Basement Games

Image from Peter Pig website

Once again Martin over at Perter Pig has done it again. They have now released six packs of WWII Soviet Scouts. Helping to fill a gap in many collections. This will be useful for both creating a platoon of Scouts for Chain of Command to grab a bridge or similar important objective or they can be added in to a units reconnaissance section. I can see these being part of a tank desant platoon. Something I have wanted to do for Chain of Command. Either way a great addition. We even have female snipers, always welcome. Well done to the team at Peter Pig.

Round About - Figures to show scale.

There are some things that gamers can never get enough of. Rules, history books and terrain come to mind immediately. For me I have been looking for better roads than the ones I have been using for the past 15 years (oh my). The roads I bought back than were latex roads from JR Miniatures. These worked great for Poland and farm country as well as Arabia and East Africa, but not so well for towns and cities in Europe.

Recently I found I was not the only one looking for roads as fellow bloggers were on the path to find a better solution. I think I may have found a solution from Gaming Models. Craig has recently released 15mm and 20mm cobblestone roads and they are just what the doctor ordered. I received the 20mm roads and they look perfect with my 15mm forces. My vehicles can even pass on them. More updates on the full set once I get every thing together.

It has been a very busy couple of weeks as I cleared off the items on my paint table. Part of this was finishing up my 1944 Germans and a few odds and ends. The other was to get ready for the new Brigade Models AeroNef line. This was part of Imperial Skies a KickStarter I took part in.

So this is what I have completed.

• 16 dead early war Germans from Peter Pig
• 8 German Police/Gestapo from M.Y. Miniatures
• 8 German Panzergrenadiers (12th HG) from Peter Pig
• 5 German early war crew and engineers for early war from PSC
• Panzer IVF for the battle near Caen 1944 from Game Models
• Tiger I from the SS. Pz.Abt. 102 from FOW
• British Mark VI for my new 1940 British from Game Models
• Panzer VIG for Normandy from Game Models
• Sd Kfz 222 painted for for early war from Game Models
• Sd Kfz 13 for early war and police duties from Game Models
• Sd Kfz 251 for Normandy from Game Models
• and 4 trees :-)
  

Here are four additions to my 1939-40 German armoured forces. We have a mix of standard Panzer Grey and Panzer Grey with brown camo pattern. Looking forward to using them for Chain of Command in Poland and a possible landing in the south of England. We have:

• Panzer IV F
• Panzer III E
• Sd Kfz 13
• Sd Kfz 222

Now if someone can give directions to the Channel.

My latest additions to the German Army are a mixed lot for the 12th and 21st Divisions around Caen. I have been trying out at least five versions of German Dark Yellow (Dunkelgelb). While I have had mixed results I am pleased with the over all.

This force includes:

Panzer IVG
2 Panthers
Sd Kfz 250/1
Sd Kfz 250/10

Marder
2 of Sd Kfz P107
Sd Kfz 135/1 150

5 infantry as crew

This is a mix of German originals and French conversions. These will be used next week in a battle west of Caen using Chain of Command rules.

I have two 15mm Japanese Isuzu 1.5-ton Trucks looking to transport the unpainted infantry to the battlefield.

It has been several weeks of little painting. That does not mean I am not working on gaming projects. Just it does not involve a paintbrush. Board games and books have been brought out working on projects.

While going through the basement looking to clean out some of the clutter I found this model kit box. I bought it at NJCon on a whim. I figured that I could put it to use for my 15mm figures.

While not a strange purchase it was out of the norm for me. What is the strangest purchase you have ever made for your gaming hobby?

This weekend, miniature gamers have seen on TMP that Peter Pig has released new figures and remastered others for their World War I collection. And all I can say is Yeah!!!!!

The Kaiser has new troops at the ready, including new command, jaegers and standard infantry in their pickelhaube helmets. Ready to take on the British Empire, Russia and France. These troops for 1914 make me think (and hope) we will be seeing new additions for the other armies as we advance through the Centenary.

