Off the Workbench - Mike: Sci Fi & VBCW

This post starts with the completion of 6 x Human Army personnel, armed with blasters and including an RPG team.

The figures are based upon WW2 German infantry in winter suits, they came from the front of a magazine and were donated to me by Grahame. I had no use for them as WW2 figures but they have been adapted to join my ever growing ranks of Sci-Fi figures.

The RPG Team.

The heads, arms & weapons are all spares from Northstar StarGrave and Wargames Atlantic frame that I have used in earlier projects, these sets come with lashings of spares so it is good to get to use  them.

Two Army types with Blaster variants

And two more little Army men (and woman) again with blaster variants.

Next up is a batch of 11 x VBCW Regular Infantry to join my swelling factions for this game. The figures are basically the Wargames Atlantic BEF set (I purchased 2 x frames to see what they are like). They are lovely figures and I have now decided that these guys will be the Regulars in my VBCW force and the WW1 figures that I have been painting up to now will be redesignated Territorial Army types.

4 x Regular Riflemen, all with Lee Enfields

Another view of the above showing that one is a designated 'Bomber'

These guys have the 1938 webbing and Battledress uniform, so I can justify these as being Regulars as they have the new kit. The WW1 types in my collection with the older webbing pattern and older tunic types can be justified as territorials. Note: I remember seeing my Granddad in the photo when he was in the pre-Ware TA and he was wearing WW1 uniform & kit.

5 more riflemen, these all have the unadorned Bordie helmets

And another view. Note the Lee Enfields with a bayonet attached
have come from the Wargames Atlantic WW1 infantry set!

Regular Mortar team

The Regular Army Mortar Team, will need to be expanded to include a No.3 but that is an excuse for me to get some more of these lovely figures.

Currently I have some BUF Assault Troopers on the workbench and some civilian militia to build in the near future, not to mention the need to complete some rather nice Norhstar 1672 Musketeers!

Off the Workbench - Mark: WW2, SCW & VBCW

Latest toys about to !eave Mark's workbench! Just awaiting a final varnish by all accounts....

Various aircraft suitable for eth SCW,
believe some of these are heading towards Phil's collection

A whole bunch of WW2 & VBCW miniatures and vehicles.
WW2 kit is 20mm whilst the VBCW is the more fabulous 28mm scale!

Newly arrived as Chez-Mark, A WW2 German Gun emplacement that will be a centre piece for a Commando raid game in the future.

Another view - this is in 20mm

Seems the current plan is for this to represent the Austratt Fort in Norway. The game will be set in 1945 with a what-if scenario of what if where Garrison doesn't surrender to Norwegian resistance and British paras sent to liberate Norway.

Off the Workbench - More 28mm VBCW figures

Well this has been such a terribly hot couple of weeks here, it has been hard to do any painting. The paint drys almost before you can get it on the figures!

Nevertheless less I have persisted and created 15 new VBCW figures in the last 10 days or so. When it was too hot to paint it was perfect for kitbashing and drying the old plastic glue.

Completed (well almost!) Squad,
thinking Anglican League but still wavering...

For this post, I offer a squad of 10 militiamen plus 5 more Regular Army. The Regulars are all based upon Wargames Atlantic WW1 British so I won't go into too much detail there.

And another view

The other10 man squad are based upon 1 frames of Perry Miniatures Zulu Wars British! I have used WA WW1 heads to provide 1939s tin hats, backpacks from various British WW2 frames by Perry Minis and Warlord Games. I also sourced the arms and weapons from various frames if British WW1 & WW2 infantry to provide Lee Enfields, a Lewis Gunner and an Officer with pistol.

Back row brought to the front

I gave these figures a grey uniform with Khaki webbing and pads and brown leather gaiters,  I think this gives them a quaint anachronistic look...

The Lewis Gun team

I haven't  yet committed to which faction these guys will belong. Possibly the Anglican League or alternatively Royalists.

NCO pointing the way and a rifleman

When I decide armbands and shoulder designations of the appropriate colour will be added.

Officer & rifleman

Although my main aim is to have a Socialist flying Column built into a tabletop army list, they'll need some opposition!

Two riflemen

Final two riflemen, one wounded

% more Regulars to join the team

The regulars pictured above will bulk out my existing force, his group includes a second Lewis Gun team and a Bomber alongside two new Riflemen.

