Friday 25 April 2014

The Gold Rush - A VBCW Scenario

Managed to squeeze in an additional game for a couple of new folks to the world of VBCW.

An old friend Richard who has been to the shed a couple of times , a newcomer called Stephen (better known as Legatus Hedlius

 (check out his blog - very amusing - http://legatuswargamesarmies.blogspot.co.uk/)

and my good friend Matt.

The game was all set up and hopefully the following background notes help to explain the objectives.


The Gold Rush

This particular scenario sees those dastardly fellows in Black Shirts trying to move gold bullion from London to Portsmouth – to do this they must break the cordon of Anglican supporters in the A3 region. In a nutshell the BUF win if they can move the gold across the table, the League win if they can capture the gold.


The BUF will move from right to left


BUF Instructions

The BUF is particularly keen to lay its hands on supplies from the continent but to do so it must stump up the cash first. Gold bullion taken from the bank of England has been hastily loaded onto a reinforced truck and sent south. Its ultimate destination being Portsmouth. At which point in time the gold will be passed over to loyal elements of the Royal Navy.

The convoy has been hastily assembled and must run the gauntlet of known Anglican forces operating in the Ripley Area. Two routes are open to the BUF – the direct but guarded route through the town and out onto Guildford along the rail line or the less built up area towards the bridge at Pyrford Lock.

Recognising that spies and traitors have almost certainly reported the transportation of the gold at the last minute a decoy truck has also been commandeered and assigned its own protection.

In essence the BUF forces must traverse the board successfully with the gold convoy. The player commanding these forces has been assigned two escort forces for these convoys the truck containing the gold maybe placed in either of these convoys (this is their choice).

The BUF players may then decide which road(s) the convoys should enter. The BUF player may not put both Convoys on the same road although they may both exit at the same point if they get that far.

Whatever happens the gold must not fall into the enemies hands. If there is a danger of this occurring the bullion should be returned to Woking.

The truck carrying the gold is extremely loaded and as such has restricted movement (umpire will advise) – it will also bog down on a 1-3 if it leaves the road – two successive boggings will render the vehicle immobile – best keep it on the roads. Tracks will cause the trucks to bog down on a 1-2. The decoy truck has been loaded with lead to simulate the gold.

If by chance the truck is bogged down or rendered immobilised, the only way the BUF can draw this engagement is to ensure that it is not captured. All enemy units on the table must therefore be neutralised.

Prior to the convoy leaving Aerial reconnaissance revealed the positions of a number of League forces in the area but bear in mind these photos are over 8 hours old.

The BUF player should bear in mind that the League may have moved troops, placed obstacles on the road etc. The visible items will not be placed on the table until the convoy forces have been determined.

The Village of Ripley

 

The Anglican League Instructions
 
Last night the League’s Surrey forces were informed that BUF is planning to move sizeable but unknown volume of gold to the Navy in Portsmouth from its regional  headquarters in Woking. Realising that such a treasure would be a valuable asset in the war for themselves tan urgent order has been sent out to sure the gold. A screen of forces have been thrown up along the stretch of land between Ripley to Pyrford Lock.

Intelligence suggests that the convoy is attempting to reach Portsmouth and as such could leave the area on any one of the roads leading to the A3.

Your mission is quite simple prevent the truck carrying the gold from crossing the board. A word of caution destrying the truck with the gold on board is probably not particularly sensible this close to enemy lines much better to capture the vehicle intact.

The Forces at your disposal have been placed. Some of these are observable by the enemy from the start of the game others have been hidden. These have been marked on the map and are assumed to be in Ambush mode at the beginning of the game.

Your forces are limited and spread across the territory. You will need to cover all roads at the beginning until such time that you know which route the BUF are taking.

