No news isn´t always good news

After the Big Game I kinda burned out on wargaming, I think. Nothing to do with the game itself, it was brilliant, but more related to starting a new job with all of the stress that brings. Now that I have more or less settled into a routine for that part, I´m moving in with my gf properly en terminating the lease on my old place. A couple of big changes in a short time means I have not spent much time on my hobby. I hope that changes soon, as I have been going over my plans again.

Basically, again, I have too much going on at once. Planning for a Big Game puts everything into focus and that helps, but I need to be able to do that for the time in between as well. Life isn´t all about big games, I need to spend time on smaller games as well. One offs with other gamers, for instance, and I started Bloodbowl in the last few weeks just to be able to do something. I´m taking a liking to that game, it seems simple enough but has a lot of variables.

But hobbywise I don´t think 2012 has a lot of energy left in it. I am looking forward to Crisis in a few weeks time but more as a place to work (I´ll be helping out on the Plastic Soldier Company stand) and pick up pre orders for things to do in 2013. Saves me a bit of cash for deals and a lot of cash that otherwise would be paid as shipping.

So, a bit early perhaps, but my plans for 2013 are:
-15mm Waffen SS demo army for Battlegroup Normandy using FoW and PSC bits
-Update my 20mm Germans with add ons for use in 1945 as Grenadiers (finish up the artillery, add some Hetzers and assorted SPAT guns and what not)
-Start my 20mm Taliban force while painting a commission for them as well. Keep these chaps basic and splash out a bit on the support weapons. Already have everything in stock for them as well.
-Finish the infantry for my 15mm Future War Chinese. The droids won't be a problem but I will need to save up to get some more GZG troops for them. Get them painted and start gaming, I can always tack on bits later or paint the opposing rebel faction so I can game at home.
-and 1 slot with a big ? cause Piers always comes up with oddball plans that I just cannot resisist.

Of course, take this with a grain of salt. Well, several packs of salt, cause without the enthusiasm to do anything none of this might work.

To at least end this on a happier note, go and see Piers his newsrelease regarding Battlegroup Kursk, hitting the shops right now around the world and what comes after it. http://ww20mm.blogspot.nl/2012/10/battlegroup-kursk-is-out-so-whats-next.html

I hope to resume posting on my Blog soon. Non text posts with pictures :)


Johan

The clock strikes 12

First strike. Finished all of the armour, 2 nights left to do some clean ups and minor work (managed to forget weathering the Panzer commanders hull....oops)

Beutepanzer T-34(r)

Panzer IV's

Onwards!

Tick, tack....

Brummbär and Funklenkpanzer (minus commander) done.

Time keeps ticking...

...and the table is getting more and more crowded.

Fltr: Brummbär, captured T-34/76 x2, Funklenkpanzer III

Been spending most of the evening going through my spare decals for the 2 captured T-34's. You propably can't see it, but I spliced together the large crosses by cutting apart a set of larger decals and replacing the individual sections. God what a chore.Must have been a monk in a previous life. But things are progressing according to plan....just wished I had more time.

Plastic surgery

PSC releases Brummbar!

No, not really. Mated a Italeri Brummbar superstructure to a PSC Panzer IV hull to make sure it fits in with the rest (and to save a lot of time)

Kursk is coming closer.....

Some better pics of the Borg, now with antenna:

The Flammpanzer III is finished as well:

And some progress on the Funklenkpanzer III:

Attack of the Borg!

Attack of the Borg.....wards.

Finished the 3 plus 1 charge.

It will be a right demolition derby at Kursk :) Models are converted Wanze from Britannia (driver and rocketpack removed, sides altered, new exhaust system, antenna and marker, plates for the engine and driver)

Truck Build at the Guild

Yup, another speed build over at the Guild. I cannot resist them, and even better as I need to get some kit done for Kursk as well, plus a few other bits I will show later.

First up, a 20mm model.

 I'll be using this as my Luftwaffe Liason Officer ride for Battlegroup Kursk. Though I'm not sure the Tilly counts for the build as the theme is Truck and I've seen pick ups barred as non-elligeble. We'll see.

Secondly, a 15mm model.

It's another FAW Jiefang heavy H540 4x4 truck, this time a electrical version (batteries on top) and used by a goventment appointed prospector. Should do fine as scenery on my table.

I'm aiming to have a few more things done in time before the deadline runs out.

Just a little bit more (for Kursk)

Not 1, not 2, but 3 Borgwards will be rumbling across the table. Updated the original as well with jerrycans, cleaned up the front and added handles to the charge. Also made a seperate charge.

And the man who will be in control, a converted Italeri Fast Build Panzer III

Working on getting the control box looking proper now, then back to the rest of the tank. Open hatches nicked from a PSC Panzer IV.

2 months till Kursk!

Better get cracking!

