The last of the year and the last of the Masters of the Universe, for now....

Another year in blogging flies by, more toy soldiers lovingly painted, placed carefully in foam trays and packed away to wait patiently for an opportunity to roll dice. I shouldn't complain too much though, I did get some gaming in this year and youngest Lead offspring is showing more interest and attention span in gaming. I'm sure it won't be a blink of an eye before he is off wandering around wargame shows whilst Illustrious Opponent and myself just spend the day in the refreshment area holding court and nodding sagely as we inspect the wares that have been purchased.

The Analogue painting challenge has started up again with an incredible amount of toy soldiers already painted before the year is out. Getting time to paint in between the many Christmas events, chores and errands running up to the big day was a bit tricky, but I did manage to get at least one post in before Christmas. You can see the posts so far here and let me tell you, the speed and volume has not diminished the quality. I sometimes think if there was an expected standard of painting to join the challenge I wouldn't always qualify. (There isn't of course, they are all a lovely welcoming bunch and all levels of experience are welcome I am sure.)

For those not wandering over the to the challenge site, my first post included the last of my current Masters of the Universe Battleground collection. I am intending on getting the next wave of models, (including a dinosaur!) but for now I have finished.

This time the theme seemed to Orange, a colour I have never had much luck with painting before, but it seems to have worked this time. Once again I had to do some pallet mixing on my wet pallet to get some colours right, but I think I did okay. I'm still yet to get a game going (Youngest Offfspring has no interest in MOTU at all), I do have one friend interested and excited to try the system, although unfortunately he lives a couple of hours away, so we might have to wait. No worries, when he does visit I'll be ready to go...

I'm dreaming of a Corax White Christmas...

The goblin finally got added to a bauble and hung on the tree this year.

It's been a strange old year, only one wargame show (No Salute this year), extreme weather for Britain (hot and now cold), an unnaturally high number of Prime Ministers in Downing Street and on a personal note I started a new job after being in the same role for over a decade I really didn't see coming. (I won't bore you with the details of my day job, you are here to hear about toy soldiers after all). It has meant though that hobbying has slowed down a little bit of late. Some evenings I have just wanted to veg in front of the tv after learning lots of new things. Therefore I think I am due a recharge and what better than signing up for a second year to the Analogue Hobby Challenge again. Yep, I'm going to be trying to finish something at least once a week again and post on the challenge. I'm not sure I shall be as prolific as last year, but we shall see. I find it can be a little like an addiction once I get going, so who know. You can see my posts under the label PeterB. (Although any posts before last year aren't me, there was obviously another PeterB doing the challenge before me, I'm not sure how confusion will be avoided if he decides to come back again.)

Therefore I have been busy building and undercoating everything I can lay my mits on in the leadpile. If it needs painting, it has been prepped ready to go. On multiple internet recommendations I tried undercoating using Halfords white primer spray and I have to say, despite the subzero temperatures outside when spraying under the cover of the garage door, it still gives good coverage. A great cheaper alternative to wargaming branded sprays and a larger can too. (I do tend to undercoat spray in massive batches and always use a whole can in one go.) I shall definitely be using it again.

 

I have recently finished off one more model before the challenge begins. I have continued to purchase the new sets from Archon Studio for Masters of the Universe. One of which is the evil Scare Glow.  The original toy of which glowed in the dark. (I suspect they came up with the idea befor the character.) Well, I couldn't not have a go at making mine glow could I? A quick bit of online research and I purchased some glow in the dark paint pigment, a few experiments with some sacrificial GW Grots and I don't think it turned out too bad. The pigment did make the paint a little thick and I have lost some small amount of detail on the model but I think it looks okay. I can use the excuse that it is hard to photograph things that glow in the dark, but you get the idea.

In the light.

In the dark.

So for now, time to temporarily pack away the paints, wrap some presents for the kids and maybe have a sneaky mince pie and hot chocolate. I hope the holiday season treats you well.

