tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30409614084916390692024-03-13T15:55:04.244+00:00Numbers, Wargames and Arsing About A blog about all of the stuff I write on the backs of envelopes and never get round to finishing.......yet!Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-84704941712976630502024-03-05T20:15:00.000+00:002024-03-05T20:15:12.230+00:00Ooh shiny!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ya3fkNgFjUjTpJM88Ah3U7nJY9TsPimHXsGj7bfDuUWAmAsJWc0-md_ORFJCbJY1uWeucglmI6nHVXoL0WefVqvz_9jdu-5ut-Zf87pvseCjaI98gBmsxndU2X5rYTzKUfrCyy1nBqHD099RJOLfGKSAxxxXKNxODQeP0kB2OkSZVyDQRHI8rruiPmwg/s3456/20240305_191433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ya3fkNgFjUjTpJM88Ah3U7nJY9TsPimHXsGj7bfDuUWAmAsJWc0-md_ORFJCbJY1uWeucglmI6nHVXoL0WefVqvz_9jdu-5ut-Zf87pvseCjaI98gBmsxndU2X5rYTzKUfrCyy1nBqHD099RJOLfGKSAxxxXKNxODQeP0kB2OkSZVyDQRHI8rruiPmwg/w400-h400/20240305_191433.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mIkfBKMtdTaF8NX5Ys_zEktNJ02GmMsxowzXeJwfdy4QhAtw1l7TLHX-YeNkC71pRWQMfgvisH1pm2vrwI5-06y2g7W7duCOM1yWqoATvEGx74ODPMnUMxeCwRRP7GDn5748V4fHsEcVklNIpdvztc4yDJLs03saCBIV1rJQxrQjIfq19cLKf6IAdbpd/s3456/20240305_191510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mIkfBKMtdTaF8NX5Ys_zEktNJ02GmMsxowzXeJwfdy4QhAtw1l7TLHX-YeNkC71pRWQMfgvisH1pm2vrwI5-06y2g7W7duCOM1yWqoATvEGx74ODPMnUMxeCwRRP7GDn5748V4fHsEcVklNIpdvztc4yDJLs03saCBIV1rJQxrQjIfq19cLKf6IAdbpd/w400-h400/20240305_191510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, once again Norm has helped me spend my pocket money. And very well spent it is too. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Norm </span><a href="https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2023/12/velikiye-luki-something-for-everyone.html" style="font-family: arial;">posted</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> about Velikie Luki by Legion Games back in December. This is, to be honest, one of my favourite battles alongside Quatre Bras, amongst others. This is largely due to the close run natiure of the situation. I have very fond memories of the GDW game <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13016/white-death-velikiye-luki-stalingrad-north">White Death</a> from the the 1970s which treated the battle at battalion level. It featured use of impulses and also used one of the best ever battalion level combat systems. This is the sort of system that creates narrative. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From a game played forty years ago, I still recall the massive Soviet artillery barrage that failed to hit a fortification hex, a Soviet infantry regiment being cut to pieces by a German battalion supported by a 20mm FLAK battalion, an artillery unit of 3rd Mountain Division abandoning their guns and evading the advancing Soviets to reach thier own lines. As you can tell, I played the Germans in that one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite a reasonably sized map, it came with 400+ half inch counters. Even setting up the game would be challenging now, actually I have nowhere to put it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For some time I had had my eye on the Vae Victis issue with their <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/378162/velikie-louki-1942-43">Vilikye Louki</a> game but Norm's review swayed me. Interestingly enough, I ordered the game from the US. It arrived very quickly. Although the shipping exceeeded the cost, it was well worth the final price.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I recommend Norm's review for a complete picture of the game. The points that are important to me are that the map is small, the rules are short and there are 64 counters all in. The rules are straight out of the Jim Dunnigan wargames design book which means that the game is the thing, not figuring out how to play it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Needless to say there are many other projects on the go. The problem is finding time to get on with them!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-64541203963488476342024-02-17T20:20:00.001+00:002024-02-17T20:20:49.872+00:00Tempest completed!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_atIfhrYm5AnJOzAISbTcrh-3_V8Nr-e070BzFtV-YajRFFFXGVK96FSCb4V_TfN0oq1PjTjEDoKsiJTxISjNRC8zcVXs1y66xWOm8tZsobnLgwUpaP6QLHA71ya_Es66UL5aWYan9IoeZ7OR7kKMX65Ul-6bftdrXeNYbJ6N7gCoC-B8z6UroM1jyMTD/s3456/20240217_195702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_atIfhrYm5AnJOzAISbTcrh-3_V8Nr-e070BzFtV-YajRFFFXGVK96FSCb4V_TfN0oq1PjTjEDoKsiJTxISjNRC8zcVXs1y66xWOm8tZsobnLgwUpaP6QLHA71ya_Es66UL5aWYan9IoeZ7OR7kKMX65Ul-6bftdrXeNYbJ6N7gCoC-B8z6UroM1jyMTD/w400-h400/20240217_195702.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, a little later than expected but here is the completed 1/144 scale Tempest V. As you can see, not a perfect paint job but I'm really pleased with it. It looks better in daylight from a distance. I'm looking forward to some ground support in NW Europe!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWa0eJ9EFosR9D6Yt4eUYh-tEIuECBgc7DKxNiuVYHTDz8EJDiFQ4vn1YY3aO7wC-lJCq0rSWApqZIo6FBJo308ab6Aj6-hb7z9uFUyLWofGfCDDyM0a2yiAKIBEaMAHl1_WEqsBgUAdc4kHVxBiYUdL-xwrZ9h1XRupveI4P8brLITuWkjBio0d1Vj8LY/s3456/20240211_114347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWa0eJ9EFosR9D6Yt4eUYh-tEIuECBgc7DKxNiuVYHTDz8EJDiFQ4vn1YY3aO7wC-lJCq0rSWApqZIo6FBJo308ab6Aj6-hb7z9uFUyLWofGfCDDyM0a2yiAKIBEaMAHl1_WEqsBgUAdc4kHVxBiYUdL-xwrZ9h1XRupveI4P8brLITuWkjBio0d1Vj8LY/w400-h400/20240211_114347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>On the modelling side of things, I built up a little stash over Xmas from the Aldi Airfix offer. I have a Spitfire, P40 and a Cromwell tank. I'm really impresed with these modern kits, so much better than I recall from the 1960s. Almost 1/48 scale detail in 1/72. So impressed have I been that I went out to find a Bf109 E.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkRCggXsIlZTZ7vjxFrfFXDGoi8OLB0svx3m5exCKs-hcpIIJ8J1-3V58IDWQlMpG3FP5BoRoIpy_ZNgDCoABfGrrHv6g14QUsR8y3iN5xvnXlqcax-p9hyphenhyphenVZ5muH37XhCaMaDUpeTJ8EDlZ5fXk8tyIpTqXjIA2wzmrxMx0sPZ81PGDscVlmZGCTGuwc/s3456/20240211_114428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkRCggXsIlZTZ7vjxFrfFXDGoi8OLB0svx3m5exCKs-hcpIIJ8J1-3V58IDWQlMpG3FP5BoRoIpy_ZNgDCoABfGrrHv6g14QUsR8y3iN5xvnXlqcax-p9hyphenhyphenVZ5muH37XhCaMaDUpeTJ8EDlZ5fXk8tyIpTqXjIA2wzmrxMx0sPZ81PGDscVlmZGCTGuwc/w400-h400/20240211_114428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I tracked one down at <a href="https://therailwayconductor.co.uk/">The Railway Conductor</a> model shop in the depths of the countryside. Not actually the depths, 15 minutes or so from where I live. An interesting shop, it is in an old barn where we used to take the kids to see new born lambs many years ago. Worth a visit. The countryside is also worth a look, the finest rolling countryside not in Devon!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Having rediscovered the joys of scale modelling, I will return to the subject in the near future once I have got on with some other projects.</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-30665777030283222362024-01-21T16:56:00.000+00:002024-01-21T16:56:01.638+00:00Primer power!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJubSEbL-DNxlv8Ec9ENVWbJwe78cRNZCuuMqkLRmOSnSbcaiUZx46C33mSztl-KYEpxKNagEdOm1QVoFErx3ltLh_ytTJMoeOqz54eugiOEgEOfeJVcldy1e209tSdpfMjJJJ01aD2fwQYmllnkfpAu5UjoBb78XSgyiFRx52NYn_osiTXp_YuCEd6mQg/s3456/20240121_125700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJubSEbL-DNxlv8Ec9ENVWbJwe78cRNZCuuMqkLRmOSnSbcaiUZx46C33mSztl-KYEpxKNagEdOm1QVoFErx3ltLh_ytTJMoeOqz54eugiOEgEOfeJVcldy1e209tSdpfMjJJJ01aD2fwQYmllnkfpAu5UjoBb78XSgyiFRx52NYn_osiTXp_YuCEd6mQg/w400-h400/20240121_125700.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Continuing the theme of poor photography and diversionary activity, here is a 1/144 Revell </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tempest. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bought ten years ago to encourage my children to enjoy sniffing glue and cutting their fingers, I found that the canopy was missing. I filled in a form on line and a replacement canopy eventually arrived. In the meantime, I had used an Airfix Spitfire for educational purposes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So I have had this chap sitting around dusty and unpainted for a long time. I finally had the urge to finish it off. A quick brush, clean, sand and prime. Unpainted, the Tempest looked quite uninviting. However, two coats of Vallejo primer and it starts looking very nice. RAF day fighter colours here we come.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjroFy-rz8SLbYpU17WADcWmqw2cAyhwqQGFLT2wUsKXcLTWDng0n71_p2MtqlQW9RUW93k5M-7iVO_oDla_MKwh3WWXkR8ftxIOi-xCUWbQWlOPS9XIxC2AMeftCqtEW4l0HLt8yDYfmnRtkblkAy0152VeHkBlFUmgdQSyJDtER5BrALZLv8ZO9yTAeN/s3456/20240121_125951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjroFy-rz8SLbYpU17WADcWmqw2cAyhwqQGFLT2wUsKXcLTWDng0n71_p2MtqlQW9RUW93k5M-7iVO_oDla_MKwh3WWXkR8ftxIOi-xCUWbQWlOPS9XIxC2AMeftCqtEW4l0HLt8yDYfmnRtkblkAy0152VeHkBlFUmgdQSyJDtER5BrALZLv8ZO9yTAeN/w400-h400/20240121_125951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span></div>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-37025852502762706742024-01-14T12:50:00.001+00:002024-01-14T12:50:34.037+00:00Lift off...