April 28, 2014

Bolt Action: Germany 'MG42 Medium Machine Gun Team'

It has been a little while since I last painted a model for Bolt Action (about 10 days), which if you can tell from my posts this year, that is a long time.  With having three fully painted armies now for Bolt Action, the painting has slowed and the gaming has increased.  At the end of next month (May), my son will be getting a influx of models for his Unites States army, so June will be a busy month.  Plus later in June maybe July, I will be starting the British Airborne army.  So right now I am enjoying the gaming and slowly adding a few models here and there.

So to most likely close out the month of April for painting, this past weekend I completed a 'MG42 Medium Machine Gun Team' for the German army.

Germany: MG42 Medium Machine Gun Team
Germany: MG42 Medium Machine Gun Team
Germany: MG42 Medium Machine Gun Team
Painting Points: 3

Battle Report: 4/27/2014 Bolt Action 'United States vs Germany'

It has been 2 weeks since my son and I each played a game of Bolt Action.  Been busy playing X-Wing for awhile.  But yesterday it was time to bring the armies back out.  My son decided he wanted to play with his US army, so I was then going to be playing the Germans.  I have yet to play with the German Sd.Kfz 251/1 Half-track, so I decided to put together a list to include this vehicle.  We randomly rolled a mission from the rule book and got 'Top Secret', that should be ideal with the Half-track.

Sunday 4/27/2014
Points: 1000
Scenario: Top Secret
Objective: Seize the objective and carry it off your table edge..
Armies: Germany (Dean) vs United States (Dragi)

I am still lacking 'terrain' for our table, so majority of the woods were just represented by 'area terrain'.  My plan is by the end of summer to have a wide selection of terrain, from building to roads to woods.
End of Turn 01.
End of Turn 02.
End of Turn 03.
End of Turn 04.
End of Turn 05.
End of Turn 06.

End of Turn 07.
Well the dice were not with the Germans today.  The game started out as planned with the German Half-track advancing up the road and a Veteran squad disembarking towards the objective.  Once they arrived at the objective, the Germans could not hold it nor pass it along as the Americans had 4 squads approaching and reigning down on fire eliminating the German Veteran squad.  The German Stug IIIC could not hit anything and was eventually blown away from the American Sherman.  By the time the Americans were able to capture the objective, there was not enough time left for them carry it off the board with the dense woods in their deployment zone.  The Americans then decided to just decimate the Germans killing them all.  Technically the game was a 'Draw' per the rulebook, even though the Americans slaughtered the Germans.  Usually if this game was played in a Tournament Environment, the Americans would have received +1 points for controlling the objective at the end of the game.

April 16, 2014

Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Flamethrower Team'

A few weeks ago, Warlord Games announced a new Soviet Union 'Flamethrower Team', '50mm Light Mortar Team' and an 'Ampulomet'.  When I heard that they were releasing these models, I had to order them right away.  With Royal Mail taking there usual two weeks to ship items to me, they finally arrived late last week.  Seeing how I already had a few items on my painting board, these models were going to slide to the back burner for a short while.  With already having a 'Medium Mortar' for my Soviet army, I am in no rush to finish the 'Light Mortar', but I am for the 'Flamethrower' and 'Ampulomet'.

The Soviet did not previously have a 'Flamethrower' model from Warlord Games for their army.  Yes there is a 'Flamethrower' with the 'Assault Engineers' (still yet to model and paint) but not in their standard Soviet uniform.  So this model was first to hit the painting board once I cleared up my other models.

Last night it was there turn for the board and they were completed after my game of X-Wing last night.

Soviet Union: Flamethrower Team
Soviet Union: Flamethrower Team
Painting Points: 2

Battle Report: 4/15/2014 X-Wing 'Firespray-131 x3 vs X-Wing x4'

Earlier today I mentioned that I recently picked up another 2 Firespray-131's for X-Wing.  Well last night I wanted to try the 3 Firespray-131 list and see how it does.

Rebels:
Luke Skywalker
(R2-D2, Marksmanship)
Red Squadron
Rookie Pilot
Rookie Pilot

Imperials:
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter

Firespray-131's deployed.
Rebel X-Wings deployed.
Fantasy Flight Games just released a new 'Tournament FAQ' yesterday, so we played with those rules.  There were only two changes to the rules, initiative and margin of victory.

In this game, the dice were not with the Galactic Empire.  I had no problems maneuvering the three large ships, I just had problems providing damage and defending damage.  The 'Bounty Hunters' did manage to take down a 'Rookie Pilot' and I had to take out 'Luke Skywalker', but in the end, the Rebels were able to destroy all the Imperial ships.

