It's all Greek to me! (Part 8 - Infantry Squad #3 Complete! And a whole lot more.)

**Settle down, grab a beverage and some reading glasses - this post is going to be a long one. **

Well, as in most cases, "best laid plans" tend to end up floundering and so my plans in fine form for this project followed suit in short order. I managed to get the 3rd squad of Greek infantry I mentioned in my last post finished but could only find time to slap on a couple of base colours onto the 4th squad and so had to attend the event on Saturday 7th February with only 95% of my force fully painted. Not bad, but not what I wanted. 

The 3rd squad though does look rather splendid and fits in nicely with the others I've painted up so far. Once again, these are metal sculpts by Great Escape Games and were fun to paint.

Infantry Squad #3 - lots of tasty 'tache's in this group.

Also painted up this fun little Orthodox priest who I add to my FAO team who'll ask the big feller above for extra luck getting those off-table artillery strikes on target for once. (With my dice rolling, I need all the help I can get!)

This little fellow has since been given a coat of flat varnish. 

The whole Greek WW2 collection as it stands - best pics I could get with the time, space and lighting available. Just a pair of trucks to paint up and then they'll be done, "Fully Painted" if we want to be specific and add titles. For now. (I'd like to pick up a few more pieces of armour and another pair of Bren Carriers, but those are purchases for next year.)

On February 8th I attended the 2nd annual Operation Sweetheart event at GameKastle Sacramento. It was the first 3rd edition event in the area, and I played my first three games of the new edition, winning one and losing the following two. Not a bad result, especially considering as I brought my Greeks and they had little to no anti-armour options. A fun day and great to see both locals and travelling players from the Reno community. There was a good turn-out including some new players and also a young-blood (13 I think?). Being that the event was 4 months ago I don't recall hard fast details, but my first game (A win vs late war Germans) was highlighted by my rolling immensely well, the second (A loss vs an all over the place german list) marred by my opponent bringing an almost all unpainted army who also proxied about half his force, and the third and last game (A loss vs late war Brits) where my dice and lack of ability to hurt the multiple armoured options of my opponent caused a little frustration. Regardless of the result, a good time was had and it was fun to take my Greeks to an event.

Pics are in no particular order and included here just so you have pretty things to look at. 

Sideways? Poor editing on  my part.

Now that the event is done and long past, that 4th infantry squad will get done.... sometime. Moments for hobby are back to being few and far between - curse you real life!

I also managed to get in a game with my gaming pal Densmol whilst our respective wives sat on the lawn and drank alcoholic seltzers and chatted about whatever it is women discuss when menfolk are elsewhere. As you can see in the pictures, this was my test run also for my WW2 Airfield terrain setup. Still more to add and plenty to paint up, especially that Heinkel, (The large building is not part of the set along with some of the scatter terrain - I just needed to fill the table moreso) but I like the direction it's headed.

I provided forces for both sides - Densmol played my Winter Germans and I faced off against them with my Winter Soviets. It was a fun learning game for both of us using the now not-new 3rd Edition of Bolt Action. Densmol ended up winning, lots of new rules were forgotten or plain mis-played, but we both had fun. 

Blanket as a game mat. Not bad, but not great. Needs some variation in shades of green and a jolly good iron!

One drunken evening I found myself trawling online stores and made some purchases. I only found this out the following morning when I saw the order confirmation emails in my inbox. (Don't tell the wife.)

Water Buffalos for my Late War Canadians

Fuel Truck for my Airfield terrain, BA-10 for my Winter Soviets and a pair of sd.kfz 10/4's for my Germans. 

Also some "not Beakie Space Marines" by another Etsy store that I had the seller upscale a little to the same size as Primaris cos I like my mutant human warriors huge. (Poor Greek soldier included for scale)

The Beakies came in a squad of 5 cool individual sculpts. I also stupidly jumped on the chance to pick up an in scale classic style Space Marine Dreadnought by Hybrid Miniatures on Facebook. I have a buying problem, it's true.

It's always nice to have new things, even if you really don't have time to paint them.

