On board the RAF's Nimrod

This is quite an interesting little video.
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The RAF is bidding farewell to the Nimrod MR2 aircraft at its Kinloss base. It is due to be replaced operationally by the MRA4 in the autumn of 2012. The BBC's James Cook went on board to find out what the MR2 offered the RAF and why it is no longer needed. Link to BBC
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Necromunda Resource

Necromunda is a game I've only played once (many years ago), and I've been toying with the idea of buying a set off E-Bay. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a rather good Necromunda rescource page on the Games Workshop webs site - worth checking out. It's possible to download the main rule book ! It is not possibel to link directly to it, but if you go to the main GW site, and type in Necromunda Resources into the search box, it should take you staright to it.
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KINGFISHERS IN ACTION - SLIDESHOW

Nothing to do with wargaming this, but I saw this outstanding slideshow of Kingfishers In Action taken by a very talented guy called Joe Petersburger and thought I'd post a link.
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Predators Trailer

This looks totally excellent :) Can't wait !
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Avalanches And The Military

I found this fascinating article in THE TIMES (UK edition) on 24 Feb, and felt it was worth sharing.
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The deadliest avalanches in history have been in Italy, during the the First World War. The western battlefronts stretched across the Alps into the Tyrol region, where the Austrian and Italian armies faced each other in sever weather winters. "Some had ice on their faces: the conducting office said that three or four of them were frozen to death nightly," wrote one British officer visiting the Italian lines.
Avalanches were another threat. "Entire platoons were hit, smothered, buried without a trace, without a cry, with no other sound than the one made by the gigantic white mass itself," described an observer. One of the worst was in December 1916, when an intense snowfall storm dropped huge snowfalls followed by days of avalanches. About 10,000 soldiers were killed as whole companies of men, guns and animals were buried.
Some historians believe than avalanches were set off deliberately using artillery fire,a although the risks to the attacking side would have been suicidal. Over the war about 60,000 soldiers died in the avalanches - a third of all deaths in the higher parts of the Alps battlefront. Even today, the bodies of soldiers are revealed in thawing glaciers and snowfields.
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Here's a link to some more info on this subject.

Massive VBIED Explosion

A recent video on U-Tube shows an impressive Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) going off in Iraq. Everyone likes big explosions, provided of course no one is hurt ! :)
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Company of Heroes Blitzkrieg mod

Another Company of Heroes Blitzkrieg mod update is available. We are now up to version 1700. My son and I have been playing lots of this recently. The additions in the tech-tree and extra vehicles that are available, make this a 'must try' for any CoH enthusiast.

You can find it on post 3300 on this page.
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News Link - Hadrian's Wall 'line of light'

Hadrian's Wall has been lit from end to end by a team of 500 volunteers holding flaming torches.

The "line of light" followed an 84-mile (135km) national walking trail that shadows the route of the Roman wall spanning northern England.

Link to BBC
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I'd have loved to have been involved in that.

Joke - 'GOTTA PEE'

Two women friends had gone for a girls' night out. Both were very faithful and loving wives, however they had gotten over-enthusiastic on the Bacardi Breezers.

Incredibly drunk and walking home they needed to Pee, so they stopped in the cemetery.

One of them had nothing to wipe with so she thought She would take off her panties and use them.

Her friend however was wearing a rather expensive pair of panties and did not want to ruin them..

She was lucky enough to squat down next to a grave that had a wreath with a ribbon on it, so she proceeded to wipe with that.

After the girls did their business, they proceeded to go home.

The next day, the husband of one of the women was concerned that his normally sweet and innocent wife was still in bed hung over, so he phoned the other husband and said:
"These girl nights have got to stop! I'm starting to suspect the worst.. My wife came home with no panties!!"

"That's nothing," said the other husband, "Mine came back with a card stuck to her ass that said.....

'From all of us at the Fire Station. We'll never forget you.' "

Walker - Modular Weapon Fit

You may have seen the 'Gatling Walker' on one of my previous postings. I've took the next logical step a little while back and made up a variety of weapons than can be fitted.

