Bargain Shopping

Hey guys. Wanted to change things up a bit and get some info out there about getting some materials for terrain building or models in general for war-gaming. Some of this may be old news to some of you vets, but this is here to help the new comers who have found this blog.

Supplies:

So I wanted to share about getting some supplies a great prices. The holiday season provided a plether a of coupons for local craft/hobby stores and lucky for me I have 3 near eachother (AC Moore, Jo Ann Fabric and Michael's). Michael's had a 60% off One Item Coupon and AC Moore had a 50% off One Item Coupon. I took advantage of this to pick up som DAS air dry modeling clay. This has many uses, but my main goal is to make sand bags for MG nests, bunkers and the like. I also want to make some sandbags for the Sherman tanks as well as defensive positions around builds. I am hoping to get this started int eh next day or 2. 

The craft stores run specials every week and it's usually for a percentage off one item, or another percentage off your entire purchase (I have never seen an entire purchase coupon go above 30%...yet). This is great to get some of the more expensive items at a lower price. My buddy uses it to get resin for casting parts.  

Pack of clay I picked up for 60% off!

1:72 Focke-Wulf I was able to pick up at AC Moore

MODELS/FIGURES:

Sometimes you can get great deals on models and figure sets. Warlord Games had a flash sale on resin vehicles, plus free shipping on order of $16.00! I was able to order a Panzer Luchs tank for a recon element I'm building and 2 figure sets (one Partisan squad and one FJ HQ Unit). This was  great deal, especially for the tank. The $16.00 order for free shipping is still going on.

Speaking of sales, Black Tree Designs has a sale going on where infantry is 50% Off! I picked up some partisan figures, US and German casualty sets, and two German infantry units to build up my Wehrmacht. Shipping was reasonable and it arrived on my door step in 2 days! Heck, it even shipped same day I ordered. The figures are nice and provide some variety mixed in with the Warlord figures I have.  

Another place to look out for is NWS gaming as the owner usually runs the same specials as Warlord does, but his prices are already discounted so its a heck of a deal as well. 

For modelers on a budget deals like this are worth saving up for and you can make out good. So keep an eye out and happy modeling!

Battle Report 27.12

This past Saturday I got to have a day of war-gaming with one of my friends and his son. Scenario was like the last time only both sides upped the game. Point value for this game was roughly 2700 points and was armor intensive. Every game we play we try to get a little more in depth with one section of the rules so that way we have a better understanding and we build from there.


The battle started out with moving my armor and loading ground troops on to transports. I wanted to get units to prevent the allies from entering buildings in the town. Even thought he last battle was a victory the Germans were able to counter attack and push the American units back out of the town.

Initial movement of the Stug down the main road in the heart of the town.

 As the armored units pushed forward, ground units set up HQ in the church. As all the armor began to push forward the Panther and Tiger tanks moved out to engage a small unit of Shermans crossing the bridge. As units were getting into position, a column of Shermans to the right flank fired on the Tiger. One of the Shermans scored a lucky hit and knocked out the Tiger.

Once HQ heard of this, I mean heck they even saw the flaming tank yards away from the church, the Fallshirmjager Artillery Observation team quickly moved to the 3 story building and set up on the roof. There they were able to advise the  Haupsturmfuhrer (Captain) that not only was a column of Shermans approaching but a M10 Tank Destroyer and a Priest self propelled gun was arriving as well. THey were supporting two large infantry squads on the right flank. 

First kill of the came. A column of Shermans engaged my Tiger I.

When the time was right, the artillery observation team consulted their map and radioed the artillery barrage in. The artillery battery was free of fire missions so the whole battery unleashed on the coordinates given. Revenge was coming for the Tiger I that was knocked out. All the infantry sections were pinned down by the artillery with 3 casualties resulting. The barrage also halted all tank movement and the American right flank was stopped dead in their tracks.

Artillery bombardment aftermath

With the right flank movement slowed, the armor could now focus on engaging the Shermans that cleared the bridge and were now on the main road. The Panther was subject to being shot at by the right flank so the commander ordered the crew to pull into the ditch on the side of the road just near an abandoned Opel cargo truck that was shot up by French Resistance that was known to be operating in the area. The Shermans pushed forward in an attempt to get around the Panther and shoot it from the rear. A Puma which was near by, and feeling good after killing a Sherman tank that contained a high ranking officer, fired on the Sherman, but missed in the process. The Panther was engaged a point blank but the rounds somehow missed the tank. The Panther was able to engage the rear tank and destroy it. 

