The finished article will be mounted on a low stone foundation.

Here are the progress pictures:

Note the Foamwerks Foamboard Cutter, a very useful yet quite expensive tool. Also the Chopper II cutter which I used for the wooden verandah floor.

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I used Vallejo Black 169 as a base for this, then highlighted with Vallejo Black Grey 168 and finally gave a second highlight with Vallejo Luftwaffe Uniform 105. it’s not perfect, but by makig a nice base it lifts the model a little.

In the background is some of my new African/Jungle scenery made with aquarium green mat cut up and a yard brush.

Just finished painting up a set of Copplestone Ngoni Warriors, (Darkest Africa is very En Vogue at the moment it seems).

As usual I’ll give a list of paints used for those interested but I’ve a couple of overall commnets about this project.

Firstly, I’m trying to move away from GW colours and into Vallejo. That’s not a slur on GW, they have 100 odd colours, including washes, foundation paint and metals which cover everything you need … BUT … with Vallejo Model Colour having double that number and aiming for some specific historical colours it suits me a little better.

Secondly, I’m trying to find a few bi/tri-colour combinations in the vallejo that work to replace some of the GW ones I’ve been using and I think I’ve really nailed the flesh tones here. On the down side, I’m not content that the shields are as good as they could be.

So, on to the pallet:

Flesh: Vallejo German Camo. Black 150 highlighted with a 1:1 mix of 150 and Vallejo Flat Earth 143. However … the same colour highlight can be found direct from Vallejo 147 Leather Brown. I’m not sure what the 2nd highlight would be here, the figures looked good so i went with it.

Shield: Bit complex this one but … the cow hide was just Vallejo White 001 and Vallejo Flat Earth 143. Ideally I should have “feathered” the design more and had highlights, but it still looks good. The reverse side was a “leather ” effect that I use a lot, GW Cathcan Brown highlighted with GW Snakebite leather, and the wooden handle was GW Dark Flesh highlighted with Vermin Brown … always a winner.

Fur: Here I used a Vallejo pallet, Vallejo Leather Brown 147, Vallejo English Uniform 141 and Vallejo Dark Sand 123.

Feathers: A simple vallejo Neutral Grey 160 was used as a base and then highlighted with Vallejo White 001.

I used a two colour approach as these are for wargaming and as usual I like to pass on my colour pallet for those interested …

Undercoat: Black, GW spray can.

Skin: Games Workshop Tanned Flesh highlighted with games Workshop Dwarf Flesh.

Flannel Shirt: Vallejo Luftwaffe Uniform WWII 105 followed by a highlight of the same colour lightened with some Vallejo White 001.

Webbing and Helmet: Vallejo Khaki 115 highlighted with Vallejo Buff 120.

Trousers, Putties/Socks (and jackets, applicable to models in stage two): Vallejo Khaki Grey 113 highlighted with Vallejo German C. Beige 103.

Shoes: Vallejo Black

Wood for Rifle and Entrenching tool: Games Workshop Dark Flesh Highlighted with Games Workshop Vermin Brown.

Metal: On the Lee Enfield this was left black but anything else was touched up with a dab of thinned Vallejo Gunmetal Grey 179.

Note that my “highlight” is really the main colour.

I’ve to add the ratlines, maybe a few lower gun ports and tidy up a few things but I think she looks fine.

I have to say I was very impressed with the quality and the model seemed to turn out ok.

Not massively impressive, but a start. I used milliput to create a few tenticles and moved it to a larger base:

Looking a bit better. Added a tongue for the next stage, but it never made it to the final model.

Finally, added some homemade leaves and a paint job …

Now to scare some characters …

Before I head off into the Battle Report let’s just take a quick look at the rules changes. My objective was to add a little variety whilst keeping the game simple; a difficult task, but in the end the following general changes were made.