Last year I put a (very) small amount of cash into a Kickstarter for some 3D print stl files for some East Front terrain. I then found out my co-worker has a printer at her home and she offered to print all the files out if I provided the filament. So here are some of the prints - very crisp and well detailed and currently in the queue for primer, paint and snow effects, hopefully getting done this Summer. Am hoping joining Dave Stone's "Summer of Scenery" challenge at his blog, will help motivate me.

Soviet Schoolhouse and a tin-roof'd barn

Some cool scatter terrain to add extra flavour

Log cabins

A small Orthodox chapel. I also have some benches to place inside. 

Back to painting progress - I managed to get in some painting time this last week whilst my wife was away on a trip to Oregon to visit her grandparents. 

First off a pair of Anti-Tank Rifle teams for my Greeks, bringing the total of these I can drop on the table to 3.

More metals sculpts by Great Escape Games

And then a pair of furry faced warriors for anthropomorphic skirmish game Burrows and Badgers. Both leaders of their respective warbands. These are the first painted for a campaign me and my pal J are going to play through when opportunity arises in the future.

Sir Rowland Othyr, Otter Lansknecht

And Ylvis Sez, leader of the Freebeasts

 And lastly, on the 24th of June, I got in a game of Bolt Action at my mate Stephen's place. 1000 points each side, I took my Greeks again and he faced off with some cool Early War Germans (A mix of Fallschirmjager veterans and Regular Heer.). My dice were hot this game and once again, even though I really should have struggled to deal with his German armour, somehow I managed to drop mortar rounds in the right places and blew them up and then proceeded to grind down his support assets to win 10-9. Beautiful table to play on and a great host. 

My Greeks

Stephen's Germans

And some pics in no particular order - just here to look cool. Stephen's setup was great looking and made for a very narrative gameplay.

A very pinned out sd.kfz 222 armoured car. Crazy what VB and Light mortars can do!

The man himself - Stephen is also the Official Warlord Raider for Northern California and Nevada and origanises all the events and tournaments.

Okay done now. If you managed to read this far down, apologies for the lengthy silence. Am hoping I'll have time and enough content to post again before the blog's 14th birthday on 1st October, but I make no promises as this summer is super busy with famikly stuff. 

Hope all are well and happy out there,

- Dai

It's all Greek to me! (Part 7 - Infantry Squad #2 Complete!)

I recently managed to finish up the 2nd of 4 infantry squads for my WW2 Greek army. This 11-man squad is made up of 3D printed resin sculpts designed and printed by Greece-based Studio Historia and are some very nicely done minis with lots of dynamic poses. I still think they are some of the best WW2 3D printed options out there. They are all painted and based in the same fashion of the previous Greek forces I've previewed here. (Forgive the shininess - these pics were taken pre-dulcote)

Like I said - really cool dynamic poses on these. So far I've yet to be disappointed with any of the Studio Historia 3D sculpts I've purchased.  

Speaking of which, this is the first "army project" that I've actually taken time to catalogue the paint colours I've used so I have true uniformity amongst the force. The overall effect of seeing them arrayed together makes a heck of a difference say, compared to my Soviets that seem a little more rag-tag in comparison and I'm mightily tempted to perhaps sell that army and start anew in a similarly more organised fashion for a better, more unified end result. We will see...

Webbing/straps aside, there aren't too many markings, unit or rank badges to have to pick out. Normally Greek army have a red collar marking, but this squad are in Cold Weather kit and almost all of their coat collars are "popped"! (So no room to paint said red markings)

As with all the other pieces to this project, I've kept the basing VERY simple for expediency's sake in an effort to make my deadline. Tufts are only on the squad leader (2x tufts) and LMG mini (1x tuft) to better pick them out on the table. I might come back at a later date and add more detail just for interest' sake.

Squad #3 is now on the paint table and I fear I am not going to find enough time to get them done before my February 8th deadline and that still leaves Squad #4 to paint besides! (I hate playing with unpainted miniatures!) - wish me luck!

