Copyright © 2011-2024, Paul Scrivens-Smith

Copyright © 2011-2024, Paul Scrivens-Smith

All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the creator.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

6mm AWI Painting Project

I've had a slow burn 6mm Black Powder AWI project on for a few months and the first few units are now painted and ready for photographing.

I've now got completed the following:

  • 3 British Commanders
  • 5 British line companies
  • 1 British Grenadier Company
  • 1 British Light Company formed up
  • 1 British Light Company skirmishing (3 bases)
  • 3 American Militia Commanders
  • 5 American Militia Companies
  • 5 American Riflemen detachments
  • 8 Small markers to use as disorder markers
  • 10 Casualty markers to hold a 7mm dice

All the figures are 6mm from Adler Miniatures and the bases are from Warbases. The dice holders for the casualty markers are from Mini-bits stuck on a 25mm diameter Warbases base.

The British are coming

Turn out the militia

American Militia with a casualty marker

American Militia

American Militia

American Militia with a casualty marker

American commander

American Riflemen

American Riflemen

British Line Company

British Light Company

British Line Company with casualty marker

British Light Comapnt in skirmish order

British Line Company

British commander

Still on the painting table at the moment:

  • 6 Companies of Continental Infantry
  • 4 Sections of 2 guns
  • 1 Company of British Line
  • 6 Commanders


Here is a rough guide to how they were painted (All Vallejo Model Colour):

British:


  • Paint the arms Red
  • Paint the fronts, turn-backs and legs Ivory
  • Paint the cuffs, knapsacks and facings Gold Brown
  • Paint haversacks Stone Grey
  • Paint the muskets and hair Beige Brown
  • Paint the hands and faces Medium Fleshtone
  • Paint the shoes, cartridge boxes and tricorns Black
  • Paint the bayonets and canteens Gunmetal Grey
  • Paint the bases in US Field Drab
  • Sepia wash
  • Highlight arms Red
  • Highlight cuffs, knapsacks and facings Flat Yellow
  • Highlight arms Flat Red
  • Paint a Flat Red spot on the knapsacks
  • Highlight faces and hands with Medium Fleshtone
  • Highlight bayonets and bearskin plate with Gunmetal Grey
  • Paint the cross-belts, musket slings, wings and tricorn lace White
  • Highlight the trousers and waistcoat White.


American Continental Infantry


  • Paint the arms Chocolate Brown
  • Paint the legs Buff
  • Paint the cuffs, facings and turn-backs Red
  • Paint the knapsacks, haversacks, muskets and hair Beige Brown
  • Paint the hands and faces Medium Fleshtone
  • Paint the shoes, cartridge boxes and tricorns Black
  • Paint the bayonets and canteens Gunmetal Grey
  • Paint the bases in US Field Drab
  • Sepia wash
  • Highlight arms Chocolate Brown
  • Highlight the trousers Buff.
  • Highlight cuffs, facings and facings Flat Red
  • Highlight faces and hands with Medium Fleshtone
  • Highlight bayonets and bearskin plate with Gunmetal Grey
  • Paint the cross-belts White

American Militia 


  • Mixed colours from Flat Green, Medium Blue, Saddle Brown, Buff, Neutral Grey

The basing is Vallejo Pumice Gel painted US Field Drab and dry-brushed with Pale Sand. 1mm Static Grass and Woodland Scenics clumps and Bushes



Tuesday 18 September 2012

Scrivsland on Holiday



It's Mrs Scrivslands* 40th Birthday this week so we are all off to Euro Disney for some fun.

No updates until next week where I hope to get some photos of my newly painted 6mm AWI project uploaded and a report of the next Bag the Hun instalment we are playing on the Tuesday.

*Would that be the Duchess of Scrivsland or is that just too grand?

Saturday 15 September 2012

A battalion of Regiment de Champagne

After the great Sunday Cake Club Blenheim game I was invited to a few months ago I was determined that I'd turn up to the next game with at least a brigade of standard French infantry painted.

I ordered a battalion deal from Ebor Miniatures and was so impressed with the sculpts that I purchased another three battalions.

Anyhow, other projects got in the way and I've been doing work on these in fits and starts over the past three months.

After a basing session yesterday I managed to get these varnished and photographed today. Looking at the images I think though that I'm going to need at least another spray of matt varnish.






Savo Island refight with Naval Thunder

A few weeks ago Greg, Ben and myself refought the Battle of Savo Island using General Quarters III, thsi was a resounding victory to the Allied forces.

Having had a couple of games of Naval Thunder last week with Quinton we decided to give the battle another go with these rules.

