More Vikings and Anglo-Saxons

Over the past few days I've slowly been chipping away at the rebasing project for the Vikings and Anglo Saxon forces.

First up the Vikings

I've enough for 8 units worth in Dux Bellorum or 2 divisions in Hail Caesar. I'm keen to expand by another 4-8 uiits but will wait till the new Victrix Vikings are released later in the year- which is when i intend to add some more lightly equipped Bondi units to the force.

The Anglo-Saxons

A smaller force. I've quite a few more metal Ceorls to base up but am replacing the old soft metal spears with plastic Fireforge ones and am awaiting for more to arrive.

Currently there are 3 units of Thegns- each base has 4 spearmen and a single axesman or swordsman as the plastic GB Saxon Thegns boxset does not have enough spears for everyone to be armed with a spear. I also had a few GB kite shields left over from the Gondor project so added those for more variety(and to help differentiate them still further form the Vikings).

The plan (in Hail Caesar) is to run divisions of 2x Thegns and 2x Ceorls as the core of the army.
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There is one of Huscarls armed with Danish axes to differentiate them from the rank and file.

I also painted up my last 20 plastic Saxon thegns to add two more units to the force.

Lurking in the background is 1.5 units of lighter armed Ceorls- I've only completed 1.5 units (3 bases worth) as I've run out of plastics spears at present. All the Ceorls are metal Gripping beast figures.

Both forces.

The Vikings

The Anglo-Saxons

Craig

WIP- Anglo Saxons and Vikings

Over the past few days I've been slowly chipping away at updating my Viking and Anglo-Saxon forces. prying them off their bases and starting to rebase to my new standard. I've most based and permafilla added to the bases. Next step is the black undercoat to the bases (a fiddly job) and then painting & flocking them.

The figures are a mix of metals and plastics- but most are Gripping Beast. I've had my metal figures from GB for nearly 20 years and there are also plenty of the GB plastics Saxons and Vikings. I'm really looking forward to the new Victrix plastic Viking and Saxon ranges coming out and wll definitely be addig some as they look very, very good.

the Saxons are a bit light on the ground. I've quite a few metal GB Ceorls but am waiting for more plastic Fireforge spears to turn up to replace the old (and mainly bent) metal spears they are equipped with. I've also 2 units (20) GB plastic Thegns to paint up to bulk out the force a bit more. I will probably also add some of the plastic dark ages infantry to bulk out the Ceorls.

The army has one unit of elite Huscarls armed with Danish axes.

The Vikings. 
I can field 8 units (2 divisions) in Hail Caesar and have plenty for Dux Bellorum or Dragon Rampant forces- not sure which rules I'll end up using yet.

So next job, getting stuck in finishing the bases.

Craig

Not here!

Like the rest of New Zealand, and indeed like many people around the world,, I am appalled and shocked by the senseless act of violence perpetrated in Christchurch, the town I grew up in and for most of my life called home, yesterday. I spent the afternoon, as did most people, glued to the TV and online media trying to piece together what was happening and feeling absolutely shocked as the tragedy unfolded. Many of my friends and family spent most of the afternoon in lock down across the city as the police and emergency services tried to cope with this unprecedented event and it was several hours before they were reunited.

Shit like this doesn’t happen in my home town or in my country for that matter. The people targeted were part of our small Muslim community. Many were recent migrants and refugees, people who travelled here for a better life in what was until now a reasonably safe and welcoming corner of the world. I just want all those affected by this needless tragedy to know that the scumbag guilty for these crimes does not represent New Zealand and that an act like this will not make them any less welcome here. The cowardly fuck who did this will not win!

What also pisses me of about these senseless acts of violence is that Christchurch a city slowly rebuilding after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 will now forever linked by the rest of the world with an act of senseless, indescribable horror. THIS IS NOT OUR CITY! Alas, Christchurch will forever be connected to the other places that have undergone terror attacks by extremists- Kuta in Bali, Mumbai, London, Manchester, Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Oslo, Sydney, Melbourne, Pittsburgh, Charlottesville… the list goes on and on. Life will never ever be quite the same down here. Part of New Zealand we love and hold dear died yesterday.

We welcome migrants and refugees of all faiths and religions to our shores. An attack on one minority is an attack on all of us that choose to call New Zealand home and all kiwis stand beside our Muslim, migrant and refugee communities to denounce these crimes and any who think that this sort of act against defenceless men, women and children in a place of worship, or anywhere for that matter, is okay.

To the next ignorant white supremist fascist fuck wants to do this kind of act of mindless violence rather than turning a gun on a lot of peaceful innocent people, do us all a favour and simply shoot yourself. We’ll all be better off.

To everyone who stood up and did what was needed under extremely trying circumstances yesterday-police, the Armed Offenders Squad, ambulance officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, passersby who became caught up in events, and all those that did countless acts of heroism to rescue people, get them to safety and saved lives- we cannot thank you enough.