The Bridge at Pyrford
 


I created the following tables to help the players manage their forces

League Forces

Unit
Weapons
Damage Value
Morale
Notes
 
2 x Light Tanks
 
Co Ax MMG
Lt AT Gun
8+
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regular
 
 
 
1 x Medium Tank
 
Co ax MMG
Hull MMG
Med AT Gun
9+
 
Rolls Royce Armoured Car
Turret HMG
7+
 
Wheeled Truck
LT AT Gun
6+
 
 
 
 
 
Squad1 (6)
Rifles + 1 LMG
4+
 
Squad 2 (6)
Rifles +1 LMG
4+
 
Squad 3 (6)
Rifles
4+
 
Command
 
 
 
HMG Unit
2 HMG’s Bunker
4+
 
Major
Pistol
4+
+2 Morale
Lieutenant
Pistol
4+
+1 Morale
Medic
nil
4+
 

 
The approaching road to Pyrford blocked by barbed wire
 

BUF Convoys

Unit
Weapons
Damage Value
Morale
Notes
 
Light Tanks (3)
 
Co Ax MMG
Lt AT Gun
8+
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regular
 
 
2 x Lancia Armoured Car
HMG Turret
MMG Car
7+
 
Gold Truck
 
7+
Slow
Lead Truck
 
7+
Slow
Squad1 (6)
Rifles + 1 LMG
4+
 
Squad 2 (6)
Rifles +1 LMG
4+
 
Squad 3 (6)
Rifles
4+
 
Squad 5 (5)
SMG
4+
 
HMG Unit
HMG
4+
 
Major
Pistol
4+
+2 Morale
Lieutenant
Pistol
4+
+1 Morale
Standard Bearer
Pistol
4+
+1 Morale
Medic
nil
4+
 

 
Now I have an apology to make here I took very few photos of the game in play and as such there will not be a complete storyboard of pictures. However where possible I will set out the events as they played out and add in the pictures at the right time.

Fortunately Richard turned up early and I was able to point out where his hidden units were - these were chiefly hidden around the bridge area. Suffice to stay that most of the action took place in the village so by the end of the game they were rushing across the board to try and get into the action !

Matt & Stephen decided who would manage the real gold truck and the decoy - unknown to the League forces. I was both umpiring and managing the HMGs in the bunker.

Their tactic was simple enter the board on the roads that headed into the village and bypass what they felt was the strongest defences on the board. This worked well as they were able to combine their firepower against a smaller league force. It did however mean that all the action centred on the roads leading into the village itself. One of the joys of having a big table does allow players to use the space.

Stephens column nervously approached the village on the far right road. No sooner had he entered his Panzer 1's were involved in a firefight with the Medium Tank sited in the Village. A few shells were thrown and the first Panzer brewed. A subsequent logjam of vehicles ensued.

Realising his trucks were not going to make headway down the road he set his infantry squads off on foot towards the village.

Note: All Armour shown in these photos comes from the excellent range sold by Empress Miniatures
http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart31.htm

 
The League Tank opened fire

 


The highway to hell - a tanks and armoured car succumbed to AT fire on this stretch


 

Meanwhilst Matt had advanced up the middle of the road. His armoured car soon falling foul to the KMG on the Anglican League Rolls Royce. I was beginning to feel sorry for the fascists especially as my bunker sited HMGs opened up on Matts dismounting infantry.

Things weren't going well for the Blackshirts ...and things were going to become a lot worse



Richard decided to unleash his secret weapon...Gods Fist - A truck and gun combo I recently bought on ebay. Driving out from behind the buildings groans of despair could be heard.

The truck and panzer began to slug it out close range both missing.



With the Fascists forcing there way into the village - the Mgs on the Panzer had made shortwork of a league infantry force. We started to move League forces in from the right. Could they get there in time. 



At this point the Fascist tide turned. Stephens Panzer knocked out the Leagues big tank...boom



Matt decided it was time to move up his gold truck as the road was now clear. Slinging Gods Fist into Reverse Richard tried to to knock it out...to no avail.


Matt slung his truck round the corner and down the road. A unit of league troopers under the command of somebody just like Capt Mainwaring tried to stop the vehicle passing. No luck there...as the laden truck whisked off the board. Could this have been the decoy?



By now Matts Panzer had knocked out Gods Fist and was going toe to toe with the last remaining League tank. Eventually the Panzer was hit, caught flame and the crew panicked and fled...



Mean whilst Stephens troopers had command of the village crossroads. All that remained to hold back the tide was a meagre Rolls Royce armoured car. Needless to say Stephens Panzer made short shrift of the armoured car...he even contemplated ramming it but decided a shell was much neater.





 With the second road cleared and no league forces top counter the BUF the second laden truck ambled off the board. As it transpired the second truck carried the BUF gold.

All credit to Matt and Stephen for fighting there way through.