A Bomber and on right Lewis Gunner No.2

Quick shot of the Lewis Gunner and supporting Riflemen

Off the Workbench - Mark: More 28mm VBCW

   And they keep pouring off of Mark's Workbench - more 28mm VBCW figures and vehicles! These are all repurposed eBay purchases.

British Regulars.

2lb Anti Tank Gun, drew and truck

Socialist Militia, supplied with Russian uniforms and equipment

US Sailors making an intervention in the UK...

Various militiamen

Two Naval Motor Launches

Off the Workbench - Mike W: VBCW BUF Militia

Latest off the Workbench this week is 5 new figures that will form the core of a BUF squad for the VBCW.

The five new figures plus two already completed

The figures are a mixture, extreme left is a metal figures, previously show on this site, to the extreme  right of this is a plastic Wargames Atlantic Panzer Grenadier with British equipment added and has again been previously shown on this site.

The remaining five figures are all new kit-bashes based on the Wargames Atlantic Panzer Grenadiers, again with British equipment added.

Centre is a figure with a German field cap, a nod to their continental counterparts.

Two of these guys have Tommy Guns, one a Lewis gun and a squad leader with a Webley Service Revolver.

I aim to add there or four addition figures to this squad, a Lewis No. 2 and some more riflemen, I'll then need to look at some transport for them....

Off the Workbench - Mike W

Not to be out done by John, I took the time to re-base my 28mm Highlanders for our forthcoming game.

15 x Musketeers, 12 x Pikemen, 12 x Warband and 3 x Chieftains

Highland Pike Block of 12 men. Warlord Games figures.

Highland unit of Shot, with 12 men. Warlord Games figures.

Highland Clan Warriors, again 12 men. 
Unknown figures but including 2 x Warlord GAmes figures.

3 x super fit / hench Highland Chieftains,
manufacturer unknown / forgotten!

Friday Night Games - Imaginations campaign, Naval game

Friday 24th July saw us at Rupert's gaff playing the first in Steve's Imaginations campaign games - surprisingly a Naval game, set in quasi Napoleonic times.

Two fleets of ships faced each other, with Mat, Ollie & Mike W, commanding one fleet, lets call it the 'Good' side! It has more vessels, although with lower quality vessels but on the whole better crew. Their opponents, we'll call them the 'Evil' side,  were Mike N, Nigel & Rupert who had a smaller fleet with better class vessels but potentially poorer crews.

The forces of 'Good' commanded by Mat, Ollie & Mike W.
All line astern and sailing up the table.

All the fantastic models were from Steve's collection and the rules were home brewed by Steve as well who acted as umpire.

Close-up of the 'Good' side's Blue Squadron, commanded by Ollie.

The 'Good' side's White Squadron, commanded by Mike W.

Much death and destruction was handed out by both sides and it looks like the game will go on for another week, not least because no vessel has the movement capability to get off the table to safety in the near future!

The 'Good' side's Red Squadron, commanded by Mat.

The 'Evil' side's White Squadron, commanded by Nigel.

The 'Evil' side's BlueSquadron, commanded by Rupert.

The 'Evil' side's Red Squadron, commanded by Mike N.

Off the Workbench - John

Joining in on the fun of displaying the contents of their workbench, this week we see John's contribution.

12  x Highlanders that have been prepared for the forthcoming battle of Pinkie. they have been based to align with the Pikemen's Lament ruleset.

The whole completed group

Detail of the right side of the group, a little Dutch courage in evidence in eth background! 

Piper and other warriors...

...and total disrespect for their enemies!

Friday Night Games - Battles for the Berezena Crossings, Part 3

Russians advance on their right wing to engage the French

The final week of the epic 3 week game saw John & Dave continue on as the French whilst Mat, Mike W, Mike N, Steve & Mat commanded the huge Russian force.

French left wing is compromised as they retire towards the bridge

Mat's command on the Russian left continued to batter the French in that sector, who also dealt as good as they received. However on the French left the tide had truly turned and over the course of the night the whole French left wing gradually collapsed under the weight of Russian onslaught.

Russians attack and break the French squares

Ultimately all French units to the left of the bridge were destroyed or broken, leading to the preparations for a pre-emptive flight of the right wing. Whilst the French had fought valiantly, they were defeated with significant losses.

French right from their side of the table

Close-up of small actions on the French right

One of the Russian columns marching on the French left

What's left of the French left, from the Russian PoV.

The French right, from their side, central position

More Russians closing

The French left collapses towards the river bridge, the game nears its end

Final shot of the French right, Guards positioned to defend
against Russians crossing the bridge (bottom right)