My person favorite is the anti-armour config with the huge railgun ! It's so OTT ! LOL
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Update

Well the exam, went 'okayish' yesterday. It didn't feel like a disaster, on the other hand, it was far away from being a walk in the park either. Good to have it behind me, it feels like normal life can resume :)
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Started reading the HOF Fire Team rules today, also picked up a book on the invasion of Canada called 'Death or Victory' by Dan Snow. Felt inspired to do for two reasons, first his pod-cast on the topic I mentioned a few weeks ago was really interesting, and secondly it was reduced from £25 to £5 ! :)

Exam Tommorrow - Gulp

I've been in work most of the weekend revising in the quiet of the office like mad. Feel completely adrift from the topic, just unable to get to grips with it. It must be sign of my age ! LOL They say its all downhill after your 25. Well 20 years on from that point I seem to be a long way down the hill... Dreading tommorrow, but also looking forward to getting the damn thing over with. I'm on an early train into London to take the exam at the London Met University.
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WW2 20mm Gaming

My son has a selection of my 20mm WW2 figures, tanks and buildings out on our dining room table at the moment. Using his own rules, the Brits are defending hard (and successfully it seems) against the attacking Germans :)
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The figures are mainly by Platoon 20 (bought over 20 years ago), vehicles are a mixture of Airfix Kits and Dragon Armour (the Tiger). Most of the buildings are made home-made using Linka.
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Jed's - 7 Today

Our black labrador 'Jed' is 7 today. In a break from exam revision I took a couple of photos this lunchtime. A better natured hound you will not find anywhere ! :)
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Exam Pressure...

I have an CIPS Diploma exam this coming Monday, so (virtually) all gaming/modelling activity is on hold whilst I inflict some heavy revision on myself over the coming days. This is all very frustrating as I would very much like to read up on the HOF Fire Team rules that 15mm.co.uk are playtesting at the moment. In the meantime here are a couple of shots from a recent photo shoot of a mixed battlegroup of my 15mm sci-fi armour.
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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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Gatling Walker - 'Firepower Test' - Stop Motion Movie

I've been thinking about another stop-motion movie for a while now. The main issue as ever is time, or should I say, lack of. Anyway, in-between entertaining youngster and pushing on with a homestudy course I managed to find time to rattle off a quick one today. I find the editing always takes 3 to 4 times as long as actually taking the photos, although on this occassion to my amazement Windows Movie Maker behaved, and didn't crash once ! :)
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Figures - The Colour Dilemma

I'm sure you've all been there. You have some nice new figures, and can't decide on the scheme to go for. Well, that's been me over this last week with some Critical Mass Games infantry. I wanted a different scheme from my other troops, but these guys have so much details on them (amazing really) that I've had difficulty setting on one was
(a) something I liked,
(b) something I could paint, and
(c) something that wasn't going to take hours.

Anyway, I'm just about there with them now. Pictures to follow in a couple of days when I've more of them sorted, along with the bases.
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Jims Product Lab

Whilst following a thread on the TMP I came across this interesting site selling some great looking terrain. Worth checking out. Link
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News Link - Fallen Fromelles Soldiers Laid To Rest

The first of 250 unknown British and Australian soldiers who died in World War I have been reburied in France amid chilly conditions. Link
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News Link - Russia launches plane to rival 'US stealth fighter'

Been very busy these last few days, so little time to get on the PC, or do any gaming / modelling, sadly. Did come across this interesting link however about the new Russian fighter. Link 1 and Link 2.

Towing the Tiger 2 - King Tiger 104

Towing the (UK) Tank Museums King Tiger back into the museum after a brief stay in the workshop area. It's a great shame IMHO that they haven't restored it so it can move under its own power...
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15mm Gatling Walker Arrives And Brings Platoon Up To Full Strength

Just about finished painting my latest Critical Mass Games walker, the one I mentioned on my Sunday posting. I couldn't resist banging some photos off this evening, even though the lighting conditions do leave a lot to be desired.
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This is my most heavily modified Walker to date.
1. Both main guns have been replaced with spare twin mounted gatlings.
2. Both gatlings are fully elevatable thanks to being fitted with Rare Earth Magnets.
3. The torso is twistable, magnets have been fitted between that and the hips.
4. The chin mounted gatling can swivel, as that too has been fitted with a magnet.
5. A GZG missile launcher has been installed on a fixed mount direct to the body.
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Painting pretty much as described in my previous posting regarding the Walkers, with the exception that the legs were given a Citadel Gryphonne Sepia Wash.

