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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Stug IV

This is some fascinating footage of a very rare WWII German Stug IV assault gun getting dragged out of a river, followed by a short clip of the same vehicle running after it had been restored. Beautiful.
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Lead Adventure Forum

The web is such a big place and such a useful resource for the wargamer. Stumbled across a forum I haven't visited before, the Lead Adventure Forum. With 1,473 members, a large number of whom seem to be active posters, this is a forum that seems to cater for all periods and scales of figure gaming. Well worth checking out.
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JOKE - A LITTLE KINKY

A German guy approaches a lady of the night.

'I vish to buy sex viz you.'
'OK,' says the girl, 'I'll charge 20 an hour.'
'..ist goot, but I must varn you, I am a little kinky.'
'No problem,' she replies cautiously, 'I can do little kinky.'
So off they go to the girl's flat, where the German produces four large bedsprings and a duck caller.
'I vant zat you tie ze springs to each of your hans und knees.'
The girl finds this most odd, but complies, fastening the springs as he had said, to her hands and knees.
'Now you vill get on your hans und knees.'
She duly does this, balancing precariously on the springs.
'You vill please to blow zis kwacker as I make love to you.'
She finds it odd, but figures it's harmless (and the guy is paying.) She finds the sex is fantastic, as she is bounced all over the room by the energetic German, all the time honking on the duck caller.
The climax is the most sensational that she has ever experienced and it is several minutes before she has enough breath to say,
'That was totally amazing, what do you call that position ?'
'Ah,' says the German . 'zat is ze....
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scroll down.......................................
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Four-sprung
Duck technique
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Beamstrike Stats For Heavy Grav Tank

A friend asked me what stats (from the Beamstrike rules) I'll be using for the recently completed Critical Mass Games Heavy Grav tanks ...
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Vehicle Category: Heavy Tank
Armour Front: VH-VA
Armour Side: M-VA
Armour Rear/Top: L-VA
Propulsion: Grav
Crew: 3 (Regular)
Passengers: Nil
Weapon Pintle Mounted: Mk1: Nil
Weapon Pintle Mounted: Mk2: Support Bolter Weapon Turret: Railgun
Auto-Defence: Mk1: AI Turret + 20mm Gatling Cannon
Auto-Defence: Mk2 AI Turret + Rapid Fire Gyrobolter
Sensor 1: MAD
Sensor 2: Mk1: Nil
Sensor 2: Mk2: Sensor Array
Smoke Dispensers: Yes
Shields: AP & AM
Notes: Mk2 has a collapsible Satellite Comms Dish.

Points:
Mk1: 175
Mk2: 185

Conventions / Shows In 2010

For those wanting to / thinking about attending conventions / shows over the coming year, it is worthwhile checking out the excellent Newark Irregulars web site for the 2010 Show Diary. Link
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Night Vision Goggle Treatment

Javelin98, one of the contributors to the Sci-Fi Discussion message board on The Miniatures Page (TMP) has modified one of my photos and given it the Night Vision Goggle treatment :)
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Many thanks Javelin98, it looks excellent ! :)
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Help For Heroes - Big Battlefield Bike Ride 2010

A work colleague of mine is looking for sponsors to help him raise money for our (UK) wounded servicemen. Please take time to read his message below:

"Dear All,
After watching 'Wounded' on BBC1 last year I felt inspired to go MAD (Make a Difference) and signed myself up for Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride 2010

This event takes place during the last week of May this year and we will cover about 350 miles over 4-5 days. Overall, I must raise a minimum of £2200, of which £900 must be paid on 1 Mar 10 and the balance by 1 Jul 10. Please help me to reach this target with generous donations to this worthy charity. I have set up pages with BMyCharity.com and JustGiving.com to make life easier for everyone and so that donations can make use of Gift Aid wherever possible.
(NB although it makes no difference to me, bmycharity.com does not charge, so all your money will go to HfH.)

Although I continue to cycle to and from work as much as possible, my training schedule starts in earnest in the next few weeks, so I am praying that the cold, icy weather will soon give way to something more like spring!

Finally, please feel free to forward this message to anyone that you think might be willing to sponsor me - it would be amazing if I could exceed that minimum figure!

