Project Cassino more builds

I wasn't sure about the 1st Para's panzerfaust use at Cassino but have since read of an incident where they used them to great effect. I had taken the Panzerfaust figure I had and converted him to a rifleman and never really liked what I did. He was to stiff looking. So off with his arms and weapon. First arm came off clean, except the rifle disintegrated (no problem as I was not going to reuse it) and then the second arm came off and.... snap off went the hand. Well I was able to glue it back on and will have to use a little modeling putty but it almost ended up in disaster. I have learned to build the models without the heads and weapons for painting purposes, but unfortunately I had to put the Panzerfaust in place as I would not have been able to place it once the arms where on. Converting the figure back to what it was supposed to have been works out as I am now able to use another figure out of the box I would not have been able to use, the Panzerfaust's ammo carrier.

I will be taking a few days off from modeling as it is Turkey day and I will be stuffing myself with turkey dinner with my family. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Cheers

S.F.3.D. Oringinal Gustav "Panzer Kampf Anzug Ausf G"

For some reason this unfinished kit has been on my mind forever. I just love the Ma.K. world and like a drug I just can't seem to quit the habit, so to speak. This is what I have built so far of this 1:20 scale model. Babysitting my grand daughter has thrown me off my Cassino project for the last few days, so while the Holidays are upon us I will take what little time I have to myself and tackle this kit for a bit.

Dragon's 3rd Generation kits

Assembling another German paratrooper for my project I am amazed at the level of detail these 3rd Generation kits bring. I just had to share a picture of the K-98 rifle and it's separate bolt assembly, just amazing. Even more amazing was my big giant fingers and thumb putting it together straight.

Project Cassino more base coating

Had some more time to work on the project. My first time really getting detailed with faces and I am not completely happy with how they turned out but I think I have the idea down and that I will get better as I do more. I filled in a bit more of the figures with their base coats. I need to build another 4 figures to complete the squad and painting four at a time seems to be working out. I am having so much fun just building the models I am being tempted to finish building my 1:400 scale U-boat from a while back. I have some nice photo etch to put on the bridge and perhaps I will work on it again if I need a break from the soldiers. Here are some more photos of work in progress.

 Also after building these four I have come to the conclusion that it will be much easier to paint the figures with the heads and weapons left off. Painting them in parts and adding them together later is something I have discovered when frustration set in trying to paint them as one.

Project Cassino assembly continues and first coats

 Several more figures being put together.

Pin vise I use to drill holes in the bottom of the figures so that I may install pins. This allows me to affix them to a custom made balsa wood base so I can handle the figures without having to touch them.

As you can see it is quite easy to paint the figure in this manner. Here I am placing the base coats of flesh on. I will follow up with more detail on the colors and shading that I will do. The face is everything and I still need more practice at this.

I usually try and paint my figures in painting order. Meaning I will do so many in one color and while those dry move on to others and paint a different color on those so I am not waiting around. I usually do them in groups of four. Here I am putting on the base coats for the uniforms. You may wonder at the brown coats and the tan pants, but this is just the beginning of a long process of painting camo. The Fallschirmjager at this time still had a mix bag of uniforms because of the Campaign in Africa/Tunis. Not all will be done this way but it makes a nice mix.

Cheers



Project Cassino and the assembly begins

Since the miniatures are going to be used for a skirmish game (1:1), I have decided to build a German fallschirmjager squad of 8 figures. While not a full squad, during a campaign few would be up to full strength. The idea in the back of my head is to have one squad of Germans, and several squads for the Commonwealth forces. By doing it this way I am planning on building just what I will need for my first scenario. This will keep interest peaked, and give me a good base to add more figures at a later date.

I believe that diversity is needed when choosing figures for small scale gaming. Putting the same pose together would be boring and unimaginative. So I put some thought into what figures from the kits I wanted to put together and what ones I may modify. Since I need to trim them from their sprue and clean up the mold lines etc. by lightly sanding them, I will build one figure at a time so I don't confuse the parts between models.  Besides cleaning up the figures I will test fit the parts before I glue them together. I use a cyanoacrylate glue which is gap filling called "Insta-Cure +". Kind of like super glue but gives you a chance to adjust the pieces a bit before bonding.

As I build each figure I will then drill small holes in the bottom of their boots and install pins. I then attach them to a balsa wood block so I can hold onto this while I paint the figures. It not only gives you a good grip, but now you can't muddle the paint job with your oily hands.

Here are some pics of work in progress (you can click on the pics to see pictures up close):

 The above MP40 was three pieces, and when put together is just a beatiful piece.

The balsa blocks I put together to use as holders for the figures. Notice after putting the knealing figure together I decided to keep the heads off for ease of painting.

Well that's all for now, until next time.

Cheers

Thirty Years War - Europe in Agony 1618 - 1648 by GMT games

I picked up GMT's game "Thirty Years War" a few years ago. I remember that a friend and I played it two days in a row (Holiday weekend) and I tend to remember we had fun. Well for some reason we haven't played it for a few years now, playing other games etc. and just plain forgot about it.

That all changed this past weekend. Looking through my bookshelf of games we were trying to decide what game we should try and relearn. We just needed a break from Command & Colors Ancients (which is our favorite game at the moment). We were also looking for a game we could play by email using vassal. I was trying to push my friend into GMT's "Elusive Victory" as we had played "Downtown" before but he felt it too complicated for the moment. My friend has always had a love for Pike and Musket period and happened to see "Thirty Years War" on the shelf and said let's play that. At first I tried to talk him out of it but was not successful and I am glad I did not.

This is a strategic point to point movement game using strategy cards to resolve your movements. The map is colorful and it comes with both 1/2' (leaders and game markers) & 5/8' counters (troops), and each side gets it's own draw deck that are nicely designed. Basically the componets and map are what you have come to expect from GMT games. The rules are 32 pages, but really about 20 is what needs to be read and the print is of moderate size so takes up more pages. We basically set the game up and read the rules on the fly. I was really surprised at how easy they were to pick up on, but this could have something to do with us having played other point to point movement card driven games. The game box rates complexity at 4 (out of 10, being hardest) and I would have to agree. The rules are simple and well written for understanding. In about 3 hours we had muddled through about 6 turns (a turn represents two years of real time, and is sub divided into 6 activation phases, each player getting 6 activations with Protestant player going before Catholic player). I believe once you have an understanding of how to play, you could expect to play all 15 turns in 3 to 4 hours. You have three choices on how to play. Early War Turns 1 through 5. Intervention Turns 6 through 8. Apocalypse Turns 10 through 14. Each with a clearly defined setup and special rules (like what cards to take out of the deck etc.). Finally you can play the campaign game which is all 15 Turns.

We had a blast playing the game, so much so we are currently playing by email through vassal. So mission accomplished. I believe that the game has a lot of replayablity with you being able to try out different strategies. Lastly the grognard player of the Thirty Years War may not like it for lacking more in depth rules, but that's not what this game is about.

Simple to play, gets you into the flavor of the period. So much so I went out and picked up GMT's Musket and Pike series game "Nothing Gained but Glory". While not directly about the 30 years war, it will be a good stepping stone to a tactical game on how warfare was carried out for the period. If it's a good system there are several other games in the series that cover the English civil war, and several about the 30 years war. I shall give a review of the system in the near future.

Below is a picture of the game Early War setup.

I should also mention that I found myself wanting to read more about the period. Looking at the games sources I found a recommended book on the period called "The Thirty Years War, by C.V. Wedgwood" and plan on picking that one up. I'll let you know what I like or don't like about it.

Cheers