We used the "Battle of Savo Island" scenario from Bitter Rivals Quinton would use the Japanese while Greg and Ben would take on the Allies. I would generally facilitate and get in the way.

Things started well for the Japanese, they sneaked undetected to within close range of the southern group and let leash. Chicago, Canberra and Patterson were all badly damaged by gunfire with only minor damage  to the Japanese. However subsequently all the ships in the Southern Group turned their guns on Aoba which was raked by effective fire and sunk, but not without the loss of both Chicago and Patterson. Long Lance torpedoes thudded into Canberra and she was also stricken but did cause severe damage to Kinugasa in return.

By now the southern group was reduced to Bagley who was putting up a doomed but game fight. Only a single American torpedo found its mark and that proved to be a dud - damn those magnetic detonators!

The Northern Group was now into the melee, Vincennes took heavy damage in the initial salvo from the Japanese 8" guns, but Kinugasa was delivered the Coupe De Grace. As the engagement drew to a close Vincennes was accounted for and Quincey badly damaged but Kako was also severely damaged in return.

As is likely to be expected one American destroyer - Helm - was sunk by friendly fire in the confusion.

The final state was:

  • Chokai - Moderate damage
  • Aoba - Sunk
  • Kinugasa - Sunk
  • Furutaka - Undamaged
  • Kako - Heavy damage
  • Tenryu - Undamaged
  • Yubari - Undamaged


  • Chicago - Sunk
  • Canberra - Sunk
  • Patterson - Sunk
  • Bagley - Sunk


  • Astoria - Light damage
  • Vincennes - Sunk
  • Quincey - Heavy damage
  • Helm - Sunk
  • Wilson - Undamaged


  • Blue - Moderate damage
  • Ralph Talbot - Moderate damage


All in all a great game that ended in a draw, a lot better result than the last time when the Americans did far too well.

Sorry for the quality of the photographs, Victoria was using the 'main' camera so I made do with the rubbish iPhone one.

Allied Northern Group

The Japanese cruisers

On fire and badly damaged Bagley goes in with the torpedoes





Wednesday 12 September 2012

Bag the Admiral

Yesterday evening John and I met up at Maelstrom Games and played a mission we have been planning for a few weeks. We would use Bag the Hun to re-fight the Operation Vengeance mission to take out Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

The US Army Airforce would field a flight of four P38-G Lightnings


The Japanese Naval Airforce would field a two Shoktai of three Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero escorting two Mitsubishi G4M2 Betty. The US player would not know which Betty contained the Admiral.

The record sheets are at the end of the post.

The card deck comprised:
  • Two Junior Ace Cards
  • Allied Section 1 Move
  • Allied Section 1 Fire
  • Allied Section 1 Leader
  • Allied Formation Bonus Card
  • Axis Section 1 Move
  • Axis Section 1 Fire
  • Axis Section 1 Leader
  • Axis Section 2 Move
  • Axis Section 2 Fire
  • Axis Section 2 Leader
  • Bombers Move
  • Bombers Fire
  • Axis Formation Bonus Card
  • Altitude Bonus Card
  • No Fuel to Duel - would apply to the Allies only


We randomised who would take which side and I would be playing the USAAF.

The USAAF were soon into the action sweeping towards the Japanese, Hines scored early long range hits on the first Betty severing the fuel line and setting the bomber aflame. The Betty soon extinguished the flames and limps towards the airport at Buin while the swirling dogfight commences.

The first Shoktai of Zeroes were soon on the tails of Lanphier and Holmes. Lanphier shook off Morisaki but Holmes was unable to shake Tsujinoue. A burst from the Zero ruptured Holmes' fuel line and the P-38 caught fire, Holmes took a sharp dive and the fire was extinguished. Diving, weaving and climing, Holmes was still unable to break away from Tsujinoue who finished off his aircraft. Holmes crashed into the jungle and no parachute was seen.

Having shaken off his tail, Lanphier was soon closing on the second Betty. Lanphier fired a burst into the the Betty but to no effect, the rear gunner on the Betty was much more tenacious although Lanphiers' aircraft did not take significant damage he was still forced to shear away.

Barber takes light damage from the bombers gunners and is also hit by Yoshimi Hidakas Zero but takes no significant damage. Barber gets behind Kenji Yanagiyas Zero and sends a burst through the cockpit, Yanagiya slumps dead over the controls and the Zero crashes into the jungle. Unfortunately, Barbers guns are jammed.