First up is a demolition Borgward to take care of the Russian minefields.
The base is a Britannia Wanze with the driver and panzerschrecks removed to get a clean Type C Borgward. Sadly this is the wrong type for Kursk, I need a A or B for that. Technically I can't use this one as it is a bit longer then the A or B but frankly I don't care  :grin:
Engine bay sanded down, sides and rear cut, new exhaust made (which varies in location on all of my pics so I went for the middle ground), stick with a ball on it (what does it do, does it make it easier to see or what?) cover for the driver who won't be present and a new cover for the old drivers seat (The A and B had the driver on the right).

Then we add something to get the Russians from their trenches, the Kebab Machine.....ok, its a Flammpanzer III. Pretty far along with this one, time for weathering and detailing.

And completing todays post, 3 Panzer IV's from PSC, with some minor upgrades. I was just working on adding the brass barrels.

And that's it for today.

Weyland Yutani on a reactor dome

Weyland Yutani has to have the nicest logo for any sci-fi company and it is damned easy to paint as well cause I keep painting it everywhere. This is the reactor dome from the Heljan set, coupled with a door from The Scene (  Doo1 ) which I realise now I have used upside down but this works just as well :) My standard concrete, with a tad more blue in that usual, and a nicely weathered green door. But not soo weathered to get all rusty this time. 15mm hovercar for reference, though the mat it is on should give you another clue of its size (1cm squares).

Did some more extensive leeching this time, and the shape means it is a interesting object to look at.

Game uses? Just scenery. Could be a objective, but since I stayed away from any radioactive or warning labels this could be a futuristic shed as well. Anything goes.

Battlegroup Kursk up for pre release

My next game is Kursk on the 18th of August and will be with these new rules, with the author and the publisher fighting in the same battle (on opposite sides though!). They will be released in September and for the first 500 pre orders you will get a free PSC 1/72 Stug sprue.

I've just preordered.

JNA M36 WIP finished

Right, slight deviation from my regular plans, a little sidestep to Yugoslavia. I've found a few locals who have plans to game Yugoslavia in 20mm and me, having a small collection of stuff collected for this period, has decided to hop in.

Received a box of Armourfast M36 in the mail last week as I wanted them as Yugoslavian M36's. Decided to make the following changes to make it passable as a JNA one and also a more detailed one.
-lamp brackets (ended up oversized but very recognisable)
-lifting hooks
-gun sight opening
-armoured roof
-step hold on the front of the tank hunter
-a strip of paper to it look like the tank without the muzzlebrake, which was common

What I decided not to do:
-change the engine decking and the rear vent (JNA ones were converted to T-55 engines)
-add track detail
-add the slopes to the top armour
-create a new muzzlebrake

Just need to mount the .50 on each and she is ready for Russian Green basecoat.

Coming from JNA stocks, most have seem to be used by the Croats, though the Serb (militias) used a few as well. Since my primary focus is on the Serbs,. both will be in weathered JNA green with just a number.

Though one of them is likely to receive a look like this:

I'm assuming here this one is Serb as I think I see their sign on the lower hull, and the vehicle it is passing is carrying the Eagle. Just have to enhance the picture a bit to get the writing right.

Russian decoy guns for Kursk, Part 3

Shields up!

Gunshields are made with wooden swizzle sticks, paper and superglue. The real thing was stakes in the ground with branches woven in between, but this was a bit easier and quicker to realize. I did it with the first decoy gun and the wood weathers nicely.

I made the gunshields so they fit the gun as good as possible, then glued them down with wood glue and some sand. Paper and superglue holds the different planks together.

Drying as I am typing this, they will be ready for a dust off and green basecoat in the morning. I'll only flock my own, the ones I'm giving away will be unflocked so they fit in better with their new masters.

Btw, here is the original picture I'm working off:

Russian decoy guns for Kursk, Part 2

All of the decoys are now based and have wheels. I sacrificed a Pegasus fast build armoured car for the wheels plus some horse carriage ones from a Sgts Mess rubble pack.

6 guns got real wheels, 4 got wagon wheels, and one of those I wrecked cause it will look good in pictures :)

Next up: gunshields.

Neat and tidy

The one plus thing about my current unemployment is that I have the time get the little things done for which you never had the time. Having finished the chores around the house it was time to get cracking on my collection in storage.

Yes, I'm a bit of a Ikea fan. And very much into black and white (the purple wall is my gf's idea, not mine). Drawers for the painted stuff and WIP's, cabinets for the boxes and scenery. Everything boxed by producer or in the case of tools, by type. I just wish the smaller flat boxes had not been discontinued as they are perfect for the hobby. I keep looking around for second hand ones, in any colour, cause they are that good :)

The cabinet beside it has all of my paints in wooden display trays, I rarely take the trays out anymore, I just take the numbers I need to paint with and put em back afterwards. The 3 cabinets beside those need a good sorting as well, I really need more boxes but can't afford them right now so I'll have to come up with something in-between.

Why yes, I have a bit of OCD ;)