Just working on a script for another Stop Motion Movie.... :)
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Long March To Freedom

This is an interesting article on the BBC Today page.
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This week, a group, including relatives of the survivors and young RAF recruits, retrace the 1,000-mile march which followed the evacuation of the Great Escape camp, Stalag Luft III, and which resulted in the death of 200 POWs. Andy Wiseman, a former POW at the camp and a veteran of the Long March, tells his extraordinary story. Link

Walker In Progress + Terminator Hunter Killer

A few weeks back James (who incidentally has started his own blog) and I swapped unbuilt vehicles. He took a Critical Mass Games tank off me, and in exchange I took a Walker off him. Well yesterday I finally finished assembling it.
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Currently I'm on with the painting, and making fair progress. Base colours are all sorted, and the base is sanded. Just need to give it a good dry-brush, and add some extra detail. With a fair wind I should be able to post some photos maybe Wednesday.
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A posting on the TMP last week pointed me in the direction of Toys-r-Us who had a sale on. They have been selling the Terminator Salvation Hunter Killers off for £5.99. I was so sure they would be the right size for either 28mm or 15mm, I bought two ! Anyway they came on Saturday, and are excellent. I'll post some photos later in the week.
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Company Of Heroes - Eastern Front Mod

On the 21st Jan the long awaited Company Of Heroes (CoH) Eastern Front Mod was released. Link
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FAD 4 Game AAR

At the Huntingdon & District Wargames Society last night I had a much looked forward 15mm Sci-Fi game using the Fast And Dirty (FAD) rules with two of my friends James and Francis. As we are still getting to grips with the rules, (my 3rd game, James's 2nd and Francis's first) we used just the basic set. The battle took place on a 8'x4' table across the width. The objective for night was to secure the damaged gunship in the middle of the board. We had pre-planned forces of 500 points apiece. I was 99.9% certain that James would be using one of a pair of Critical Mass Walkers that he has recently bought, so I (cunning so I thought) decided to counter this by buying a light scout AT grav vehicle and having a specific AT squad armed with RPGs. The walker being armed with two autocannons and chin mounted double Gatling gun would slaughter my (clean living god fearing) infantry if it wasn't taken out quickly. With the remaining points I bought a light APC and 3 squads of Heavy armoured infantry armed with a mixture of high-tech assault rifles and SAWs.
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The battle with the initiative going to James and he aggressively used his walker to tear my APC apart. Francis and I countered by moving our AT Grav forward, and with a good dice roll took it out of play ! (At this point the weakness in my strategy of buying an entire team with RPGs came to light, as now they had nothing to do !) Both sides maneuvered for position, exchanging some fire as various units came into sight.
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Whilst James feinted with a couple of squads he managed to rush another to the dropship, at the same time deploying a pair of HMGs on a hill and tearing up a squad of mine that was trying to make for the objective. Losing 5 out of 8 men in one turn, left them Pinned (unable to move, and unable to fire).
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Francis and I riposted by damaging several of his squads with small arms fire, and launching missiles at the HMGs teams took one out and routed the other.
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At this point in the evening we ran out of time, and had to stop, with James although not in the gunship, certainly right next to it.
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Overall an excellent little game, enjoyed by all. We're now planning out next one in a fortnight, where we'll use double the number of points probably.
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Tiger I vs T34/85 and JS-2

Having seen this clip on U-Tube I just couldn't resist embedding it. Some excellent footage of Tiger 1s here.
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Irregular Magazine

This is worth checking out. The Irregular Magazine is produced on a quarterly basis as a downloadable PDF file. It contains no advertisements, and all content is supplied at no cost by community members. It covers Wargames, RPG, Miniature Painting, Scenery Building and much more. Link
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Good Quote

Saw a brilliant quote on the TMP by a contributor called Harmonward.

"It doesn't matter what the scale is, as long as your friends have an extra army. What matters is the friends."

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