What's new for 2022?

 Folks, this is an update on my thoughts for the coming year wargaming wise. The major event for my wargaming year is the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war and I'll be trying to get my 20mm project completed before the anniversary of the Argentine invasion. So....

Focus No.1

This will be to finish off my 20mm Falklands collection, it's progressing well as regulars will know albeit starting a good few years ago, left to do are;

the 3 coastal terrain tiles

16 man SAS/SF Troop

4 Argentine aircraft, 1 Turbo Mentor, 2 Pucaras and a Short Skyvan

Focus No.2

28mm Vietnam project, I really want to get cracking with this, the lead mountain for this project is growing with a mixture of Empress, Gringo 40s and Full Metal Miniatures, initially it's going to be Hue'68 but I've already been tempted by Empress Anzacs, MACV SOG and SEALs

Focus No.3

Finish off the odds and sods I have started and not finished mainly but not limited to, 28mm Napoleonic skirmish, 6mm Modern, 6mm WW2.

The other news is that I'll shortly be starting a wargaming channel on Youtube, this is still in the development stage, I haven't decided on a name yet but "Dougie's Wargaming Blog Show" is looking likely, I'll update on here and also on my Facebook painting page how this is progressing and when it's going live.

To finish off here's some 6mm WW2 stuff I've recently completed, I've been quite taken with "Iron Cross" rules by Great Escape Games, these are simple quick play rules which work really well, not as detailed as some people may want but for a fun quick game I'm liking them.

Late War East Front, vehicles GHQ, figures Adler

Terrain wise I opted for Timecast, here's a selection of their rubber roads and fields as well as buildings, really nice stuff1

That's it for this update. As normal any questions just ask.

Dougie

Hungary 1945 a 6mm Project continued.

This project is always simmering in the background, the look I'm after for both sides is a cold wet Hungarian winter. Here's a shot from Operation Konrad in 1945, cold, wet, bare trees!

The photo below is one of my Soviet command stands and I've never been happy with the trees I'm using.

Like the majority of wargamers I buy trees as a bit of an afterthought, the ones I get are ok, the photo above is a pine tree and they do deciduous as well in a couple of colours, however, what I was really after was a deciduous tree in winter, bare without leaves.
Now I've tried different things, making the trees from wire as described on the GHQ website but they didn't look right.
For my middle east 6mm forces I'd used some superb palm trees from the model tree shop, these are expensive but brilliant, check out the photo below

Anyhow I contacted the model tree shop told him what I was after and for deciduous trees in the size I was after he mentioned some brass trees that came in a number of different foliage colours. The colour wasn't important and the proverbial flash of inspiration came and I asked him if he thought the foliage would come off ? He wasn't sure but suggested sending one out so I could experiment. As normal with the model tree shop a package arrived the next day! Before I go any further here's the link for the company, they are excellent to deal with, have superb products and their service is outstanding!
http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/
The tree arrived I looked at the attached foliage and was sure burning would get rid of it! The photo below shows a tree on the right before its been napalmed, the tree on the left is after.

All it required was cleaning and a very minor Trunk thickening. Because the trees are etched brass they are 2 dimentional now this isn't a problem when the foliage is on but without they need a bit more substance, this is easily achieved with semi circle section plastic rod glued to the trunk and then it and the minor branches thickened up with liquid greenstuff.
This next photo shows the rod and greestuff added to the tree and it ready for paint and planting

Heres a photo of the same Soviet command stand from above but with one of my bare trees replacing the pine.

More like it! This is more the look I was after. If you order any trees for my treatment let Mr. Model tree shop know you've read about it here! The latest stand to have the tree treatment, a Soviet CO stand.
Later, Dougie

6mm T34s for Hungary

First unit of T34s for Hungary, GHQ 1/285th of course! Dougie

A close up

Hungary 1945 a 6mm project

I've wanted to game this period for a while, being quite taken with Cold War Commander for Moderns, thought I'd look at Blitzkrieg Commander for the rules and 6mm  1/285th for the scale. I'll be using GHQ for the vehicles, expensive but the best and Adler Miniatures for the figures. Not used Adler before I normally just use Heroics and Ross as the GHQ figs look too large to me.The start of my Hungary 1945 forces. First off is a Soviet Infantry Bn., Adler figures mounted on 30mmx30mm bases. Base wise I wanted a cold, wet, winter look. Dougie

The Bn as a whole

Bn Command Stand

1st Company

2nd Company

3rd Company

Mortars

HMGs