Category: Wargaming

Vehicles for “Technical November”

November’s challenge in Azazel’s Bitz Box is “technical,” meaning vehicles.  I already had a bunch of Russian 1:48 scale tanks awaiting painting, and I intended to post those.  I also wanted to do something “new,” started after the announcement of the challenge.  So I decided to create two science fiction tanks for my Combat Patrol science fiction games.

I started with some cheap plastic tanks that came in a bag with some poorly sculpted and molded green army men.  Then I built up the super structure to make them look like assault guns.

The beginnings of the superstructure built on a cheap dollar store tank body. The superstructure is made of matt board, some plastic bits from the bit box, and an excess GW hatch.

I then added a few extra bits to make it look less homemade.

The addition of a few more bits, the hatch doors, and commander’s weapon, etc.

I then primed them with Army Painter Angel Green paint.

The vehicles after a coat of Angel Green paint.

I then decided to do something a little different.  I used some cans to Testor’s texture paint to apply what I hoped would look like dirt and weathering.

After the application of Testor’s textured paint.

I think I applied it a little too heavily for my first attempt.  So when I applied this technique to my Russian WWII tank, I went a little lighter.

Russian infantry in front of two T-26 tanks.
A closer look at a T-26 with the rare 37mm cannon.
Russian infantry in front of a KV-2 and KV-1.
A closer look of the KV-1

And now another look at the two science fiction vehicles.

 

 

GASLIGHT at HARCON

The GASLIGHT table at HARCON

One of the HAWKs is the faculty mentor for the Harford Community College gaming club.  That club runs a gaming day every year, called HARCON.  The HAWKs have supported HARCON for years with games.  This is a small, multi-genre event, so we found years ago, that we are unlikely to get someone to devote four hours to a miniatures game, but they are willing to give it a try for an hour or two.

The game is afoot!

For the past three years, we have been running a really large game that allows passers by to participate for an hour or two.  We have en0ugh of our own HAWKs around the table to act as opponents and keep the game moving.

This year’s theme at HARCON was Steam Punk, so we decided to run a large GASLIGHT game set on Mars with many different factions.

Venusians attacking Prussians
Rooman crosswbowmen close assault a British timer clad
Bicycle lancers battling British infantry for control of the crashed aether flyer.
Sanwar advancing on the female lancers
Female hussars with helicopter support advancing toward the Sanwar
More fighting around the crashed airship
Ostrich lancers and Roomans advance!
British infantry, plant men, and Red Martians
Roomans with support from “the copper tank.”
Another view of Venusians
Another view of ostrich lancers
Green Martians fighting female hussars, including some mounted on “Death Jaws.”

Though attendance at HARCON seemed to be a little light, the game was fun and successful.  We introduced six new people to miniatures gaming.

Terrain Crate

Part of the Battlefield Terrain Crate

I bought into the Mantic Terrain Crate Kickstarter.  I received all of my stuff a couple of months ago.  I have been too busy with work to paint many figures, but I have spent a little time painting some terrain.

Bookshelves from the Wizard’s Study and Library sets.

These were fun to paint.  as they are almost entirely dry brushed, I can paint these in the family room, watching Perry Mason with my wife and daughter.  I have a couple more sets to paint, including the rest of the Wizard’s Study and science fiction terrain.

Azazel’s Bitz Box Unit Contest

Azazel’s Bitz Box hosts mostly painting challenges.  This month’s challenge is for units.  See post here:  https://azazelx.com/2018/09/24/unit-ed-october-2018-community-painting-challenge-also-orctober-orktober/

So, I decided to finish up a few units that had been partially completed for a while.  These are all related to my Operation Sea Lion games.  Warlord sells the characters from the British sitcom, Dad’s Army (https://us-store.warlordgames.com/collections/dad-s-army).  I have the older Copplestone Dad’s Army figures (not authorized), but I couldn’t resist these too.  The Warlord figures come with both the characters in civilian clothes with identifying armbands and the characters in uniforms.  Here they are:

Frazer
Godfrey
Jones
Captain Mainwaring
Pike
Walker
Wilson

And here they are altogether:

Dad’s Army characters in civilian clothes
Dad’s Army characters in uniform

And here’s some other stuff I finished recently.