The melee continues, Lanphier  gets onto the tail of the first Betty, but Morisaki gets onto Lanphiers tail. Trying to intervene, Hine gets onto the tail of Morisakis' Zero, and a controlled burst causes the Zero to break up in mid-air. Free off his pursuer, Lanphier presses the fire button and a controlled burst rips through the Betty which explodes in a ball of flame, no chutes are seen.

One of the Bettys is down, but a P-38 is lost, can the other Betty be taken out.

At tree-top height, Hidaka locked onto the tail of Hine and a burst from the Zero took out the starboard engine, struggling to regain control Hines P-38 was forced to crash land in the jungle but he was picked up by natives and made his way back to friendly lines.

Only two P-38 remain to take on the remaining four Zeroes and to take out the remaining Betty. Fortunately the Zeros have been drawn away by the two lost P-38s and the Betty is limping along leaking fuel from the severed fuel line damaged caused by Hine.

Both Lanphier and Barber raced after the final Betty and both were soon on the tail. Lanphiers P-38 took a hit from the tail gunner and lost control of his aircraft shearing off to the port. Barber stayed on the Betty firing rounds into the Betty but causing little damage due to his jammed guns.

Having regained control Lanphier again locks onto the Betty, but like Barber is unable to score a decisive hit. Running out of ammunition, and with the Betty on final approach to Buin airport the P-38s break off and head for home, dodging the scattered Zeroes.

The surviving Betty arrived at Buin, but Yamamoto did not disembark, he had been in the Betty that had exploded over the Bougainville jungle.

Here are some images from the game, the aircraft are all from Tumbling Dice from the collection of John and myself.





The USAAF P-38s







The Japanese Naval forces


Initial engagements, Hine scores the first hit on the Betty at long range

Two P-38 try to draw off the Zeroes while the other two try to take out the Bettys

Morisaki on the tail of  Lanphier who soon shakes him off

Tsujinoue pumps fire into Holmes stricken P-38G


Yaamotos Betty explodes in flames

Lanphier and Barber try to finish off the second Betty before it arrives at Buin airfield







Type: N. American P-38G                 ID: 1-1

8
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
4
Manoeuvrability
3*
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr.

Rank: Captain

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)
X
Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
11
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-
-
-
-

Notes:


Type: N. American P-38G                 ID: 1-2

8
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
4
Manoeuvrability
3*
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Besby F. Holmes

Rank: 1st Lt.

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)
X
Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
11
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-
-
-
-

Notes:


Type: N. American P-38G                 ID: 1-3

8
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
4
Manoeuvrability
3*
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Rex T. Barber

Rank: 1st Lt.

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)
X
Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
11
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-
-
-
-

Notes:


Type: N. American P-38G                 ID: 1-4

8
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
4
Manoeuvrability
3*
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Raymond K. Hine

Rank: 1st Lt.

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)
X
Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
11
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-
-
-
-

Notes:







 Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero           ID: 1-1

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: T.Morisaki

Rank: Lt(JG).

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)
X
Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero            ID: 1-2

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: T.Tsujinoue

Rank: PO 1/C

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)
X
Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero            ID: 1-3

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Soichi Sugita

Rank: F 1/C

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)
X
Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi G4M2 Betty           ID: B1

5
Basic Speed
1
Rate Of Climb
1
Manoeuvrability
4*
Robustness
5
Altitude
5
Size


Pilot Name:

Rank:

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
4
Front
3
Rear
3
Right
4
Left




Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero           ID: 1-1

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Yoshimi Hidaka

Rank: CPO

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)
X
Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero            ID: 1-2

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Yasushi Okazaki

Rank: PO 2/C

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)
X
Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero            ID: 1-3

7
Basic Speed
2
Rate Of Climb
6*
Manoeuvrability
1
Robustness
6
Altitude
1
Size


Pilot Name: Kenji Yanagiya

Rank: F 1/C

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)
X
Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
7
Front
-
Rear
-
Right
-
Left

Seconds of ammunition remaining
Fr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
-
-
-
-
-
-

Notes:
Tailing aircraft get -1 to stay on tail in a Break Turn

Type: Mitsubishi G4M2 Betty           ID: B2

5
Basic Speed
1
Rate Of Climb
1
Manoeuvrability
4*
Robustness
5
Altitude
5
Size


Pilot Name:

Rank:

Number of kills at start of game

Top Ace (+2 luck)

Junior Ace (+1 luck)

Veteran (+1 luck on flying tests only)

Regular (no luck bonus)

Sprog (-1 luck)

Fire Factor
4
Front
3
Rear
3
Right
4
Left