quinta-feira, 31 de maio de 2012

Kursk Campaign 2012 - by Jerboa

 (German Hummel battery)

With the cooperation of our friend Jerboa (a.k.a Portugal's-foremost-wargames-guru) we are going to start a series of posts related to the Ambush Blitz wargames event, scheduled for next September, in Espinho.

The purpose is to make a description related to the several scenarios that are being tested for the upcoming event, destined to not only provide balanced army lists, but also to test the praticability of the fullfilment of the necessary objectives required to achieve victory points.

Here we have some pics related to Table 2 (Kursk-Bogoroditskoye Scenario)

In the first pic, the German player deployed a German Hummel battery to the rear of the initial setup, intending to wreak havoc on the opposing forces, with the power of it's 150 mm guns.


(composite German unit: 1 Panzer III M and 1 Panzer IV J)

Here we have a composite unit, from the SS Leibstandarte Division, with the skirted armour that was much used in this particular battle by the German side.
Jerboa intends to use a representation proportion of about 1:14 in this campaign, in order to provide a realistic and pratical approach to the campaign.

(German armour unit in support of armoured infantry in the next hex)

In this particular test, Soviet infantry placed in cover along a river ridge praticaly decimated the German infantry, since the armoured unit that was suposed to support it (made of a Panzer III and a Panzer IV) made a no-show.

(StuG IV - Headquarters)

The Headquarters are an important part of the Ambush Blitz rules, and it's placing must be correctly made in order to provide the necessary comand and control to the several combat units placed in the scenario.

(Soviet T34's and anti-tank battery)

Detail of the initial Soviet position. The infantry is in hiding, in a "ambush at will" mode. This way the Soviet player does not have to reveal the placing of the unit, unless a German unit enters it's ZOC (zone of control, meaning one of the sorrounding hexes) or choses to make a surprise attack on a passing enemy unit.

Stay tuned, since there are more like this coming up!

Jerboa/BT

quarta-feira, 30 de maio de 2012

Vietnam War & Locomotives - by Carlos Briz

Figures - Pendraken
SK-5 and Jeep - Fairy Kikaku
(Class Alco S 2 locomotive - Army Transportation Corps)

Here you have it: a profusely illustrated dio related to the Vietnam War!

That chopper over there (a.k.a Tarhe) was able to lift about 20 tons of hardware and was sure useful in a jungle environment, where roads and airstrips were in short supply.


On the other hand, the Bell SK-5 (a.k.a. "Pac Vee") provided much needed support in or near swamp areas, where it's speed made up for it's noisy performance.



This is another feather in CB's cap!

BT

sábado, 26 de maio de 2012

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 48 - by Carlos Briz


(Class P8 Copy locomotive - German State Railways)

Here we have another piece of flying hardware that I never heard anything about: the Junkers G.38

Thank goodness we have wikipedia!


The Germans visited Greece in 1941 but they did not have in mind tourist destinations...


It seems only two of these monsters-of-a-plane were built, and the second one was destroyed during a RAF raid on Athens in 1941.

By the way, I wouldn't recomend German visits on Athens these days, since it seems the Greeks are in a bad mood...

BT

quarta-feira, 23 de maio de 2012

Small Town by Orange Scenics & Wargaming Buildings - Comission Work


Watch and weep. Yes…., it’s the first custom made model by Orange Scenics & Wargaming Buildings (http://orange-scenics.blogspot.com/), and fulfilling the conditions purposely required by me, for Ambush Blitz scenarios. 


The aim of the project was to construct a built up area [small town or village, the size of a kallistra hexagon (Hex Terrain), with the following conditions:
- Should have a road (for placing base tanks) at least 2.5 to 3cm wide.
- Within the houses it should be possible to install 3 x infantry bases  2.5 cm x 2.5cm)
- And if possible one  5cm x 5cm base (on the 1st floor).
This taking into account the rules of stacking from Ambush Blitz. 

The result was this:







Everything I requested was accomplished and now, Ambush Blitz scenarios are more attractive because this work is unique.

Best regards and a special thanks to ML for the speed in the execution of this Masterpiece.

JMM

terça-feira, 22 de maio de 2012

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 47 - by Carlos Briz

Fa225 - Scratch
Figures - WGS
Vehicles - QQmodels
(Class BR 52 locomotive - German State Railways)

And here we have another war prototype, brought to you by our friend CB!

CB used one of the DFS 230 models you have seen before and transformed it into a Fock-Achgelis Fa225.

The purpose of this piece of hardware was to allow the deployment of paratroopers in easier way and with less available place to land.



Another project scraped, by the way, no doubt to the relief of the paratroopers lined up to try it out.


As you can see, CB can also scratch!


BT

domingo, 20 de maio de 2012

Kursk Campaign 2012 - by Mário Laranja (9)


Yup, it's more of the same guys!

Here you can have another perspective of how ML turns paper into art.

As far as I can tell, the process is as follows:

Every part is first designed to scale, using a computer program. 


Then, every part is printed in ordinary paper, numbered and/or referenced for further use.