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OabEoiPQ9v8HZayx-0OdQ1aa_3eTdSo1iIwOSRe0Z5ccX3WWDxgURESK2ZHyGyoGyF5DUm7sme_0xirLo5aLDlJCq98RxX0orlhP2_hQFrDyZL5aLCtvRQ4KlrGVJT-yWsazWSDqR-XvZHja0VQcCuGG25XLNvCO2rntfLJ-1016oEgs-tQqSUrxSp35/s3456/20240114_112910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OabEoiPQ9v8HZayx-0OdQ1aa_3eTdSo1iIwOSRe0Z5ccX3WWDxgURESK2ZHyGyoGyF5DUm7sme_0xirLo5aLDlJCq98RxX0orlhP2_hQFrDyZL5aLCtvRQ4KlrGVJT-yWsazWSDqR-XvZHja0VQcCuGG25XLNvCO2rntfLJ-1016oEgs-tQqSUrxSp35/w400-h400/20240114_112910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Fairey Battle is completed at last! I am very pleased with it. I have been learning some scale modelling tricks on this one. It is a lot more complicated than it used to be in the olden days. You might detect some panel lining (even tho its not really a panel lining sort of kit). I have also used Vallejo Decal Fix. Even Captain Beefheart couldn't get these decals off!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have also done some research on colours. This is K9353 from 218 Sqdn in 1940. Painted in bomber scheme with black undersides and Dark Green/Earth upper sides. I used Vallejo 894 Cammo Olive Green and 921 English Uniform. It looks OK to me, even if a little dark.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I found a couple of useful resources:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">an on line copy of <a href="https://www.seawings.co.uk/images/colour%20charts/British%20Aviation%20Colours%20of%20WWII.pdf">British Aviation Colours of WWII</a> which gives the official RAF instructions on colour schemes and also includes facsimile colour chips;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">a site dedicated to <a href="https://verde9.com/en/luftwaffe-camouflage-schemes-and-patterns/2/">Luftwaffe Camouflage Schemes</a>, this includes some excellent diagrams showing the development of scehemes over time with RLM colour references. </span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Over Xmas I also got a Spitfire, P40 and Cromwell from the Aldi's range of Airfix starter kits. These kits are really nice and I'm looking forward to making them. Panel lining here we come!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-29641108771627521392023-12-24T15:17:00.004+00:002023-12-24T15:17:59.815+00:00Christmas catch-up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3fDyPqyqrd7y1a73cEa3JhaeLnIYf6xClMFqFE2LFN3sDh8QvCLaw_ryexhmqo9c_kc5KLACjHwcYFouivFQoGCfg3cO8y8uxU7QlIzeuHznf8HaUhaNAcbC9b0KJdk1CMzx-OunkCK9SIXQoKGysUmryr_9Mc5KMW7VdrGJLfOvjUoXsj7nx_uhF0a6/s3456/20231221_164846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3fDyPqyqrd7y1a73cEa3JhaeLnIYf6xClMFqFE2LFN3sDh8QvCLaw_ryexhmqo9c_kc5KLACjHwcYFouivFQoGCfg3cO8y8uxU7QlIzeuHznf8HaUhaNAcbC9b0KJdk1CMzx-OunkCK9SIXQoKGysUmryr_9Mc5KMW7VdrGJLfOvjUoXsj7nx_uhF0a6/w400-h400/20231221_164846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I had originally intended posting this some weeks ago but real life has meant that I now have an accidental festive edition.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been collecting some reading for the mid-winter. Looking forward to getting to grips with these. At first glance Blood and Ruins looks to be outstanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInGwO91i25t9rBy5NGXzBE5MI9GrfWQ1gYKdnzgAVHtuGH_nPLxnC_UouC4vfxFRc4XKV2YcCSauDn4HSC_uFar-btBiv6gECIACwCw-sXh4pnOvMaeDDeZesClfaJ-6D2l6BaM19cVLFxYGp0aBbW7WELu-Anr5p8s4eKdYSEOCwZJg3s_DH2ONW_li8/s3456/20231218_182352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInGwO91i25t9rBy5NGXzBE5MI9GrfWQ1gYKdnzgAVHtuGH_nPLxnC_UouC4vfxFRc4XKV2YcCSauDn4HSC_uFar-btBiv6gECIACwCw-sXh4pnOvMaeDDeZesClfaJ-6D2l6BaM19cVLFxYGp0aBbW7WELu-Anr5p8s4eKdYSEOCwZJg3s_DH2ONW_li8/w400-h400/20231218_182352.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I have seen Brazen Chariots discussed elsehwere in blogland. I bought it and read it in one go. For an old book (slightly younger than me) I'm surprised that I hadn't come across it before. Nevertheless, a real eye opener from a command and control point of view. Much of the activity involving buggering about on a compass bearing until you find something to shoot at. Not something you will see reflected in Flames of War.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As foreseen in my last post, I have finally finished the Hs126 and tidied up the Stukas. I have also refurbished my one and only Bf109.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGsEsHw96SwZfWvG7cvZaiot2zxOLOg7K54Arpqa2rjKiYLPmOyUWGwcLlPWjCV59xwHMKISZmLFdI-b_tc0kHZBN1jfAABMoelhZSOuFgkixUw99hnWH8X4nzQmBTzetz9VeWMN_E1GqY7oCQp36elxh3S4iEVe-C_uzFMjzPcPUtMeO9aTip0OBn6ie/s3456/20231218_182527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGsEsHw96SwZfWvG7cvZaiot2zxOLOg7K54Arpqa2rjKiYLPmOyUWGwcLlPWjCV59xwHMKISZmLFdI-b_tc0kHZBN1jfAABMoelhZSOuFgkixUw99hnWH8X4nzQmBTzetz9VeWMN_E1GqY7oCQp36elxh3S4iEVe-C_uzFMjzPcPUtMeO9aTip0OBn6ie/w400-h400/20231218_182527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9j6gNi9AdmRk5ENJ6yCU23K-UnZkbphFi5zKx81N5aIiEgAHfsby0tJFH7iROUw_kQ6JxrGPZvhXDeQB6giQB0WF05wPif4p5f0KVp25L-7yVP2pK2yU-AR1wb9LZzj8r8y1Uxp1F4QGBeY-aZnUIztDPpnplTGOGqKAgYrI1_BZSo8O3O7WXPdLIJ6V/s3456/20231218_182605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9j6gNi9AdmRk5ENJ6yCU23K-UnZkbphFi5zKx81N5aIiEgAHfsby0tJFH7iROUw_kQ6JxrGPZvhXDeQB6giQB0WF05wPif4p5f0KVp25L-7yVP2pK2yU-AR1wb9LZzj8r8y1Uxp1F4QGBeY-aZnUIztDPpnplTGOGqKAgYrI1_BZSo8O3O7WXPdLIJ6V/w400-h400/20231218_182605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDpMwzg8aRMPAH2MyancRaVZVJ5oqqLhDZvq9S9aNOjOYXAw9CkSuorEAruqWA3ill0rmuTdk_diOOK3OF1h5Bc26D6C2_Jepa8yCzLxlZiVSI5BaJL3gMS1Ovk3s35I1-1ECQR2ZCnIM9e1IaZl4Nol47ZSiTcnlqdJNJsRezrm6FREznm3LPdnNZ6Ly/s3456/20231224_150746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDpMwzg8aRMPAH2MyancRaVZVJ5oqqLhDZvq9S9aNOjOYXAw9CkSuorEAruqWA3ill0rmuTdk_diOOK3OF1h5Bc26D6C2_Jepa8yCzLxlZiVSI5BaJL3gMS1Ovk3s35I1-1ECQR2ZCnIM9e1IaZl4Nol47ZSiTcnlqdJNJsRezrm6FREznm3LPdnNZ6Ly/w400-h400/20231224_150746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>I have really enjoyed painting these and can't wait to start on the Brits next.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, it is time for festivities including Norm's very excellent annual Christmas post tomorrow. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, on that note, Happy Christmas one and all!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-33192465379394074302023-11-13T18:27:00.001+00:002023-11-13T18:27:29.913+00:00More Zvezda airforce<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf90TTtihH5V1NwofMfgV0Mki-fKU5Gm1hFaC8VDHrI60eS4t4dTk7_Sv-QRHyuZJ53YBmCc4qAgIWncTYB08m4ohE2nKbq6RZeAjxou1wOllza2KHQVHf2PmmDwwhPnuPGOrMJs72u5iflFt62ZNG-7q4JYKrMM-ISeyi0_yjBPVCJn_PI99moLlEo6OY/s3456/20231113_175808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf90TTtihH5V1NwofMfgV0Mki-fKU5Gm1hFaC8VDHrI60eS4t4dTk7_Sv-QRHyuZJ53YBmCc4qAgIWncTYB08m4ohE2nKbq6RZeAjxou1wOllza2KHQVHf2PmmDwwhPnuPGOrMJs72u5iflFt62ZNG-7q4JYKrMM-ISeyi0_yjBPVCJn_PI99moLlEo6OY/w400-h400/20231113_175808.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Room for a run up here!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz382C_JZFPI8FUv0hfW-zspDbZynztbDO6rfm-GnyzfAh789Y2T5P-sAKbACg4_m0pDeVx_gRdccPoLJjVBOLShNWlzGIMZW5tVc1XFZrWiHxF7htaj8pJ3mVgGco-XhO9igRaCjdq_I9UDRrPaQLifW68ofXC0MGRe-gclB8APRe0xUC7B7f2cZoaQ_/s3456/20231113_175959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz382C_JZFPI8FUv0hfW-zspDbZynztbDO6rfm-GnyzfAh789Y2T5P-sAKbACg4_m0pDeVx_gRdccPoLJjVBOLShNWlzGIMZW5tVc1XFZrWiHxF7htaj8pJ3mVgGco-XhO9igRaCjdq_I9UDRrPaQLifW68ofXC0MGRe-gclB8APRe0xUC7B7f2cZoaQ_/w400-h400/20231113_175959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Shakey Hans!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Multiple projects causing severe confusion about what to do next. So, time to finish off some aircraft. Two Stukas today. Perhaps the HS126 tomorrow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then, oh dear, a Blenheim, a Battle, a Tempest MKIV (Revell) and a U2 and a LAGG 3. That might be a plane too far. Let's see.</span></div><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-35593397099749443952023-11-04T15:24:00.000+00:002023-11-04T15:24:44.200+00:00Stout Hearts still stout!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/rAkVQLk1Kt4?si=Ux8F16oIhGdthBkO" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a really good review of Stout Hearts from Moe. That is, good in terms of understanding the game and having fun playing it. This gives me a nice warm feeling which is rare at my age.