AHPC XIV: From GrahameH - More 15mm Cold War Battlegroups

 In a previous post I showed my US Cold War Battlegroup (BG) which I had finished and was then hoping to get some other non-completed NATO BGs completed without getting distracted. So in order to give myself a little encouragement I listened to the "Team Yankee" book. All was going well until they described the attempt by a US Armoured Cavalry Squadron to act as a speed bump in the face of the Warsaw Pact armoured advance. Spoiler - it didn't go very well for the US. Then the troubled started. "I'd like a Armoured Cavalry Squadron" I said even though it not on my list to do. However, I summoned up all my will power to keep to my original plan, failed and here it is. 

 Its not to big as I left out the artillery battery as it the same as the other US BG. The figures etc are all 15mm Battlefront. 

The HQ - MG, Stinger, CO and a M113 (20pts)

Armoured Cavalry Troop

There are 2 of these each consisting of 8 men and a M113 ACAV. (24pts x 2 = 48pts)

Support

M113 ACAV for the Recce Unit and 1 M106 with a 120mm mortar. (16pts and 4 for the mortar crew (20pts)

Two Armoured Cavalry Tank Troops (Each of 2 M60s) (32pts)

So the US Armoured Cavalry Squadron = 120pts 

Then I thought I wonder if I could add a US Air Assault BG. I have a Russian one and a British one. 

Never really sticking to a painting plan due to my butterfly issues, here is my US Air Assault BG.

A A10 Warthog, a AH-1 Cobra and 2 Chinooks (32pts) (the Cobra is Battlefront, the Chinooks are 3D printed and I have no idea where the A10 came from. 

The Ground Forces 

HQ and the 3 Infantry Companies 

This was before the entry of the Humvees so most of the transport is Mutt 151 jeeps (From Army Bits) 

(2 vehicles and 34 figures, including crew for the jeeps) = 84pts

Support Company - M151 with TOW (2 vehicles and 6 crew) = 28pts

Recce Platoon - M151 and 7 figures (22 pts)

Airborne Tank Sqn - 3 X M551 Sheridans (Army Bits). Apparently the 82nd kept their Sheridans during this time period. (24Pts)

The Artillery Battery (2 Guns, 3Vehicles and 12 figures) = 56pts (all Army Bits who make some wonderful US Infantry) I think the guns are a bit late for 1984 but they will do. 

So that the US Airborne BG at 246 Pts. 

Right back to the Plan

West German BG 

West German BG (most of the infantry was already painted so just the vehicles)

HQ and two Sqns of Leopards (7 vehicles) 56pts - Battlefront

Leopard Recovery Vehicle (8pts) (Army Bits)

4 Marder 1s for the HQ, if not an armoured BG and three Infantry Coys (Battlefront) (32pts)

Second Part of the West German BG.

The Artillery Battery - 2 X M109s and a M113 FO (Battlefront) (24pts)

Support Company - 2 M113 (for the Milan Teams) and a M106 with 120mm Mortar - 2 crew. (28pts)

AA Platoon - a Roland (this was suppose to be a Gepard, but that model has been drafted into the Dutch BG) (8pts)

Recce Plt - a Luchs (8pts)

Any then the Butterfly Syndrome hit again 😒

West German Fallschirmjager BG

AT Company - 2 Wiesels with TOW and 2 with 20mm *Butler 3d printing) (32pts)

Pts = 112pts

I need 5 KraKa transport for this unit. These are little go-kart things but I can't find any in 15mm. Anyone know of anyone who produces these please let me know?

Formosa Campaign Latest - June Update

 

DECLARATION OF REPUBLIC OF FORMOSA - May 1885 

At a lavish ceremony the formation of the new Republic was announced today. To great jubilation from a supportive public the Republic heralds a great age of wealth and independence for the industrious peoples of this happy island. Our new President: Tang Jinsong spoke eloquently of the opportunities available to us as a fresh new nation. His well chosen wise words filled the hall with poetic visions of a proud free future for our fresh nation, ripe with hope and optimism and without an enemy in the World. 