Until next time
















Monday 21 April 2014

The Manor is born part 2


Part 1 can be found here

http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-manor-is-born.html

The picture below is the progress I made a few weeks ago. So with the bank holiday in front of me I decided to crack on with this project.




First up I cut a base for the house to sit on.  The bits jutting out are the steps to the portico (entrance) the backdoor and the veranda.



This can be seen clearer in this picture. The patio/veranda sits to the left of the building.


The portico entrance needed to be grand. I picked up some pillars from Fenris Games - link below
and then I built up around these using plasticard.

http://www.fenrisgames.com/shop.html#!/~/search/keywords=columns&offset=0&sort=relevance

The embossed sheets came from Wills which I sourced many years ago





As you can see the Colonel quite likes his new entrance (28mm figure by the way)



I decided that the Manor would be based on one of my terrain boards but rather than fixed to the board it would be lifted off for easy storage. This gives me the opportunity to 'landscape the gardens' of the Colonels home.



Some time ago I found these brick walls at a show so they will be perfect for the surrounding wall. If you look carefully the drive way is marked out in pencil.

You will also notice that I have covered the 8mm MDF base edges where the building meets the board with another thin strip of blue foam.

The chimney has also had an extension



Next up was to asphalt the drive using ballast and pva within the marked area. Once dry it was painted acrylic black.


I was intending to use flock and static grass for the lawn in two tones to give a striped appearance. I even got as far as painting the lawn areas a base green!



But then I discovered so off cuts of old GW battle mat - never ever throw anything away !

With the lawn laid the Manor got its first and second coat of paint - a mustardy yellow. The roof was primed black.

Eventually the window frames and portico will be painted white along with the corner stones.

Still not happy with the windows - I really need some 5mm thick plastic mesh



I think its starting to look the business now. The untreated area between the building and lawn/drive will be flower beds.



Just a quick pointer on the chimney. I really struggled here to find some decent pots then a moment of inspriration  - Lego !


Until next time





Saturday 19 April 2014

The Armoured Train part 2


Hi Folks

If you are joining this post for the first time and want to read the first part of this build head here...

Part 1 click here

Don't worry there is a link at the end of part 1 to bring you back here.


In the first part I really focussed on the central core of the gun carriage but the guns really looked a bit bland and it was recommended to me by somebody on the forums that I should build some covers.

I agreed. An the following shots illustrate the effect. I have also given the whole thing a coat of dark grey which does tend to tie all the bits and pieces together.



The turrets themselves are just constructed from plasticard with some bits of sprue to cover up the joins. Its been quite fun modelling this train just using my imagination and has given me the taste to do more in plastic scratchbuilds.


The turret slits allow full movement of the guns



I have bought an AA gun mount for the centre of the train but seem to have lost it...oh well when it turns up




I now have to decide on a camo pattern for the train but before I start this I think I will turn my attention to the loco and 'modify this'

Friday 18 April 2014

Barging about on the River


As has been mentioned before its not often I am lucky on ebay but a few weeks ago was one of those times. Returning home a couple of weeks ago a rather strangle tubular package awaited me. Tearing off the paper the rather splendid object was revealed. A narrow boat/barge around 30cm long which could not be more perfect for 28mm figures.

 

There is always a danger when you buy stuff ‘off piste’ for our hobby – will these items scale properly but thanks to a half decent picture and the measurements listed on the descriptor page I thought it was worth a punt – the winning bid £3.20 plus £3.00 postage. For £6 I had secured an item that would cost so much more if it was a resin unpainted version.

 

This particular model had been lovingly crafted from wood with a few nice brass handrail and steering tiller in brass. The paintjob is also great so it can be used straightaway.

 

There is only one thing left to do take some pictures of the boat on my rivers – perfect for those VBCW games.

 


Add caption






One barge good - two barges better -  by chance found another on ebay - could I be second time lucky - you sure bet I could - this time a working barge around 17 inches long
 
..total price including postage £8.00.
 
I don't think 'll need any more of these so I wont be bidding on any future ebay opportunities -

Hence the reason for this late posting - if interested in procuring your own just search model barges on ebay. Make sure you get the measurements before bidding. 
 
The canvas awning appears that it might come off so I am thinking that once I have time I might make this a lift off piece so the barge can be filled with troops & guns
 




As you can the scale is perfect for 28mm (figure from Copplestone)


And here are the two together..

I might need to build some locks now!

Until next time