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Haviing found that I have at least 20 odd projects on the go I have realised that perhaps I should just myself organised and get on with one or two of them. The catch is which two?</span></div>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-10099704719734937852023-09-11T14:54:00.000+01:002023-09-11T14:54:02.194+01:00New free stuff!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8v4LSY-41TWxLzEBn_rT_vU6a1sM5qk9bQJpw0BAlWPuzA_mvf5x51oR8CMQOGOfPtrgnx1sn7YhhMFXeULE7Pm74QX9PeFHSL_FlzlXt3EtLLPJOOkK3BTuRhGRtnGWgvqPipP2bXJe_h6I5G9GMqIkN2YD5oZAQr2G0fRpQ5n7_oRw-8npZcpgqvxb/s4200/pic7247414.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4200" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8v4LSY-41TWxLzEBn_rT_vU6a1sM5qk9bQJpw0BAlWPuzA_mvf5x51oR8CMQOGOfPtrgnx1sn7YhhMFXeULE7Pm74QX9PeFHSL_FlzlXt3EtLLPJOOkK3BTuRhGRtnGWgvqPipP2bXJe_h6I5G9GMqIkN2YD5oZAQr2G0fRpQ5n7_oRw-8npZcpgqvxb/s320/pic7247414.png" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Battle Card:</b> This is a series of simple one page/postcard 10 minute solo games by David "Undaunted" Thompson. The series is <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398947/battle-card-series-1">announced on BGG</a> and it will cover a wide range of WW2 stratgic subjects. What is neat is that there is a pnp of Market Garden (illustrated above) on BGG which is well worth a <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/377068/battle-card-market-garden/files">download</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is also a web based <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3065851/web-based-mini-app">mini-app</a> (whatever that may be!) to play with. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8sG35X8cAZu0QqjofUJPPM_OBBTIsb5y8IQajb0yS8uB1fkZulC3A3hxzproVFIp7KYhGtA4TpYBKstPoy-ol9zBJzzNg1HJoSkh01AINJ74iCQRi-j0Eal4ExwMsC-LuKGnr4ZDXjGcUnnv_OAJ7ixb8Kfmp9kTFn5aD23yzRiQh-LpSoHEFJTIaJXc/s1874/sherwood-cover-1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="1361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8sG35X8cAZu0QqjofUJPPM_OBBTIsb5y8IQajb0yS8uB1fkZulC3A3hxzproVFIp7KYhGtA4TpYBKstPoy-ol9zBJzzNg1HJoSkh01AINJ74iCQRi-j0Eal4ExwMsC-LuKGnr4ZDXjGcUnnv_OAJ7ixb8Kfmp9kTFn5aD23yzRiQh-LpSoHEFJTIaJXc/s320/sherwood-cover-1280.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cry Havoc:</b> Some of you may remember Cry Havoc from the distant past. I lost track of my original copy some years ago. However, there is a thriving community of <a href="https://www.cryhavocfan.org/indexeng.htm">Havoc gamers</a> (and its many expansions) and they have many projects underway. The news is that there is a pnp introductory game covering Robin Hood and his merry men. Sherwood can be found <a href="https://www.cryhavocfan.org/eng/extensio/sherwood/sherwood.htm#The_Characters">here</a>. Time for some nostalgic man to man combat!</span></div><br /><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-54547310202016301722023-08-19T15:01:00.002+01:002023-08-19T15:01:59.770+01:00Take that hill!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyg84SUE0LCRlBsElgnhDqduhCWLT0XMM7g_Z88nusAFkT7kNNv-yD2XhiW5FhMyEit5Ut4hVmtoZF8d8jiMU0KQi8eqKF5_Mve512I3txu4HtfUrpa0h99Dy1etUTCU5UiNy-XAmBlAW3Nd7Sv8PMjZmelK8TFiGO3lyEWuHbetufu5vuRLWrclXccpLG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1218" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyg84SUE0LCRlBsElgnhDqduhCWLT0XMM7g_Z88nusAFkT7kNNv-yD2XhiW5FhMyEit5Ut4hVmtoZF8d8jiMU0KQi8eqKF5_Mve512I3txu4HtfUrpa0h99Dy1etUTCU5UiNy-XAmBlAW3Nd7Sv8PMjZmelK8TFiGO3lyEWuHbetufu5vuRLWrclXccpLG=w400-h254" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I find myself bogged down in a basing fiasco so I have been looking for some diversionary activity. I came across this recently, a professional version of Phil Sabin's Take That Hill! This is available from UK Fight Club as a PnP game <a href="https://www.fightclubinternational.org/take-that-hill">here</a>. I haven't got past admiring it yet but hope to give it a whirl shortly.</span><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-75564268488508912372023-07-12T19:44:00.001+01:002023-07-12T19:44:55.717+01:00Now that is what I call basing!<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3OEa9jz9pxb8MPR7jH7yGyOtKZknpK-e898OO_D_78w1DzwxIQGI58flbU3nP_cCkWGqky_EBT_Y-KUaF-KWS_R5WiViWTzuWE3PKgDciPbC8X8sFHN_4Ze0ToSSu1nW2rEJ2xPGghBYUzj-zie8rP0s48YgoBoPDpymNl1JE6k2VOWzqGvdwNMXo0KFx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="829" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3OEa9jz9pxb8MPR7jH7yGyOtKZknpK-e898OO_D_78w1DzwxIQGI58flbU3nP_cCkWGqky_EBT_Y-KUaF-KWS_R5WiViWTzuWE3PKgDciPbC8X8sFHN_4Ze0ToSSu1nW2rEJ2xPGghBYUzj-zie8rP0s48YgoBoPDpymNl1JE6k2VOWzqGvdwNMXo0KFx=w400-h243" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I got a couple of Vospers off the front cover of WI this month. They will go very nicely with some E Boats that I have saved up. However, I came across this starange little video on Twitter which demonstrates a significant step forward in basing small boats!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The picture is a still from the video, I recomend taking a look via the following link: </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://twitter.com/n26edd3Pt24U3Hk/status/1679096947137978369?s=20">https://twitter.com/n26edd3Pt24U3Hk/status/1679096947137978369?s=20</a></span></span><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-16419470166531261642023-07-03T16:15:00.000+01:002023-07-03T16:15:36.133+01:00Phew, that was close!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBX6fJxrV59sEN9vM8GVEgvzbmSE9uy9L7JVAEJoJH-ee6Vl7MkNi8VN_NmsmBqmGOe-Jz5ZCZZgUnLYmkkHkNZkLzlPWbzD4IQqfIAVLp8w07p-uFa8mgfSCsWhvD3Yb1oGDQRVJ78CyUrd-_kIl-DjvXAMkrBKB365Y_4UzzmjW3NpnOKp1O2FcStb9/s3456/20230625_174121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBX6fJxrV59sEN9vM8GVEgvzbmSE9uy9L7JVAEJoJH-ee6Vl7MkNi8VN_NmsmBqmGOe-Jz5ZCZZgUnLYmkkHkNZkLzlPWbzD4IQqfIAVLp8w07p-uFa8mgfSCsWhvD3Yb1oGDQRVJ78CyUrd-_kIl-DjvXAMkrBKB365Y_4UzzmjW3NpnOKp1O2FcStb9/w400-h400/20230625_174121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A bit of recent light reading but all three books contain a phew that was close moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1983 by Taylor Downing covers the period leading up to the nearly fatal 1983 Able Archer exercise. Having lived through the period it was interesting to be reminded of the key events. 1983 was a close one, driven by mutual suspicion, lack of understanding and bad intelligence. Hold that thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Putin's Wars by the well kown Mark Galeotti takes us from Chechnya through Georgia to the current war in Ukraine. Very helpful to see the long running ideological thread through Russian foreign policy in their "near abroad". Good also on the Russian military modernisation programme. Everyone thought it was great until it went into action last year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The book goes up to June 2022. Western intelligence was great, Russian intelligence was poor. The Russian military has been hollowed out by corruption. The Ukrainians have done great things. A pity that the west expected Ukraine to collapse in three days, even with their intelligence assets. A major failure on the part of the Russia and Ukraine "experts". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is possible that our "phew that was close moment" has not yet been decided. Let's see what happens with that nuclear power station!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The last one is White Sun War by Mick Ryan. A future war story of a failed Chinese attempt to take Taiwan. An interesting, almost science fiction, forward look. Featuring autonomous unmanned ground vehicles which play a big role. Also interesting to see possible future Space Force capabilities. In the book the west wins by a nose after a significant "phew that was close moment".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All good and recommended. Sometimes I reflect on Francis Fukuyama's book about the end of history. I think we need to have a really good look round and understand that history continues and, as usual, in a very dangerous way. </span></p><p><br /></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-40802950378323823342023-06-13T20:31:00.001+01:002023-06-13T20:31:30.351+01:00Hexes, we got hexes!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRqn_6oqL5FW94T-7kej9OI_-uL4CmenqeAt342hEKycjbHdB1UBX6aoM2_yk8t7gqaEaJyhFjO3s-UrSmcgYMq-510S20kBFow9v8dV8tUWDpsnNghe_lKmw0mM0wvIgtNrkKHHPqmuwvZkJSMejEBwOKI3EpPWBEzVZXDU0F2NwLx9LK-J6WO8Eeg/s2048/Old%20Sarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRqn_6oqL5FW94T-7kej9OI_-uL4CmenqeAt342hEKycjbHdB1UBX6aoM2_yk8t7gqaEaJyhFjO3s-UrSmcgYMq-510S20kBFow9v8dV8tUWDpsnNghe_lKmw0mM0wvIgtNrkKHHPqmuwvZkJSMejEBwOKI3EpPWBEzVZXDU0F2NwLx9LK-J6WO8Eeg/w300-h400/Old%20Sarge.