Thank you in advance,

Gerard Bland"

News Link - Sunk Australia WWII hospital ship Centaur: First images

An Australian World War II hospital ship, the Centaur, has been seen for the first time since it sank more than 60 years ago with a loss of 268 lives. Link
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Here's a bad joke for you, passed onto me by a good friend of mine :)
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'The price of gas in France'
A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.
After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.
However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.
When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied, 'Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings.'
I had no Monet..
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AFVH10 MkII Heavy Grav Tank (Command Variant)

Guys
Here's the second Critical Mass Games tank I've completed, the AFVH10 MkII Heavy Grav Tank. The basic vehicle is identical to the MkI tank I covered on the 3rd Jan but with the additions of two crew men in the turret. I've made a few modifications to personalise it somewhat, as I wanted this vehicle to fill the role of company command tank :)
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Like with the MkI I've left off the side turret weapon mounts, although on this occasion I've used the recesses for aerials; I've added a GZG sensor ball, satellite dish, and automatic close in defence robo-turret. A rare-earth magnet helps keep the turret in place (a bit wobbly otherwise).
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As before, I wanted to go for a dirty / weather-beaten battlefield look.
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The painting / assembly sequence I used was a follows:
1. After assembly, a spray of car primer grey.
2. Figure base painted with Colour Party Paints MA19 'Green'.
3. Entire vehicle painted in a Coat d'arms 233 'Linen'.
4. First camo line of Foundry 33A 'Arctric Grey' added.
5. Second camo line of Citadel 'Catachan Green'.
6. Some recessed areas painted Foundry 39B 'Storm Blue'.
7. Entire model given a Citadel 'Devlan Mud' wash.
8. Very light dry brush using Foundry 33C 'White'.
9. Metal areas, painted 'Black, along with crew visors'.
10. Metal areas lightly brushed with Citadel 'Boltgun Metal'.
11. Figures painted with Citadel 'Catachan Green'.
12. Figures dry-brushed with Citadel 'Rotting Flesh'.
13. Crew visors painted Foundry 22B Vivid Blue'.
14. Crew skin painted with Citadel 'Bronzed Flesh'.
15. Artwork and lettering added.
16. Base gritted.
17. Aerials added.
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I really like these models, for a sci-fi tank they are just the ticket.
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A month in Helmand: the soldiers' stories

Stumbled across this article at lunch-time called 'A month in Helmand: the soldiers stories' written by The Times war correspondent as he revisits his old regiment and reports on the daily ordeal of life on Afghanistan's bloodiest battlefront. Must confess I found myself choked after reading it, and had to go for a short walk before returning to my desk. Salute to all our guys out in Helmund ! Link
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Tampa and Gaming

Here in the UK' we've had (for us) quite a cold snap. Nothing to do with wargaming but here is a great photo of our rabbit 'Tampa' in the back garden a couple of days ago, enjoying the snow.
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On the gaming front my son saw a piece of my 'Tech Tunnel' corridor terrain (made by Old Crow) I had out its' storage box, and before we knew it, he had all it out and a full scale battle in place between his Space Marines (may the Emperor protect them) and my Orc Mob (green is best !)
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On the painting front I've been pushing on with the Mk2 Critical Mass Grav tank, and part from the aerials and base gritting, it's all complete. I hope to post a couple of photos tomorrow night, time permitting.
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Bad Day At The Office

I'm still on with painting up my Mk2 Critical Mass Grav Tank at the moment. I hoping to get it finished this weekend. In the meantime here's a great vid on having a bad day in the office. As someone who works in an office I can closesly identify with some of these clips ! LOL. Enjoy...
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glumbert - Bad Day at the Office

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Flying Swiss

Check out this totally awesome flying in the Swiss Alps by one of their Hunters.
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glumbert - Flying Swiss

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Interesting Link - 'Man Who Never Was'

A historian claims to have conclusively proved the identity of the "Man Who Never Was", whose body was used in a spectacular plot to deceive the Germans over the invasion of Sicily in the Second World War, Ian Johnston reports. Link
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Last Day Of The Holiday

It was my sons' last day of his X-Mas holiday break, so I arranged to have the day off as well. We've had a day full of wargaming goodness :) Firstly I dug out of my garage over 30 square feet of ready made 1/300th terrain that an old friend of mine (Steve Hammond) very generously passed onto to me at X-Mas; and then proceeded to lay out 25 sq ft of it on the floor in the spare bedroom. We pulled out of the attic some of my Battlemech collection and we had a couple of entertaining hours battling with them on the terrain.
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After lunch on the orders of Mrs Vulture the two of us took a car full of rubbish to the council run tip / recycling centre. Whilst there I was astonished to see by one of the skips, a box of Warhammer 40k Terminators.
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I spoke to the attendance who said if I wanted them I could have them :) Five what were previously unmade Terminators are now as of this evening assembled uncoated and ready for painting :) To add to the new figures in our collection, today the postman brought the small order of twenty seven 15mm Orcs I had recently ordered from 'The Scene'.
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Fabulous little figures, this photo does not do justice to just how nice they are. Overall a good day here at the Vulture's Roost :) Sadly, back to work tomorrow though :(

