Bundeswehr casualty markers

I'd painted everything I have for the Cold War project with the exception of the last few Bundeswehr casualty markers that were finished off this week. They are all from the Timecast range.

We really need to get a few more games in as it's a great system.

Bundeswehr Force for Seven Days to the River Rhine

These past few weeks I've been getting on with some West German Bundeswehr to be able to either play against my own Soviet forces or for those games when my opponent fields their own Soviet force.

As usual, I've burst right through the usual 600 point force that you need for gaming, but at least I'll have plenty of optional variants to choose from.

The Battlegroup HQ is a Infantry team in a M113, I like to add a command vehicle to the HQ to help remind me which it is during the games. These are from the Timecast range.

The first unit is a platoon on Leopard 1A1A1 from Timecast, I went with the older tanks and APC's as I want to base my force around a unit of reservists rather than regulars.

A second platoon of Leopard 1A1A1 complete the tank contingent.

The main force of the battlegroup is three platoons of reservists in M113 APC's each platoon supported by a Milan ATGW team and a M3 MG in sustained fire mode.

Again all the infantry and APC's in these three units are from Timecast.

Like the armour I've used older equipment and not gone for the NATO three colour camo scheme that started to be introduced around this time to reflect the second line nature of the troops.

Indirect fire support is provided by a pair of M113G Panzermörser, again these are from Timecast.

Armoured reconnaissance assets are represented by a trio of Spahpanzer Luchs armoured cars, these models are from Red3 and fit in really nicely with the Timecast stuff.

There is also some heavy support in the form of a Gepard and a Jaguar 2, these are both 3D prints provided by chum Martin. My ham fisted clean up job means that I've had to hide some damage I did to the running gear on them both with basing materials.

I've done some 'soft' reconnaissance units too, three sets of infantry scouts, and two units in VW Iltis jeeps, this is a lovely model again from the Red3 range. 

The final grouping is a mixed platoon mounted in a pair of Fuchs wheeled armoured personnel carriers and a Unimog truck. The Fuchs with the Milan mount is another 3D print from Martin while the other Fuchs and the Unimog are again from Red3.

As I do over-do things there were far too many Milan teams purchased, these last four will likely never get used in any games, as four is more than enough, realistically two is enough.

A few close-ups of individual vehices.

The vehicles are done from a grey primer then base-coated in Mig NATO Green, the tracks, wheels, weapons etc. are painted in VMC Black Grey, and the entire thing dirtied up with a stipple of VMC Flat Earth.

The G3 stocks and tool handles are picked out in VMC Beige Brown. Tarps, camouflage nets, etc. are painted in VMC German Uniform, VMC Khaki or VMC Camo Beige, the mantlet covers on the Leopards are also painted VMC German Uniform. Once dry the entire thing is given a light dry-brush of VMC Iraqi sand.

They are set-aside for at east a couple of hours and then the whole thing is washed with AP Military shader and again set-aside to dry. The VMC German Uniform, VMC Khaki or VMC Camo Beige are over-painted and highlighted and then the vehicles were based then finished off using the Dark Sand powders from a Tamiya Model Master kit and a couple of coats of matt varnish applied.

I'm pretty happy how they came out, I think that the photos show them a bit lighter than they are in the flesh.

Pravda: Crushing Soviet Victory

In a continuation of our strike back against the pig-dog capitalist aggressors our forces pushed on towards Hannover brushing aside the NATO opposition.

The game happened between James and I at the club on Thursday, James played the Soviet Warsaw Pact force while I played the FDR NATO Defenders.

The site of the engagement, Warsaw Pact forces would strike from the bottom left.

Soviets:

• Four T-64B
• Six infantry in BTR-60PB
• One Saxhorn in BTR60-PB
• Two BRDM-2
• One BRDM-2 Spandrel
• One ZSU-23-4 Shilka

Marigal Automotiv Gmbh would be hotly contested

West Germans:

• Five Leopard A1
• Six infantry
• Two Milan teams
• One Luchs (Fuchs in disguise)
• One Jaguar 2
• One M113 Panzer Moerser

NATO prepare to counter the Soviet strike

Soviets advance along the road

Final deployments

First casualty, the BRDM-2 Spandrel is taken out by the Jaguar 2

Soviet tanks push on

This small holding was one of the Objectives, the Soviet armour is close already 

The Fuchs masquerading as a Luchs is the first to secure Madrigal Automotiv Gmbh

The Soviets are soon contesting the facility

Much of the action took place at very close quarters either side of the road that bisected the table

German armour takes position on high ground overlooking the battlefield

This knocked out T-64B proved quite the obstacle, at least two Soviet tanks failed their bogging test to pass it

The Leopards take their first casualty from a Tank Missile launched from the opposite hill

Knocking out the Jaguar that has cause them some pain, Soviet armour pushes up the road.

