Wednesday 29 January 2014

Crazy emergency braking with a Leopard 2 tank in the Netherlands


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Comment:  You have to be totally nuts in my humble opinion to risk this stunt !  LOL
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Sunday 26 January 2014

Humour - PARAPROSDOKIANS

PARAPROSDOKIANS (Winston Churchill loved them) are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous.

1.   Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
2.   The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
3.   Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4.   If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5.   We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6.   War does not determine who is right - only who is left...
7.   Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8.   They begin the evening news with 'Good Evening,' then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
9.   To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. Buses stop in bus stations.   Trains stop in train stations.  On my desk is a work station.
11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
12. In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'
13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
18. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
19. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.
20. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.
21. You're never too old to learn something stupid.
22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
23. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
25. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
26.. Where there's a will, there are relatives.

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Schwimmwagen


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Comment: I really want one of these WW2 German Schwimmwagen !!   What an awesome little vehicle.
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Monday 20 January 2014

Lions and donkeys: 10 big myths about World War One debunked

Much of what we think we know about the 1914-18 conflict is wrong, writes historian Dan Snow.
No war in history attracts more controversy and myth than World War One.
For the soldiers who fought it was in some ways better than previous conflicts, and in some ways worse.
By setting it apart as uniquely awful we are blinding ourselves to the reality of not just WW1 but war in general. We are also in danger of belittling the experience of soldiers and civilians caught up in countless other appalling conflicts throughout history and the present day.
Read the full article here.  Link
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Sunday 19 January 2014

Truck Is 70 Years Old This Month

As best I can make out, my CCKW 352 truck is 70 years old this month.  Took it out for a short spin this afternoon, and snapped a couple of photos in the weak winters sun.
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Flames Of War In 10mm - Breaking News...Victory At Last !

Further to my posting on 20th Dec I have news !!!  Key massive drum roll !!!   After 4 straight losses in a row with my M18 Tank Destroyer Company (TD) unit I had my first victory !  Playing the 'Hold The Line' Mission against my friend Chris with my unit as the attacker I took on his Russian Tank T34/85 Company.  The game was over by the end of turn 3 with 8 of his T34/85 knocked out for the loss of one M18, a truck and a few Infantry.  Chris had below average rolls I felt on a couple of critical points, but feel I'm now starting to get the feel for how to use my unit, especially in these attacking scenarios where really aggressive use of Recc and TD Security teams is required.
Here's a couple of pictures of the unit in action on the 20th Dec and also laid out for review on my computer desk.
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1500 point Task Force A unit - Turning Tide book.
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In an effort to get to grips with the rules I've started typing up all the elements in Italics into a work document. Quite a laborious undertaking, but myself I find this method as good way of remembering and understanding the rules.  I did the same with Warhammer Ancient Battles (WAB) as well. When complete I integrate all the errata and additional guidance given by Battlefront, along with any club 'house rules' we are using.

So that I'm not constrained to just using a TD unit, I've been and spent £60 with Magister Militum and purchased a 20 x M4A3 Shermans - a mixture of 75mm, 76mm and four M4A3E8 'Easy Eights' along with a couple of M10s.  Currently in the middle of painting them up them up to a base standard, acceptable for use on the tabletop.  For me this entails assembling the vehicles, cleaning the flash off, priming grey, then applying a coat of Vallejo USA Olive Drab 889.
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Over the coming weeks I'll then apply a top coat of Vallejo Brown Violet 887, dry-brushing, tracks, aerials, decals etc etc.  I'm now understanding why my friends have over the last few years been telling that 10mm is the best scale to game FoW in.  It's a satisfying blend of the visual detail that can be accommodated in 15mm (but without the 'tank park' look) with some of the game scale that 6mm provides.  Price and reduced storage are also huge advantages, on the former for instance a typically 10mm tank only costs £2.25 so a substantial unit can be collected without busting the bank.
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Picture Of The Week - No 22 - B17 Battle Damage


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Comment:  It is just astonishing that this B17 was able to make it back to base after suffering this much battle damage.
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Panther Tank In Action - Saumur Museum


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Comment: Couldn't resist posting this.  It's just great to see and hear these vehicles moving.
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Wednesday 15 January 2014

Sunday 5 January 2014

Picture Of The Week - No 21 - Jagdpanther


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Came across this photo on the web just last week of this WW2 German Hunting Panther SdKfz 173 (Jagdpanther).  Love the umbrellas :)
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X-47B UCAS Aviation History Under Way


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Northrop Grumman's X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrates how to successfully take off and land from the deck of a moving aircraft carrier.
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Comment:  Very cool  :)
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Saturday 4 January 2014

Tiger I Arriving At The Muster Tank Museum


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Comment:  From what I can gather the Munster Museum in Germany has just obtained this Tiger that was in the hands of a private collector in France.  Currently it is a non-runner without an engine, or much interior detail.
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Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy New Year - 2014

Happy New Year to one and all.  Hope you have great gaming year in 2014.