LOCAL GUIDES FOR RENT 

• New to the country? 

• Lacking reliable maps? 

Fear not, your local guides are here. Contact our manager: Wi Go Far and we can supply all your needs! 

JAPAN INVADES - 29 May 1895 

On an overcast night across the long sandy beaches of northern Formosa fishermen were awoken from their restful contemplation to see a flotilla of naval vessels drifting offshore. Throughout the night lighters brought Japanese forces onto the beach and by morning light a sizeable force had secured a beach-head and established blockades on all nearby roads. Through out the ensuing several days more and more men and material was ferried to the coast and under the watchful guns of a strong fleet the foreigners established a strong position only 5 miles from the bustling port of Ke Lang. 

GREAT POWERS CRY FOWL - May 1895 

The peace treaty signed between Japan and China is raising eyebrows around the World. The Treaty of Shimonoseki concluded the Sino Japanese War by China relinquishing control of Korea and handing Formosa and Liaodong Peninsula to Japan. Russia, France and Germany are concerned that the transfer of ownership of Port Arthur on the Liaodong Peninsula advances Japanese power to a dangerous extent in the Region. Delegations have been sent to the Japanese Government to press for a fundamental renegotiation of the treaty. 

SURRENDER OF KE LANG - 4 June 1895 

On the evening of the 3 June the Qing commander of the garrison at Ke Lang sent a courier to the Japanese forces encamped nearby. He offered the complete surrender of the important City in exchange for the opportunity for the troops to leave and be returned to mainland China. The City was handed to Japanese forces the next day and one of the strongest and well armed fortresses of the new Republic fell to the invader without a shot being fired. Local people watched the entry of the Japanese with sullen faces, their disappointment being harder to take as fires raged through storehouses along the harbourside where both foreign and local businesses operated. However, foreign traders within the City greeted the Japanese with some relief as they quickly quelled fires and peacefully took possession of the City. 

HAKKA MILITIA SUPPORT PATROLS IN NORTHERN FORMOSA - June 1895 

Hakka militia took to the streets to support the restoration and maintenance of law and order in Northern Formosa after a recent outbreak of looting. Well armed forces were to be seen on the streets in Tai Pak and Tam Sui. Local leader Xi Fan asserted that no foreign invaders or brigand looters would get this far into the country without paying a heavy price for their impudence. 

US FORCES PROTECT INTERESTS IN TAM SUI - June 1895 

As unrest broke out in Tam Sui fires were lit in warehouse areas of the City. Mobs brought disorder and the strong locally based trader community from the United States, Russia and the UK feared for their lives and property. The US gunboat “Monocacy” currently visiting the harbour placed a small party of marines ashore who secured US and other foreign owned warehouses and assisted local people extinguishing the flames in nearby properties. 

Posters reproduced below as seen on hoardings around Ke Lang, having been pasted up in the night before Japanese forces entered the City:

AHPC XIV: Mike W - Bretonnians, Tau & Orcs plus a little more Skulls, Squirrel & Maritime

 In celebration of the recent release of Warhammer: The Old World, I have dug out a small batch of Bretonnian archers to get painted up. Back in the day I had a reasonably big Bretonnian army, mostly classic Archers and Knights, with the release of the new Old World Starter pack of Bretonnians and Tomb Kings, I thought that these figures had finally reached the time that they should be finished.

Six Bretonnian peasant Archers, painted up in the classic Blue & Red livery

On the left is a musician, with a rather large horn! Note the triangle of white circles on the archer's mini shields

Each of these guys has some kind of quilted leather jerkin and Blue & Red robes to denote their loyalties.Central guy seems to have some kind of purity seal on his bow.

So for some reason, twenty odd years ago I had undercoated these guys in dark brown! Thinking about it I read an article in Red Dwarf suggeting that this was a good option to give these peasants a distinctive look. Having undercoated them, my attention was obviously taken elsewhere as they have not seen a lick of paint until this last week.

The other three guys, on the right is a guy that is wearing monk's robes but stands in the line with the other archers in the unit.

