BBC Series - SAS Rogue Heroes (North Africa)

With some trepidation I started to watch Episode One of the new BBC - SAS Rogue Heroes series. It had come with dare I say it, surprised recommendations from fellow some wargamers whom I deeply respect for their taste and acumen, so I took a deep breath and watched (or rather binged it on iPlayer). The jury was out in parts, the legend and the lore of the SAS are so easily overdone but as the story progressed I was totally hooked (for better or worse) but would it hold up in the cold light of day? It certainly had all the trappings of a professional marketing sell, the line-up of actors had clout, a "sexy rock and roll-heavy metal" sound track to boot and a very pacey delivery! (see below, would this montage of history, fiction, rock music and brat-pack acting [in a good sense] actually work?):     

And the verdict was .. well .. after some (short) deliberation .. I thought it was bloody brilliant! Somehow it all came together and seemed to get the gist of all the madness and stupidity associated with that era of the war - spot on. The wife even watched the series all the way through with me (partly due to the link with Sex Education actor and the lad who played the strapping Irishman [despite the beard]), it was simply such gripping television. Well done BBC how you pulled this off I do not know, in my heart I was expecting a "bitter lemon". There should not be a way that 1970's and 1980's rock music [Motorhead] could work for WWII - but it did. How? I still don't know, but do not care! Previously I was an instrumental "Where Eagles Dare" soundtrack person for top war stories but heck, (Rock Music) it worked, along with racing jeeps across the desert. You would, wouldn't you? The depiction of the LRDP was superb, they could have been over easily done, but no, a taxi service with guns who could navigate the desert like nobody else could. As for the storyline: I was laughing at moments, crying at moments and literally in awe - terrified at what was going to happen next - moments when I though "don't be daft - they wouldn't would they?" It has left me rushing for Michael Asher's history of The Regiment for the back story (it has been on the bookshelf long enough waiting to be read) .. and I bet I will get an Xmas book (and there are a few of them already out there) from the supermarket book isle! Sure I will find "discontinuity errors" as bits will have been simply "ripping yarns" but I love the disclaimer .. "the most incredible and unbelievable bits are the bits that are probably true"! Spoiler alert .. the last episode ended with Stirling down (captured), but will there be a Series Two following Paddy Mayne (and perhaps shots of Stirling musing in Colditz)? Meanwhile I unpacked "Undaunted: North Africa" and took a look at my 20mm Western Desert collection (with the classic LRDP set and some Dixon SAS metals, Strelets SAS-North African figures and Italians/DAK). There is a game or two in there to be had there ;) 

Strelets Soviet WW2 Winter Partisans .. and that strange figure in my set?

Over the festive and New Year break I had the opportunity (like many of us) to do some "hobby sorting" which included some 20mm figure plastic figure basing (see below, some lovely 1/72 scale WWII Strelets Soviet WWII Partisans in "Winter Dress"):  

They are an unusual but lovely set and so full of character (see below, the rugged partisan leader who accepts no excuses): 

Rugged and determined, armed with a SMG and ready to meat out retribution to the invaders (see below, you have got to like those boots): 

The agricultural worker turned partisan, perhaps not a great shot with the rifle but he will be persistent  (see below, gotta love those ear flaps): 

Then this mystery figure, at first I am thinking this is really the partisan's great, grandfather riding one last time against the fascist hoards in defense of the motherland, after all he does look Russian, of a Cossack style of sorts but definitely the wrong century! (see below, what is going on? It turns out this is a Strelets "Easter Egg" or "Cuckoo in the nest"): 

The answer comes from the ever useful Plastic Soldier Review Page: 

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=15

Colonials: 1/72 Acquisitions

All part of the great master plan. Visiting my favourite Edinburgh model shop (Wonderland Models) I took my time searching through the plastic figure section focusing on a "Colonial" perspective (ignoring the Modern distraction of a certain excellent Caesar plastic miniature range, your time will come) I decided to 'fill up' on the British army of that period. I say period but in truth I sampled unashamedly from the "Colonial", "Second Boer War" and "WWI" ranges as they were figures "that would do" (see below, my haul now means the British can field an 'all arms' response to the Arab revolt.  alongside their French compatriots):   

You can blame all this madness on Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame, bless him, my missus doesn't! Watch this space for a bit of a Colonial biff-bash in 2020! Something like the Sudan or an Arab Revolt methinks!

Some Interesting WW2 Strelets 1/72 Figure Sets

Rummaging through Plastic Soldier Review on the web and these caught my eye:

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2538

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1928  

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2383 

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2391

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1684 

I may have to undertake some reverse engineering to come up with a reason as to why I need them!

Strelets Arab Revolt Figures

Psst: Don't tell Santa but I opened one of my presents early (the "Elf on the Shelf" moves to the naughty corner), the 1/72 Strelets Arab Revolt Figures. I saw these courtesy of getting my older brother a model kit from Hannats online store and I simply could not resist them. I actually blame The Miniature Zone and his excellent Bolt Action Western Desert Game AAR for putting the idea into my head. He used the old Airfix Arabs figures but sadly I could not get my hands on them so I jumped at the chance of getting the Strelets ones (see below):

Thirteen figures per sprue and four sprues equals 52 figures, you cannot complain about that! My only regret now is not getting the mounted camel box too. Maybe in the New Year. I was thinking of using these to spice up Western Desert games. They are brilliant for Arabs, Bedouin Guides attached to 8th Army or DAK or even LRDP (or SAS) posing as Arabs. Enigmatic don't you think? Quite heavily armed too, as there are four Vickers HMGs and four Lewis LMGs included in the pack.