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a great photo from <a href="https://gary-oldsargeswargameandmodelblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/pegasus-bridge-in-1285-scale-using-asl.html">oldSarges Wargame and Model blog</a>. Old Sarge has done a great job creating a 3D hex grid for a 1/285 scale game of Squad leader. This is for a Pegasus bridge scenario. There are loads more pics on his blog and I recommend you take a look.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not to be outdone (it goes without saying that Old Sarge has massively out done me!), I have got some hexes as well!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4DK3Kt00-1moMBrvMBuctrZMJ66KNhtfPgdVYcLNymaOL6ScT5iHVihRXMZaGG-A0ap12tWo__CGNsiZleiSKhpgOx38IZ-09WYppUd64YA08M6xFwWU8etbZNrGPC9Z8-UXIQ-zlq1KCEveilgyHE5fl5VIXMZLoY9MzW0cbbBfnEfsfDjZHBJa-Q/s3456/20230613_201832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4DK3Kt00-1moMBrvMBuctrZMJ66KNhtfPgdVYcLNymaOL6ScT5iHVihRXMZaGG-A0ap12tWo__CGNsiZleiSKhpgOx38IZ-09WYppUd64YA08M6xFwWU8etbZNrGPC9Z8-UXIQ-zlq1KCEveilgyHE5fl5VIXMZLoY9MzW0cbbBfnEfsfDjZHBJa-Q/s320/20230613_201832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Just as an example, these are 80mm side to side. They are 2mm deep so I'm painting using undiluted acrylics which unfortunately leaves brush marks. Not a problem from three feet away but just irritating.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This will be my 3D battlescape for 2, 6 and 10mm OHW battles. Looking forward to getting this finished. Really, how long does it take to paint this stuff? The answer is far too long. I shall persevere. </span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-73562785517691973982023-06-04T19:42:00.007+01:002023-06-04T19:42:57.694+01:00Before it goes!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK7uJJulGIJjeH9cMYwBdO3dJV_eU8Z3R9xxotyahahPt8An5dpeZnjy9bP87_U0ApjtwPqUYIrrReA10LFnhhQl0eLyPQPcSAjt8dAdpbiSGiL9fbdZlD3b-LCwunImqe5BPz9_FGgK5APs_49S_0uCDV7ErZ9_LygXB_uKY49lJRZ6ybqBDdrbJ7w/s3456/20230604_192330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK7uJJulGIJjeH9cMYwBdO3dJV_eU8Z3R9xxotyahahPt8An5dpeZnjy9bP87_U0ApjtwPqUYIrrReA10LFnhhQl0eLyPQPcSAjt8dAdpbiSGiL9fbdZlD3b-LCwunImqe5BPz9_FGgK5APs_49S_0uCDV7ErZ9_LygXB_uKY49lJRZ6ybqBDdrbJ7w/w400-h400/20230604_192330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I wandered into Tescos the other day and saw that they had moved their book stand. I checked it out and this paperback caught my eye. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have The White Army by Deniken and also Mr Figes' A People's Tragedy. Alas, Mr Figes must await a rainy day before I attempt it as it is a bit hefty. However, i suspect this one by Antony Beevor will be an easier read. The other thing is that, instead of £10.99 this one was £4.50 with the club card. Worth having a look as the offer ends on 18 June!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-70752145807308630462022-02-28T15:43:00.001+00:002022-02-28T15:43:43.861+00:00Путін іди додому<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtEY6aRiPK7-VvCjsi01243dXAKu8DfjOBBgmY1kWvol2_p7dx8wgQ7ZShQFOxDXWTLoioOaPqqC4GmMpmq5v2nWi7i_hvPFkUsy4Ttp0v-D-seyemWtSjh94T4lhmF8fCcfW8aUA3-8u7BS41KGUChA5t7YY8V5clC3HWjfomiOaHU9v7oAdA21Zwhg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="406" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtEY6aRiPK7-VvCjsi01243dXAKu8DfjOBBgmY1kWvol2_p7dx8wgQ7ZShQFOxDXWTLoioOaPqqC4GmMpmq5v2nWi7i_hvPFkUsy4Ttp0v-D-seyemWtSjh94T4lhmF8fCcfW8aUA3-8u7BS41KGUChA5t7YY8V5clC3HWjfomiOaHU9v7oAdA21Zwhg=w406-h640" width="406" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-85120473677001501292021-09-25T21:36:00.000+01:002021-09-25T21:36:12.068+01:00There you are Mr Mojo!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5StzyLr5I_M5q2JRZoWzCQrN_pfS3t62wREjgPTMph7yR-TlHPDsasjW3Y4NRE4JGAR99HEC_T1srO7qqq-6vcsdRR2QfnI75RZ5UVf99S0cDVCnjtc9Nhp9VH1Ql2Q_FwIaBDociMa_/s2048/20210925_180029.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5StzyLr5I_M5q2JRZoWzCQrN_pfS3t62wREjgPTMph7yR-TlHPDsasjW3Y4NRE4JGAR99HEC_T1srO7qqq-6vcsdRR2QfnI75RZ5UVf99S0cDVCnjtc9Nhp9VH1Ql2Q_FwIaBDociMa_/w400-h300/20210925_180029.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"Ho there Mr Mojo, where have you been?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"Sorry boss, things were going **** up with Brexit so I shot over to Crete to paddle board with some Russians."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"Well, now you are back we can crack on, have you had any ideas?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"Well, loads but....well we had a few beers and stuff so I'm a bit murky on where I got to."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"Good thing I'm doing your job for you then!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">First up, more progress on Stout Hearts as per picture. Nearly final map. Looking to finish this very soon. Play testing next week. The photo does show this is a floppy map, bits of A4 stuck together, but it does look nice in real life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Inspiration</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been very happily inspired by a number of developments in other guys wargaming lives:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame is getting a lot of interesting applications. This one (of many) from Mark Cordone is brilliant, from the home made map tiles and 2D buildings to the 1/72 micro armies is simply superb (</span><a href="http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2021/07/other-peoples-portable-wargame-battle.html" style="font-family: arial;">here</a>).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFKh4KaO5vaPycZBOAz3WogHqdRuCv8JM8QbX03_vSK0NCzusYiNqSAL5BTTt6mvMrqDjy1YmnvhPYKWX1-5i4VG4DE5SF7K3MwBDYf0dAsowVuh7EEWnj5sm7AwXHLp4pJ41uV0fhMrg/s400/MarkCordone10-07-21-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="400" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFKh4KaO5vaPycZBOAz3WogHqdRuCv8JM8QbX03_vSK0NCzusYiNqSAL5BTTt6mvMrqDjy1YmnvhPYKWX1-5i4VG4DE5SF7K3MwBDYf0dAsowVuh7EEWnj5sm7AwXHLp4pJ41uV0fhMrg/w400-h272/MarkCordone10-07-21-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Useful review</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ui41eJE20aMHY_1Ies4RIBqdDWsPpIVPFuu5FYhCwRu-zHu2vTesSUsPQrKdm3NawcIlR9zdos9iqAof-kH-R6ka5IRsANTnHOP_AOtovBIhe_Alfl9-4n-USqORsa_TWdB0FYAYyFvQ/s1024/pic6315864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ui41eJE20aMHY_1Ies4RIBqdDWsPpIVPFuu5FYhCwRu-zHu2vTesSUsPQrKdm3NawcIlR9zdos9iqAof-kH-R6ka5IRsANTnHOP_AOtovBIhe_Alfl9-4n-USqORsa_TWdB0FYAYyFvQ/w400-h300/pic6315864.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I like reviews, especially ones which are useful. A simple like it or not is not helpful. However, there is a great review of my Hue game <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2701823/whats-last-wargame-youve-completed-august-2021-edi/page/2">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The reviewer didn't like it all that much but appreciated the experience. The important thing for me is that he thought that it was a good simulation of urban warfare. That is, lots of static shooting and endless assaults. Possibly not a not a fun game for the manoeuvre enthusiast but I take that as a compliment</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>On the horizon</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #002252;">Against the Odds Magazine have a belated Annual coming out. This time, La Vendée - 1793. I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #002252;">find this endlessly fascinating so it is on my list (see the blurb </span><a href="http://www.atomagazine.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=170">here</a>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>An apology</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, some Google nutter has decided to screw up everyone's Drive links. I know this has affected some of you looking to download some of my files. Please keep trying, I'm working to make all of them available again very soon. Thank you for your interest.</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-66711927058305785882021-08-28T18:34:00.004+01:002021-08-28T18:34:55.202+01:00Russian Front Notebook 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gwLO6XjrUtGjzJowLbO4zeYI8eAhCCqFi4J0kNzTzx_dtBCwj4XObH2qKUGY_12BmRgduP3P9l0okcFmxVwnpeWJSiD0xLqYqW3MxHOzm0U1ADopEKBBWpj9tFGhA-6_Dx4S7BBu-1Oe/s1080/Russian+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gwLO6XjrUtGjzJowLbO4zeYI8eAhCCqFi4J0kNzTzx_dtBCwj4XObH2qKUGY_12BmRgduP3P9l0okcFmxVwnpeWJSiD0xLqYqW3MxHOzm0U1ADopEKBBWpj9tFGhA-6_Dx4S7BBu-1Oe/w400-h225/Russian+Front.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>I have decided to start keeping some proper notes on references for the Russian Front (Great Patriotic War if you prefer) so I can find them later on.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In this first installment, some references on useful but uncommon subjects.