As a result of the destroyed Sherman, its partner's crew ended up surrendering to the Panther and the Fallshirmjager Panzershrek unit which moved up after firing at the Shermans. It was time now to focus on the American Scout Car which arrived near the wooded area.  

Panther engaging Sherman tanks. The lead Sherman's crew surrendered to the Panther

The Scout car was able to scoot back after drawing fire from the Puma. The Scout car began engaging a squad of Panzergrenadiers that were clearing from a house to engage the infantry squads that were clearing the last open field by the town. The Panther was able to engage the scout car and destroy it. 

Panther tank with its second kill of the game. An Allied Scout Car.

By this time the M10 was able to move in an attempt to knock out the Panther, but the Stug took up a defensive position and was able to hit the M10 causing a fire which knocked out the tank. Infantry began engaging in combat near the wooded area as well as the open fields near the town. After taking loses from the MG fire from the half-track and Puma, an infantry unit engaged as squad of Waffen SS as they emerged from the wood line. They were met by grenade fire, which killed 3 of the soldiers. 

Gunfire continued as the Panther, Puma and Half-track all engaged the infantry unit that was in the middle of the roadway. More casualties were taken by the Americans. 

Stug with the morale crushing blow, Knocking out the M10 Tank Destroyer.

Seeing that morale was dropping and losses were mounting, the Americans pulled back from their attack and the Germans continued to hold the town.

END REPORT

Rubicon Opel Truck Review SdKfz 305

The other day I ordered a Rubicon kit off eBay. I was looking for a truck to transport some of my German units around the battle field and figured this was a good option. I have the Warlord Games kit but that is resin and metal. The kit is ok, but when I opened up this kit I was blown away. The amount of detail of these Rubicon kits are amazing.

The kit comes with 2 plastic sprues, a set of building instructions and a sheet of water slide decals.

Once completed I plan on doing a post about the build and pictures of the finished product.

Bolt Action Marder III Ausf. H Review

Good Day Everyone!

This is my first review post and this will be about the new Warlord Games Bolt Action Marder II Ausf. H that I received in the the mail. I ordered this from a vendor on eBay and it arrived today. I was super happy to open it up and check it out.

First thing I noticed was the box that the model came in was a little larger than usual. As I opened it up I realized this wasn't like the usual resin kits but is a plastic kit. Now recently I have noticed that Warlord's plastic figures are very detailed. They are great! I just picked up the new Waffen SS plastic kit and those figures are super detailed and are a great starting point for a Waffen SS Army. Don't get me wrong I like the metal figures, but after the new SS kit I am super impressed and I am hoping there are more plastic kits that come up where the molds are updated.

The kit comes with the following:

- 2 plastic sprues
- 1 kit for making smoke and fire markers
- A instruction book with painting guide
- A stat card about the unit
- Decal sheet for the model

Overall I think this is a step in the right direction and look forward to more kits like this from Warlord.

Stay tuned for a post about the finished model.

AFTER ACTION REPORT DEC. 9

Today my units were met with an opposing American force consisting of numerous infantry and armored units. Force lists were as follows:

Germans:

One Reinforced Platoon consisting of:

1. A Waffen SS First Lieutenant
2. A Waffen SS 7 man squad w/ mg team included
3. A Waffen SS 6 man squad w/ mg team
4. A Heer Engineer Squad w/ anti tank rifle
5. A Waffen SS Captain
6. A Waffen SS sniper team
7. A SdKFZ 251 Halftrack
8. A Puma Armored Car
9. A Fallshirmjager  anti tank rifle team
10. A Waffen SS PAK 40 Anti Tank Gun
11. A Waffen SS Panzershrek Team
12. A Waffen SS MG42 Team

Americans:

1. 3 Airborne squads
2. 1 Sherman 3 tank platoon
3. 1 M10 Tank Destroyer
4. 1 GMC Truck
5. 1 Forward Observation Team
6. 2 Regular Army Squads

The scenario that was being played out was that the Americans were advancing to take the town from the Germans. Months prior the Germans took the town from the Russians. The German, due to lack of defense supplies, were unable to construct fortifications in the town adn had to rely on natural defenses to assist in the defense of the town.

The initial movements consisted of airborne troops moving towards the numerous hedgerows that were on the outskirts of the town. The Germans were alerted to possible attack due to a Heer Enginer squad on patrol and they overheard the noise of the tanks. By the time the squad was able to see tanks crossing the south bridge, the observed a squad boarding a truck on the bridge north west of the south bridge. They also observed a smoke column from the M10 that was now coming into view. A Fallshirmjager anti-tank rifle team had taken up position in the woods and camouflaged themselves to assist with defending the town. Their hopes were to disable a vehicle on the bridge in an attempt to funnel the tanks into one of the killing fields where the portable anti-tank weapons could be more useful. As the troop transport crossed the bridge, the anti-tank rifle fired a round at the truck. The round missed and the truck stopped. Now with their attention being focused on the anti tank rifle, the M10 began coming towards the area. 