Every thin paper part is then cut, glued to a thicker paper card and assembled according to plan.

A paper building is at the same time light, and easy to assemble.



Every storey of the building is removable, allowing the placing of infantry units, that will get a protection bonus if placed inside a BUA.


Once again, the size of this hex allows for further use of this building in an Ambush Blitz rules scenario, as ordered by JMM.

BT


sábado, 19 de maio de 2012

Kursk Campaign 2012 - by Mário Laranja (8)


In preparation for the Kursk Campaing tournament, scheduled for September in Espinho, JMM asked ML to make a few special built up areas (BUA) to use in one of the scenarios.

And the master PAPER modeller is sending us a step-by-step photo album of the construction process!



This BUA is conceived to receive infantry squads used in the outstanding Ambush Blitz wargames rules.


Everything is cientifically sketched first, and them assembled to the highest quality standards, as you can see.


And the final paint job will be stunning, as you will notice later on.

 

And do not forget that each and everyone of you can have acess a similar custom and one-of-a-kind wargames scenario like this one!

Just check out ML´s website and find out the details!


 BT


quarta-feira, 16 de maio de 2012

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 46 - by Carlos Briz

DFS230 Gliders - JACH
Figures - Pendraken 
(Class 12 locomotive - Belgian National Railways)

And CB delivers!

As you can see once again, there's no stopping this guy, where modelling is concerned.

Here you have a couple of brand new gliders from that outstanding modelling producers called JACH.

Check them out, since that way CB will have an excuse to ask them for more free models to place here.

You can ask them for more information using this email: j.charvat@centrum.cz
(they don't have a website)


In 1940 there was no need for camouflage - the Germans just arrived and conquered!


Someone told me CB was awake and worked all night in order to bring us this brand new dio, fresh from his  very own man cave.

JF: It was you who told me that, right?

BT


segunda-feira, 14 de maio de 2012

WWI Locomotives & War Series nº 23 - by Carlos Briz

PKZ-2 Helicopter - Shapeways
Trucks - Skytrex
Military figures - Pendraken
Civilian figures - Thoroughbred Miniatures
(Class P6 locomotive - Austro-Hungarian Imperial Railways)

Here you have it, a helicopter prototype most of you never heard anything about: the PKZ-2.

This is not my case, since I know for a fact that this piece of hardware was invented in early 1918 by Wilhelm Zurovec, and never was used in combat operations, to the huge relief of it's crew members.


It must have took pretty tough guys to climb on that basket, with those nasty looking propellers rotating  under them...


This was another example of inventions appearing late in the war, trying to change the inexorable course of events, without sucess.

On the other hand, this is another successful example of CB's wonderful artwork!

We want more CB!

BT


quarta-feira, 9 de maio de 2012

Orange Scenics & Wargaming Buildings!



ML is going PRO!

That's right guys, ML has just started his very own website, where he plans to grow rich by the way of selling his wonderful PAPER artwork all over the world!

You can check it out here



Here you have some of the stuff you will be able to find there, for a very reasonable price.




 
 And do not forget one important thing, all the stuff ML is selling is handmade and UNIQUE

You will not find something like it anywhere in the world!

(by the way ML, we will be satisfied with a modest 10% of the profits...)


BT


segunda-feira, 7 de maio de 2012

WWII Locomotives & War Series nº 45 - by Carlos Briz

Gliders - JACH
Figures and tanks - Minifigs Uk
Trucks and kubelwagen - Pithead
Stuka - Zvezda


(Class BR 52 locomotive - German State Railways)

CB is back!

Well, CB is back and going on strong, by the way. 

Just check out the new gliders CB got his hands on, in order to make this outstanding dio!


The DFS 230 glider was used by the german special forces in several top level and daring exploits, such as the attack on Eben-Emael fort in Belgium, at the start of WWII, and the rescue of Mussolini, in September 1943.


CB got these great gliders form a Czech modelling firm called JACH. 

The guys from Jach sent CB a  few free models, on top of his order, when they noticed his modelling expertise we publish around here. 

Therefore, besides having great models, you can tell they are also nice guys - so be sure to check out their outstanding modelling range!

BT

sexta-feira, 4 de maio de 2012

Paper Artwork nº 13 - by Mário Laranja



Ok, now things are picking up!

Here we have another outstanding original-scratchbuilt-home-made paper model, from good old ML.

When you thought you had seen it all, here comes ML with another brand new PAPER model.



Great pics, as usual!

(JMM and JP :  you guys really have to learn something from this...)


And once again, this is a custom and wargamer friendly model.

We should ask Jerboa to bring out an Ambush Blitz scenario that includes the possibility of an assault on this, by special forces.



By the way, Jerboa has also promised to stop all his hospital work and suspend all his family responsabilities, in order to send us lot's of pics related to Ambush Blitz scenarios.

Do not forget this promise dude, it is too late to back down now!



Now ML is really close to CB, concerning modelling output sent here.

But I am afraid CB has already some more surprises coming up...

Stay tuned!




BT