26 October 2016

Conflict about Konflikt,Dust to Dust, Weird WW2 gaming we must

Conflict about Konflikt, Dust to Dust, Weird WW2;  gaming we must !


Konflikt 47: US Walker first vehicle off the rank

On Dust (Dust tactics/warfare ) and Konflikt 47:

A (slightly dated post I wrote about a month ago) Discovered it unposted today.

I've always loved the Weird WW 2 genre. Was very excited when Battlefront took on the Dust Studios'  Dust tactics and Dust Warfare. Only to see it turn to custard. Or dust. Whichever you prefer.




US Light walker painted up


Anyhow, not a lot of players for Dust around either, but I have 2 starter boxes and expansions sets sitting on the shelf.

The idea of an alternative ending to WW2, and alternative outcomes to great battles has always tickled my fancy. First stumbled across the SF Gem by Philip K Dick Man in the High Castle back in the late 70s or early 80s. The book contemplates an alternate history in which Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan won World War II. This book contained an example of "alternate-alternate" history, in that one of its characters is the author of a book depicting a reality in which the Allies won the war (Philip Dick is, of course famous for writing Do Androids dream of electric sheep?; which was made into one of my favourite movies ever, Blade runner)

Anyhow, back to the Weird WW2. I lamented the fractuous DS-BF relationship and kickstarter that was Operation Babylon, that only started shipping this year.

And then came Konflikt 47! Yay!

Bolt Action with Zombies! Bring it on!
So then, why the Conflict about Konflikt?
The conflict is not about playing ! Nooo. Just where to post it. Is it fantasy or WW2 gaming ?
A bit of both, so maybe I'll put the post on both!


Konflikt Zombie, once off its (large) base actually size up well w standard 28mm
Dust Ubertoten Zombie MG42 gunner vs BTD BAR Gunner for size
(Crappy phone photos, sorry)

So here goes. Bought an American started set of Scott Bowman, our local purveyor of miniature goodness here on the Kapiti Coast. Scott has a pharmacy that is rapidly being crowded out by a growing line of gaming goodies. If you don't know about it yet, here is the link. Friends of the Hobby Corner


So the starter set was soon followed by the German Schreckwulfen and Nachtjaeger. Dusted off them Dust minis, coat of paint for them all, and last night we let the dogs out!



Civil war behind the German lines. Mine was predominantly an SS platoon, with the undead guys in tow. Stars of the night turned out to be the Zombies, who lurched out of their Hanomag and ground down the opposition. Learning curve for us both on the Schreckwulfen and Nachtjaeger. They are not assault units. Do not attack a full unit of assault gun armed Heer head-on. I see the function of these units probably more like light cav. in WHFB, attack and harrass the flanks, take out artillery and MGs. Definitely bigger units. The zombies are  a great hammer unit.



Nachtjaeger piling into IG 33. Great arty hunters.

 

 

 

Scott's spinne advancing on my Falschirmjaeger


Raking them with 20mm autocannon

While the zombies pile out of their Hanomag, and advance relentessly on the tomato patch kids


...brains, brains...


...tomatoes, tomatoes, mmm.

1 August 2016

Progress on the table: 19th Century Brits, Mahdists and Bolt-action,also some terrain all happening simultaneously!

Victoria's Little wars: 

Brits in the Sudan, and Bolt Action. Strange bed-fellows

On my painting/modelling table at the moment:


Perry's Sudanese Mahdist Ansar warriors


Squaring up to the British colonial troops. The Ansar are mostly done now, bar basing and highlights


While the brits have only had under coat, base coat and flesh base done




"Here they come, lads!: Let 'em have it!"



"Bismillah! Alah-u Akbar!"


Production line in action



Different historical periods mingling in friendly fashion whilst drying


...or less friendly fashion. Salah- al Din being unhorsed (and de-handed ? ) 
by Viking Hirdmen with greataxes

 

Does anyone else ever imagine the conversation going down?

(For Gottz zake, Hans! Go play viz your flamezrover somevere else! Can you not zee zat det Hauptmann is plannink ze next attack? )

Und how vood ve get zere? Der Hanomag is ztill being painted! And it has kein Ketten!






I say, old Chap! Coming along nicely, what? Spiffing! 

 Terrain for Bolt Action: 

Having been mildly embarrassed with my lack of suitable terrain for modern , well 1940s, gaming in 28mm, I immediately sallied forth to rectify the situation

 I quickly dug out my (now) obsolete 40K terrain, and fantasy terrain, and rapidly brought these into the 20th century. A couple of EWAR french houses and shops, some 20mm railway layout bits and a few pot-scourers, and away we go...the makings of a semi-ruined French village!


In this snap it looks MOSTLY ruined


But the bus-service is still running... Picked up some great pre-painted Corgi and Solido civilian period vehicles in approximately the right scale off Trade Me. 
At the best of times I find it a bit of an issue with Warlord's figures being at 1/48 and their vehicles at 1/56 ! So these little buses are 1/50. Close enough, I think 


While the Corgi US Command vehicle at 1/43 may just be a tad to big. 



Half-painted Heer stopping in for Gipfel und Kaffee (Coffee and Croissants) at the Patisserie 

 

Take a bit of old fantasy stuff, paint the floors, weather a bt


some EWAR stuff and scratch-built stuff, a HO/OO train platform...


40K, Mordheim, LOTR and EWAR bits coming together to form a ruined village and Eglise. Well, almost more like Monte Cassino, or the Vatican, by the time I was finished!



Now for some roads, of course, both tarred and un-sealed:


Out comes the crack filler. In-between we put in a bit of work on the Sudan.


PVA wood glue and sand



Dry overnight, paint and Voila!



 Within a day or two we have roads, the Germans have retreated to the other side of town, 
Or have they?


Opel blitz trucks are seen parked outside the ruined farm-house, as is a German staff-car
These Blitz trucks are the elongated version.






Some advance cautiously 


While the bazooka team


and sniper team move into position



The French doctor sighs. The ambulance will again be needed. 
All to soon...

...while back on the work bench a PzIV and a Hanomag are taking shape. 
Typical German engineering. Taking forever.