To our Muslim community and all those affected this horrific, senseless crime, all New Zealand is with you. Kia Kaha (stay strong),

Craig

BA Free French vs Germans

Last night Kent and I finally managed to get a game of Bolt Action in. We both took tank platoons, me a couple of Shermans, an M10, Greyhound a 2nd lieutenant and 2 squads of infantry.

Kent ran 3 veteran stugs, a panzer IV and squad of SS

Somewhere in Southern France, Autumn 1944...

Turn 1- an SS squad advances.

One of my infantry squads has occupied the dormer house

Stugs and the panzer IV lurk nar the central huse, covering the central ground.

And soon have their fist kill, the M10.

 My infantry advance to support the Greyhound.

my threr squd and bazooka race towards the safety of the other building on my left flank.

Free French infantry and SS skirmish in the woods and hedgerows.

 Meanwhile on the left flank the survivor of the bazooka team hunts the stug- my infantry and 2nd lieutenant are now safely in the building.

 The bazooka biits ti

The the distance one of my shermans advances across the German gun line, drawing fire from several tanks which all manage to miss. 3 stugs and a panzer IV vs 2 Shermans, this doesn't look good.

The same "cunning move" from the Free French lines.

His luck runs out the Sherman is hit and catches fire, its turret gets stuck but the crew stick round and rive into the woods for safety.

The Germans are now focusing everything on my right flank..and have fallen for my cunning plan

At the end of the game (turn 6). My infantry on my left flank held an uncontested objective, though I'd lost 3 teams to 1 German I snuck and underhanded victory by claiming an objective (we were basically playing the old Flames of War stand Free for all).

A good gme and though my tanks were outnumbered the game was close, which seems to be the way most games go with us.

I look forward to a rematch soon.

Craig

More rebasing- Goth/Gondor cavalry

Yesterday I continued my rebasing mission, this time the rest of my Goth cavalry were rebased to my (6 figures per unit) new standard- and can now pull double duty as Gondorian reinforcements if necessary.

Most of the figures are Footsore but two bases (lurking in the back row) are GW Rohan with different shields.

In bigger battles (eg Hail Caesar) they can form a division.

I'm still unsure which rules I'll end up using more- Dux Bellorum, Dragon Rampant or Hail Caesar. But is good to have options.

Craig

LoTR- The forces of Gondor

Over the past week or so I've continued on my Gondor project, completing a unit of heavy cavalry and also rebasing the last of the infantry. I am happy with how they have all turned out and should make for a colourful force for Middle Earth Rampant.

The host of Gondor assembles: A mixture of Crusader miniature Norman infantry and Footsore miniatures Goth cavalry. 

 Knights of Gondor: These are the lovely Footsore miniatures Goth nobles on cataphracts. What can I say, I am an absolute fan of Footsore! I' had these guys lying around and have added ordered another units worth. I was toying with the idea of using the Footsore Norman cavalry instead but as I had a couple of packets of the Goths in my lead pile and they had cloaks thought they'd do. I've have kept the shields plain so that they can also pull double duty with my Rohan force as an elite heavy cavalry unit if necessary.

And the infantry units.

 Now I need to get these guys on table and get a game or two in. 

Craig

LoTR- Gondor

I've had some Crusader Miniature Normans lying around for a few years now. Originally they were purchased for my Crusader armies but didn't fit sizewise with the Perry's I used for the rest of the force so have been ignored for some time and been languishing in my miniatures drawers. However, I've decided that they'd be perfect as the basis for a Gondor force for Middle Earth Rampant and so have been rebasing them and tidying them up. I have added some Gripping Beast rimless Norman shields and also Fireforge plastic spears- which look more like tree trunks in the photos but aren't too bad in the flesh.

I think I've mentioned before how I really dislike Peter Jackson's interpretation of Gondor. Plate armour just seems wrong to me and so I can't bring myself to using the GW Gondor range of figures. I think Normans fit the bill and are probably more in keeping with the Anglo-Saxon feel of the setting as imagined by Tolkien so will be using Normans as my Gondor troops.

So far the force consists of:

• 1x elite foot commander
• 2x heavy foot
• 2x heavy missiles (crossbows)

I've two more units of heavy foot to do and I need to get a couple  of units of cavalry. I am in two minds over the cavalry and tossing up between Footsore Normans, Goth or Ramono-British ranges but am leaning towards the Footsore  Noble Goths with the Gripping Beast Norman shields to tie to force together.

The good think about the Rampant series of rules is you don't need too many figures for a force- as they are these guys are 22 pts. Once I've finished the other two units of infantry and add a couple of units of allied Rohan cavalry till I get some Gondor knights the force can easily push 36-40 points which is about size of standard game will will be playing.

Craig