473 - X-Wing Game 5: On Mercury's Wings

Hullo, All.

Out of the blue, work's been crazy-go-nuts-hectic but I managed to get TWO games of X-Wing in on Friday night: a 6'x3' Epic game (which will be the subject of my next post) and before that a 50-pt 'pre-game' - just to try something different. We called it 'Mercury's Wings'.

The idea was simple: I had two basic (Green Squadron) A-Wings, each with proton rockets and nothing else trying to fly past four Academy TIEs on a 3'x3' board. One of my A-Wings was secretly marked as the messenger (carrying secret plans), the other was an identical decoy. All I had to do was escape off the opposite edge; all the TIEs had to do was stop me.

Ignoring the [silently] screaming K-turns, the A-Wing shoots past the piquets.

The TIEs boldly made a choice and moved to overpower and destroy just one of the A-Wings, but once the Rebel pilot made it through their opening salvo, there was nothing else really that they could do, and both A-Wings, shooting down the flanks, made it through.

Both Green Squadron pilots streak through to get back to Rebel lines.

This was a super-super quick game, and although it didn't really work, we both think the idea has legs. Ideas DS and I had to improve the mission include the following:

• more TIEs
• flying lengthwise down a 6' table, thereby giving the TIEs time to turn and chase, or to stagger their lines of interception more...
• slower Rebel ships
• starting the TIEs behind the Rebels, as if the chase had just started (runs the risk of just becoming a sprint race)
• more obstacles.

ANYWAY, what was really of interest was the game that this one led into...

...but more of that in my next post!
Cheers,

- Drax.

PS: Dai, I've not forgotten the post which I noted you may well find interesting - it's just been delayed awhile. Watch this space! 

472 - '6MMRPC' #10 - Taking Damage

Just a quick 'Mountain Reduction' update - and I'm still running a week behind, so this is the last week's offering. The week before (what should've been #9) was the completion post for my Flames company. So there.

For the first time ever, I've made a start on some polystyrene damage markers. This is my prototype, form an idea from an idea I found on 'Take the High Groud' - here [link]:

So far, it's just got a grey priming on top of PVA (not entirely successfully), and although it's intended for Flames of War, I can't access any of my toys at the moment so here's an old IG Stormtrooper for scale. It's based on a fivepenny piece. Obviously, it'll need some depth and colour paited on it yet...

Hmm...so the challenge has not fallen by the wayside yet. Here's to it continuing...

...because I'm broke.

- Drax.

And yes, Zombtober did escape me after all. Quelle surprise.

471 - Flames 11AD Infantry Company (4KSLI) FINISHED AT LAST!

Yup - the title says it all: I've finally finished my Flames of War LW 11th Armoured Division Infantry Company (4 King's Shropshire Light Infantry) with attached support for Op. Market-Garden. Yay!

For once in my misbegotten life, I actually tried to set up something approaching some decent lighting in my kitchen - the least dimly lit corner of my damp and dingy cottage - but it didn't really work, so I've used the dreaded 'autocorrect' on some of these pics, I'm afraid. Sorry! Anyway, onto the pics (many of which are larger than usual, if you'd like to open them in a new tab)...

[above] - "Group hug, everyone!"

[above] - By the left...

[above] - ...by the centre...

[above] - ...and by the right. Now onto the composite units.

[above] - the converted Carrier Platoon and the Anti-Tank Platoon (6pdrs; (late))

[above] - 1 Platoon (previously 3 Platoon but better painted)

[above] - HQ, 2i/c and the slightly frosted (grrr!) 2 Platoon.

[above] - 3 Platoon. Actually, I've just thought that I might in fact swap 2 and 3 Platoons in future. It makes no difference, of course, other than in my head!

[above] - 3" Mortar Platoon

[above] - And so, onto the back row. This is the 4.2" Mortar Platoon, courtesy of  2 MG Coy, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers  

[above] - 1 Troop, A Squadron, 3RTR

2 Bofors 40mm S-P Anti-Aircraft Guns from 75th Light AA Regiment

[above] - 2 Troop, A Squadron, 3RTR

[above] - a Gun Troop of four [ridiculously underpowered] 25pdrs from 151 Ayreshire Yeomanry, RA

[above] - Look to the skies! An RAF Typhoon and an Army Auster AOP (scratchbuilt to scale before I realised that planes aren't usually to consistent scale in Flames...)

[above] - The Thin Olive-Drab-and-Khaki Line

[above] - "Er...Charge?"

[above] - "Yup - CHARGE!"

Hobby-wise, I could scarcely be happier - thanks to those of you who've followed me through this long and drawn-out process - especially for all of the reassuring and encouraging comments along the way!

Next stop: NORTH AFRICA*!

Cheers,

- Drax.
 
[*Actually, that's not true. the NEXT-next stop is actually painting up some new Shermans to replace the Yankee ones you'll see in the pics above (they will be shipping to North Africa) and so that I can field an Op. Overlord list for 11AD. But that's a detail, right?]