German winter squad

After dealing with the captured IS-2 I decided to support that thing with some basic infantrymen: tanks operating without infantry are nothing but easy prey for enemy anti-tank squads. I don't play German army but last year (almost exactly one year ago surprisingly!) I got Foliescu's Hetzer, together with some test prints. Among them - few winter Germans.

Must admit I haven't painted any human miniatures designed by Foliescu so far, but these are just frigging brilliant. Detail quality is awesome, also proportions are much better then original Bolt Action models. They also seem to be slightly taller, but I guess it's because models were created in proper 28 mm scale.

Models below come from different sets: ordinary infantry and vehicle crew, but painted similar way they look great as squad of eastern front veterans. Especially the two about to engage in hand to hand combat. Models are light (prints after all) so just in case I ever get more of these - base got magnets, just like soviet assault squad. The guy carrying MP40 Schmeisser is from Stoessi's Heroes line - it's slightly smaller compared to his comrades, yet the sculpt is also damn cool and fits the squad. 

Deadly combat with United States G.I.s is about to start!

And yeah: I DO NEED winter themed photo backdrop... 🙄

Spoils of war

Last evening there was a lecture about conquering Elbląg 80 years ago, which was mentioned earlier. It was also part of hobby event from last weekend, so results of painting competition were also announced yesterday. 

Just like in case of soviet OT 34/85 painted for the contest, also IS-2 brought me some more hobby stuff: German paint set + some US winter infantry, which is great, because:

1. I am now working on some Foliescu's brilliant German infantry;

2. I was planning to expand my winter G.I. force by another squad so it fits Bolt Action v3 requirements.

So here's the loot - too bad they didn't give some free time so I could deal with it shortly 🙄

And here you can read about last evening event (Polish only). There was also photo report attached (here). As you can imagine on each end every public event there's a chance for a local goof to show up. Here's ours - never miss opportunity to mess somebody's day 🤪

Till the next time.

Captured IS-2 (painting contest)

I was actually going to paint some zee Germanz winter infantry from Foliescu's line (which is brilliant) but last week I was asked to paint something for local painting contest. The overall theme was 80th anniversary of liberating Elblag from under German occupation (just to make it clear: Poland was "liberated" by soviets, so you can imaging the rest). 

Because of this event there's been organised 2-weeks painting / wargaming course in local library, with friendly tournament and painting contest to crown it all. 

Anyway the challenge has been accepted but since I don't play Germans nor Soviets my options were rather limited. While digging through my resources I've found IS-2 heavy tank which was part of prize-loot for other painting contest 🤪

As mentioned earlier I don't play Soviet army but from what I was told in battle of Elblag Germans also used some captured vehicles, so I imagine it surely is one of them. Wasn't sure about the markings but I was pretty sure the crew would't like to be taken as Soviet unis from afar so markings were applied on each side of vehicle plus it got a flag on the hull just in case some lost Stuka decided to pay a visit...

I do not like to work fast with painting (and this was surely hasty paintjob for my standard) but I like the final result. Italeri's stuff is always tops. The commander is metal piece from Warlord's set, but I think as professional he doesn't mind driving Soviet wheeler. To glory!

Yup - from above it surely ain't soviet tank ^^

And some enthusiastic US tank hunters for the scale:

Back to western front

Last Saturday is turned out I've finally came back to Bolt Action gaming. Operational gap was over 1,5 year wide but I must say rolling out trusty G.I.s against zee nazis was pure fun.

Not only game was fun but I got opportunity to test "Battle of the Bulge" army project in action. Recently painted infantry set was painted for this actually. All in all Americans did good job and that selector is far from overboosted. At this moment I am also waiting for some plastic heads for field surgery and it turns out I need like dozen or so infantrymen repainted winter fashion and I can move to working of vehicles. Looking forward for more field tests - gotta check if M7 Priest is the best support for the boys.

Post without pics doesn't count so here are some random and uncut pics straight from the battlefield:

Brummbar

My acid odyssey is still on apparently. 
See no other reason why my, usually dark and monotone, painting turned into cosmic rainbow or war candy... 🤔 

And here's another one: SdKfz 166, Sturmgeschütz IV für 15cm StuH 43, nicknamed Brummbar (that is: Grouch). Must say I like short name much better.

In Bolt Action the piece is damn tough, heavy howitzer but the model wasn't painted for gaming. It was commissioned by friend of mine after she spotted pink Autoblinda. 