Airborne units began moving towards the patchwork of hedgerows in an attempt to enter the town from the south. The Sherman tanks began to make their way over as well. With the anti tank team exposed, they made a run for the northern part of town, but not before being pinned down my the squad that dismounted from the transport truck. The M10 also joined the part a fired a round at them. The round missed and struck the building near them. Stunned the anti-tank rifle was able to take cover. The M10 began crossing the bridge. Withe bridge being arched, on the downward slope, the top of the tank, and crew were exposed. This was an opportune time for the PAK 40 to fire on the tank. After a few exchanges, the PAK 40 was able to hit the tank and cause a fire. The crew of the M10 was able to extinguish the fire, but discovered that the PAK was able to cause enough damage to jam the turret. 

The north side of town became an exchange of high explosive rounds with little to no result until the anti-tank rifle set up in an effort to knock the tank out once and for all. This proved to be a failed effort as the M10 was able to take out the tank tank rifle with its main gun in one shot. A stalemate ensued on the north end which allowed the dismounted squad to enter the forest and the troop truck to escape over the bridge. 

On the south side of town, Sherman tanks were able to plow through the hedge rows and advance toward the town. The airborne units had now pushed towards the hedgerows and were at the last set, even after being slowed down by farm fields. As the units approached the town, a MG42 opened up from the second floor of a house struck by a artillery shell. The MG team was unsuccessful in slowing the advance and was wiped out by a Sherman tank and a bazooka team. 

As the MG team opened up, a Puma Armored Car arrived and observed the attack which wiped out the only fixed MG team in the area. The crew of the PUMA radioed for reinforcements to assist as they new infantry were pushed from the south. The Puma crew was also able to catch something else. The observed the commander of the tank platoon was directing units to push forward. The crew took this opportunity to strike while the iron was hot and fired a round at the turret of the Sherman. DIRECT HIT! The puma destroyed the Sherman and all of the crew was killed, including the commander.  

Another SS squad moved forward to assist with repelling the invading forces. The engineers could hear units clearing the first block of houses and pulled back to assist in defense of the church.The engineers came under fire from the invading units as well as the gun crew from the PAK. The M10, now having infantry moving up to flank, began its assault forward. The engineers assisted in attempts to repel the tank but the soldier equipped with the anti tank rifle could not score a hit. As the battle raged on, the engineer squad suffered casualties but by the heroic acts of the medic, this was kept to a minimum. By this time the PAK gun had been knocked out and the two of the crew were killed and the gun ablaze. 

The SS squad who moved to assist now moved up to the second floor of a house that overlooked the road. The German halftrack was able to escape being shot by anti tank weapons and made it to the north end of town where another SS squad was able to dismount. The US squad fired on the halftrack pinning the crew, but the gunner on the rear of the halftrack returned fire with the MG 42. Killing the bazooka team. 

By this time, the M10 was entering the town when a SS Soldier aimed a  pazerfaust and fired into the side of the tank. As the soldier fired, the MG team with the squad was taking aim into the open top of the M10, hoping to take advantage of the high ground. Thinking this was the end, other soldiers prepared to assault the M10 for the Fatherland. To the surprise of the soldiers, and the First LT. who was overseeing this, the panzerfaust hit its make, subsequently knocking out the tank and killing the crew.  

The Americans had now advanced to the next block and the Sherman tanks were inching closer, take shots at the Puma that knocked out their commander. The Americans had entered the church where a sniper team had taken a shot at some infantry entering the north of the town. The shot had missed and an assault of the bell tower was being planned. 

The assaulters entered the bell tower, killing the sniper. A struggle continued with the second soldier being taken prisoner. Prior to the assault, the panzershrek team was firing rounds at the advancing tanks, in an effort to give the Germans the upper hand. This proved unsuccessful, and the team was forced to displace and head for another part of the town. 

In the end teh Americans were able to take the town back and push the Germans out. However the Germans had a tactical victory for knocking out he bazooka teams and two of the four tanks. 

WILLKOMMEN

Welcome to my blog dedicated to my hobby of miniature WWII war gaming. In this blog I will provide reviews of miniatures, vehicles and other products. Also included will be some how-to articles on how to build terrain, paint models and information for the miniature modeler.

Lastly stay posted and subscribe for my favorite, After Action Reports from battles and campaigns of the miniature warfare!