World War Two - the transport

I have painted a some transport vehicles for my WW2 forces. These are 3D prints and I think they look good. They still need weathering a bit.

An Opel Blitz for the Germans - I could paint a camouflage on it but I quite like the single colour. 

For the British couple of universal carriers, a quad 8. I had to add the crew to the carriers by cutting up a few infantry figures (not brilliant but they look ok).

The transfers are the ones I got from Butlers models - the are a bit big for 15mm, although they are meant to be 1/100 scale.  I think I should have got 1/144. 

I have a few more British infantry to paint - then I will start basing them and working out what I have missed … but got to paint the kitchen now. 
 

Morts

Saint Etienne - the final tour

 On Wednesday I had a very pleasant evening at the Bristol Beacon watching Saint Etienne (for the 3rd time) with the better half. 

Excellent seats and the music was great - although they didn’t play Sylvie or Dive which I do like. The one fly in the ointment was the vocals weren’t as clear as I would have liked - but that could be down to my age … but it was still great to see them on their final tour.

Morts

Been away - Rhodes

Myself and the better half took a week off to revisit Rhodes. 

This time we stayed in the North of the island and made a few trips to the old town itself. 

Found an old bunker not far from the hotel beach - an a good sunset on the first evening.

A trip to Rhodes town and we found the pillars to show where the colossus stood. We also took a wander through the ancient part of the city. There were a lot of balls from a siege - which I believe was in B-CELL times. And obviously the Romans were there.

The entrance to the Grand Masters Palace, a ruined church (I think from an Ottoman siege) and one of the gates by the sea.

Some of the contents of the Grand Masters Palace - the Italians added some of this in the war occupation. 

Some of the stunning city walls - not quite in as good condition as Dubrovnik’s. The bottom left are some Byzantine ruins in the city. 

Some attempts at atmospheric evening pictures. 

On the final day we when to the acropolis of Rhodes - a very impressive stadium and odeon. The temple of Apollo is in need of some TLC as the Italian restoration (was very good) and I understand that some bombs in the war didn’t help. 

A great trip - Rhodes is recommended. 

British WW2 - 15mm, I have made a start

After sometime away from the painting table I have managed to paint a few British WW2 infantry. These are the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) figures I picked up from the Exeter games show back in May. 

The top image is of 5 out of ten infantry figures I have done - the PSC figures work well with the base coat wash and highlight. The gun and ammo is a 3D print (there is another one), the crew figures are PSC figures - I think they are from heavy weapons teams figures which were in the pack that I picked up. 

The bottom 3 bases are a Bren, Piat and 3 inch mortar team - I have a 4 inch mortar, a vickers team and another Bren team to add to the force.  Plus more infantry sections …

I have enjoyed these as they are simple to paint with pretty good results. 

Morts

Rex and other games played.

Friday evening saw a trip down to Snake-eyes in Kernow. The object of the trip was to play REX the prequel to Twilight Imperium (a reskin of the Dune Board game we played about 7 years ago … a bombardment replacing the sandstorms). 

The set up was as below … the production of the game is very good (but then Snake-eyes has had the game for 10 years or so). You can win on your own by controlling 3 strongholds or 4 if in an alliance of 2 or all 5 strongholds if in an alliance of 5. If there is no winner at the end of turn 8 Sol and Hacan have special victory conditions.

The races played were Hacan (Steedo), the Universities of Jol-nar (DK), the Federation of Sol (Tiger-King), Lazax Empire (Snake-eyes) and the Barony of Letnev (me).

The first turn saw Tiger-King made a strange move out of a stronghold to get some influence (this was after I had revealed my intention due to a misunderstanding of moving and deployment…).  I swooped in a took it, I also challenged him for the influence and won (although I couldn’t pick much up as I used too many troops in the battle).

The second turn saw alliances being formed - well one really (as because DK kept talking over me, I played a card which prevented him forming or breaking alliances … which as it turn out was stopped the Tiger-King being in an alliance too), this was myself, Steedo and after some deliberation Snake-eyes. 

As it was this alliance worked out very well as due to the various racial special rules we were able to swap influence between us (I was spending…), Steedo was getting influence back via the Hacan gets the deployment costs (also the half price deployments cost was helpful) and Snake-eyes was getting paid in the strategy card phase, so we could out bid DK and Tiger-king …

So when it came to the battle phase the alliance was able to overwhelm the other two players, giving them a win by the end of turn 2 or 3. There was some question of the game being broken as the engine our alliance had was powerful - but I think this was partly down to the seating positions and order. We were sitting in a row were able move the money within the alliance without having the others interfere with our actions … having said that we were very generous with DK and Tiger-King as they weren’t in Alliance in the game but we did allow them to discuss cards a strategy in private …

So in a shocking turn of events we had finished the main game early … what to do?

3 games of One night werewolf - got all the werewolves!

Then 3 games of Resistance Avalon - a win for the forces of good when I was Merlin, and then 2 wins for the forces of evil (by killing Merlin) when I was a minion of Mordred … 

So I was in the winning team for all 7 games - a good evenings gaming.

All the games I would play again. 

Morts

Ork Heavy Suits and Wolf Riders

I have painted up the Mantic Ork heavy suits - I have work out what 40k stat line to use. Fairly happy with these 2 - I tried to do WW2 German tank colour scheme.

Big mech suit with circular saw hand to hand weapon and a “plasma” type  gun thing.

Big mech suit with mini gun and another gun. 

I have also finished (apart from basing) the Marduk Hobgoblin wolf riders. 

I have another 6 to go (with bows) - I might srape the rectangle on the flag off the next set so that I can do a more interesting design … happy with these 2 tone wolves. 

I think these will look good when the bases are done. 

Morts

The Odyssey - seen it!

We went to watch the Odyssey directed by Sir Christopher Nolan at the weekend. 

What did I think?

First up I like a bit of Greek mythology and have read a couple of translations of the Odyssey and a number books on Greek mythology which always include a bit on Odysseus. I loved Tony Robinson’s telling of Odysseus : the Greatest Hero of Them All on the BBC when I was at school. 

I had been following some of the issues which had been raised about casting and was getting concerned. However, as the release date was getting closer I had stopped following news on the film and had decided that I would just try and watch without picking up too many preconceptions.

Well I liked it - acting was good - I didn’t have an issue with the casting. They worked in this telling of the story.

The adaptation of story hit the right beats and points - the cyclops cave (I did miss nobody a bit but not a major issue) - Circe, this was really well done (although no children with her … or is that for the sequel?) - the giants, this was a hmm bit for me to be honest - the trip to the underworld (although no Achilles) - the struggles with the suitors in Ithaca (great acting by Ann Hathaway as Penelope) - Argos the dog (emotional) - defeat of the Suitors.

I felt the structure worked which flashbacks and remembering by Menelaus in Sparta (with Telemachus ) and Odysseus on an island with Calypso. Cutting in with time running out for Penelope and Telemachus 20 years after Odysseus had set off for Troy. 

Did I like all of the design choices - no I didn’t. Silver giants were hmm. Agamemnon another hmm, although I get that they were making him imposing at the high king of the Greeks.

I wasn’t worried about the boat - it was a bit Viking but not a major issue as wouldn’t be surprised if they had similar types (looking ) of ships in the ancient Mediterranean.

As I said the nearly 3 hour film kept me engaged and entertained.

Morts