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Luftwaffe strategic bombing in Russia</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not a subject I am familiar with but a very interesting video from Bismarck (Military Aviation History channel).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovUtqasRuRc">Military Aviation channel</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And one of the source documents he uses (the </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/RM6206.html">RAND Report</a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> on Luftwaffe strategic bombing).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>German railway operations in Russia</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another subject that I must admit has not been on my radar since playing the Russian Campaign. A very useful article on </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.hgwdavie.com/blog/2018/3/9/the-influence-of-railways-on-military-operations-in-the-russo-german-war-19411945">The Influence of Railways on Military Operations in the Russo-German War 1941–1945</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Russian squad tactics</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And a couple of useful references:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfZXlpJkDJg">Soviet Squad Tactics in WW2</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.battleorder.org/rus-ussr-squad-graphics">Russian/Soviet Rifle Squads 1935-2019</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are some points of accuracy to explore on these but nonetheless, very helpful. Possibly a clue about my current project.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">More to come in due course!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-73200883019890942552021-08-11T20:48:00.000+01:002021-08-11T20:48:19.093+01:00Quatre Bras run out!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYrIoi23N5OFlz_3R-b9q6Fw7r3Xb87d4xH8vLh1XTrpYYa6n9w6y7GClbLWRl7jMFDKNEgT6Z3_ERkk7TELitXyQnyMhezCsdprOT3jJPqDMg7eEgaIwZopE0jY4AkgxzUVDWoyr0YZa/s320/20210518_200457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYrIoi23N5OFlz_3R-b9q6Fw7r3Xb87d4xH8vLh1XTrpYYa6n9w6y7GClbLWRl7jMFDKNEgT6Z3_ERkk7TELitXyQnyMhezCsdprOT3jJPqDMg7eEgaIwZopE0jY4AkgxzUVDWoyr0YZa/w400-h300/20210518_200457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A belated thank you to Mr Rapier and chums for giving my old Quatre Bras game a <a href="http://tgamesweplay.blogspot.com/2021/07/quatre-bras.html">remote run out</a> the other week. Glad to see people having a go and, I think, reasonably successfully. Nice to see and also to have some useful feedback. Feel free to have a go <a href="http://flagsofvictory.blogspot.com/p/quatre-bras-la-carte.html">here</a>. One day the whole 100 days!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Also very worthwhile having a look at Martin's latest OHW game, this time GD at Kursk. Really really good!</span></p><p><br /></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-46351725080204718792021-07-26T20:43:00.000+01:002021-07-26T20:43:35.763+01:00Something for the weekend sir?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnn_kQMkhTd6h6_urY30ovatkYut-2r9liob7vTfPg7QwC0QwC5sl7I3h1f5-nEUy838gtsOi5QIBDac0XqPv7rOcejT-lExTzVHQ5YAXJ2tWNKsvhTYeFyR1i88REYOIDE4nMSvVRAIt/s1330/Stalingrad+YY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1330" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnn_kQMkhTd6h6_urY30ovatkYut-2r9liob7vTfPg7QwC0QwC5sl7I3h1f5-nEUy838gtsOi5QIBDac0XqPv7rOcejT-lExTzVHQ5YAXJ2tWNKsvhTYeFyR1i88REYOIDE4nMSvVRAIt/w400-h274/Stalingrad+YY.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">No sooner than I post about Stalingrad than I come across another series of brilliant documentaries by Army University Press (US Army that is!). Their series of four videos on the battle for </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoaz_22yJtH0EX5YiEmPro6YJQNvtdkPf" style="font-family: arial;">Stalingrad</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> describe the fighting through the lens of current (US) army doctrine. Big boy stuff this with acronyms and very unusual use of English. Really excellent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing to look out for is their staff ride for Stalingrad. There are some brilliant handouts for staff ride leaders and a complete three dimensional environment that, unfortunately, is only available to US Army personnel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One other excellent video series that I have come across is by The Operations Room. They specialise in top down animations. The one that blew me away was their first episode of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLErys4h2oiuxZw5mLDQuxSlv2-UiJPru-">Black Hawk Down</a>. Check it out, it's great!</span> </p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-48538131322648905092021-05-30T19:41:00.000+01:002021-05-30T19:41:29.139+01:00TIK History - Tick VG?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5pFyV6YSbhgjf-XuDReCf_yNxPPa8JUMTjThmoZayPXq9vQ_dQC0dfI_nPxHSiW6GEMbiwZfEMCfW3XOvfC7WT2OXCTpdYkr36nJBLjEIZ5IhLS_Cy26mSAuxbu17Bm-lmS__HPshzJ_/s300/TIK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5pFyV6YSbhgjf-XuDReCf_yNxPPa8JUMTjThmoZayPXq9vQ_dQC0dfI_nPxHSiW6GEMbiwZfEMCfW3XOvfC7WT2OXCTpdYkr36nJBLjEIZ5IhLS_Cy26mSAuxbu17Bm-lmS__HPshzJ_/w400-h224/TIK.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>TIK History:</b> I came across <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheImperatorKnight/playlists">TIK History</a> through one of <a href="http://exiledfog.blogspot.com/">Geordie's</a> very helpful blog posts. If you Google TIK you will see some interesting discussions about some of his views. To say that he has a particular perspective on economics is an understatement. He would fit in well with Trump supporters who view the NHS as the work of the communist devil.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Having said that, and make you own minds up if you wish to form an opinion, is it worth watching some of his output?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The short answer is yes. I have watched all 23 episodes so far of Battlestorm Stalingrad. I thought they were really good and educational:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">TIK does pretty well at presenting and his style goes down OK with me.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The story is narrated through animated maps, these are detailed (look like US Army topographic maps), zoomable and show their scale.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Statements are supported by references.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The narrative really does create an insightful picture of what actually happened.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The main source for the series is Glantz's Stalingrad trilogy supplemented by the current wave of new histories and is well researched.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This series has done a few things for me:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">It has reminded me I need to refresh my library and I have bought the latest edition of When Titans Clashed by Glantz and read it straight through. I have a few other updated books to get as well.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">It has rekindled my interest in the Eastern Front which is a very nice change of scenery.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The visual representation of the campaign shows what I knew, but didn't always realise was so important. The Red Army contested the battle through endless desperate defences and multiple continuous counter attacks. This brings to life the granularity of the fighting which, to my mind, no other medium has managed to do.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">There are great learning points for wargames.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So, I'm a happy customer but always careful if I think someone is dripping something in my ear!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>STALDATA:</b> This is a <a href="http://staldata.com/">website</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIk1QDvITjPOCsIRGGpSasA">You Tube</a> channel run by the French historian Anton Joly who has provided support to TIK on the Stalingrad series. Anton's Stalingrad Battle Atlas is excellent (all four volumes!). Very well worth watching his videos. As a non-French speaker, I was always impressed by Anton's presentation style. He has now got a Australian chap to do the voice overs which is great, but I became very fond of listening to Anton.