My vague attempt at a battle report (its terrible, really)

Operation Perch

  ''It is eight days after D-Day. The 50th (Tyne Tees) Division is part of the British 21st Army Group's attempt to drive deeper inland, but blocking their path is Panzer Lehr, one of the German Army's strongest armoured divisions. The British division has been given the task of breaking through the German defences and, as part of its 151st Brigade, the 9th Durham Light Infantry have been ordered to capture the village of Lingevres. Panzer Lehr's Panzer Grenadier Regiment 902 is responsible for defending the village, and elements of its 2nd Battalion are dug-in on the outskirts and amongst the buildings, with tanks of Panzer Regiment 130 in support''

 

The sleepy village of Lingevres

Once again the Illustrious Opponent laid out an incredible looking table

 Recently the Illustrious Opponent invited myself and a friend for a game of Rapid Fire at his abode. The whole table and all the models were provided by IO, so all I had to do was turn up with my tape measure and some dice ready for an afternoon of excellent fun. With IO as umpire to remind us of the rules and a couple of laminated quick reference cards, what could go wrong? I opted to control the British division and tried a terrible tactic of dividing my forces as I advanced. I sent the Carriers down the left flank, the Shermans the right and the infantry slowly advanced through the woods in the middle towards the village (I am terrible at rolling for movement when neccessary.)

My artillery support performed terribly throughout the game, I am not sure if they were even firing at the right village on some occasions, although they did at one point manage to decimate the church to the point where IO got to demonstrate his wonderful Russian Doll like technique for revealing the destroyed version.

Post shelled church

I did manage to take the village with heavy casualties (with the remains of A,B,C and D company all making a hasty retreat) and I did manage to take out the Panther. Once reinforcements arrived however, we I knew I had no chance and we called it a day.

Driving up the road is safe right? (Don't be fooled, one of those Shermans has a wooden barrel and is just an observation post!)

 

 

 

 

 

The Achilles certainly did have an achilles, I am sure that crater is where I parked it.

The church before shelling

A dramatic shot before any Germans were spotted, smoke launchers deployed "just in case"

I was so joyous at doing any damage to this tank killer

Result! It took all my armour to achieve this though.

I must apologize to the Illustrious Opponent as I only photographed half of what was on the table. I can however provide details of what was there thanks to IO's help:

151st Infantry Brigade 9th Durham Light Infantry

 
Battalion Headquarters 

Lieutenant-Colonel Wood

Two figure PIAT team

Carrier Platoon 

Three figure PIAT team. 

Universal Carrier

A Company 8 figures, 

 B Company 8 figures 

C Company 8 figures

D Company 8 figures 

Support Company

3 inch mortar, 3 crew

Universal Carrier

6pdr Anti-tank gun, 3 crew, Universal Carrier Tractor

Universal Carrier

Machine Gun Company, 

2nd Cheshire Regiment. Company Command. Captain Simpson 

2 figure PIAT team

Universal Carrier

Vickers Machine Gun, 3 crew

Universal Machine Gun Carrier

4.2 inch mortar, 3 crew,

Loyd Carrier  

 

4 th /7th Dragoon Guards A squadron

Major d'Avigor-Goldsmid 

2 Sherman V tanks, 1 Sherman Vc Firefly 

Universal Machine Gun Carrier  

 

102nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery B Troop

M10c Achilles 

 

86th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery 341st Battery

Sherman II Observation Post 

2 25pdr Gun-Howitzers

Panzer Lehr Division Panzer Grenadier Regiment 902 2nd Battalion

Battalion Headquarters 
Oberstleutnant Welcsh

Two figure Panzerchreck team.

Sdkfz 251/1 half-track

1st and 2nd Company

7 figures, 1 Panzerfaust operator each

 4th Company 

MG42, 3 crew
120mm mortar, 3 crew

Sdkfz 251/1 

2nd Company, Panzer Regiment 130

Panther Ausf A

The reinforcements then consisted of:

6 th Company, 2nd Battalion

7 figures, 1 Panzerfaust operator

2 nd Company, Panzer Regiment 130

Panther Ausf A