Tuesday 27 September 2011

Road to Madrid Pt 2

As can be seen the battlefield is pretty busy with terrain pieces so should be an interesting challenge for the attacker and defender alike. The game is set for this Saturday with a few of the local guys.

The road to Madrid

This is an imaginary game which is based on one of Charles Grants old scenarios. The town is on slightly high ground looking peacefully down onto a lush valley. Despite the fact that the Nationalists are heading towards Madrid the local defenders of the valley, the Republican forces, feel pretty safe as they are not in the direct path of the Nationalists. Senior command has thus removed most of the defending troops to help defend Madrid. Their only fear is that they may be cut off by the quick advance of Francos forces. The Nationalists have Madrid in their sites and they fully intend to by pass the town and valley. Unfortunatly a local comander, concerned that he may be leaving a Republican rats nest to attack his supply line sends forces the recce the valley and ensure that any Republicans are dealt with. His orders are simple. Flush the rats out quickly and completly and rejoin the main force. You have one day to achieve this. Thats 12 table moves.

SCW Various pictures.

A company of mixed troops Some Assaltos with Carlist Falangists.
Shocked Morrocan command.
....and some cows. Don't ask.

SCW Italian Command Group

The story is the Italian commander chatting up the young lady whilst his Askari batman looks after her horse. The mounted officer is actually from the AZW range with a different hat. The Sophia Loren lookalike is from the Copplestone range which fur hat removed and extra hair added. The Askaris never served in Spain but I figured the odd servant may have made the trip. Well thats my excuse anyway.

SCW Republican command group

I love this command group as it has lots of individual character but works as a group. The map is downloaded from the internet and not painted !!!!

Saturday 24 September 2011

7pdr AZW gun pt2

When both seats have been glued and set into place its time to put on the wheels. These should be slightly curved in at the bottom.
Once done the barrel can be placed into the lugs. Next place the foot rests in place. These go at the bottom of the ammunition boxes and they curve out away from the gun. I used a file to hold them in place whilst the glue set.
When se the trail bar can be positioned at the back which fits into the location at the end of the trail. Job done.

Empress AZW 7pdr Construction. pt1

Both the 7pdr and the 9pdr AZW field guns are pretty similar. However to start the ball roling here is how to put the 7pdr together. Firstly file the few mould lines that are apparent. Happily these are few and it does not take long. Happily because I hate this part of the job. Using Super Glue glue the small wheel into the lug.
When this has dried glue the two ammunition boxes onto the axxle of the gun carriage. Each box has a small L shape moulded onto the bottom which is to be located onto the axle tree.
Next is to build the arm and back support for the crew chairs. I do this before trying to glue them to the boxes. As you can see I support them whilst glueing using blue tac or plasticine.
I them glue each one into position on the boxes.

Friday 2 September 2011

Renaissance stuff

....and now for something completly different.

I have been messing around with Italian War stuff for years but never really found a set of rules that I liked. Until that is I found Impetus. Although it is a bit generic I like the big base concept and the proper rules have enough fiddly bits added to give a fun game.

Based on this, excuse the pun, I have rebased all my figures and started painting some new bits.





SCW Battle prt 4





SCW Battle prt 3


More pictures of the tranch battle. The Fascists hit the second line and begin to take casualties....although not enough for my liking!!!





SCW Supply Truck & Anti Aircraft Support.



Peelers come to arrest someone.



Modelled on The Empress Christine, who does not have a pet goat in real life, nor a wagon wheel for that matter.