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Tank Archive: </b>This <a href="http://www.tankarchives.ca/">blog</a> is excellent! I mention it in the context of the above sites because because I have been drawn to it by looking up things on the Red Army. This is a blog new to me bit not to others, there are some familiar names appearing in the comments. The best thing about this blog, apart from the very high level of technical knowledge shown by the blogger (I couldn't find his name, sorry) is that the material is from primary historical documents. Very very good stuff. </span></div></div><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-18102153273667611392021-05-19T20:05:00.000+01:002021-05-19T20:05:25.561+01:00PW Addendum<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6g5pBhzFGrfStPnnDijrlPbL08j7frSBr-rg_q5vJhhpyrM28mBWD7OsLSNBkrQ7Br9C2P7D2e8xds9xJc29EtWS_fyxRtYDFP9US_4fabvSAYzcaJLKEtkkK8GKQqtN6HlcWeR9IvK/s600/pic1042653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6g5pBhzFGrfStPnnDijrlPbL08j7frSBr-rg_q5vJhhpyrM28mBWD7OsLSNBkrQ7Br9C2P7D2e8xds9xJc29EtWS_fyxRtYDFP9US_4fabvSAYzcaJLKEtkkK8GKQqtN6HlcWeR9IvK/w284-h400/pic1042653.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Hi all, just a quick addition to the PW post. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Phil Dutré has kindly provided a link to his excellent index of </span><span style="font-family: arial;">PW issues <a href="http://snv-ttm.blogspot.com/p/wargames-magazine-database.html">http://snv-ttm.blogspot.com/p/wargames-magazine-database.html</a>. Thanks Phil!</span><dt id="c594931267618234404" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></dt><p></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-87866385299669037802021-05-04T20:05:00.002+01:002021-05-04T20:05:38.859+01:00Daaarrgh mateys, here be treasure!<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5IKSESHEDE6trD7ftAH5f_8UeHZHBngy6UvuQ5IOOHvDkWqSS-OeeVS282MRBsBluPTQIR5uOo18GHSX8A5Uy9WLBnY9CqVpjsW9XxmJfoFjx412E6WVlujFtwgKFtBbu8v9GzxIuLoG/s2048/20210423_154715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5IKSESHEDE6trD7ftAH5f_8UeHZHBngy6UvuQ5IOOHvDkWqSS-OeeVS282MRBsBluPTQIR5uOo18GHSX8A5Uy9WLBnY9CqVpjsW9XxmJfoFjx412E6WVlujFtwgKFtBbu8v9GzxIuLoG/w300-h400/20210423_154715.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm afraid blogging has taken third place behind two things beginning with B. Neither of which I feel the need to bother you about as they are in the news everyday. However, a little time away from blogging is a useful exercise sometimes and I have just been tinkering a little</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> with things when not working.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have made an entirely accidental discovery of some old wargames magazines which have been in a box for the last twenty years or so. It has been very enjoyable leafing through them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As you will have guessed from the picture, the box contains possibly the complete set of Practical Wargamer plus some special wargames issues from Military Modelling. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I am surprised by how many I am familiar with and delighted to find some I really treasure. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I imagine anyone reading this blog will remember PW, edited by the legendary Stuart Asquith.. If I recall correctly, it was a spin off from Military Modelling. The first issue was in the autumn of 1987, pretty much the same time as the first issue of WI. I think the last issue must have been around 2000 as I had just moved house when it folded. I was much disappointed as I was just about to resubscribe..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So here is one of my favourite PW issues.....</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Winter 1989</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnWgvle7ApWdDY_7WAW-uhAPI0P4NEtGCh0ru04VVJm4AtH6W_JfcWvgC0bXSI7XfazEwmuPIr5qUe91s-4ylkwtJHFZchJSJeaKhuqzAo9RU9shbTZn6r6CR5W14K0Y9SuXWLEVJvvVJ/s2048/20210423_161022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnWgvle7ApWdDY_7WAW-uhAPI0P4NEtGCh0ru04VVJm4AtH6W_JfcWvgC0bXSI7XfazEwmuPIr5qUe91s-4ylkwtJHFZchJSJeaKhuqzAo9RU9shbTZn6r6CR5W14K0Y9SuXWLEVJvvVJ/w300-h400/20210423_161022.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This issue featured the work of Clive Lane, a man dedicated to Airfix plastics and hexes. What a great combination. Here are a couple of tasters...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML05uwhbBDQrlviWJ-QNR9FZoh0HdqcxpC7h5oulNHqJPB8p6R9iw4SjYgf5W7PRC2Qqy1AoI30__HB5QlWsnUyM8GNckCnqtf0frzPUFNXunFSOolEO6sfPxAZSHrqiEYHYRMhgUV66X/s2048/20210423_155016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML05uwhbBDQrlviWJ-QNR9FZoh0HdqcxpC7h5oulNHqJPB8p6R9iw4SjYgf5W7PRC2Qqy1AoI30__HB5QlWsnUyM8GNckCnqtf0frzPUFNXunFSOolEO6sfPxAZSHrqiEYHYRMhgUV66X/w400-h300/20210423_155016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDieC4NlAXQgCDemmxyACB28ibCukCbJgZ4FOrmcsz2NxY9iGDzsO6O3inOCSuTFQAXNRYSGblkegUoLD80tPfeDFnH_gqDhWWDGsRgsxX-2O-KagzLKBwPGGxBahd4EHnIi2Hx27LcZRZ/s2048/20210423_155029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDieC4NlAXQgCDemmxyACB28ibCukCbJgZ4FOrmcsz2NxY9iGDzsO6O3inOCSuTFQAXNRYSGblkegUoLD80tPfeDFnH_gqDhWWDGsRgsxX-2O-KagzLKBwPGGxBahd4EHnIi2Hx27LcZRZ/w400-h300/20210423_155029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Another treasured magazine is this Wargames Manual from MM in 1983. This featured a fantastic article by Charlie Wesencraft.........</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig03s0Xti0IjeMKEwg-lT2JV25CosnuPXcX-9VtRa9f1PmSpwIqISNulvKOTsiw4Lh2yQK96Ux9RrIqnd36Rp0P9JCuK0VD-9AY0Igz8xjk3O7mHCPiABekMG6bi_QITk71YeQKRtEHVl1/s2048/20210423_154749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig03s0Xti0IjeMKEwg-lT2JV25CosnuPXcX-9VtRa9f1PmSpwIqISNulvKOTsiw4Lh2yQK96Ux9RrIqnd36Rp0P9JCuK0VD-9AY0Igz8xjk3O7mHCPiABekMG6bi_QITk71YeQKRtEHVl1/w300-h400/20210423_154749.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb70w9h-Q1fsiME7mXVFGovf_0nizoX07-6oLuzp_CZoYa9qTZwRxccwDJZkBgQW9RpaSC41jMaOgKJFDpmDcvL0SWhHGN9vORuILbX0GcbHOFYkPhGiXrdv_CspVLzn_pxHXt2h3Cm6k/s2048/20210423_154939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb70w9h-Q1fsiME7mXVFGovf_0nizoX07-6oLuzp_CZoYa9qTZwRxccwDJZkBgQW9RpaSC41jMaOgKJFDpmDcvL0SWhHGN9vORuILbX0GcbHOFYkPhGiXrdv_CspVLzn_pxHXt2h3Cm6k/w400-h300/20210423_154939.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Large scale Napoleonics with each stand a battalion but able to change formation by the positioning of its various elements. A work of genius not seen, to my knowledge, anywhere else.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A great trip down memory lane when magazines were about doing stuff yourself and exploring the boundaries rather than just buying product (which is not a hobby!).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of other things have also cropped up which are great and FREE!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Crossfire:</b> A booklet of 2' by 2' Crossfire mini-scenarios including a campaign (Volkhov, Russian Front). Hopefully the first of many. Give them a try <a href="https://balagan.info/download-crossfire-freebie-1-mini-scenarios">here</a>.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Punched Magazine:</b> The e-magazine with a game in it. This time round it focuses on COIN games. Not something I'm a fan off but worth reading nonetheless. Take a look <a href="https://www.cardboardemperors.co.uk/punched-2">here</a>. In my view, issue 1 was more interesting (Franco-Prussian War).</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hopefully blogging conditions will improve from here onwards!</span></div></div>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-87603073892268506082020-12-31T16:29:00.004+00:002020-12-31T16:29:57.053+00:00When did WWIII start?<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJPU6rKEjuUfc5Dal-L-Sn1ryWk5OJIkb86Zp4u6PDTZd6vTKrxACZrUdj2YVEIIFrs-bzh5yxmo37MKJjNgLkBPtA2C4jTsuE0KMzg5F583KOE5ewz8zqauLAGO2EfThd8FNDn2GJEyX/s960/sam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="960" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJPU6rKEjuUfc5Dal-L-Sn1ryWk5OJIkb86Zp4u6PDTZd6vTKrxACZrUdj2YVEIIFrs-bzh5yxmo37MKJjNgLkBPtA2C4jTsuE0KMzg5F583KOE5ewz8zqauLAGO2EfThd8FNDn2GJEyX/w400-h191/sam2.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #030303; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Happy winter greetings from the SAM 2 crew!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #030303; font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #030303; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Never,
perhaps, in the post-war decades has the situation in the world been as explosive
and, hence, more difficult and unfavourable as in the first half of the 1980's.</i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: #030303;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #030303; font-family: arial;">Mikhail
Gorbachev February 1986</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is perfectly feasible to play a WWIII wargame, of any
type, predicated on any number of start dates. Which date would you choose?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to GDW’s Team Yankee, it was 1987. Battlegroup
NORTHAG says 1983. Seven Days to the Rhine aims simply at the 1980s.