Squad #3 on the table (Another Great Escape Games metal squad). Not a lick of paint as yet. I fear I might not get these lads done in time, which means Squad #4 will have to be played just primed!
*SUCH SHAME, SUCH HORROR!!!*

For those keeping track, here is the updated Painting Chart:

My household has been suffering from recent seasonal colds and so forth, it's been fun (not) and I'm hoping it all clears up prior to next weekend. Hope you and yours are well out there!

It's All Greek to Me! (Part 6 - Infantry Squad #1 Complete!)

First post of 2025, and in January - a better start to the year than 2024. We have a new president here and half the state seems to be on fire. In January. Crazy times in California and I am somewhat apprehensive for what that means for the year to come. 

Last post I mentioned a planned game of Bolt Action with Densmol; well, that did not happen. My poor opponent and his wife were waylaid by some awful bug or something and so it has all been postponed until... March or some such. Being adults with responsibilities and jobs and his active social life means it's tricky to coordinate dates for gaming. So we'll see - watch this space.

But, the 2nd occurrence of Operation Sweetheart - the earliest Bolt Action event in the area is occurring Feb 8th and I've been tentatively given the go ahead to attend (Responsibilities allowing.) by the Fun Prevention Officer. This in turn has lit a tiny hobby-fire under my arse and so when I can find time, I've been able to continue painting my remaining Greek infantry and hey-presto (!), the first squad of 11 is done!

These minis are all by UK-based Great Escape Games and produced in a satisfying white metal. The sculpts themselves actually depict a squad of Evzones, historically tough men of the Mountain Divisions. The rules themselves don't really do much to reflect this aside from offering an option to make them a bit nastier in close combat, but seeing as that aspect of the game has been seriously nerfed in the new edition, it's not really worth paying points for. Still, I really like the Great Escape Games sculpting with lots of exaggerated facial features including satisfying big moustaches! 

Next up is the second or four squads of  infantry, another 11 men though this time some more 3D prints from Greece-based Studio Historia. Their past sculpts depicting Greek weapons teams were a breeze to paint up, so I'm hoping this lot won't take quite so long as the metal sculpts from this first squad?

The painting chart has been updated to reflect all this progress thusly:

So until next post (Where I hope to show the 2nd squad painted up.) - hope all are staying safe and well, 

- Dai

It's All Greek to Me! (Part 1 - Force composition)

Found this cool art online to be good reference for Greek uniforms. No idea who the artist is though.

For my 400th post I thought I'd preview my main project (That admittedly should have begun earlier this year, but life happened.) that I plan to work on. In February the local Bolt Action Facebook group plans to hold a small tourney and I am hoping to be able to attend, and when I do, I want to be able to bring a new army to play with!

And so "Greeks?" you might ask. Why yes, WW2 1940-41 Greeks are going to be my next Bolt Action project and here are the main reasons:

1. Firstly, I wanted to have and be able to play an army that represented a minor nation and something that is rarely seen on the tabletops (Mainly due to their army lists and national rules being considered pretty awful). I also wanted a force from the Early years of WW2. (My Soviets represent 1944-45 and my Canadians Mid War 1942 so a 1940-1941 era force seemed appropriate.)

2. My grandmother was Greek and suffered the brutal Nazi occupation of her home country during the war. By researching and collecting together this force I felt I was connecting to her memory and my own of the stories she would tell me of her experiences during those years. At least in a small way. 

3. My Bolt Action gaming pal, Densmol, decided he too wanted to stray from his primary faction (Germans) and so chose Italians(!). So what better adversary than a bunch of Retsina and Ouzo drinking, heavily moustachio'd mountain fighters to face them!? *Who also historically kicked them back into Albania! (To date, Densmol has yet to confirm which part of the war he's going to paint his Italians up for though.) 

4. As mentioned in my brief year review post for 2022, I had found on Facebook a digital sculptor who's sculpts were simply sublime. Studio Historia actually work out of Greece and their main creators are passionate about their source material, so I felt that their 3D printed sculpts would be some of the best out there and, once they arrived, I was not disappointed. Add in some lovely metal Great Escape Games "Evzones" (Tough Greek mountain troops) and some 3rd party 3D printed vehicles I found on Etsy and I had an army for a relatively affordable financial investment.