Dolly Madison rescuing the portrait of George Washington before the British burned down the White House during the War of 1812.  Figure from First Corps.
Some Reaper power armor infantry
A gamer
The brain in a bottle…
A better view of the brain
Female defenders of Little Baisley by the Sea, the town I use for all my Sea Lion games.
Civilians from Little Baisley by the Sea
Hell hound from Reaper
And a last look at some defenders of the town. I really like the sculpting of the two figures on the left!

Barrage 2018 is TODAY

Don’t let the rain keep you away from Barrage 2018.  Barrage runs today (at noon) until 2000 tomorrow, Saturday.  Don’t miss the best two days of gaming you’ll experience for a long time.

See www.hawks-barrage.org for more information, directions, lists of games, etc.

You could lament the rain, or you could come to Barrage 2018.  We have spacious, free, paved parking right next to the convention venue.  You’ll barely get your feet wet.  And it is easy to carry your loot from the deals and flea markets to your car and come back for more!

Barrage 2018 is in FOUR Days

These four soldiers would rather be at Barrage 2018 in just FOUR days.

Barrage 2018 is in just FOUR days, 28-29 September 2018.  Don’t miss this excellent two-day gaming event with over 70 events, a third of which are kid friendly.  Find more information and signup at www.hawks-barrage.org.  This is the best small convention in the region.

And don’t miss out on a chance to see the vendors who will be at Barrage 2018:

  • Age of Glory
  • Pictor’s Studio
  • Critical Hit
  • B&V Traders
  • War Store Collectables
  • Six Sided Simulations
  • LittleWarsTV

Five Days Until Barrage 2018

These five space mercenary women are headed to Barrage 2018 in five days!

Barrage 2018, run by the Harford Area Weekly Kriegspielers (HAWKs) is just FIVE days away.  These TWO DAYS of non-stop gaming are just around the corner.  Don’t miss this terrific event. There are lots of games that are kid-friendly, so bring your younger gamer and build some memories.  Go to www.hawks-barrage.org for more details, directions, local hotels, and to sign up.

These five soldiers are preparing for Barrage 2018 in just FIVE DAYS.

 

7 Days to Barrage 2018

The countdown has begun.  Seven Russian soldiers represent seven days left to Barrage 2018, 28 and 29 September in Havre de Grace, Maryland.  See www.hawks-barrage.org for more information and to sign up.

  • TWO DAYS OF GAMING
  • Over 70 miniatures gaming events covering a wide variety of scales, periods, and genres
  • About a third of the evens are kid-friendly, so bring you younger gamers
  • Friendly game masters
  • Two Flames of War tournaments
  • The largest ADLG tournament on this side of the Mississippi
  • Quality vendors
  • Flea market tables
  • Reasonably-priced food on premises and more food options nearb
  • The guys from LittleWarsTV

 

Barrage 2018 is only 11 Days Away

Barrage 2018 is only 11 days away.  Don’t miss out on the fun.

  • TWO Flames of War tournaments
  • The largest ADLG tournament on this side of the Mississippi
  • Over 70 miniatures events with more being added daily
  • Dozens of kid-friendly games, so bring your young gamer and enjoy gaming together
  • Reasonably priced food on premises with good food options nearby
  • Spacious, free parking
  • Friendly game masters
  • The guys from Little Wars TV
  • Vendors and flea market tables

This is gaming the way it should be:  no politics or kvetching, just a fun time miniatures gaming.

If the large conventions are sucking the joy out of your gaming, come to the best little convention in this part of the country.

The game grid is almost full, but there is still room for a handful of additional games.  Sign up today.  Bring a buddy.