Interestingly, The Red Effect by Harvey Black says 1984. Are any of these dates
more likely than others and does it actually matter? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For most people I imagine, it doesn’t actually matter. Pick
the rules you like and use the kit you fancy. If you want to use Conquerors to
blow T-10s to molten slag, the answer is to come up with a rules set that
covers these vehicles and figure out as much of a narrative as you need to set
the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, I like to play a game in which both sides have a
believable narrative as to why they are fighting. The “historical” start date then
sets the conditions in terms of force strengths, equipment types etc. The date
is key for me because I’m writing my own rules and need to have an envelope for
the kit and the tactics. The rules will cover only what is necessary and I will
only need to find the specific models for the game. That keeps it simple all
round and stops me going off at unnecessary tangents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZcDIMsIGdTuj8JmoslHW8Gtb_eNujBmpJaJy0Prls5ys0qSTtBdYc6D_lWJdKl9-AXT-tzGv5FoxYamOwPEczavsxXShsJA2M7zavfmd50YhkjLRkgBVsi920DDYlvkghi1laT8zOCbr/s263/hats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZcDIMsIGdTuj8JmoslHW8Gtb_eNujBmpJaJy0Prls5ys0qSTtBdYc6D_lWJdKl9-AXT-tzGv5FoxYamOwPEczavsxXShsJA2M7zavfmd50YhkjLRkgBVsi920DDYlvkghi1laT8zOCbr/w400-h292/hats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Warsaw Pact hat competition, Hungary wins!</i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think 1984 is probably the last date at which a genuine
WWIII could have broken out in Europe, but also probably the most likely. Could
it have occurred earlier? Yes, certainly. There were many periods of extreme
tension, starting with the Berlin Blockade in 1948, which could have sparked a
war in Europe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, 1984 represents
the culmination of a number of developments which pushed the possibility of
conflict right up the scale.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The drivers for a conflict in 1984 are, as I see them, as
follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Nearly a decade of competitive developments in weaponry
(attack helicopters, new generation tanks) and in operational thinking
(air/land battle and operational manoeuvre groups);</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Strategic pressures brought about by Reagan’s election in
1980 and the possibility that his Star Wars project might provide a defensive
shield behind which the US could launch a first strike;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Increasingly large and realistic exercises by NATO and
Warsaw Pact (WP) which, even if not deliberately provocative, served to give
that impression;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Stress and instability within the Soviet leadership structure
due to Brezhnev’s death in 1982 and his replacement by, first, Andropov, and
second, Chernenko.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Effectively, Reagan started the war threat rolling in 1980
and cranked it up with Star Wars. Andropov, KGB Chairman in 1981, responded
with a massive project to obtain early warning of a US first strike (Op. RYaN)
and this response continued when he took over following Brezhnev’s demise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1wsQjYXmMxhD-vh2s7d9CFbJXHHHO6mlHMMd97wJe3IGMUOcts2kLtlHJ0xJBvMc66SubMJ7Q9O3DRsD7-mgxfdSaSt0usN65DR5DuWz4dw2FD2qtOZPUkX_gA8AvyJ3gq-FWcOiHEWt/s1280/How-a-1980%25E2%2580%2599s-Scare-Nearly-Became-a-Full-Blown-Nuclear-War-1280x720.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1wsQjYXmMxhD-vh2s7d9CFbJXHHHO6mlHMMd97wJe3IGMUOcts2kLtlHJ0xJBvMc66SubMJ7Q9O3DRsD7-mgxfdSaSt0usN65DR5DuWz4dw2FD2qtOZPUkX_gA8AvyJ3gq-FWcOiHEWt/w400-h225/How-a-1980%25E2%2580%2599s-Scare-Nearly-Became-a-Full-Blown-Nuclear-War-1280x720.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Here we come, ready or not!</i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pushed things to
the brink of war was the 1983 NATO exercise season. Although often referred to
as Able Archer 83, that exercise was only a small part of a series of exercises
under Autumn Forge 83. These started in September and ran through to November 1983.
Able Archer was the final component. Autumn Forge was a massive exercise involving
a full test of the reinforcement plan for NATO (Reforger 83) and also extensive
planning of B52 “strikes” including the transmission of nuclear codes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">From a Soviet point of view, this was a close to NATO war preparations
as they had ever seen. There is the possibility. therefore, that a Soviet
pre-emptive strike could have been put in place for 1984 for use if the threat
of a US/NATO strike was detected. This would have a been a standing start
attack into West Germany with a view to disrupting the attack on the WP but
with the advantage that it would shift the Iron Curtain further west and make
far more difficult for NATO in future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">All of this would, of course, totally ignore the possibility
of nuclear and chemical exchanges, the scale of military and civilian casualties
and the long term damage to the countries involved. Luckily for us, this did
not happen, phew! </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, what does this all this hot air mean then? Deep thinking on WWIII tactical OHW (possibly called Red Effect: Tactical). More later....in the meantime, Happy New Year!</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-26731636215637502412020-12-28T20:05:00.000+00:002020-12-28T20:05:35.895+00:00Interesting stuff for Christmas!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICmFwSr1RMGAHcbVoYjbBT16vSoh74u5u3eIq4NX9i-i4R8fGuyj1HF4tudNLp74q89iE4V2u48yiNAgnVkJ5FiSFibi_aUx938my0-9OON5U-SJQzBSj2Kbtalvu6wE3YoyhNP0zvKyz/s590/Picro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICmFwSr1RMGAHcbVoYjbBT16vSoh74u5u3eIq4NX9i-i4R8fGuyj1HF4tudNLp74q89iE4V2u48yiNAgnVkJ5FiSFibi_aUx938my0-9OON5U-SJQzBSj2Kbtalvu6wE3YoyhNP0zvKyz/w399-h400/Picro.png" width="399" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Condiments of the season! Hopefully things are well with you all. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been very unproductive in the last few months so, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in lieu of anything new from me just at the moment, I present some interesting, and free, stuff for your entertainment.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Les Guerres Picrocholines </b>A small game from Nuts!, and one I have had my eye on for a long while. Based on the famous adventures of Gargantua and friends by </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">François Rabelais (1534). Nuts! have this up as a free print and play <a href="https://www.trictrac.net/actus/print-play-les-guerres-picrocholines">h</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.trictrac.net/actus/print-play-les-guerres-picrocholines">ere</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Punched magazine</b> A new on-line wargames magazine with a game in it(!). The first edition is <a href="https://www.cardboardemperors.co.uk/issue1">here</a>. The game is Gravelotte 1870, an interesting little rock, scissors, paper game. One that looks like it could be very adaptable to other times and theatres. Invading Russia 1941 perhaps? Well worth checking out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Able Archer </b>I have been remiss in picking up the Rapid Fire Reloaded rules, on the list for next year. However, I have been tinkering with an interesting RF adaptation covering the cold war. You can find these rules on the Free Wargames Rules website <a href="https://freewargamesrules.fandom.com/wiki/Able_Archer">here</a>. Able Archer is a subject I intend to return to in the spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Peter's WSS rules</b> Last but not least, Peter has published his draft WSS rules, a bit hidden away <a href="https://gridbasedwargaming.blogspot.com/2020/12/sci-fi-painting-and-war-of-spanish.html">here</a>. Brilliant!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in the New Year.</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-12760405850404972912020-10-29T12:23:00.000+00:002020-10-29T12:23:21.452+00:00What did you do in the Third World War Dad?