 

As for the model it's another Warpainter's marvel. The piece is sharp, all pieces match well and cleaning & preparations before painting were no  problem at all. Definitely recommended for both German commanders and little girls 😁 

The client likes it so I consider job done. Time to paint something green finally...

 

X-mas Eve manoeuvres

Hey,

X-mas just passed and because my brother came to vist once again there was a chance to confront US and German armies. Both bloodthirsty, both fully painted!

After setting the battlefield we randomly picked Top Secret scenarion:

long story short the plane crashed in some western Europe village, whole crew died but there was still a briefcase containing top secret documents to be retrieved. Most probably V3 rockets plans or something. Both sides need that stuff and need it now!

The battlefield:   

Round 1:

It was retrieve mission so both sides tried to bring in as many units as possible from the very beginning. Big surprise was German infantry squad mounted on bikes which got dangerously close to the plane in the very first round!
The only thing I could do was bringing Hellcat into the game: luckly for Uncle Sam my destroyer hit the nazi bikers both with big gun and machine gun, sending 5 of them to Valhalla and forcing the last one to flee. 

Most of US forces also reached the positions: 
infantry squad moved into building supported by medic and veteran sniper, on the other side of the road arrived the commander, bazooka team, mortar and air force forward observer. 

At the same time Germans brought medium mortar and spotter, infantry squad and truck loaded with another squad + force commander.
Those damn nazis dismounted reaching the plane! Disaster! 😤

Round 2:

Germans started the second round by bringing the biggest nightmare of any US commander: Flakverling! From the hill it had clear view on the most of the battlefield! 🥶

Before the gun crew left transporter I tried to reach it with bazooka but the target was an inch beyond the maximum range.
At this point I had no other choice then calling an airstrike on infantry next covering the plane.

German MMG and infantry opened fire to Hellcat giving it 2 pin markers:
which was just enought to make it fail order test and eventually - useless to the very end of the game. In responce my GIs left the building and fired at enemy machine gun:

11 shots at close range was more that enough to take it down. Still the Hellcat wasn't worth it.

German commander grabbed the briefcase and started falling back covered by infantry. 

My mortar  and HQ squad missed so shit got really thick right now...

Trying to cut off German commander Dodge packed with infantry squad and Jeep moved from the flank but they reached only the hedge line. Seeing that German commander moved the truck in front of my wheelers which opened fire at my Jeep pinning it.

Germans brought another medium machine gun to stop my flanking action, they also tried to take down my sniper with mortar fire but luck was on my side this time.

Round 3:

Suddenly US airplane came down from the skies aiming for German infantry squad but Flakverling did it's job right: plane pilot didn't even see the target before flak fire torn his machine into bits of scrap. The battle seemed to be over but in act of desperation another airstrike was called - this time on Flakverling itself.

Seconds after pieces of burning junk fell down from the skies Panzerkampfwagen III flanked my cars destroying Dodge and forcing the squad to emergency landing. PzIII also took down 3 GIs advancing nearby. Actually there were 4 casaulties but medic did his job.

It wasn't much better on the flank:

Kubelwagen rolled in trying to take down my mortar and then - lieutenant, bazooka team or the observer (all easy targets). But it missed all shots!

Seconds later my commander and his sidekick moved between trees and fired the invader - a perfect shot just under the line of Stahlhelm was just enough to get rid of mobile MMG.

The briefcase was now almost behind German line...

US assault squad tried to storm machine gun in the back but failed order check.
Germans put some more pin markers on the Jeep so it looked like the game was over. 

US commander ripped army list to pieces and prepared to pack the toys and go back home...

Round 4:

Since the game was practically over and we were bit drunk already decision was made just to solve an airstrike pro forma:

tha plane not only arrived but evaded all shots from Flakverling and second later there was no more German flak!

US commander had to take pieces army list from the bin trying to assemble it...  

There still was some hope!
I didn't manage to bring the other truck in the previous turn but it arrived now just from behind the hill. The driver fired at enemy commander but didn't even make a scratch.
Engineers did better: 

after jumping of the Dodge they gunned down Axis lieutenant and tried to torch the squad nearby but it was out of flamethrower's range. Gulp! 😬

Germans didn't take a risk:

they put on the bayonets and charged US engineers killing 5 and giving 2 in return. 
Without any US units able to pick up the briefcase nearmy the game was definitely over. 
Looking forward for rematch.