Up next I will be trying 2 Firespray-131's along with some variation of a TIE and upgrades.

X-Wing: Firespray-131 x2

Well the majority of our X-Wing models probably belong to my son, but when I get into a game, I go all in.  After playing a 2 YT-1300 list the other day, I thought to myself, "ok, what can I do with the Imperial counterpart".  So after searching for some Firespray-131 lists, I found that some people like to play with 3 of them.  Seeing how my son already had 1, Monday night on my way home from an Arizona Diamondbacks game, I decided to stop at my LGS and pick up 2 more.

Galactic Empire: Firespray-131
"Originally intended as a prisoner transport, the Firespray-31 gained notoriety through association with some of the galaxy’s most fearsome pirates and bounty hunters, including the infamous Boba Fett. The Slave I™ Expansion Pack for X-Wing™ allows players to take advantage of the Firespray’s versatile armament and heavy armor plating, as well as a host of deadly new upgrades. Slave I comes with a detailed miniature, four pilot cards, twelve upgrades, and all requisite tokens. New rules and a new mission further expand your games of X-Wing!"

Tuesday night I was planning on trying out the 3 ship list against my son.  If I do not like the way the 3 ship list plays since running them this way does not allow for any upgrades, then I will try a few 2 ship versions that I came across.

April 14, 2014

Battle Report: 4/13/2014 Bolt Action 'Soviet Union vs Germany and United States vs Germany'

After our game of X-Wing yesterday morning, it was time to throw down some Bolt Action.  After reading a battle report from AdeptiCon on the Bolt Action tournament and seeing a min/max Soviet Union army with two tanks, I thought to myself  'I'd like to see if I have the models for a cheese list'.  I did not have the exact models that player played, but I came close with a list.  I wanted to give it a try and see how it would do.  The Soviets have two Late-War theater lists that allow two tanks, so a second 'Reinforced Platoon' is not needed.

Officer:
1 Jr LT w/SMG
1 Infantry w/SMG

Infantry Squads:
Vet Squad 1
1 NCO w/Rifle

1 Infantry w/Rifle, Panzerfaust
3 Infantry w/SMG

Vet Squad 2
1 NCO w/Rifle
1 Infantry w/Rifle, Panzerfaust
3 Infantry w/SMG

Vet Squad 3
1 NCO w/Rifle
1 Infantry w/Rifle
3 Infantry w/SMG

Free Rifle Squad
1 NCO w/ Rifle
11 Infantry w/Rifle


1 Medium Mortar (Inexperienced)

Artillery:
1 ZiS-3 Divisional Gun

Tanks:
1 ISU-122
1 OT-34/85 Flamethrower Tank

Sunday 4/13/2014
Points: 1000
Scenario: Maximum Attrition
Objective: Destroy the enemy.
Armies: Soviet Union (Dean) vs Germany (Dragi)

Turn 1:
During the first turn, we saw all three tanks in the game fail to hit.  Infantry from both armies were advancing onto the battlefield.

Table setup.
Table setup.

Tanks fail to hit.

Turn 2:
OT-34/85 misses point blank on the StuG III but flames a Germany Veteran squad with 3 kills and 4 pin markers.  The Vet squad fails the morale test and is removed.
The ISU-122 also missed the StuG III.
StuG III hits OT-34/85 and knocks out.
Soviet ZiS-3 shoots German Veteran, kills 3, and they pass their test .
German Sniper takes another shot this turn and misses again.

OT-34/85 misses point blank on StuG III.



After Turn 2.
Turn 3:
ISU122 knocks out StuG III.
German Sniper finall hits, fails to wound.
Soviet Mortar zeroed in on Sniper causing 5 hits 3 wounds and removing the Sniper.
German Veterans kill 2 Soviet Veterans.
German Flamethrower Team no shot that they can see.
ISU-122 destroys German StuG III.
Turn 4:
German Flamethrower Team kills only 1 Soviet Veteran but causes 2 pins, Soviet fail Morale even with the ability to re-roll.
Soviet ZiS-3 failed fire order.
Soviet and German Infantry shooting back and forth.
Soviet Free Rifle squad outflanks on my right.
Soviet Mortar hits German Veteran squad, 6 hits, 4 wounds (2 alive and pass morale).
Soviet Free Rifle squad outflanking.
Turn 5:
German Flamethrower kills a Soviet Veteran and they pass their morale.
Soviets ambush German Veterans, kill 1.
Soviet Veterans assault German Flamethrower Team, 7 attacks only kill 1 but enough to win combat.
ISU-122 howitzer and kills all 5 German Veterans.