What do we need in 15mm from Peter Pig? in my opinion we need Arabs and Empire Troops to take on the Ottomans, as well as the Ottomans and the Americans.  I can see Martin releasing the Ottomans through 2015 and 2016 with the Americans coming in 2017. Are there other troops needed. Why of course we all have our personal wants. I hope to see troops for the Russian and German Civil Wars to be released in 2017 through 2019. I can hope can't I?

What do you want to see released? For me I will start out with the jaegers and dismounted cavalry.

While I know that there are companies out their with 15mm World War I figures. But today 15mm are in the 17-18mm scales and I prefer the true 15mm from Perter Pig.

Images are from Peter Pig.

Here are my weekly additions.

I think the F2Bs have been on my painting table for almost a year. I left off the insignia as I was not sure what air force they may be joining.

The Poles are to file out a company of the 10th.

Mark and I have started out on a Market Garden Campaign from TOOFATLardies call Highway to Hell.

It is a rough set of scenarios for the Germans as 30th Corp can just work there way down the road using their over whelming  firepower.

These troops were painted up for the campaign and I hope they are able to offer good service. More on the campaign latter.

I did not realize that I have not posted since last week’s table. I am glad to report that the Imperial German Navy is soon to be adding four Gazelle class light cruisers as well as thirteen Spanish warships and six Americans based and primed to the national fleets.



I also completed fourteen German troops making up six machine gun teams.


Once the warships are done I will be able to run not only the Battle of Manila Bay as well as cruiser actions in the North Sea. The German machine gun teams will be seeing action in Poland 1939 soon using Chain of Command.

While used by at least fifteen armies, and fought in numerous inter-war conflicts the Vickers 6 ton tank is lacking in the miniatures world. At least for this 15mm gamer.

If you are interested in fighting the Chaco War or the French-Thai War on a table top these are needed tanks. For me I needed a couple for my Polish 10th Cavalry Brigade. A company of 16 was part of the brigade along with 101st Recce Tank Company made up of the more common TK and TKS tankettes. The TK and TKS are not only common in the Polish Order of Battle, but are common from miniature manufactories.

I can only find the Vickers made by one producer and that is True North Miniatures. In general I find their figures to be bulky but these Vickers are found to be very wanting. First off they are marketed as Polish but they have none of changes included the larger air intakes. These are more generic Vickers tanks possibly useful for the Chaco or French-Thai War. They are also not in scale with their infantry.

So the solutions are limited. Do I learn to do 3D printing, that is possible. I am now trying to find a designer that will do it for me and other gamers interested in this period. That is also a possibility. Not sure why Flames of War of Forged in Battle have not done this for their Poles. Any other suggestions?

I finished today two T-62s for my Egyptian forces.  While by design they were to be used for the 1973 conflict, but a quick Google search shows that these are not only still in use, but the Ukraine won the contract to renovate these antiques (a least they did before the Arab Spring).

The Khurasan Miniatures T-62 is on the right and the QRF to the left. I am very pleased with them both and I am unsure which I like better.

The Khurasan Miniatures has better detail but with inks and dry brushing the difference is minimal. If I were to do it again with the Khurasan tank I would have picked up some of the rare earth magnets as the gun it heavy on the resin turret. Also the tracks on the Khurasan T-62s have better detail compared to the QRF white metal treads.

It seems I can chose between them. This is a great addition and I look forward to seeing more from Khurasan Miniatures.

Do you have a preference?
Jon

Ok, I do not need a new period. Really I don't, but these "Martians" look too good to say no to. I was thinking of these and some Shermans or Pershings and a lot of GI Joe type infantry. We can even use the recoilless rifles on jeeps.

I wonder, can we take the Martians to the Middle East. Martians vrs Ishermans. Cool.

I know Mark has to be ready for this.

Figures are from 15mm.co.uk.

• TAKI'S HOME PAGE
• Japanese Tanks 1939-45
• World War II Japanese Tank Tactics