Bolt Action German Additions

One of my last games of 2018 was a game of Bolt Action against a friend with Soviets.  I though that this game would make a great excuse to get my generic German army on the table again.  This army is old, way older than Bolt Action.  I've had the army for years and used it with tons of different rules but I have not used it in Bolt Action for a very long time.  Well, I was in for a bit of a shock as it was not in the same condition I remembered it being in.  Specifically there were lots of models missing so it was bit of a challenge to put a decent list together for the game.  After the game I resolved to fix this long neglected army by filling in the gaps.

I set out to find some Crusader Miniatures Germans as they are some of my favorite 28mm figures.  I started checking eBay and watched a few auctions as my plan was finalized.  I was still a bit confused as to what had happened to the army and I gradually remembered that I had planed to update the army years ago and had sold off a bunch of figures I did not like.  Then it hit me - if I had forgotten selling stuff off what else had I forgotten.  So I set off to check the dead lead pile to see what I might already have.  And wouldn't you know it, I had basically every pack that I was currently watching on eBay.  It was like I had already worked this out once before.  Damn I hate getting old.

With my newly acquired (but likely 10 year old) stash I miniatures I set out to paint them all up.  I have 35 more Germans for the Bolt Action army.  It is pretty satisfying to have finally completed these.  And yes, they were in the same box as the cavalry and the motorcycles I recently completed.  This now completes all the 28mm Germans in my collection.

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Kradschutzen Squad

More items from the dead lead pile all finished up.  This time we have a German Kradschutzen squad for Bolt Action.  I bought these figures at least 12 years ago and they were in the same box as the cavalry figures I finished the other day.  Don't ask me why it took so long to finish these, I really have no idea.  The figures are from Black Tree Designs, which I guess has been renamed again.  They are pretty good game models.  I am really looking forward to trying these on the table.

WWII German Cavalry

Many years ago, probably about 11 years ago, I ordered a bunch of stuff for various projects. This was actually a bout of retail therapy. During that time my family and I were going through some tough times and I was not thinking too clearly for a while.  As a result I ended up with a whole bunch of stuff that I never got to or just plain for got.

Enter my Crusader Miniatures German Cavalry collection. These are actually from the now defunct Crusader USA.  I did manage to assemble these back in the day but for about 10 years they have been in a box in my garage.  They did not do too well in the box.

The Crusader USA figures were manufactured my Old Glory and for some reason they used a much softer alloy then their other figure lines.  As a result these soft figures bent very easily especially the thin horse legs as you can see.  II was able to straighten them out but several figures required green stuff reinforcements on the ankles.

After a few days of work I now have a nice cavalry squad for my Bolt Action Germans.  I am really happy with how these turned out.  I wouldn't mind adding a few more and I really wish they would do a mounted MG34 team.

Rubicon Panzer IIIM

Another Christmas gift is complete.  This time we have the Rubicon Models Panzer III.  This is another first generation kit from Rubicon and I 'think' it has been updated with more detailed and accurate kit.  This kit claims to build the J through N models but it will not build the J.  I went with the M version.  The kit has a more traditional design than the Panzer IV I just built.  Assembly was quick and easy and the instruction were accurate.  I went with a quick three color paint job for game set in '43 and later though this tank would be rare after 1943.

Rubicon Panzer IVH

For Christmas I received a couple Rubicon kits for my Bolt Action Germans.  The first one I built was the Panzer IV kit.  This is the first generation kit and it is a little odd in some of its design characteristics.  It was easy to build and can be built in three (four?) different versions.  It is not the most accurate model of the Panzer IV out there but for wargaming it is more than adequate. I went with the IVH version so I can use the model for '43-'45 themed games.  I wouldn't mind having a couple more kits to build the other versions but I think this one is no longer available.  Rubicon has completely redesigned this models and released a new version.  I have not seen that one in person but I expect it is excellent.

This was a very quick build and paint job and, as often happens, the photos for the blog post reveal lots of flaws that I was not aware of.  Oh well, nothing a little touch-up won't fix.

Speed Freeks Completed Set

At the beginning of November my friend, Tim, gifted me a most generous and unexpected birthday present - Speed Freeks.  We had both been excited for this release but for slightly different reason.  We both fell in love with the previews of the models.  Tim was more interested in the actually game as he is not an Ork player and has no plan to start an army.  He is, however, a fan of games like Gaslands so this seemed like an game that would be easier to get on the table...and the models are cool.  I was actually more interested in the models than the game as they make excellent additions to my ever growing and expansive Ork hoard.  I kind of figured the game would be somewhat of a throwaway game.  It turns out it is a pretty fun game all on its own.