AFVH9 - Mk1 ARC Heavy Grav Tank (Modified) Enters Service

Today I finished off the first of the Critical Mass Games (CMG) tanks I recently purchased after first seeing it on the excellent Dropship Horizon Blog back in Oct 09. The AFVH9 - Arc Fleet MkI Heavy Grav Tank went together without any problem as such, with just a little excess flash needing sanding off the hull and turret before gluing it all together using Araldite Epoxy Resin. The kit comes with a choice of three main gun options. I opted for the heavier of the three, which looks like it could be a type of Railgun (that's what I intended to use it as anyway).
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Two odd shaped contraptions are meant to be fastened to the back of the turret; I'm assuming they could be grenade launchers or something. Anyway, as soon as I'd glued them on I hated them, so I ripped them off and filled the fixture holes up. I decided to delete the pintle mounted top MG/Heavy Bolter in its entirety and also filled that hole as well, this because I'd decided to upgrade the close support weaponry by fitting a (beefy looking) spare Gatling Gun I had from one of the CMG walkers. Behind it I placed a spare sensor I had in my bits box (from a GZG vehicle). Okay the sensor stops the Gatling Gun from having a 360 degree arc, but it does allows me to claim that the gun can be on either manual or automated response mode.
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Painting wise an initial spray coat of car primer grey started the process off. This was followed with a 90 degree coverage of Coat d'arms 233 Linen, camo lines of GW Catachan Green, and random'ish spots of Foundry 13b Spearshaft. Recessed grills were done in Foundry 34C Charcoal Black. Over all this I gave a wash of GW Devlan Mud, followed by selective highlighting with a GW Rotting Flesh and Foundry 33C White.
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Oppsss, almost forgot to mention that I used 6mm x 1mm rare earth magnets (sourced off E-Bay) so the Gatling Gun gun can rotate, and a couple to keep the turret on the body. IMHO this is a necessity with these vehicles, otherwise with the slightest nudge the turret is off.
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The lighting conditions were interesting for these photos. I took them in the garage with a low winter sun bringing warmth and shadow in its last hour.
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I'm currently chewing on what scheme to paint the MkII tank in....
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HAPPY NEW YEAR

I missed posting yesterday for a variety of reasons, but even though it's the 2nd now, I'd still like to wish all readers of my blog, a happy safe and prosperous 2010.
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Yesterday and today I've been busy working on my new Critical Mass Games tanks. I'll post some details and pictures on how I've been getting on tommorrow.
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AVATAR

Last night my brother-in-law (Mike) and I went to see Avatar at the local cinema in Huntingdon. I'm useless at writing reviews, so I don't intended to try here, suffice to say, for anyone interested in sci-fi this is a must see movie on the biggest screen you can find !! Totally awesome, with a richness of sci-fi hardware on show to impress even Alien 2 fans. We both gave it a rating of 9.0 out of 10.
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Christmas Eve

Very little figure activity going on in the house at the moment, although Alex and I have have been playing lots of Company Of Heroes and Dawn Of War on the PC.  I saw a posting on the TMP today about The Scene withdrawing his range of 15mm Orcs soon, so I thought I'd get 30+ before they are gone forever. In the post came a 3 tank platoon of Critical Mass tanks, but I've put them aside to open tomorrow.

In the meantime for WWII fans I found this fascinating clip on U-Tube showing Albert Ernst and his Jagdtiger X1 during the surrender of sPzJgAbt 512 at Iserlohn in the Ruhr pocket on April 16,1945.
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Mechwarrior 5

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Slightly old news, but interesting none the less, apparently a new Mechwarrior game is in production. Imaginatively titled 'Mechwarrior 5' some of the photos I've seem show excellent looking in-game graphics.
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This trailer on U-Tube is pretty good as well ! :)
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Homeworld 2

Been playing Homeworld 2 with my son. This is quite an old game now, but the graphics and game play are still excellent. Worth picking up if you can get a copy.
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88mm Gun In Action

This short video on U-Tube of the famous WWII German 88 Flak gun in action caught my attention. There is some outstanding footage contained within it.
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