D Coy, 6RAR

I've now finished everything I HAVE to get done figure wise for Lard Summit.

These 76 Aussies bring D Coy up to strength. Mix of Battlefront, Peter Pig, and Flashpoint miniatures.  The best part of all is - I FINISHED 76 figures in ONE (1) day. In betwixt mowing the yard and doing other household chores. Hurrah!

Primed with Army Painter: Army Green Spray primer.

Blocking in done.

After the Ink Wash

After Ink Wash

Finished

Finished

The whole of D Company

In the above picture - Back row is 10 Plt, 11 Plt, and 12 Plt. Front Row is - HQ Plt.

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.

Now on to the terrain. Spent about an hour today doing table layout and cut out 25 area terrain bases to make a representative Rubber Plantation. Balancing maneuverability of bases of troops with pleasing aesthetic and historical accuracy. I've got a lot to do in the next two weeks. I sure do hope I have enough trees. 

2019 Finished Figures - 299

2019 Finished Terrain - 19

2019 Games Played - 3  

Viet Cong D445 Battalion

Progress continues apace for the Recruits Convention in Lee Summit, Missouri at the end of this month, Sept. 27-29.  On the 28th I, along with Jay Arnold of the Veteran Wargamer podcast and some of his mates will be running "Lard Summit"; a Toofatlardies event of all day Lardie games.  My submission will be the aforementioned in other blog updates "Battle of Long Tan".

To that end, my hobby and painting time has been stress-fully trying to get everything done that's needed for the game.  In the last couple days, I've finally finished off a company of the D445 Local Force Battalion for the Viet Cong. Follows is some WIP photos and then at the very end, the finished company.

This was when I was borderline panicking because I had sooo much to do.

Batch painting once you get into the swing of things isn't actually that bad.

A finished Plt. with bases tarted up.

A pic to show the effectiveness of the "bamboo tufts".

Another finished Plt.

My third and final attempt at freehanding a star onto their flag.

The full company, plus sniper team.

Batch painting is not as bad as I originally thought once I got into the swing of things.  Now, I just have 2 Platoons of Australians of D Coy, 6RAR and a Platoon of M113's from A Coy, 6RAR. Oh; and all the terrain. So no big deal. I have 18 days. Better get cracking.

2019 Finished Figures - 223

2019 Finished Terrain - 19

2019 Games Played - 3

275th Regiment - Peoples Army of North Vietnam

A quick update today as I'm cracking on with prepping for "LARD SUMMIT"; a gathering of Lardie gamers playing Toofatlardies games at the Recruits gaming convention in Lee Summit, MO on the 28th of Sept. 2019.

The game I'm going to be putting on is part of The Battle of Long Tan between the NVA/VC against D Coy, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment - using "Charlie Don't Surf".

To that end, I've just finished off a Company of NVA regulars of the 275th Regiment -

These figures are from Battlefront and were bloody awful. Tons of flash, odd scaled weapons...just terrible.  If I had it to do over again, I'd buy all Peter Pig. I hope they turned out ok, and the bamboo/underbrush tufts really help I think.

Now to get on with Viet Cong, more Aussies, terrain, supports etc. Till next time!

2019 Finished Figures - 150
2019 Finished Terrain - 19
2019 Games Played - 3

ANZAC's in Vietnam (3)

Four years and two days ago, I posted the 2nd post about ANZAC's in Vietnam in which I had finished a Company Command base and Medic and stated, "My goal is to get the rest of the platoon painted by the end of April." https://historyspiderweb.blogspot.com/2015/04/anzac-in-vietnam-2.html FOUR years ago. HA. Well, I've finished the 1st Platoon finally -

I'm pretty focused on this project now, because in September I will be running a "Charlie Don't Surf" game at the Recruits Gaming Convention in Lee Summit, Missouri. It will be my submission for our "Lard Summit" a collection of gamers running and introducing people to TooFatLardies rules and #spreadthelard spearheaded by Jay Arnold of the Veteran Wargamer Podcast.