Turn 6:
German Officer assaults, fail to wound, Soviets attack back and kill both men.
Soviets assault Germans, combat tied, round 2 of combat, Soviets win.
ZiS-3 finally passes order and fires at lone German Veteran and kills.

Game Ended on a roll of 3.
There were only 2 lone Germans left on the battlefield.
Soviets: 8
Germans: 2
After the battle.
This Soviet list was made for this scenario, even though we did randomly roll for the scenario.  Would I play this list in a 'tournament', not sure, I know there could be a little more 'cheese' added to it.  I usually like to play well balance lists.  It is tough to say what really is 'cheese' when technically this list was made from a "theater list".  Yes it was fun playing with 3 big guns, most likely in friendly games I will stick to the 1 tank.... but I can see both of them coming out together in some big games.

After lunch we decided to play another game.  Now I was going to be playing Germans, and my son was going to be playing with his US army.  We once again randomly rolled for a scenario, and rolled "Hold Until Relieved".  We have yet to play this scenario before, so I was not sure exactly how to play it.  I did make a few adjustments to the German list and added in some more Assault Rifles.  I was going to be playing the Attackers and my son was the Defenders.

Sunday 4/13/2014
Points: 1000
Scenario: Hold Until Relieved
Objective: Control the objective at the end of the game.
Armies: Attackers Germany (Dean) vs Defenders United States (Dragi)

I did not take turn by turn notes for this game as I wanted to speed it up a bit, but did take a few pictures.

Table after Deployment.
Germans approaching the Objective marker.
Seeing how I never played this scenario before, I was unsure exactly on how I should deploy the Germans.  I think I made some big mistake deploying them.  Turn 1 I had already lost 2 squads to the Americans so it was not looking good.  Plus the dice were not good for the Germans.... I would either hit and then fail to wound, or failed to hit.....  In the end the Germans were just about wiped off the board with only 1 squad left in the game and the Americans were holding the objective.

One thing about this game that I am taking from it is; we learned more about the assault rules, especially when directly behind an obstacle and assaulting over it (obstacles are not 'rough terrain') so if you are directly behind an obstacle, you can assault over that obstacle the full 12 inches.

So at the end of the day, the country of Germany had lost both battles in this War.

Battle Report: 4/13/2014 X-Wing

Besides painting up some 'Assault Rifles' for our German Bolt Action army, I really did not get much painting done this weekend.  Instead this weekend more about playing some games.  We started first on Friday night with a game of X-Wing (click here for the Battle Report) and then played an intro 650 point game of Flames of War, followed by another game of X-Wing Sunday morning, and then two games of Bolt Action.  Here is a quick run down of Sunday's X-Wing game.

After playing a 'Han Shoots First' list on Friday night, on Saturday I was thinking how cool would it be to play with two YT-1300's (Millennium Falcon ships), so after our Flames of War intro game on Saturday, my son and I ran out to one of our local game stores and I picked up another YT-1300 and another X-Wing.

In this game it was a Rebel vs Rebel battle.  I wanted to try the two YT-1300's and my son wanted to try three X-Wings with named characters.

Rebels:
Han Solo
(Marksmanship, Gunner)
Chewbacca
(Push The Limit, Millennium Falcon)

Rebels:
Luke Skywalker 
(R2-D2, Marksmanship
Wedge Antilles
(Marksmanship)
Biggs Darklighter
(R2-F2, Shield Upgrade)

A lot of the two YT-1300 lists has Chewbacca with the 'Draw Their Fire' upgrade, but I thought I'd try something a little different with him in case I needed to use two actions in a turn.  Turns out I really did not have to use it.

I did manage to better maneuver the YT-1300's in this game and only once bumped into my own ship.
Chewbacca bumping into Han Solo.
The battle came down to Han Solo and Chewbacca chasing down Luke Skywalker (once we've taken care of Wedge and Biggs).  With the two YT-1300's firing on Luke, there was nothing that could save him, not even RD-D2.  It was a win for the smugglers.

Han Solo and Chewbacca get the Win.

April 13, 2014

Bolt Action: Germany 'Heer Veteran Grenadier Assault Rifles x10'

I was finally able to get a few models done this week after the vehicles.  The Assault Rifles for the German army are now all completed as well as the army for now.  We will slowly add more units for the Germans and expand them.

Since all I had left in regards to my German infantry were the models laying down, I decided to use all I had left for the Assault Rifles.  The Assault Rifle can only be used in 'Late War', so these guys will probably be played only half the time.

Germany: Heer Veteran Grenadier Assault Rifles
Germany: Heer Veteran Grenadier Assault Rifles

Painting Points: 10

April 12, 2014

Battle Report: 4/11/2014 X-Wing

Han really does not always shoot first!