I painted over much of the brown undercoat with a 'Linen' coloured paint and then used browns to add in all the leather armour and decided on a classic Red and Blue colour scheme for these guys. I used Army Painter Speed Paints in Red & Blue to do much of the cloth on these figures. I then added detail as I went and opted for three white circles on each shield to unify the group into a single unit, no doubt a retinue of a knight who has a similar heraldry to the mini shields on these figures. I highlighted as best I could and they were pretty much done.

Last shot, guy on left has a linen cap over his hair, believe these were commonly worn under helmets for added padding.

I'll have to see if I have any Knights kicking around my drawers and boxes to add to this humble beginnings of an army.

Another week, another batch of Tau! In completing this latest batch I have just realised that I am approaching the end of my stock of pre-built Tau figures! I have one remaining Crisis Suit figure built and ready to be completed. I'm now going to have to waste valuable painting time and spend this time building more squad members - this happens every year so I'm only surprised that I'm surprised...

Latest Tau squad with accompanying Gun Drone and Force Field marker.

Luckily I'm working a week in arrears regarding my posts as opposed to actual painting and building...

and another view...

...Anyway that problem is for next week - today I have 11 x Tau Warriors, a drone and another Defence Force Field marker. All prepared and painted in my ongoing Tau style, namely white with random Orange panels. Again we have a Tau Infantry squad, with a Squad Leader on his Comm device, a Rail Gunner and nine regular warriors - including one Gue'Vesa.

Rail Gunner on the right, a guy with a combi-weapon center and carbine on left

The Drone is an armed Gun Drone, capable of fighting in the line with the rest of the squad or being sent out on 'point' duty and take the risks that living Tau might not want to take...

For guys with long weapons

A group with combi-weapons, squad leader with comms device in hand is second from right. A Gue'Vesa, human helper, is second from left.

Gun Drone left and Defensive Force Field Marker on right

Moving on, this week's Orc batch is a regiment of these greenskin guys with two hand weapons plus associated standard bearer and musician. Additionally there is a mounted Boar rider and a couple of spare musicians that will be integrated elsewhere into my collection.

17 x Orc Warriors, including standard bearer and musician

Another view

One of the down sides of collecting figures via eBay is that you can't always guarantee if what you get is what you see on the lot photos! This week is a case in point, I have found myself with two drummers and a horn blower all bundled up with the last 4 or 5 lots I have received. Not to worry - I painted them all!😀

Close-up of six Orc Warriors

Five more

And the last 6 orcs

The mounted Orc will joint the small collection of Boar Riders in my army, As a side note, I prefer these older Boar models to their newer ones, and for consistency in the units I have, I avoid getting the newer Boars. I'm sure its just a matter of taste, but a pitfall of having an older collection.

An additional two Orc Drummers

Orc Boar Rider, the tusks on the model were broken when I received it via eBay, luckily I had an old Beastman skull that was cut down and positioned to provide a new lower jaw and tusks for the Boar.

The other side of the Boar Rider

Again I'm coming to the end of my supply of pre-built Orcs, so there may be a pause in the production line as I'm waiting for two Orc & Goblin deliveries to come through to restart this. Maybe, I'll just have to switch to my Lizardmen!

To claim the Maritime Bonus I have completed a Black Seas vessel. Black Seas is a game that really captures my imagination but as yet I have not really made any progress in building a fleet of ships - largely because the detail that I imagine that I would like to see on these models is so far beyond my capabilities.

Black Seas Brig painted in Royal Navy livery.

This Brig as been painted up in classic Royal Navy color scheme with a black and tan hull and red inner walls to the vessel. I have tried some very basic rigging to set it off. I'm pleased with what I have done but disappointingly at what I have achieved is still short of what I have in my imagination. I'll have to come back to this to see what additional detail can be added at a future point - at the moment it is a playable tabletop piece.

Other side of the Brig. Base was painted with GW 'Stegadon Scale Green', white foam added on and then a Blue Ink Wash.

Maritime Bookself added to visits