The make up of the basic 1000 point force is as follows (All are rated as "Regulars", for those who know Bolt Action.):

KEY: Red = Unassembled, Orange = Assembled and Primed, Yellow = Painting in Progress & Green = Completed.

This is the Draxian organizational painting chart/excel sheet I'll be using and updating as this project progresses until it's all "fully painted green" in the many posts to come. 

Here are pics of the unpainted mini's glued to their bases, ready for primer so you can get an idea of just how nice these 3d printed minis are. I've become more and more impressed with the quality of 3D printed miniatures in resin as the tech just gets better and better and can see me purchasing more in the future:

2nd Lieutenant #1 & Adjutant (An Adjutant sounding a bugle!? Sign me up!)

Regular Infantry Squad #1 (11-man squad with Rifles, 1x LMG & 1x VB Launcher. The resin fellow front-right will get a flagpole in his left hand.)

 

Regular Infantry Squad #2 (11-man squad with Rifles, 1x LMG & 1x VB Launcher)

Medium Mortar Team (There is another crew member, but I left him out as Bolt Action only calls for 3 crew to a mortar. With Spotter - Not pictured)

Sniper Team (What it says on the tin.)

Anti-Tank Rifle Team (Although the Greeks had a few Boys AT rifles supplied by the Brits, they were few and far between and I don't think they even had much ammo for them, so the Greek troops procured Italian Solothern AT Rifles when they were able to liberate them. The base was a freebie I got from an Etsy 3D print order. I've also since added basing texture to match the rest of the force. )

Medium Howitzer (An old Schneider 85mm artillery piece from the Interwar period. There are far too many crew on this gun per the Bolt Action rules, but the whole scene just looked too darn cool to leave out anyone. Also with Spotter - not pictured)

L3/35 Tankette (Captured from the Italians. This little terror takes up the Armoured Car slot in the list.) 

Renault FT-17 Tank (Still researching IF the Greeks actually had these. So far, online evidence says "no", but the Bolt Action list includes the option so until that changes I'll keep this ugly little thing in. Absolutely lovely 3D print found on Etsy. ) 

2nd Lieutenant #2 & Adjutant (Who is actually an Orthodox Priest - flippin love this sculpt! Both Great Escape Games minis.)

Oof! That’s an awful mold line on the officer’s helmet! 

Evzones Mountain Brigade Squad #1 (5x Rifles and all Tough Fighters. Metal minis by Great Escape Games)

Evzones Mountain Brigade Squad #2 (5x Rifles and all Tough Fighters. Also Metal minis by Great Escape Games)

Mk 1 Bren Carrier #1 (Another 3D printed model found on Etsy. Had to add crew made from spare Soviet bits ((Soviet helmets are close enough to Greek I feel.)) and a pintle-mounted Bren Gun made up from a paper clip and loose Bren gun produced by The Assault Group in the UK.)

Mk 1 Bren Carrier #2 (As above but this one I think is actually a Mk 2? I don't care though, it'll do as far as I'm concerned.)

*The Bren Carriers have actually had painting started so I need to change the painting chart to reflect this, but I’ll do that next post.

Playing-wise, this force should be pretty balanced. The small Evzones squads, mounted in their Bren Carriers will be reactionary options to come in on outflank and a hammer to slam down if they can get in the charge. Two full sized infantry squads can be used for objective holding but also large enough to endure a little punishment if they have to hoof it across the battlefield or open fire on a target. Everything else is pretty much in support of these four infantry squads. This army isn't going to win many games, especially against armies that have tough armour, but Bolt Action is an infantry game and if I can defeat my opponent's infantry, then I should have free reign to take objectives. At least that's the theory.

So there you go, my main project for the remainder of 2023 and beginning of 2024. Hope I can get all this completed by the beginning of February! *gulp* 

- Dai