Going over the top

What is a WWI gamer without his own set of trenches?

I had created trenches a year or two ago but they were very blah and I think if the terrain is blah the game is more than likely to be blah.

Well, I got side tracked, not sure how or why, from my ME project these past few weeks and started looking at the trench battle side of FOW1918. I purchased a copy of "Through the Mud and Blood" to see how they handled a few things that I thought were week in FOW1918. This with some discussions with Robert Dunlop (GWSH designer and historian) and I think we are on our way, just some play testing.

Back to the terrain, I started looking for pictures of other peoples trench terrain and actual photos. I modified my existing pieces. I think the angle pieces make a big difference. The sand bags are modeling clay and the metal sheets are some plastic sheet I got at the local train store supported by small dowels (logs). The actual trench is made from foam cut on my table saw (very messy).

One of my inspirations was this from Landships.com http://www.landships.freeservers.com/new_pages/trench_schematics.htm

I think it makes a big difference.

Bedu seen on the horizon!

It has been some time since a post. With my spring bicycle racing, family and work I have still been doing a little painting. One of the things that I managed to finish was some Minifig Bedouins with rifles and swords. They are not my favorite figures, I think the camels look a little odd and the riders don't seem to fit just right but after painting they actually tunred out okay. I modified the flag figure to represent Lawerence. I painted them up per a nice print in the Osprey book THE ARAB REVOLT 1916-18 depicting the capture of Aqaba with the Howeitat tribe. I plan on using them as his body guard. I may get another pack and have them as an additional tribe.

In FOW1918, Lawerence is an optional hero. I think he will make an interesting figure in the game.

The rest of my Arabs will be Old Glory Colonial ANSAR figures also pulling duty with PITS.

Inspiration and PITS ramble

In my search for 15mm Arab figures to create my FOW1918 Arab Revolt army; I have come across a number of European colonial themes. This has sparked an interest in something that I have intentionally strayed from. I remember my first Airfix FFL figures and how much they conjured up day dreams of sand dune deserts and wild lands. My friends never caught that interest, all being big into BIG tanks, so on to WWII. With the search for the correct Arabs, I found that most figures available are of the Dervish style and only a few of the al-Hejaz regions flowing garb. I will create a post later discussing the actual figures and which I will be using. In researching what these other figures should look like I got into the late British colonial period. I found some other blogs on the period and then came across PITS. Patrols in the Sudan is a set of rules based on the company level, perfect crossover for FOW1918. I borrowed a copy from Harry and skimmed them over. Looks like a smashing good time! (in my best victorian English accent) So one thing leads to another and I am skimming the 'free' movies On Demand and come across the 1939 version of The Four Feathers. How timely! I vaguely remember the 2002 version with Heath Ledger and decided I would give this one a look. It was great! The Dervish & Fuzzy Wuzzies looked as I found in my research. The huge sweeping desert scenes are right up there with Lawrence of Arabia. (another must see, inspiring movie) This has motivated me to push harder on my painting projects so that the gaming can commence. At the moment I have a little more to do on my Turks and I have started on the Arabs. My FOW1918 Arabs will look a lot like Dervish but I will explain that in a later post. I plan on trying these two armies out with both FOW1918 and PITS. May even try a combination of the two. Then I plan to move right into a colonial Anglo-Egyptian army and some Fuzzy Wuzzies. I love saying that!

Here is a link on the 1939 movie -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031334/

the 2002 movie -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240510/fullcredits#cast

PITS -

http://www.peterpig.co.uk/range22.htm

More Turkish delight!

Eureka Turkish Infantry, nice posses and paint up well. The only negative is the thin tip to the rifles that breaks off easily.

A trench catapult I scratch built out of balsa and card stock. Figures are Eureka. Mainly to be used in Galipoli games.

Snipers - Minifig figures.

I redid my Turkish officers Serpuş. After reading this article, http://www.turkeyswar.com/army/ranksuniforms.htm

,I repainted them all grey with a red top.

I have one more infantry platoon, artillery limbers and another 10.5 How to paint up and I will be done. I have pulled out my Arabs and ALH and started preping them for paint.

British 6" Newton mortar section complete

This is my 6" Netwon Mortar section I just finished. The mortars are scratch built the crew are Minifigs artillery figures, some with head swaps and the wagons are BF.

They should be a blast (pun intended) on the gaming table and add something different. With only two tubes they will probably not be all that effective though.

I plan on pulling them out for an Amiens game some time soon with the DAHWGs.

Progress on the Middle East project - Turks

I just finsihed my Arab Turks platoon which will also be my Arab Turkish cavalry dismounted. The only Arab Turk infantry figures I can find are made by QRF. They are a bit crude but actually paint up okay and will do the job. I need to finish two more regular infantry platoons, two snipers and a trench catapult. I have decided to do a some Galipolli as I build up myMiddle East armies.

Turkish Artillery, I need to get one more Peter Pig German 105 How and some BF limbers to finish them.

Middle East objective - Peter Pig Camel caravan from the Colonial range.

QRF Arab Turks

Minifigs Arab Turkish cavalry - They list them as Syrian. Most of the Arabs in Turkish service were from what we would know as Syria and Iran.

Now off to paint some ALH dismounted so we can game Galipolli next.

Cold Wars 2009 AAR

Last weekend was the HMGS East convention Cold Wars in Lancaster. PA. http://www.coldwars.org/

I went up Friday morning and stayed till Saturday afternoon and had a blast the whole time.

First thing Friday morning I attended a sculpting class for beginners. There were only four of us in the class and the sculptor, Don Goddard, was very informative on all aspects. It is not easy making clay do what you want. Practice, practice, practice!

I then wondered the Dealer area a bit checking out possible future buys and grabbed something to eat before setting up for the first of two FOW1918 games I was hosting.

The Friday game was the Cambrai, Day Two game I have hosted at other conventions.

It is a general Hold the line scenario but the objective area is a destroyed town. I had three players how up. not sure what happened to the fourth because it did sell out. I was busy reffing and forgot to take notes and only got a few pictures. The three players enjoyed the game but the British were overly cautious and failed in there mission.

One of the only times the RFC made it to the board but they were very effective in intercepting the German air support.

After the FOW1918 game I got in a Trench Wars game. It was a Boer War variant and we had over ten players. The table and figures were very nice but the game was very slow and I ended up talking more with the other players then actually gaming. I would like to try a true trench battle with the rules before I complete my judgement of them.

I had hoped to get in on the DBA Midnight Madness game but the Trench Wars game ran over and I decided to just get some rest.

Saturday morning, Harry and I got in on the DBN game. There had been a lot of discussion on this game on the Fanaticus forum. Harry and I ended up being French and supporting each others flanks. It was a great time even if my attack was fended off by Bob's Brits.

The Allies

The starting positions
My attack on the left flank

The French (Winners!)

After the DBN I hosted my second FOW1918 game. It was a Fighting Withdraw scenario of the French against a German Stosstrupen. Again I only had three players, not sure what was up with the fourth guy. The German players were fairly new to FOW and so they got beaten pretty badly. I still think the scenario is a good one and will host it for the DAHWGs sometime.

Overall a great time and I look forward the next convention I can make.