Friday night after my son got home from work we decided to throw down a late night game of X-Wing.  Being a bit more familiar with the rules and since it was pretty late, we decided to elect to play with the 75 minute clock per the tournament rules.

I have been wanting to try a 'Han Shoots First' list since my son had taught me the game a few weeks ago, so last night I elected to do so.

Rebels:
Han Solo
(Marksmanship, Chewbacca, Gunner)
Rookie Pilot #1
Rookie Pilot #2

Imperial:
Darth Vader
(Swarm Tactics)
Kir Kanos 
(Targeting Computer)
Saber Squadron Pilot 
(Swarm Tactics)
Avenger Squadron Pilot

My son playing the Imperials wanted to try something also a little different and chose Darth Vader along with 4 Tie Interceptors.

The start of the game was not good for the Rebels.  With the Imperials in formation, they were able to take advantage of initiative and the 'Swarm Tactics' to start taking away shields from Han Solo.  The first few turns were deadly and Han had lost his shields and was starting to take damage.  Once the Imperials were no longer able to hold formation, Han was able to fix the hyperdrive and targeting computers and the hits started to come in with the Rookie Pilots finishing off the Interceptors.

It was finally Han and his Rookies with just Darth Vader left in the game, a long range shot with an asteroid in the way scored  2 damage plus a critical.  Vader with 5 dice, missed with all 5 and as blown out of the sky.


At first I was real scared playing this list, the damage kept on coming.  Once the game changed hands I started to feel better and the list was coming through.  Being still new to the game, I am still getting used to maneuvering, especially with such a large base on the YT-1300 made it even more difficult.

I am starting to get more drawn to this game, part of the reason is we can quickly roll out the mat and start playing a game.  When we want a new model we just go out and buy it and do not need to wait for me to paint it.

I've got one more list I would like like to try this weekend.  We'll either get another late night game in today, or tomorrow after Bolt Action.

April 9, 2014

Bolt Action: Germany 'Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf C (Hanomag)'

"Few vehicles are as instantly identifiable as the Sd.Kfz 251, or Hanomag as it was also know.  Combining speed, protection and firepower, it ensured the infantry would break through to take and hold enemy positions.  Its cross-country performance was much better than any truck and enabled infantry to stay with the leading Panzers for mutual support."

To finish off the 'big guns and vehicles' this week, up next we have the 'Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf C (Hanomag) transport vehicle for our German army.  This transport for the most part was painted at the same time as my StuG III, except with the gunmen being finished last night.

With this model, I am all caught up with what I have assembled.  So it will probably be a few days before I display another finished product while I assemble more models.  More than likely I will be working on my 10 Veterans with Assault Rifles.

Germany: Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf C (Hanomag)
Germany: Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf C (Hanomag)
Painting Points: 10

April 8, 2014

Bolt Action: Germany 'StuG III Ausf G'

Continuing this week's theme of 'big guns and vehicles', up next we have a German StuG III Ausf G Tank.  The basecoat and camo were done this past Saturday with the airbrush out, then we finished up the tank last night.  After the basecoat/camo were done, the camo scheme looked really nice.  I was contemplating about giving the entire tank a 'wash' (since it looked so good), but the tank at the time looked like it just came off the assembly line.  So I elected to do the wash and dirty up the tank a bit, it is a battlefield and not an "Auto Show".

Germany: StuG III Ausf G
Germany: StuG III Ausf G
Painting Points: 10

April 7, 2014

Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'ISU-122/152 Tank 201'

Saturday was all about painting the 'big' stuff.  As you know I completed a ZiS-3 76mm Divisional Gun, but I also had worked on a few vehicles too.  When the ZiS-3 arrived from Warlord, the ISU-122 I also ordered, arrived at the same time.  I waited until Saturday to get started on this tank since I was going to use the airbrush and had to get the garage all setup to use it.

While I was assembling the ISU-122 during the week, I noticed on the bottom of the resin chassis that it was engraved "ISU-122/152".  I then did some research and learned that the hull of these two tanks were identical.  While opening the package for the gun turret, I also noticed that Warlord included both turrets.  The A-19 gun for the ISU-122 and the 152mm howitzer for the ISU-152.  With this, I knew I had to utilize magnets for the guns so then I could have 2 tanks for the price of 1.

This coming weekend is going to be fun to try these two new toys for the Soviets.

Soviet Union: ISU-122 (A-19 Gun)
Soviet Union: ISU-122 (A-19 Gun)
Soviet Union: ISU-152 (152mm Howitzer)
Painting Points: 10