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrEzFYqZp-G9x7coA6of_m3ixL3l35njDePoOLXKoZTd-DzA-HolmzC6l-_fSJbdM0BgMOQkiapiOSuEtzlM8wtCB0HJkjrLnwzgLF6sCsXp8xydS2xYM4hIM2zoBupjo5euOeOdHcLpA/s990/world-war-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="990" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrEzFYqZp-G9x7coA6of_m3ixL3l35njDePoOLXKoZTd-DzA-HolmzC6l-_fSJbdM0BgMOQkiapiOSuEtzlM8wtCB0HJkjrLnwzgLF6sCsXp8xydS2xYM4hIM2zoBupjo5euOeOdHcLpA/w400-h300/world-war-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2017 story in the Independent, plus ca change</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well children, there wasn't just one WWIII there were loads! I remember the first one well. It was 1962 and I can recall them testing the nuclear raid warning sirens. There was a big one outside the </span><a href="http://www.thetreborstory.com/page37.html" style="font-family: arial;">Trebor factory</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. I can't think there was any point to them as the idea was that you would be dead in four minutes which isn't much time even to finish lunch. We won that one, the Russians lost and the Cubans have been made to stay at home for nearly 60 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The next WWIII was in 1965 but it was very secret. They made a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Game">documentary</a> about it and, apparently, we pretty much all died. Because it was secret no-one really noticed until 1985 when we all seemed to be OK again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a rumour in 1975 that the Russians had nuked <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8751/wurzburg-soviet-american-combat-70s">Wurzburg</a> but this was only a game. As were Red Star/White Star, NATO, WWIII, Next War, Fulda Gap, Mech War '77 and Firefight. By the time they got to NATO Divisional Commander most people were shell-shocked and needed a rest. Public Information <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1964to1979/filmpage_casualties.htm">films</a> didn't provide any comfort!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We then had another two pretend WWIIIs made up by the military to get more funding by frightening the citizens. First, in 1978, Sir John Hackett described the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_World_War:_The_Untold_Story">future war </a>that would break out in 1985. Then in 1979 Shelford Bidwell made the case for more cash in <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-3-Shelford-Bidwell/dp/0600394786">World War 3</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1983 the NATO big boys played a wargame called Able Archer. Unfortunately, the Russians, being a totalitarian criminal enterprise, didn't have a sense of humour. Luckily, the war was another pretend one but only because two officers, one Russian and one American, took morally sound decisions. Unfortunately, no-one made a documentary about this because nothing went bang!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well pleased that WWIII was over we had another <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(1984_film)">documentary</a> in 1984 about when they nuked Sheffield which most people thought was a great idea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The final WWIIIs took place in the 1980s. These seem to be the basis for most current WWIII themed scenarios and games and follow on from the Able Archer turmoil. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The best of these books are:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpiSSrX51uhJySy-5KmshrQDfuworhgrahSMFU71hcOju0u_Hog2u40k3Dh0grBh1vD3w0xWSwfe__l8v2IlTtg-WUJDKvxsHEEO6zDIFKnhOm8fCHFL_gbgEIS7NSZzeyVH5DTMOAGvL/s455/TY+FC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpiSSrX51uhJySy-5KmshrQDfuworhgrahSMFU71hcOju0u_Hog2u40k3Dh0grBh1vD3w0xWSwfe__l8v2IlTtg-WUJDKvxsHEEO6zDIFKnhOm8fCHFL_gbgEIS7NSZzeyVH5DTMOAGvL/w264-h400/TY+FC.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>First Clash</b> by Kenneth Macksey and written as a training guide fo the Canadian Army, featuring the 4th Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group fighting off a Soviet attack in the summer of 1984.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfRNNdJcpxvGmH68CPlwdKH0tCc4bg5p7K4cbRoEQiYaUneoMh2ph8l5CMeoGqLroAVsLb23hIzsKv6Vh2j0qSMTztPoH4SZiWDTelpsjhCI5xQAonIJwBoiyyMOWwl2s2eM_kA43-kOX/s391/Team_Yankee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="258" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfRNNdJcpxvGmH68CPlwdKH0tCc4bg5p7K4cbRoEQiYaUneoMh2ph8l5CMeoGqLroAVsLb23hIzsKv6Vh2j0qSMTztPoH4SZiWDTelpsjhCI5xQAonIJwBoiyyMOWwl2s2eM_kA43-kOX/w264-h400/Team_Yankee.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><b style="font-family: arial;"><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></p>Team Yankee</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> was written in 1987 and probably sets the story in a similar time period. An excellent book and good game from GDW.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2LAw99wObdjQIomWRuhNqFbNk5pKeQD1GoVNOGkQiV41lBq_HqaKSnU27JCQ_vnNn_LfPYFb9tU8Y3lSenuESuoDkgmQyuDsHFWYWoPBvNOq3x9PYUqJ5FR_Eoa4r-bqbaCqSiQMi5J3/s320/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2LAw99wObdjQIomWRuhNqFbNk5pKeQD1GoVNOGkQiV41lBq_HqaKSnU27JCQ_vnNn_LfPYFb9tU8Y3lSenuESuoDkgmQyuDsHFWYWoPBvNOq3x9PYUqJ5FR_Eoa4r-bqbaCqSiQMi5J3/w265-h400/download.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Red Thrust</b> by Steven Zaloga is interesting because it describes a number of scenarios on the southern part of the Central front which provide a basis for analysing and evaluating Soviet capabilities. Although the war is nationally set in 1993, started by East German disturbances and starting a conflict over Berlin, the descriptions are equally valid for earlier in the 1980s, although the book itself was written n 1989. This shortly before official end of WWIII between 1989 and 1991 depending on your perspective.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS6XvYyv1HSRPYmVXQX49xZVzWAgQRvvPVr4yTK0_YUlAO1Z8mS5znG98FCAVk9RCaFGRxcbjQP4b_I5DltTnnmMWv0GKaQv0Fq9x_klxy0FHKIJSaz8HY7u8NLl1nv2H_8aViNYbUkXR/s404/tank-war-central-front-nato-vs-warsaw-pact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS6XvYyv1HSRPYmVXQX49xZVzWAgQRvvPVr4yTK0_YUlAO1Z8mS5znG98FCAVk9RCaFGRxcbjQP4b_I5DltTnnmMWv0GKaQv0Fq9x_klxy0FHKIJSaz8HY7u8NLl1nv2H_8aViNYbUkXR/s320/tank-war-central-front-nato-vs-warsaw-pact.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Tank War: Central Front,</b> also by Steven Zaloga, was published by Osprey in 1989 and, for my money, is a great place to start on WWIII gaming.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The big problem was that some people decided that having won WWIII there wouldn't be any more history and liberal democracy was the new defacto world governmental model. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_History_and_the_Last_Man">Frances Fukuyama </a>was possibly ill advised to adopt this position since we have had lots of history since then, mostly not very entertaining. Liberal democracy looks to be an endangered species just now, who's up for a game of Dixie?</span></p>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040961408491639069.post-19634592425088818582020-10-27T20:32:00.000+00:002020-10-27T20:32:55.324+00:00Periscope up, prepare to surface!<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PI_iHh2rP0s" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Blowing main ballast tanks here to come up for air and recharge batteries! The COVID/Brexit morass just doesn't go away.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, reason number one for posting just now is the above nice video from Diagonal Move about my Ramadi game. Good enough for any occasion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Reason number two is that I am old enough and ugly enough to recognise my own faults, including being too quick to reach a judgment. I'm not yet at the point of revisiting Battlegroup NORTHAG, although I certainly will, but just to say that I have just finished reading Red Effect by Harvey Black. A book I had initially cast aside after 30 pages. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtKSD2zbdLgmjpoNPC6MAmly7yVBc-VnX7HFWUoA6eZ7MBS2AaSxz8sTFrArI-wJqCZ9pSN27l96h5R97bhu7pmGbM7z70e7mcHZ3T2Txny_a1elSpixnM4VZRpnslJapxVQQn_ZflZKi/s500/Red+Effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtKSD2zbdLgmjpoNPC6MAmly7yVBc-VnX7HFWUoA6eZ7MBS2AaSxz8sTFrArI-wJqCZ9pSN27l96h5R97bhu7pmGbM7z70e7mcHZ3T2Txny_a1elSpixnM4VZRpnslJapxVQQn_ZflZKi/w260-h400/Red+Effect.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">My initial thoughts were that the characters were typical cardboard and the story moved at the pace of something very slow. I have given it a second go and have to say that, by the end, I was very much taken with the his approach and the technical detail.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It reminded me of both Red Thrust by Steven Zaloga and First Clash by Kenneth Macksey. Both of these books are professional military analyses. Ken's book was, of course, produced as training material for the Canadian Army. Both of these books have some cardboard in them but the technical detail is excellent. I'd put Harvey's book in the same league but with it actually being a lot more exciting on the action elements. I'll be asking for the next two volumes in the trilogy for my birthday.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Time to dive, dive, dive! Hopefully will surface again before Christmas.</span></div>Old Trousershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866101372406631079noreply@blogger.com2