For the last couple months I have been working diligently to complete the entire set.  If you have been following along you have seen the posts for each individual Speedmob and a brief blurb about the game itself.  I am proud and excited to reveal the completed Speed Freeks box set!  This is the first time I have ever completely painted all the models in a GW boxed game or starter set.

All the models included in the game assembled and painted.

These are the terrain pieces included in the game.

I purchased an old set of Ork barricades that were painted but just needed some weathering.  These are the old resin models from many years back.  I actually forgot to get one of them in the picture.

Next up for this will be to assemble and paint the new Mekboy Workshop kit and the junk piles included with that set.  I also have a second set of the old resin Ork walls to finish.  This will give me tons of terrain for 40K, Kill Team and Speed Freeks.

Once again, these items were painted at the end of last year so no painting credit for this.

Speedmob #2

I finished up the second Speedmob for my Speed Freeks game at the end of last year but I ran out of time to get the pictures and make a post.  This mod features the Kustome Boosta-blasta and three Ork bikers.  The Kustome Boosta-blasta is in the running for coolest model ever!  These new Ork buggies have so much detail it is crazy.  My only complaint is that much of this detail cannot be seen once the models is assembled but for some reason it does not seem right to leave these details unpainted.  The take forever to paint and build.

I was really hoping to get these on the table for some New Year's Eve gaming but ti was not to be.  I am not sure when I will get to use these but I am looking forward to it.

So no paint credit for these for this year.  Now on to Ork basing updates!

2019 Hobby Goals and Ideas

Welcome to 2019!  Today marks the first day of a new year and the beginning of my thirteenth year of this blog.  That kind of blows my mind.  I have been blogging for 13 years but my miniature gaming goes back more than 20 years and if you include role-playing I have been doing the gamer thing for approaching 40 years.  Anyway back on point.  This is my annual attempt to set the theme for the hobby year ahead.

As usual this is just a stream of consciousness sort of post and is in no way an actual guide to how my year will go.  In fact, I will likely not read this again until I am just about ready for the year-end summary.  So lets jump in!

Age of Sigmar

I have really been enjoying this game for the last 6 months and I really hope to keep this one going in 2019.  My Nighthaunt army is painted to about 1600 points and I only have a few models left to paint.  I will be buying a few more things for this army this year.  I would like to get this up to a point where I can do 2000 point games with some options.

I plan to paint the Stormcast half of the Soul Wars set this year. I also have a few Stormcast models to finish up.  I don't really have plans to buy anything for the army this year but if I start playing it that might change.  If I paint everything I have I should be right around 2000 points which is right where I want to be.

I have several models for Blade of Khorne collected and I would like to make progress of getting this painted this year.  If I can get the battle tome and the war scrolls for the army that would make playing it that much easier.  I think I have about 1000 points of models so there is some room for purchases for this.  I am planning for this to be my Chaos faction for AoS but I must admit I might be tempted to dump it for a Beast of Chaos army if the right opportunity came along.

I would like to add a destruction faction to my collection this year.  The new Night Goblins look really good but it is not really my style.  I really hope one or more of my friends goes with them as they look like they would be fun to play against.  I am really leaning in the direction of the Beastclaw Raiders for this project.  They are just amazing models and the army would be really different from my other AoS armies.

Warhammer 40,000

This game did not see much table time last year and I need to change that for 2019.  I did purchase the new Ork Codex last year and I ordered some base adapters to bring my Orks up to date.  This will likely be my first and main effort for the year.  My Space Marines and IG will likely stay on the shelf this year.  Any new purchases this year will likely be for my Orks but I must admit that the new Genestealer Cult models coming out are going to be tempting.

Kill Team

I bought the starter box set late last year but I have yet to play.  I would like to give this a try this year but I am a little worried that the support for the game will dry up.  GW has already said there will be new stuff for Kill Team this year so this might have some legs.  This will mainly depend of if my friends have any interest in trying it as well.  I do plan to get the Rogue Trader expansion this year.

Necromunda Underhive

This game had a great year in 2018 with my group and I would like to keep the momentum going.  I am little unsure what GW plans for this game going forward and there seems to be almost nothing in the way of rumors.  I hope they continue with the new model releases in 2019 but it might be more like how Blood Bowl is handled.  If we see 2 new factions this year I would be happy and maybe even a little surprised.  My gut is telling be we might only see a few more Forge World characters and beast models and that's about it.  No matter what happens I want to keep playing this game.  I want to build a second gang this year and if I get really motivated maybe a third.  I would like to finish painting my walls and doors for Zone Mortalis games and build a cool Sector Mechanicus table.  There is lots of potential with this game this year.

