenty.

 Those spears are very bendy.

One was broken and has been replaced.

I was tempted to do them all, 

but settled on straightening as best I could 

and reinforcing with PVA glue.

I went overboard with the variety tufts.

But wait, there are are still more Carthaginians

The penultimate batch.

 Gallic Warriors

 Gallic Cavalry

 Carthaginian Cavalry

 I've actually added in an extra four figures that I painted to make up this unit.

 Some Generals, needed for Impetus Second Edition.

Three leftover Spanish Cavalry that can be Iberian Light Cavalry.

Three figures on a base is a bit sparse,

but I didn't want them to go to waste

and didn't have any extra to paint up to join them.

I still have artillery and chariots to rebase.  These are for Early Carthaginians.  However I have run out of tufts and plasticard for the moment.  I have also obtained more Carthaginian foot and some cavalry that I will paint up some day.

Assorted Napoleonic Austrian Infantry Units

A random find on a Facebook for sale group.  Originally I thought no, not needed, but them I saw a scenario for Raab.  So I asked about the basing and found it was compatible with Napoleon's Battles.  Normally I get myself some wargaming things for Xmas, but hadn't done so this time.

These are the pics as advertised:

Decent, but I don't think they do them justice.  Here are the same units after their journey and some repair work (bayonets suffered badly, but most straightened out without any problems).

 Landwher with flash.

 And without.

 Freikorps.

 Hungarians.

Spot the man with the new bayonet.

It is made from foil, super glued on and then given many loving coats of PVA glue over a few days.

More Hungarians.

It looks fine in this photo, 

but the most bottom right hand corner man has a bayonet that is shaped like a banana.  

It had a bad break, but had not separated.  

Many coats of PVA glue later and it is serviceable.

The only other thing I have done to these guys is sharphen a few bayonets.  Old Glory figures have a tendency to have excess metal attached to the tip of the bayonets (I am sure there is a technical terms for this, it is not flash, but associated with the casting process - venting?).

The same painter, Mr A Fogg, had some more for sale. This post was be delayed until I knew the outcome of my negotiations.

One M10

I'd never thought much of US armour in WW2, but that was more from ignorance.  I do like this model, my first Wolverine.  Need about two more.

The really interesting thing is I bought this on Wednesday and had it finished on Sunday.  Go me!

 Took no chances with the transfer falling off.

Gave them a coat of varnish as soon as they were dry.

 Great set of tools.

Love the crew.

World in Flames 30

This session started with builds.  China was able to stockpile its one BP.  It now has two.  The USSR achieved 19 BPs which included 2 from the Commonwealth.  It built five infantry, one plane and one pilot.  Then it was the March/April 1942 turn.  The Axis won the initiative, pity, the weather was fine everywhere, bad!

The Caucasus held firm.  

Numerous Axis groundstrikes failed to find targets.

The Axis committed two HQs to hunting down the Stalingrad militia that was attempting a breakout. 

The Axis captured another hex in the Urals.

In what should have been a mild combat (retreat expected),

a bad loss of two Soviet units was inflicted.

Not much in China.

Japan did a naval.

In more exciting news the US is now at war with Germany and Italy.  The Commonwealth also won a naval victory against the Italians in the Western Mediterranean.  Even the USSR got in on the naval action, sailing into the Baltic and activating the Black Seas fleet.  Nothing much was achieved.

Next impulse there is rain so you would think that would slow the Axis, but no. They have targets in desert hexes where the weather is fine (and supply routes are calculated based on weather in the hex that is being supplied - a significant flaw imho).  In addition the excellent, instantly repaired Soviet railways and abundant Axis HQs provide plenty of supply for their forward forces in the Urals.

Yet More Carthaginians

Another batch rebased, including the all important elephants.

 Numidian Light Cavalry

 Spanish Medium Cavalry

 Balearic Slingers

 Libyan Javelinmen

 Light Foot who could be Oscans, Lucans, Samnites, Brutians or even Mago Mercenaries

 Heavy Foot, Hoplites who could be allied or citizen.

 And what we have all been waiting for...

ELEPANTS!

While not really an elephant army, it is one of the elements popularly associated with a Carthaginian army. The big question is whether or not they will fit in the drawer I have to hold the army.

Stalingrad'42 - From halfway through Turn 23 to Turn 26

The epic continues.  We have noticed that a there have been some map changes and that some of our rule interpretations may not have been perfect (tracing supply through a contested Zoc Bond for example). but it doesn't matter.

 Just an opportune attack in the north.

 A much more serious attack to retake a VP location.

 Not very significant, but it's a start.
(as in "watch this space")

 Down south the Soviets decide to stay up close and personal.

 Turn 24 and another opportune attack.

 And a very serious, game winning attack.

 That last attack won the game,

the loss of the Victory Point meant the Axis were more than six behind schedule.

However we were having so much fun we decided to play on.

 Down south the Soviets start to retreat.

The Axis have shifted some extra Panzer Divisions to this front and they may/will cause problems.

 Turn 25 and the Soviet winter offensive starts.

Is that a gap forming in the Axis line?

The Axis had punched a hole in the Soviet lines across the Don,

but the start of the Winter Offensive has given pause for the Soviets to recreate a front.

To call it the Winter Offensive is a bit of a misnomer as the weather has been exceptionally clear; no rain, no mud, just an occasional touch of cloud to make the skies overcast from time to time (which denies the Axis one of their two air units).

The Soviet attack in the north gets serious.

Only remnants of German Panzer division to contain the Soviets.

The Caucasus are safe.

At this stage we decided to end it.  The Axis had lost, although it didn't feel like a Soviet victory.

I want to play it again!