Getting Ready for HAWKs Barbarossa Theme Year

Several of us in the HAWKs have decided to focus on Barbarossa for a number of our convention scenarios in 2019.  Chris will likely run a number of LSNC 1941 games, and I’ll be focusing on Combat Patrol(TM) skirmish games.  I have recently completed these two tanks and a squad of infantry in great coats.

Tamiya KV-1 with Artisan Russian soldiers in greatcoats.
Tamiya KV-II with Artisan Russians in greatcoats

I started with Army Painter angel green and then applied a quick shade wash.  When I then sprayed the vehicles with Army Painter anti-shine matte finish, i got some crazing effects on the paint.  This is the second time this has happened to me, so there is some interaction between the Army Painter quick shade and anti-shine matte finish that I don’t understand.

Barrage 2018 is Only 16 Days Away

Don’t miss out on a all the fun of Barrage.  The schedule is nearly full, but there is still room for you — either as a game master or as a participant.  See www.hawks-barrage.org for more details.

Barrage, run by the Harford Area Weekly Kriegspielers (HAWKs) is the finest small convention in this part of the country.  Over 70 events!  Three tournaments!  Good food on premises at reasonable prices!  Vendors!  Flea market tables!

Rooman Reinforcements are Coming

Back in the good old days, Ral Partha made ONE set of figures, called Roomans.  These were anthropomorphized kangaroos with spears and shields.  For some reason, the quirkiness of them always appeared to me, and whenever I found a pack in a bin, I would pick it up.  Over time, I amassed a pretty sizable collection of them.  We have just learned that the current owner of the molds is fixing up the master and is getting ready to re-release them.  I also hope that means that new poses will be coming soon.  You can click these images to enlarge them.

A Rooman phalanx lead by my airborne-qualified Rooman commander
Rooman swordsmen
Rooman Gatling Gun crew with musketeers
Rooman crossbowmen

I am excited to hear these will be available soon, and I hope this means that additional poses and weapons will be available soon as well.

Them! for Fall In 2018 Play Test

This weekend we had a small play test of a scenario I am going to run at Fall In with Greg Priebe using To Be Continued… by GASLIGHT.  The scenario involves six groups of US soldiers advancing into a secret Nazi laboratory where the mad scientists are experimenting with creating creatures to help with the war effort.  These include giant ants, a giant crab, and other baddies. Also in the lab is a brilliant allied scientist who you can see in the picture above.

Each player had a team of six soldiers armed with a submachine gun, BAR, and four rifles.  The Americans were competing to be the first to get a scientific device or other information out of the laboratory.  They had cards they could plan on each other to lay German patrols or giant ants on the other players.

The Germans and ants got tougher the closer they got to the laboratory.  In the picture above, a gelatin creature engages in hand to hand combat with three Americans.

The giant crab was a difficult opponent, killing one or two soldiers, but eventually the American firepower prevailed.

An overview of the table before the action kicked off.  The caverns are from https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1084069684/tablescapes-dungeons-modular-rpg-dungeons-by-secre/description.

Of the four players who started the game, two were wiped out, and two other players each got off the table with one scientific device.  This is meant to be a six-player game, so with the added firepower, American casualties should be lower.

Some Recent Vehicles for Combat Patrol(TM) Games

Stug. III Bs from Tamiya

Despite working a string of 50-60 hour weeks and missing most of my club’s gaming events, I have managed to complete a handful of 1:48 vehicles.  I can do these a little at a time, so they fit into my work schedule where painting the 80 Russian infantry sitting on the painting table have had to take a back seat.

2x 1:48 scale BA-64B’s from Tamiya
2x 1:48 scale British Bedford trucks from Tamiya
British 7-ton Armored Car Mk. IV in 1:48 scale from Tamiya
Japanese staff car with the top down from Tamiya
The same staff car with the top up. I think this car looks “cute.”
Two 1:48 scale BA-6 armored cars from Butler’s Printed Models
British light utility car from Tamiya
T-28 tank from Butler’s Printed Models
2x M-8 Greyhound armored cars from Tamiya
Russian 1.5 ton Zis truck, 1941, by Tamiya.