Blood Red Skies

Last Christmas I was lucky enough to receive Blood Red Skies Battle of Britain starter set. I was able to set it up and play it straight out of the box which is a bonus in the winter when spray priming models is out of the question. I had some grand games with it and sent for some decals with a view to painting the little planes.

Well, I got them painted a few weeks ago when the weather warmed up and I got them into action today.

I have long been interested in the Battle of Britain and have re-read Len Deightons book for some background.

Here are my Spitfires.

And the Messerschmitts. When we were kids running around with our toy guns and tin helmets someone would yell "Messerschmitt!" and we'd all dive for cover. Happy days!.

A Spit gets a shot in.

Now the boot is on the other foot!.

A bit of a furball.

But it soon opened up.

Blood Red Skies is a superb game and I reckon it is Andy Chambers' best work.

Stay safe!, now I'm off to shoot some bombers down.

Lockdown Rapid Fire!

Well I've been digging out some old toys while in lockdown and enjoying some games of Rapid Fire!. I've had some nostalgic moments trying to recapture my youth with some very old toys.
 Here are some photos...

Airfix PaK 40 behind the Airfix cottage.

Revell Germans. 

Hedgerow Hell.

US infantry with British tanks in support.

German anti tank company.

Airfix Americans. 

A company of Airfix veterans, real veterans, they were fighting in the early '70's.

Here they are in close up. 

The German officer is from my very first box of Airfix soldiers circa 1969, he has certainly seen some action!. 

Italeri Germans and an Airfix Sherman.

Revell Americans. 

And Revell Germans with a veteran Airfix panzerfaust man.

I've had a lot of fun with these for a couple of weeks or so, the days and weeks all run into one nowadays.

Stay safe everyone!.

Models suitable for the Conan boardgame

This post was made as a location for pictures that I wanted to post on a forum for the Conan boardgame.

The models are Reaper Bones except for the purple cultists which are from some Cthulu boardgame and available as spares.

I made my own stat cards for them.

For a few quid I have added a lot to the game.

An executioner and a mummy captain fit in well with the game.

Champion!.

The Grande Armee invades Russia.

 I have now painted enough little men to get a game of Commands and Colors Napoleonics.

 French at the top of the picture face the Russians. I have acquired the Marshals, Generals and Tacticians expansion for the game. I am giving them a try out today.

 This is a made up scenario, the town is worth a victory banner for whoever controls the majority of the town. The winner needs seven banners. 

 French Dragoons.

 French artillery, they have had their bearskin hats swopped with some Esci shakoes.

 HaT infantry under the watchful eye of the top brass.

 Russian infantry.

 The Russian generals are paint conversions of the Italeri French set.

 Zvezda Russian Cuirassiers.

 More Russians.

 The French Line.

 First move sees the French form a Grand Battery on the hill.

 Using a Grand Manoeuvre card the Russians take the town.

 The French also make a bold move and capture the ridge on their left flank.

 A view from the French lines.

 The Russians attack the French on the ridge and take one end of it, killing a general in the process.

 The Russian light infantry defend the town.

 Another view.

 The French throw troops against the town but take heavy casualties.

 The Russians play the Bayonet Charge card and storm out of the town at the weakened French infantry.

 They also attack at the other end of the field to destroy another weakened French formation.

 At the town the bayonet charge goes in ...

 And the French are routed.

Six victory banners to the Russians. Almost there.

 The French right wing has almost ceased to exist.

 The French in desperation hurl their Dragoons against the Russian Cuirassiers and send some infantry to drive the Russian musketeers from the ridge.

 The Russians take casualties and fall back, but fight back and destroy the French Dragoons to get victory banner number seven. 

Don't mess with these bad boys!.

A grand battle, hopefully many more to follow. The new cards play well and I was able to use the Tactician cards without difficulty. I did remove First Strike and Short Supply from the deck though.

French light infantry and cossacks are next in the paint queue and will add much to the game I reckon.