Another positive to having this focus is that it means that HOPEFULLY, by September, I will have the components I need finally done and dusted for the beginning of my Tour of Duty campaign I want to do. Basically, following the men of a Company of Australian troops through their tour in Vietnam.  Believe me, there will be many more updates as I work on this project, and they damn well won't be four years from now.

Another item finished for this (and other) project(s) is this M.A.S.H tent.

Note - while the tent cannot be removed from the base, I am that sad bunny that painted the wounded inside.

It started life I believe as a Hospital Tent in a 1970's Airfix 1/72 kit.  I got it from my Dad who bought it in the '70s, and I've had it for almost 20 years languishing in the lead and plastic pile. Well, it scale wise works for 15mm up to 20mm so I painted it up. Personally, I love it.

Stand by for further!

2019 Finished Figures - 71

2019 Finished Terrain - 6

2019 Games Played - 1 

ANZAC's in Vietnam (2)

So, things have been a bit slow on the painting front lately, but I did manage to get these done -

Command Base

Medic base

I'm actually rather surprised, these are my first 15mm figures ever painted, and I had a blast with them. My goal is to get the rest of the platoon finished before the  end of April.

2015 Painted Figures - 37

2015 Finished Terrain - 11

2015 Games - 1

Call Up's - ANZAC's in Vietnam (1)

Here's a picture of 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment at the Puckapunyal Training Grounds - 

In other words, they're undercoated and ready for train...painting.

Word has it Charlie's doing some recruiting and training of his own. Further Intel will be forthcoming. 

In Honor of the ANZAC's

I've started a new project -

I've started work cleaning up several platoons of ANZAC's and have ordered a couple M113's and 105mm Howitzers as the beginning of some support options. Their OPFOR is also in the works with a company of VC. 

While doing research, I've picked up -

 For Kindle. And also found this music album which is excellent!

If any of you have any further book recommendations I'd love to hear 'em!

As a U.S. Service Member, I have fond memories of drinking beer with some Aussie and New Zealand Air Force guys. This project is dedicated to all our fallen Allies "Down Under".

6MMRPC - A Start on WW2 Japanese and ???

Well, you can definitely tell I've been parenting vs hobbying. My son is here for my month with him (that happens every other month), and the Thanksgiving holiday so my hobby time has been limited to maybe an hour or two at night after he's in bed. 

Hence why it's taken me so long to finish this update. But, it's worth it. This post will showcase 12 finished figures, AND, 2 small terrain items!

First up, the beginning of my 1/72 or 20mm plastic Japanese platoon for Chain of Command by the Lardies -

Platoon Leader and Sergeant. (The Japanese titles escape me atm.) 

Next we have a mortar section, the gent with the rifle over his head is the corporal in charge of the section - 

These are a mix of Revell and ESCI Japanese Infantry sets...the quality of the Revell figures is much higher than the ESCI ones, though they were all a pain in the anatomy to clean up mold lines on. I'm happy with the game quality paint job, and look forward to finishing the platoon, and their ANZAC and USMC opponents. My one main concern with this project is the amount of same pose figures there are in each set...may have to do some searching for other manufacturers because as these next three pics show; I need a lot of bloody men - 

Moving on. Ok, so these next figures started painting life way back in late 2011 when I first got back into wargaming, and had hardly any paints. They were meant to be US Long Range Recon Patrol troopers for Vietnam, but I personally thing they're too dark green to match up. Soooo I'll either have to fudge on historical painting accuracy, or, use them as something else. I haven't decided yet. Maybe both.

They're also 1/72 plastic figures...no idea the manufacturer. Terribly detailed. Actually had to hand paint on some of the rucksack straps. 

Lastly, I finished two quick bases for single trees. I'm pretty happy with them and they definitely have some weight to them which should help with preventing the trees from being knocked over by the errant arm sweep - 

Anyways, it feels really good to knock out another 12 figures, and my paint desk is still quite full. My next post will probably be my first finished gang for Across the Dead Earth. 

Stay tuned.