I have just finished painting a full platoon of British Paratroopers plus their supports for the 'Too Fat Lardies' 'Pint Sized' campaign, 'Kampfgruppe von Luck' which is to be used with 'At the Sharp End' from the 'Chain of Command' platoon level rule book. If you haven't tried these rules and campaign aids, I highly recommend them, it will bring your gaming to another level.
I needed to paint over 60 figures to cover all eventualities from the support list. They are mostly Wargames Foundry, with a few Warlord Games and Artizan figures mixed in. The glider is a 20mm plastic kit, which although is a smaller scale than the figures, I think works well enough as I didn't want it to leave a huge footprint on the table and just to give a suitable backdrop to help paint the scene. I bought the glider off ebay ready painted for the same price as an unpainted kit. Bargain.
The Platoon.
The Supports.
All together.
As always, I like to try and put the freshly painted figures into a few action scenes.
The table.
A suitable objective for the Para's, which happens to be reasonably quite at the moment.
A little while later.........
Platoon HQ established at the Chateau.
I also need a captured German car for the Para support list. So I will be making this soon, along with a platoon of Commandos and their boats.
A couple of pictures from the Big CoC game that I covered in my last post on this blog.
Dave Green made a few amendments for the rules which worked well. We felt we needed to do this as we were playing with two platoons each, one infantry and one armoured.
In order to make this quicker but playable - the overall commander (infantry commander) had the usual 5 command dice (white) plus 3 coloured dice.
WHITE DICE
White all count as normal - however if 2 sixes are rolled it allows the player to choose which command has an extra phase - 3 sixes are rolled both command get an extra phase as well as it being end of turn.
COLOURED DICE
The 3 coloured dice (armoured platoon) are
1 = team(vehicle without junior leader)
2/3 = Junior Leader
4 = Senior Leader
5 = CoC dice (joint pool or can be re-rolled)
6 = can be re-rolled.
This means the armour still gets an average number of order command but there will be less repeat phases because they can only come from the main command dice.
With this 'structure' morale and CoC dice would be combined so morale would start at say 20 - as you got down to 4 then initial impact would be one off each command.
For the game I had an SS Panzergrenadier platoon plus a small platoon of 2 x Panzer IV's. The tanks were hidden at the start of the game and the positions marked on a map/sketch.
Dave's Russians had 4 T34's to assist his infantry plus a couple of Universal Carriers full of guys with SMG's.
The amendments worked well and it was a very close game. We decided it was a German victory (even though the Germans had lost both their tanks) due to the fact the Russians had lost most of their infantry and both universal carriers and their tanks didn't fancy entering a built up area unsupported, against enemy infantry armed with panzerfausts and panzerschrecks.
That is superb looking board with beautiful figures on it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRichard
Hi Pat awesome! Figures look fantastic and the the table is wargames heaven! I see your making good use of the field you got at salute :)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Steve
Fantastic additions there Pat! Inspiring photos that are a pleasure to look at but leave me feeling somewhat inadequate! Maybe one day I can get close!
ReplyDeleteBeutiful and atmospheric terrain. And the miniatures looks really great!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely figures and terrain, but why a US 37mm rather than an airborne 6pdr?
ReplyDeleteThanks chaps.
DeletePinched the 37mm from my US Paratroopers. I have a 6pdr on the shopping list but this will be the British Infantry set and again, I will pinch this for my paratroopers as I already have the crew.
LOVE the glider - real para-feeling! All that is missing is the tune from "A Bridge too Far" playing in the background.
ReplyDeleteJust superb Pat! Your tables are a source of inspiration! They glider looks just fine and fits in great. I really do need to work on my terrain.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Gorgeous stuff!
ReplyDeleteIncredible terrian with fantasic figures to match. Another outstanding game.......just fantastic
ReplyDeleteAs always I'm struck with awe! Superb painting on the figures and great in scene shots. Reminds me of my Paras sitting somewhat abandoned in their drawer :-/
ReplyDeleteHigh quality as always, everything here is superb, most impressive job on the photos Pat, thanks for sharing these pieces of art...