One of the Leopards moves up to support the infantry in the centre but is taken out by a T-64B

Losses to the armour on both sides is likely unustainable

The Soviets secure Madrigal Automotiv Gmbh

James and I played out five turns before we ran out of time and had to call it a day, neither side had broken the other, but the Soviets held three of the four objectives so despite the boasts from Pravda it was only a technical victory to them, I think a couple more turns would have had the West Germans in the ascendance.

West German property boom

This week I was working on more West German terrain for us to fight our Seven Days to the River Rhine battles over, with four houses added to the collection to add to the industrial units I painted a couple of weeks ago.

They are all nominally 1/144th / 10mm scale.

All four buildings are from the Timecast range, the first one being "Modern German House", this one is done from a base of VMC Pale Sand with the roof a base of VMC Neutral Grey.

The second one is also another example of "Modern German House" I left the garage off of this one and added a vegetable patch from the allotments set but not too sure if this really works.

This one is done off of a VMC Iraqi Sand base with the roof VMC Saddle Brown.

The third example is "1960's German House", for this one the basecoat is VMC Gold Brown and the roof VMC Neutral Grey.  

To give an idea of the size, they are all based on 120mm x 80mm from Warbases the trees used on the bases are architectural model ones from Timecast while the hedge is made of Woodland Scenics bushes, the flowers in the borders are from Army Painter "Meadow Flowers".

The final one is another "1960's German House" with the addition of the garage from the earlier "Modern German House" that instead got the allotment. 

This was a basecoat of 50:50 VMC Pale Grey and VMC Pastel Blue with the roof VMC Black Grey.

Using a spare base from Warbases I made an additional garden section that can be fitted to any of the houses, but seems to fit best with this one.

I will see what N gauge 1970's and 80's model cars are available as these may finish off some of the driveways quite nicely.

Martin and I are planning another game next week and he's also been adding some buildings of his own, so I think we will have quite the village on table.

Madrigal Electromotive GmbH

I've been working on some more terrain for our Seven Days to the River Rhine games. Timecast do some great terrain to go with their Cold War range including some splendid industrial units.

 

The first I painted was the "Modern Industrial Unit - twin bay with ridged roof". From a grey primer basecoat left the roof as is, the walls are VMC Stone Grey, door frames etc. VMC Medium Blue.

After a wash of AP Strong Tone I reapplied the basecoats everywhere but the roof and added some highlights. The tarmac is just VMC Black Grey dirtied up with green and brown staining.

The second unit is the "Modern Industrial Unit - large single bay unit with flat roof and office area." this was done in the same colours as the other unit, with the brickwork in Saddle Brown.

The windows were done using a non-glassy glass technique.

Again the roof was not highlighted, being left dirty and stained. The "DDR" graffiti decal is from Debris of War 

The third base is the "Modular/portable building", again with a couple of the decals added. 

This time the Portakabin was done from a VMC German Camo Beige basecoat.

The last base for the site is made up of left over pieces from the 20th Century Industrial Accessories pack, you can see that I used several of these components on the other bases and I think that they really capture the look I wanted.

The units are all based on 2mm MDF from Warbases and I can either use all four pieces as a single base, or build a couple of separate units.

I also picked up from Timecast three packs of the Minibits fencing to line our roads and demark some of our field boundaries.

With thirty pieces I have enough for just over 2m of fencing. It will not go far on my 6ft x 5ft table so will likely pick some more up next time.

Lastly I picked up some more terrain bases from Warbases, most have been done as bases for wooded areas, but I made a couple up as large ponds. The water effect is just PVA glue.

There are four more of the Timecast building on the painting table, and I think the terrain collection for our games is coming together quite well.