Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

The Matchbox and Airfix Influence

When I was young, before I started this wargaming lark, I use to make up plastic kits. In the main these were the pocket money kits I could buy from my local model shop and these were manufactured by Airfix and Matchbox. I recall preferring the Matchbox kits as they came with a piece of scenery.

As I paint more Flames of War models, and read the FoW sourcebooks, read books on World War Two, use the internet, I have started to realise how much my knowledge of World War Two vehicles and armour has been skewed by making those plastic kits all those years ago. They have also influenced what models I am buying and which ones I like.

So for example I am building an Early War French force for Flames of War. I am adamant that I have some Char B1 bis and the Renault FT-17. Less concerned about the Somau S-35 or the Hotchkiss tanks.

Similarily when looking for trucks for my German forces, who wants an Opel Blitz when you can have the Krupp Kfz 70 which is very similar to the Matchbox Krupp Kfz 69.

I think the only reason I have Cromwells in my Late War British force is that I had those thirty years ago in my 6mm Heroics and Ros World War Two force. Of course this year Airfix will be releasing a 1:76th scale Cromwell.

I recently bought a three pack of Dingo scout cars and I am sure that the Monty’s Caravan kit was a big influence on this purchase. Question, can I get a 15mm Monty’s Caravan?

Looking back over the old Matchbox and Airfix ranges you see some classic tanks and armoured vehicles and other military vehicles. It is these that I look at when buying new models for Flames of War.

Ork Runt Bot and Grot

Forge World’s 2010 Show Only model was an Ork Runt Bot and Grot.

runtbot

This fantastic figure, designed by Mark Bedford, is our exclusive Event-Only figure for 2010. Meks are always keen to test their bionik designs on the battlefield, and if no suitable ‘patients’ are available they will build a Runt Bot; a huge, clanking parody of an Ork warrior powered by a rumbling engine and directed into battle by a plucky Grot, who will be provided with a ‘kontrol pad’ for the mechanical warrior. This finely detailed and striking vignette depicts the Grot controller perched precariously on the shoulder of the Runt Bot, wrestling with the joystick in an effort to direct the shearing claws of the monstrosity. This great miniature can be used to represent a Warboss with the Bionic Body upgrade, a Nob in Mega-Armour, or simply as a centrepiece or painting project.

Really nice model and I bought one at GamesDay 2010.

Before I got started, I washed all the resin pieces.

Quite a fiddly looking model really.

As for rules? Well there aren’t any official rules, so I will probably use this as a Killa Kan. Tempted by another option to use it as an Ork in Mega Armour.

Killa Kan

Killa Kan from GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.

The new plastic Killa Kans are really nice models and I like them a lot, they are much better than the metal versions. I have been working on three of them and you can read how far I have got on my workbench feature on them.

Flames of War German Panzergrenadier Headquarters

I purchased a Flames of War box of the German Panzergrenadier Headquarters. In the box you get a bunch of resin, plastic and metal.
It’s a challenge though to see what goes where and on which bases which models go. I do think that there needs to be either better instructions in the box, or at least a good and explanatory guide on the Flames of War website. This is not the first or last model from Flames of War that has left me confused about what is what and where it goes on the model. It’s not even entirely clear about which infantry go together or clear instructions on how to base them.

Having said that once you know what goes where, the half tracks go together quite easily, though for some reason I got some super glue “ghosting” on the model.

The machine guns and gun shields were quite fiddly and do feel quite delicate.

I still need to add the main frontal armament, any crew and the crew equipment.

One thing I do like about FoW models is that in this set you get three different half track hulls rather than three of a single mould.

Here is one of the SdKfz 251s with a Tiger 1 E tank.

See the workbench feature on this boxed set.

Another Minotaur

Imperial Guard Minotaur, this model was entered into the GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.

Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle

I’ve always liked these Elysian vehicles ever since we saw them first at GamesDay 2009.

4-wheel Tauros is used by the Elysian regiments as a long-range scout vehicle, mounting potent anti-personnel firepower in the form of either a Heavy Flamer or Tauros Grenade Launcher. Its four wheels are individually powered by advanced high-yield galvanic motors, allowing it to maintain speed even with damaged tyres – often giving it a crucial edge when faced with superior enemy firepower.

I have decided to use them with my Daemonhunters’ Army with my Tallarn Imperial Guard. Before I start any model I have a look online at what others have done.

You get a small bag of resin.

Before I got started, I washed all the resin pieces.

A really nice model and doesn’t look too complicated to build, looks complicated to paint though.

D-Day Landings

A 20mm demonstration game of the Normandy Landings.

Some very nice Hobart’s Funnies conversions in play, as well as a load of landing craft.

Very little sign of the Germans though…

More photographs of World War Two wargames.

Flames of War Tiger I E

The Tiger was feared so much by the Allies, that most German tanks were referred to as Tiger tanks. Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank used in World War II, developed in 1942. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of Operation Barbarossa, particularly the T-34 and the KV-1. The Tiger I design gave the Wehrmacht its first tank mounting the 88 mm gun, which had previously demonstrated its effectiveness against both air and ground targets. During the course of the war, the Tiger I saw combat on all German battlefronts. It was usually deployed in independent tank battalions, which proved to be quite formidable.

This is the Flames of War German Tiger I E. I was quite surprised by how many parts were in the blister. This wasn’t going to be a quick model to put together, especially with no instructions!

I decided to model the tank with the turret hatch closed. I first though glued the main gun into position and added the two turret hatches. I then added the two side skirts. These were quite challenging to glue to the side of the model.

I wasn’t entirely clear about the front hull hatches, there appeared to be four provided in the kit. I did look at a few models online, but wasn’t entirely clear about how they were stuck. I also almost missed the hull machine gun.

The final stage was gluing the tracks into place.

The other side.

The next stage is going to be a white undercoat.

See the full workbench feature on the Flames of War Tiger 1E.

Minotaur

Imperial Guard Minotaur now in the hands of Chaos, this model was entered into the GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.

It won the Forge World Best of Show Award.

Airfix Cromwell Tank

Currently most picture of the new Airfix 1:76th scale Cromwell tank is of the 3D rendering. I was lucky enough today to get to see the actual pre-production model kit and sprues. The model can either be made with the wading gear (that was used on D-Day) or as it was used later on in the Normandy campaign without.

The sprues show a fair few parts, and unlike some of the new wargaming models that have come out recently, this is a model kit first with lots of parts.