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see that you have posted something on my blog roll I am excited to see what it is and never disappointed when I get there - awesome Pat!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much chaps for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteAmazing looking figures and table. Great work :-)
ReplyDeleteTerrific looking, your table will never cease to amaze.
ReplyDeleteJohn
Stunning work as always! Where did you get the tuft looking mat the glider is sitting on?
ReplyDeleteThanks again chaps.
DeleteJay, I picked up the mat from Great Escape Games who had a stand at Salute. The mat is made by Model Scene, www.model-scene.com and the label on the packet is listed as Embankment - spring with dry tufts.
Excellent, thanks Pat! :-)
DeleteWonderful, as ever. Your pictures are very evocative!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff again Pat. Are you still painting your figures using the Burnt Umber wash mentioned in your earlier posts? How long does it take you to paint 60 figures?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Andy
Thanks chaps.
ReplyDeleteAndy, you have a keen eye, the Para's I actually used Citadel Agrax Earthshade wash instead of the Umber wash.
I started painting them about mid August and finished a couple of days ago. I only paint on Fri/Sat/Sundays when I get chance.
Always such a superb pictures, minis and terrain, i really envy your collection and photografic skill. Looking forward to more eyecandy!
ReplyDeleteAwesome work Pat! Simply stunning.
ReplyDeleteI'm about to start on my own Paras (Artizan, Warlord & Crusader) so this post is very inspirational! :o)
Thanks
Matt
Fantastic job on the lot! Your posts are equal parts inspiration and frustration. ;-) Just talking to a friend about taking pictures like you do once the collection is built up enough.
ReplyDeleteOf course mostly the paras caught my eye. Awesome! Wonderul! Stunning!
ReplyDeleteThe paint job is top notch again and the scenic pictures are simply breath taking. It's always a pleasure to come here and enjoy your work!
Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteHave I told you how much I hate you? After seeing this I feel like droping my brushes forever XD
ReplyDeleteIt's a truly outstanding painting work and of course I'm also green of envy with your scenery
Have you considered trying the Big CoC rules for multi platoon games instead of rolling your own? They are free from the TFL. If not, you might want to. If you have, what did you like better for your home grown mods?
ReplyDeleteVery good looking troops and terrain.
Chris
Thanks again chaps for your kind words.
DeleteChris, yes we use the Big CoC rules as they are very good but just make a few amendments when needed, depending on the scenario or how many players there are. With the last post for example, we had two platoons each, so we found it easier keeping it all on one morale card with two different sets of dice as mentioned in the report written above.
Cheers,
Pat.
Where did you get your trains from and what scale are they? Thanks, Fred.
ReplyDeleteLocal railway shop and ebay. They are OO Scale.
ReplyDeletePat, I'd just reiterate the above comments, again outstanding figures and scenery. I particularly like the maroon beret (I often see a dark red on figures). Would you mind sharing the colour and paint you used for them. Tim
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim.
DeleteFor the maroon beret I used:
Citadel Scab Red, (now called Khorne Red I believe)
washed with Agrax Earthshade,
Scab Red again
Final highlight Scab Red mixed with a little white.
Thanks Pat, I will definitely be giving this a try as I had literally just assembled my own Brit Airborne force all based,undercoated and ready to start.
ReplyDeleteFantastic stuff, as always. Your really spoiling us puting your new beautiful paras and photos from that game with the spectacular terrain in the same post. :-)
ReplyDelete/Mattias
Really great work and also very inspirational. Love your work. You really make the hobby as good as it gets!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks chaps for your very kind remarks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful figures and terrain Pat! I also like some of the rules tweaks you've used for your game of CoC.
ReplyDeleteTruly Stunning terrain and minis Pat!
ReplyDeleteHi silver whistle. How did you create that field with all the grass tufts?
ReplyDeleteHi Thomas, it was a ready made commercial bit that you can buy off the shelf. I bought mine from Great Escape Miniatures.
DeleteIn fact it is Great Escape Games. Here is the link.
Deletehttp://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/basing-materials.html