7DTTR - Last of the French stuff

 This little lot completes the outstanding French forces for the battle group. It adds in an extra platoon of infantry and two lots of transport , one wheeled and one tracked .

Then the infantry

 

And here is the picture of the whole force 

Plenty of options to choose when building a force for a game. 

 

For my WARPAC , I have a poorly  equipped East Germans with T55’s , BTR60’s and infantry . For my Soviets I have some decent armour T80s , T64B , AA Gecko  and Shilka , some BMP2s and 2 Hinds .this is the next force for some upgrade with extra tanks , APC and Infantry . 

 

7DTTR - French battlegroup top up

 As a little refresher between BoB stuff I have progressed some new bits for my French battlegroup for the 7 Days collection . 

First some up to date armour in the form of AMX56’s Leclerc . Done in standard 3 colour NATO scheme using the airbrush. Then an oil wash and highlights with some fishing wire aerials added .

 

More AA added with 37mm autocannons armed AMX13s 

 

A pair of Gazelle 20mm autocannon armed helicopters 

I have an additional platoon of infantry to complete plus their transport and this project will be completed . 

Gaming - 7DTTRR , airfield assault - at Battleground 2024!

 Today saw a run out to our local show. As we have played at lot of 7 Days this year it seemed appropriate to do something with it and get some of everyone’s collection on the table . I had also talked Bren into adding some terrain bits, security fencing , barriers , ATC tower etc. 

The basic premise after one of my mad ideas was a civilian airfield that had been put to emergency use with air corp units from West Germany , Brits , France , Dutch and US being bounced by a Soviet Para air assault .. yeah bunkers but it looked good !

Luftwaffe Phantoms bugging out … 

Hinds catch the NATO defences off guard 

Here they come 

An enormous MI6 dumps a host of paras 

 

VDV assault across the airfield 

Pilots head to their choppers as the AA takes it toll on the attackers

The gate post 

A10’s provide support .

Brens 

We had a good day chatting to people . The show was hit by some snowy weather hitting across the NE which impacted people getting there , but it seemed busy enough as the day went on. 

Time for a new project focus over the winter I think 

The stash for today was a number of new brushes , and some Xmas present stuff for the guys 

Gaming - 7 Days to the river Rhine - Bridge fight

 We have played a few games over the last few weeks with 7 days. With a lot of game play under the belt , it’s started to show up some of the areas we think need improvement. Mortars and Artillery need a proper system and we will work one out . Another change is that you cannot rally off all the accumulated morale hits , we will always carry one . It’s been a little too points focussed , so will move over to scenario and actual unit battles . Overall happy with the system it gives a decent game just needs a little house rules. Hopefully there will be an updated version 2 in the wings . 

The Soviets race toward the bridge 

 

It was a good excuse to get the extra big bridge completed - this was an e bay purchase of an MDF bridge I found for model railways - it’s a full 2 foot 6 long. 

The Soviets didn’t manage to take the bridge - a little too much focus on a helicopter born assault and not enough ground troops .

We added in using hidden deployment for the NATO Dutch and French units . 

Gerard blown up by Soviet Paras , though the helicopter had been shot down . 

 

Overall some great gaming has been done .

I have a few items to add to my French battlegroup coming up . Some more Gazelles with 20mm cannon and some AA AMX13s . 

Plus there seems to be a good sale price  on a few French boxes , these will arrive in due course . Leclerc tanks and some VABs transport and support unit . 

Gaming - 7Days to the Rhine

This weekend saw the usual monthly meet up. 7Days seems to have really caught some of the guys interest with new forces being raised - one of the good things is that you dont need loads for a game . We used a 12x6 table with a capture the bridge scenario - this would see Bren and Dave using the newly raised Soviet paratroopers and their air assault helicopters , with a force of Soviet armour racing to the bridge . 

My French would be deployed as the advance screening force and Stigs  new West Germans defending the other side around the industrial complex . 

 

The big guns dealt with advancing APCs 

 

AA and then APC autocannons dealt swiftly with the coup de main attempt after the initial assault had looked like it might just work 

Leopard 2 crossing the bridge to reinforce the French who had sold themselves dear .

Who doesn’t like a flight of A10s 

The Soviets didn’t manage to take the bridge , we had enough time to run it again and they tried a more aggressive approach which also failed . They want to play it again !