U.K. Forces in the Falklands

Here are a few pictures of my British forces currently in various stages of construction and painting for  a future Falkland Islands campaign.

Two 'cheap, plastic toy' Harriers with a great paint job to hide the fact. They came out much better than I had anticipated. They are so close to 1/72 scale, it's not even funny.

A little bit more painting of details to go. I was even able to easily remove the canopies and paint the cockpit and pilot. However, these toys came 'unarmed', so later I will need to add some rocket pods with the appropriate assortment of armaments.

Off to their mission...and some painting touch-ups and a clear coat. 

All of the British forces I have so far..in their various stages of painting. Harrier jets (rear), Scimitar light tank (center), and infantry (front).

 British infantry almost done.  Still need to detail and flock the bases.

Here's a mortar team to support the infantry.

I still need to acquire some British infantry in helmets, finish building a Scorpion light tank, and put the final touches on a British transport Helicopter.  

Cheap flight stands for your 20mm aerial vehicles

I think I accidentally found an inexpensive way to display my 20mm (1/72nd) helicopters and aircraft on the gaming table. It should also work for other scales as well including 15mm, 10mm, and etc.  (Probably not so good for larger, 28mm or 1/43rd scale aircraft.)

When I run 20mm games (Modern, Vietnam, WWII), I prefer to have aircraft that can be brought onto the table, even if for the brief moment that it affects the board of play.

I was using a simple, bulky wood block (for stability) with a hole in it to hold an expandable, magnetic holder. (Used for picking up small, magnetic, metal parts)  However, I hate the look of it on the table.

My recent discovery uses the same magnetic 'wand' (about $2+ at most stores), but gets rid of the wood block.  In it's place is an inexpensive, short camera tripod with a screw attachment. (The one I found, I found at the Dollar Tree for $1.)

The camera tripod is on the left, the magnetic 'wand' is laying in front, and the two of them put together are on the right.   To connect them, I unscrew the end cap off of the wand and remove the pocket holder clip.  (Put it in your bit's box for other uses.) The remaining, threaded hole is too small for the tripod screw.  So, I drill out the hole so that it is slightly smaller than the screw.  I then firmly screw the tripod into the end of the wand, making my own thread grooves.  The hole could always be drilled larger, and simple glue or epoxy the screw into place. (Make sure the wand is extended so you don't accidentally glue the assembly closed.) The completed assembly can also be tilted slightly if desired, but because of the center of gravity, a vertical orientation is more desirable.

Because the 'wands' magnet is usually not too strong, I add a 3mm thick by 1/2" diameter 'super' magnet that I picked up at Michael's for about $4 (6 pack).  I have steel washers glued (CA glue) to the underside of all my aircraft to complete the assembly.

Here are some examples of my modern 20mm (1/72nd) aircraft up on their platforms.

Here's a diecast 'Forces of Valour' Blackhawk (L) and a plastic Apache Kit (R).

Here's the Apache at a declining, attack angle.

(Not recommended for most, but this is a lightweight plastic kit.)

Here's a diecast 'Forces of Valour' Desert Hawk (L) and a diecast 'Forces of Valour' Blackhawk (R).

Here's a diecast 'Forces of Valour' Desert Hawk (L) and the plastic Apache (R).

Here's a recently painted 'cheap, plastic toy' Harrier Jet (L) and a Blackhawk down on the deck (R).

Again, the Harrier Jet (L) and a diecast Predator Drone (R).

I can't forget about my A-10 Warthog! 

(This one took out a building and the Insurgents hiding inside, during close support of ground units.)

I also have an V-22 Osprey, but it's not pictured. Lastly, all of my Huey's are currently under construction to be used for the Vietnam games and other 1980's games such as the invasion of Grenada and etc.. 

(Yes, my games tend not to be too boring with these assets available.)

Skirmish at Thlo-no-ta-sassy River (Flintlake Creek), Take two.

(Woohoo, post #100 and counting!)

Here is another game of the Battle of "Flintlake Creek" using the Brother Against Brother (BAB) rules.

The US detachment abandons Fort Alabama (Fort Foster) and heads south along the Fort King Highway to Fort Brooke (Tampa, FL). On April 27, 1836, as the column of troops cross the Thlo-no-ta-sassy River (Flintlake Creek) and into an open prairie, Seminoles hidden in the creek bed open fire on the regulars.

 Mistake #1: The U.S. troops slow down, and deploy on the flanks, on both sides of the river, rather than keep moving to the other end of the board.

 The Seminoles are about to open a severe volley into the U.S. troops investigating the woods on the left.  The lone Florida Militia unit doesn't realize that they area about to be wiped out by a lethal round of Seminole rifle fire.

 Seminoles are swapping shots and withdrawing further into the woods. As a variant with this set of rules and Seminole tactics, the Seminoles have degrading fire (an additional -1 cumulative) each turn they fire to represent the fouled guns and lack of ammo support.  Therefore, their rifle fire is essentially useless after 3 shots, but can still fight in deadly hand-to-hand fighting.

 Again, more wasted time by the U.S. troops as they unlimber the gun, load it, and then fire it.

(A 3-turn process.) 

 A unit of hidden Seminoles rises up out of the grassland prairie to fire on the approaching 'white man'.

The only Melee of the game. After receiving casualties, the U.S. troops were able to break contact and shoot down the remainder of the Seminoles as they were relatively stuck where they were, loading and firing, while their squad leader was dead.  

A good volley fire by the U.S. troops attempts to clear the road to the front. The U.S. will end up with a marginal victory and wagons full of wounded as they make their way south towards Ft. Brooke, located adjacent to Tampa City.

Recent ACW Yankeetown Raid

As typical during the ACW, there were hundreds of small scraps and skirmishes in the state of Florida.  Most involved shore or river landings of Union Sailors, Marines, Dismounted Cavalry and sometimes Regular Infantry.  This game, run at a local 'games day', represents a typical inland skirmish as Union troops search the Rebel interior for stores of contraband and other military supplies while fighting off the local Militia or Florida reserves.

(Please excuse the unfinished ACW troops.  I'm still working on the first batch of 250+ figures, but at least the artillerymen are complete.)

 The rebels have some local militia and artillery deployed in the field of this little hamlet.  Additional Confederate troops are approaching from the left (out of picture).  The main Union force is approaching from the south (out of picture to the lower right) while the USCT troops that I was in charge of start to deploy along the road on the left.

 The Main Yankee force deploys in good order while leaving a gap for the 12lb Napoleon to shoot into the rebel troops. The infantry trade shots with the militia suffering a murderous fire.

The initial volley by my USCT squads had disastrous results for the approaching confederates. (I'm sorry Jacob.) My troops did take some casualties, but not nearly as many as the Reb's did.  I couldn't roll that good again if I tried.  After the Rebel threat on this flank was checked, the squads on the right will advance across the cabbage patch towards the barn building.

Here, a Union Company, after failing their morale check, was forced to charge the nearest enemy which was the decimated Florid militia unit behind the fence.  The Reb's were routed off the field and the Union unit didn't quite make it to the Artillery in the field. However, continued Union fire would eliminate the other Florida unit on the right and would start to mow down the CSA gunner's before they could remove the guns. A last ditch effort by a lone gunner failed to cause any additional Yankee casualties when he pulled the lanyard with his last action.

The Yanks were shot up, but there was no way for the CSA troops to retake any ground lost.  This would be a marginal victory for the Union Forces as they burn and pillage their way back to their boats while escorting captured contraband.