• Dice: System uses a D10 instead of a D6.
• Weapons: now divided between heavy and light guns to give the large ships a little more range with a little more punch.
• Measurement: All in inches. Movement converted as roughly 2.5cm =1″. Ranges adjusted, maximum range for heavy guns is 36″, light guns 24″.
• Combat Mechanics: ships roll to hit first needing 7+ (with a very small number of die roll modifiers, the main one being -1 for long range), and then damage is rolled on a damage table cross referencing die score vs weapon type.
• Damage Rethink: instead of reducing a ships abilities across the board every time it takes 25% damage a Special Damage Table was introduced giving a random item of serious damage to the ship. The special damage table was also given a “cinematic” Victorial sci-fi theme. At 50% damage the quality of crew suffered.
• Aeroplane combat: Complete overhaul but keeping a 7+ to hit mechanic and damage table.
• Various other tweaks and clarifications.

I wrote an 18p document for the new rules but essentially they play off 3 sheets, 1 for the sequence of play, 1 for the To Hit and Damage Tables and 1 for the Special Damage Table.

Next up I needed a scenario

Launch of SMS Blucher – Pride of His Majesty’s Fleet

Introduction

For the Germans this was a momentous occasion, the launch of their latest Aeronef Battleship, brimming with the latest technological advances known to the civilised world. Indeed the mention of the name SMS Blucher would soon strike fear into the hearts of Germany’s enemies. So important was this day that the Kaiser himself had decided to attend at the last minute and Admiral Baron von “Kevin” assisted by Herr “Matthew” had quickly to organise a grander event than was originally intended.

Meanwhile …

The British secret agents had been very busy and discovered the launch date for the Blucher as well as the location of a nearby Mustard Gas Factory and Airfield. Using this information a strike force was put together and a daring attack planned.

The British assumed (incorrectly) that the Blucher would not be fitted out completely and consequently provide an easy target. In addition the Kaiser’s visit had increased security meaning that the British would be in for a bit of a fight.

Players each received a set of themed orders and a list of available assets.

Initial Dispositions

The Germans started with the Blucher and a class 1 dirigable at the dockyard whilst a couple of auxiliary patrol vessels could be placed on the German half of the table. The other German forces formed 2 patrols that were available from turn 4 and 6, as long as a successful 7+ roll was made.

Meanwhile the British had their entire strike force available available on turn one, a force that included, the carrier HMS Albion, the Battleship HMS Britannia,  a torpedo nef,  3 fixed wing bombers and a multitude of support vessels.

The Battle

The disposition of the forces equidistant from the Secret Mustard Gas Factory meant that the German forces would have to choose to contest the facility or withdraw and leave it to its fate. Retreat is not in the Geman dictionary (They call it Rückzug) so the SMS Blucher and SMS Schleswig-Holstein powered up thier engines and lumbered forward. Fighters from the nearby Ulmgarte Air base were scrambled and sent forward to the factory.

The British pushed thier main force ahead towards the factory but issued orders to a light squadron led by HMS Rawalpindi to intercept and delay the Blucher.

Initially the first shots saw the Rawalpindi ravaged by heavy fire from the Bluchers guns but with German support not arriving until turn 6 the British concentrated all fire on the Blucher which proved a tough nut to crack.

Fighters and Bombers contested the skies over the factory with the Germans fairing best despite heavy casualties. The British Bombers choose to leave the fighters to it and flew further South to make an attack on the undefended airfield. Weight of numbers told in the end and a nef managed to bomb the target scoring an unfeasable number of re-rolls on it’s damage dice thus reducing the site to rubble, and of course gas.

Things got worse for the Germans in that their outlying patrols did not reach the table in time to fully engage the enemy and eventually unsupported but after causing a number of British losses the Blucher went down.

The British decided that 2 out of 3 objectives was a respectable result and headed for home.

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Lessons

As far as the sceanario goes, I think I should have allowed the German patrols to enter from any side. This would have put them in the middle of the British should they have wanted and would have been in keeping with the idea that this was a strike deep behind enemy lines. I’m not sure it would have altered the result much, but the British may have paid a higher price.

As far as the new rules go, I was really pleased. By keeping a simple to hit and damage mechanic the game was very easy to pick up. The special damage table created a little uncertainty and fear and the result “The men are grumbling Sir!” had the most laughs.

Apart from a few tweaks, the only real problem was the rules didn’t address nef’s bombing ground targets properly and we had to make up some rules on the fly, (but no one noticed).