Bloodhound diary: Flaming hot

Nothing to do with wargaming this, but fascinating all the same.
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RAF fighter pilot Andy Green intends to get behind the wheel of a car that is capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,610km/h). Powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine, the Bloodhound car will mount an assault on the land speed record.

Wing Cmdr Green is writing a diary for the BBC News Website about his experiences working on the Bloodhound project and the team's efforts to inspire national interest in science and engineering. Link to BBC.
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Onslaught 2 - At Game Garage

Guys, this is a web based flash game that is worth checking out. Simple but mildly addictive :) Link
Managed to get to level 80 with my son tonight without too much difficulty. What can you get up to ?
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FAD Game - Almost Unstoppable Heavy Power Armour

I've just got home from my local club (HDWS) having had another game of FAD with my friend James. As we are still getting used to the rules we had a loose scenario of the local militia on a out-flung planet calling in the cavalry after being attacked by some off-worlders. The sides were as follows:

James (unwashed off-worlders)
1 x Walker,
2 x large Heavy Armoured squads,
1 x small squad in Power Armour
1 x HQ in Heavy Armour.

Myself (good guy cavalry coming to the rescue)
1 x Militia unit of 20 conscripts,
1 x Heavy Power unit with double barrelled weaponry,
1 x Improved Armour squad of 10 men,
1 x HQ of 4 men in Heavy armour.
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Both sides were pointed out at approx 500pts each.
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This was the first occasion we have used a Heavy Power Armour unit with twin weaponry in a game. Suffice to say, the unit was virtually unstoppable, and as well as being very difficult to kill laid down totally overwhelming firepower !
Here it is taking on James Walker...
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We need to think about how to use units such as these in a playable way in the future, by possibly either downgrading both their armour and firepower.
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The Boneyard: world's 'biggest' plane cemetery up close

Dubbed 'The Boneyard', but officially known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility, this sprawling US airbase is reputed to be the world's largest military aircraft cemetery. Link to the BBC
This would be a fascinating place to visit !
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Podcast - 'Death or Victory': Wolfe and the Capture of Quebec.

Stumbled by accident across the fact that the UK Defence Academy has some podcasts on its web site. I've listened to one at the weekend 'Death or Victory': Wolfe and the Capture of Quebec. In it, the speaker Dan Snow gives a detailed account of the seven year campaign and the Battle of Quebec in 1759. He stresses the important role played by the British Navy in charting the St Lawrence River and organising the amphibious landing. It has a duration 39 minutes.
This is an absolutely fascinating listen given with real enthusiasm for the subject by Dan. Very highly recommended. Link
The Academy has over 40 different video and podcasts available to download, and the whole selection is well worth checking. Link
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More Dropship Photos

Here's a few more photos of the dropship. The current paint job is a very simple one. I sprayed the entire vehicle in car primer grey, and then painted it with Citadel Catachan Green. I might pick a little bit of detail out, but to be honest there isn't that much on it, so I think I'll stick with the 'plain Jane' look. That said time permitting I hope to add some 'nose-art' in the next day or so :)
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A few other vehicles shown here as well, for size comparison :)
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New Dropship Enters Service

This last week I've been doing a quick re-paint job on what is quite a large transport craft (for 15mm gaming). Here's a couple of photos of some of my troops disembarking :) You might recognize it...
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From Wargaming BLOG Photos

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New Battle of Bosworth Field site revealed

The true site of one of the most decisive battles in English history has been revealed.

Bosworth, fought in 1485, which saw the death of Richard III, was believed to have taken place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire.

But a study of original documents and archaeological survey of the area has now pinpointed a site in fields more than a mile to the south west. Link to BBC.

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov

I've been doing some modelling these last fews days, but I've decided to wait until tommorrow to take the photos in natural light as opposed to electric. In the meantime here is quite an intersting video of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
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Space Hulk - Flash Movie

Just viewed this outstanding Space Hulk flash movie :) Well worth checking out ! Link
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Stuff and a JOKE

Been busy with my 15mm gear this last week, doing some terrain and figures, and a few add-ons for my Walkers. I'll take some photos at the weekend. In meantime, here is a joke I was just sent.... :)
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Dr. Calvin Rickson
Dr. Calvin Rickson, a scientist from Texas A&M University has invented a bra that keeps women's breasts from jiggling, bouncing up and down, and prevents the nipples from pushing through the fabric when cold weather sets in. At a news conference, after announcing the invention, a large group of men took Dr. Rickson outside and kicked the shit out of him.

Hardardous Environments

Whilst browsing the excellent 'From The Warp' blog I came across this inspired download called 'Hazardous Environments'. It's aimed at the 40k gamer, but could easily be adapted for any sci-fi set of rules and scale. Highly recommended.
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News - Vulcan 'could be lost from skies'

The owners of the last airworthy Vulcan Cold War bomber say a financial crisis could see the plane and "a part of British history" lost from the skies forever.

