Rules of Engagement so far...

The game started off quite slow but I think that's to be expected of any new game. We played another hour last night after I got back from London and things really started to move much quicker.
I think the game structure owes a lot to Warhammer 40K, which for me is great as It's what I grew up with and I love the 1:1 man ratio. It allows you to become really attached to certain characters within units. The game can be played with about 30 or so figures, although to get the weapon variety for different scenarios, I have ended up with about seventy different figures. This is great if you like painting as I do so I've rather enjoyed having the excuse to paint more.

The battle is well under way now and I'm really starting to enjoy it, I still have a few more units to bring on and the Brits have a tank yet to appear. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with that quite yet. Mortars have just proved to be very affective and have taken the fight out of one of the British Rifle Sections. I'm also enjoying all the different weapon stats and attention to detail that the game offers.

Tommies return fire

Brits reach cover

British infantry reach the hedgerow and spread out. On crossing the small mud track, they are seen by the german command sction who open fire on them.

""What's that moving there?
My command Section holds it's position and hunkers down.
The 1st German Rifle Section sneaks it's way through the undergrowth towards the farm. This is a very well armed squad indeed and includes two STG44 assault rifles and a host of MP40 machine guns.

German Recon section

A small six man Recon Section advances up the main road and sets up a MG42 under the hard cover of a knocked out Panther Tank.
If anything moves...shot it! The main road has now become a death trap.

Waiting....waiting.
My Command section reaches the stone wall and sets up defensive position.
Where did that Orchard come from?...who cares It looks great, get it on there.

Tommies enter stage left

Here they come at last working their way in land. No armour up yet so It's down to the Infantry to secure that hedgerow.

Mood shots

A grenadier gets ready with his Panzerfaust for any unwary Allied Armour. Talking of which I do believe I can hear a Cromwell in the distance!
These Corgi Toys make great props and come quite well painted and detailed straight from the box. They were not active pieces but served as hard cover and eye candy in the game.

Battle in the undergrowth

Normandy July 1944
A German Section heads for the cover of a stone wall...very wise.
Look thats me with the MP40 and my trusty command group.

Testing out Rules of Engagement from Great Escape Games

We have been meaning to play this game for ages and finally got around to it at the weekend. It was so nice to set up the board with all the terrain on, after collecting pieces for years it was nice to actually use them.
I also got to place my fantastic farm set made by Paul Darnell of Touching History.

Painting up French Generals and Aide de camps

Finally, Finally.. I've managed to get my head in the right gear to sit down and do some nice relaxing painting again, man alive It's good to be back. These poor chaps have been sitting around for months waiting to be finished. I have a bit of time off for Christmas and plan to do a lot of catching up.
Now that I have rearranged my French units to represent Brigades rather than Divisions (as per the Napoleon rues), I am painting up the Generals in General de Brigade colours. Their Aides also wear the sky blue plumes and sashes of the rank.
After reading about the new Inks from GW I thought I would try some out rather than use Army Painter. They are better than the old GW Inks I think and the coverage seems better, I plan to use them soon on my WWII units to speed up production.

Ben Grimm the Thing!

I love this guy and when he popped by my studio the other day, I rushed to get my camera, I even managed to get a happy shot of him, very rare.

Did you shut the gate?

Union Infantryman

A dusty 'Blue belly' takes a well earned rest after marching all day.

Bloody London!

Confederate Soldier

Union Sharpshooter

A marksman from the 1st Regiment of sharpshooters. The green coat and Sharps rifle became trademarks of the Sharpshooters and their gallant service made the Regiment a Civil War legend.

Book week continues

I have spoken to and met some lovely people since starting this Blog and received a few gifts along the way too. One of these gifts came the other week in the form of a book written by fellow History nut and blogger, Andrew Bronzyna. Andrew very kindly sent me his latest publication which tells the story of his Grandfather and his time spent in the Port battalions, US Army Transportation Corps, serving through England, Normandy and Antwerp. Thank you Andrew I look forward to reading this in the future, It was very kind of you .

I myself have seen something of a little press this week with the release of a new quiz book from Osprey. You may remember a while back I was approached by Osprey about my Blog illustrations, well a deal was struck and here they are in print. I can proudly say that now I can join my heroes Angus MC Bride and Peter Dennis under the Osprey banner...well almost I suppose.

Where it all began

On passing a book stall in London, I happened upon these two childhood classics. I remembered copying the illustrations from these Ladybird books as a kid, you could say It's where I got a taste for drawing battles. So In many ways I owe a lot to these old ladybird books.
Although I do think that since 1959, when the book was published, our knowledge of the Roman world has grown slightly. They are full of the most amazing, atmospheric paintings though that seem to have a kind of warmth and magic about them, or maybe it's just my own memories affecting my judgement. A great find all the same and they will take pride of place on my book shelf.

American Civil War!

This young hot head is part of the 4th Texas Cavalry. He normally prefers a shotgun to his regulation sabre in the cut and thrust of melee, but just to play safe, he packs both.
Picket duty sucks, mind you, a good Gum blanket can ease matters.

Batavian Auxiliaries

I treated myself to some new products from Silflor, namely some clumps of weeds. These are basically tufts with tiny leaves stuck on. They had sold out of the spring time ones I wanted, so I bought the Summer time ones and gave them a brown Ink wash, just to knock them back a bit. I quite like them and they look good on the bases. I see that Army painter are releasing more and more grass tufts, I think It's only a matter of time before they bring out weed clumps.

Batavian Cohort

Flocked and ready for battle.