20th Century Games

There is a lot of stuff I want to do in 2019 for games set in 20thC conflicts.  First up will be the new Great War version from Battlefront/Osprey.  This will be the v4 update for the period and will include a new army, Belgians, as well as son new troop types like cavalry.  I have greatly enjoyed our WWI games and Osprey seems to be handling their contribution to the v4 transition very well.  I am optimistic about this.  At the least I will get the rules.

2019 will be a very interesting year for WWII games.  I think Bolt Action will be a big resurgence this year with me and my friends.  I would like to get some games going for the Pacific and for Market Garden.  For Market Garden I will need to update my German collection and I might even consider an SS force (I have NEVER had a desire for SS but the MG campaign book is very good and I would like to play through it). 

For 15mm gaming I think that Flames of War will be back on the table.  I still don't see it being anywhere near as popular as it once was but we all have large collections and we would like to use them.  I did acquire a lot of the Battlegroup books and I would like to find a way to incorporate this excellent game into line up.  I have been toying with the idea of using Battlefront's firestorm Market Garden campaign game but play the actual battles with any one of three sets of rules - Bolt Action, Flames of War or Battle group.  I actually have Market Garden books for all three systems.  This might be overly ambitious but we will see.

Fate of a Nation must get played this year!  It has been about 2 years since I last had my Israelis on the table and that is too long.  A major goal will be to update this army into a Centurion/Sh'ot centered force.  Once that is done I want to build a Jordanian M48 force. 

TANKS and TANKS The Modern Age would be cool to get on the table this year.  I didn't do much with this last year.  I feel like TMA is very likely to get me into Team Yankee this year.  The new World War III: Team Yankee coming out this year will be tempting.

Black Powder/Horse and Musket

I have no major plan for this kind of gaming for 2019.  My ACW collection for Black Powder is very large and not missing much.  I might get some cavalry painted this year.  It would be cool to revisit the idea we had last year of smaller point matched games set in Jackson's Valley campaign.  Last year I purchased "Brave Hearts Trembled Regimental Wargame Scenarios for the Battle of Antietam" by Brad Butkovich.  This is a really nice book that could inspire me to plan another large Black Powder game.  I have no plans yet but time will tell.  Joe and I will continue to slowly paint forces for Napoleonics.  I think if I get another couple battalions of French and another commander we will be able to play a small battle.  That would be amazing.

 I need to dig through my ACW leftovers and find about 20 skirmishing Unions soldiers and paint them up for Fistful of Lead - Horse and Musket.  Some ACW skirmish games would be a lot of fun and something different from an Old West shootout.

Board Games

Now that I have both sides of the Speed Freeks game painted I want to play it.  I might have to recruit the family for this.  A few games of this would be a win.  My Warhammer Quest Silver Tower set needs to get painted and played this year.  Our one attempt to play it few a little flat.  We can do better.  I would like to get the Blackstone Fortress game this year and give it a try.  Warhammer Underworlds will get played but I don't see myself spending any more money on it.  I have both starter sets and one expansion so I have 5 factions.  This will keep me busy for a while.   I need to get Tim to run more old school Quest games this year and also some Space Hulk games.

Other Thoughts

As it stands if I do all the things I have listed above I will have another year of huge game diversity.  I will need to draw the line on some stuff just to give myself a chance.  It looks like Kings of War is over for me.  It was fun but the main player driving the game moved on  so it died.  SAGA is also likely done for me.  I did not play it at all last year and I have not purchased the new version and I have no plans to.  Some of the guys are excited about the fantasy expansion but not me.  Frostgrave is over.  I will keep buying the books and maybe even paint the occasional figure but I no longer plan nor expect to play it.

Blogging will continue and I hope to keep up the level of production.  Tweeting will continue but I need to find the widget to add the tweet stream onto my blog.  I seen other with it but I don't see the option to add. 

This year I need to really work on the social aspect of the hobby.  Wargaming is not just about buying stuff and painting stuff it is also about playing games.  Actually playing games is the social aspect of the hobby and it requires you to interact with others.  In the last few years I have found my circle of game friends (just friends really) slowly dwindling.  I need to put solid effort this year into reconnecting with old friends and being more welcoming of potential new friends.  It really is the friendships that is the major draw for me of this hobby and for too long I have neglected this part.

Here's to a fun and exciting year of gaming!