The XH558's distinctive look and "howl" on take-off have drawn crowds of thousands at air shows since a £7m restoration project returned it to the air in 2007.

But the Leicestershire-based Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which owns and operates the plane from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, has put its staff on a month's notice amid fears it could go into administration within weeks. Link
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Dodgy Carrier Launch

Stumbled across this astonishing piece of footage on U-Tube of a S-2 Tracker belonging to the VS-38 Sqn on the USS Ticonderoga during the 1971 cruise.
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A Year And 30,000 Hits On

Well, it's exactly a year ago today that I started regular postings on my Blog, and coincidentally today the hit counter clocked over the 30,000 ! The internet is just such a great resource for the gamer, and I find blogging to be such great fun with the sharing of ideas and experiences.
On a personal note I'm really busy with study at the moment for a distance learning course I'm doing, so time to game, paint and model is just incredibly tight. The wargamers cry comes to mind, "so many games to play, so little time to play them in!"
Kind regards to all my visitors :)
Vulture

Joke - Raised Security Levels

This offends almost everyone, and so is quite funny :)
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Raised Security Levels
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from "Pi ** d Off" to "Let's get the B ****** s" They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies, just in case.

New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "Sh ** , I hope Australia will come and rescue us".

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, mate". Three more escalation levels remain, "Crikey!', "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
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15mm Sci-Fi Game - 'Battle For The Ruin' - AAR

My friend James and I battled it out at the Huntingdon club again on Thursday night using the basic FAD rules. We both took 500 points to start with, which gave a Platoon of Infantry and one Walker. To this we then each added another Walker and Heavy Grav Tank. We used this game to explore the vehicle rules and the effect of vehicles on Infantry. I had three small 8 man squads, James opted for two 12 man squads each with a squad weapon attached (gulp).
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We had the game objective as a small ruined building in the middle of the board, and both sides deployed 6" in. FAD ranges are huge, so to make the game somewhat different we decided that it was in the morning and a heavy fog was in the process of lifting. To start with visibility was down to 12" and every turn this would increase by 6".
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Initial Set-up
James went for an equal spread of vehicles along his start line, with more of his infantry deployed on his left, including a small Power Armour squad. I concentrated my armour opposite the objective.
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Turn 1
Both sides were out of visibility and everyone move forward unmolested. I occupied the church with an RPG Tank Hunter element, and moved all vehicles forward, along with remaining troops who went to cover. James moved all his troops forward, one of the big squads occupying a hill top.
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Turn 2
I got lucky with the initiative roll and moved my Gatling Walker forward at a cautious 6" walk.
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CONTACT !! Five heavy gatling guns made a mess of one of his squads, which although in cover was reduced from 12 to 3 men ! I moved my second Walker up to provide flank protection, but he got knocked out immediately by James's Walker. Seeing the carnage my Heavy Grav tank waded in and immobilised his second Walker with a well placed shot from his Railgun.
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Turn 3
With the fog lifting my RPG team opened fire on James's walker on the hill, near the objective, and with a lucky shot Immobilised that one as well. I dashed my Power Armour infantry squad forward and occupied the objective. My Gatling Walker feeling confident after last turns slaughter off-loaded on James Power armour squad. Their extra armour made a huge difference though, and only one man was killed. His Heavy Grav tank then powered in from the flank and immobilised my Gatling Walker :( which was also fired on from his immobilised Walker in the hill, to no effect. The driver of the Walker turn his chin Gatling onto my squad in the objective, but with them in heavy cover from the ruin, they only took one casualty.
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As this point we stopped the proceedings as we had run out of time.

This was a very good natured game with the actual result unimportant to both of us. It was great fun using the Walkers, and James enjoyed using his new one, and his recently finished Rebel Minis troops, which look great in the paint scheme he had done.

The rules as whole worked well again, although IMHO the armour element could do with a couple of slight 'tweaks'. We may introduce our own house rules to cater for them. I look forward to our next game :)
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Low Pass

I'm pretty sure I'd have ducked here... :) Turn the sound up loud !
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Audio Slideshow: 'Shaped by War'

Don McCullin is one of the world's most acclaimed photographers, whose thought-provoking images have helped our understanding of modern conflict and its consequences.

To mark his 75th year, Imperial War Museum North in Greater Manchester is showcasing his work. From Berlin, to Vietnam and Cambodia - take a tour with him. Link
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Company Of Heroes - Eastern Front Mod - Patches

Four patches have been released for the excellent Company Of Heroes Eastern Front mod.
Link.
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Jagdtiger Rare Photo Collection

Spotted this great slideshow on U-Tube of rare Jadgtiger photos. If you are interested in WW2 German armour, this is definately worth checking out.
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