Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

Flames of War Battle

These are the opening shots of a recent game of Flames of War. Alas the models were only painted to a “basecoat” standard, normally I wouldn’t play a game with “unpainted” tanks, but still have some way to go with the models and we are still working out how to play the rules. The game consisted of a German armoured column being ambushed by British armour.

Here a German Tiger is ambushed by a couple of M10s and some Dingos.

Cromwells and a Challenger are on the hill on the other side of the road.

The Germans have Panthers and Stugs in addition to the Tiger.

Building the Forge World Grot Mega Tank

I picked up the Grot Mega Tank at GamesDay 2010. It was available in limited numbers, but I was lucky enough to pick one up, before they sold out. I really do like this model alongside the Grot Tanks. The model is very ship like with battleship style turrets and a prow shaped bow. It is a very ramshackle vehicle and looks like (as it should) if the grots have just thrown it together from parts lying around the battlefield and stuff stolen from a Mek workshop.

After putting the hull together, the next stage was the turrets and the mast.

The turrets are interchangeable with those of the plastic Ork vehicles and the Grot Tanks allowing you an opportunity to convert the Mega Tank into a different looking model. Useful if you were to get two.

You have some choice about which weapons go in which turrets, I did spend a fair bit of time thinking about and trying different options before deciding on the following, in the end I went with Big Shootas, Grotzookas and a Skorcha.

I added the main smoke funnel. This really adds to the nautical feel of the model.

The next stage was to add the mast and rear exhausts. The rear exhausts can be fitted randomly in any fashion you like. I am not too keen on the mast, it also makes the model quite difficult to store and carry.

The view without the turrets.

The view with the turrets.

I have decided not to glue the turrets into position.

The next stage will be the undercoat.

See the full workbench feature on my Grot Mega Tank.

Imperial Guard Sentinel

This very nicely painted Imperial Guard Sentinel was an entry in the UK GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon awards.

Imperial Sentinel with Missile Launcher.

Really nice battle worn appearance and good pose. Not sure about the base, but it doesn’t detract from the model. I alwaysb like the idea that we think rockets should be red, but in reality I am sure that this would cause problems, making it much easier for the enemy to see and target you!

More photographs of the Imperial Guard Sentinel.

Basecoating the 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.

The next stage after building the model was a white undercoat. I then followed this with a base coat of Humbrol Dark Brown.

Alas the result was that the model was too dark.

Another view of the Tiger with its base coat of Humbrol Dark Brown.

So it needs a different basecoat colour…

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

Undercoating the Flames of War Tiger I E

The next stage after building the model is going to be a white undercoat.

I do find the white undercoat really does show off the detail on these models.

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

Preparing the Field of Battle

For a recent game of Flames of War I prepared quite a busy field of battle.

Using hills, lichen and trees. The few buildings were some Hovels’ ruins and some Hornby N Gauge buildings.

Building the Forge World Grot Mega Tank

I picked up the Grot Mega Tank at GamesDay 2010. It was available in limited numbers, but I was lucky enough to pick one up, before they sold out.

Designed by Stuart Williamson, the Grot Mega Tank represents the pinnacle of Gretchin-built Heavy Tank technology; an overpowering war machine that drives all before it in a storm of scrap and destruction. This full resin kit is festooned with unique details as you can in the images, and Stuart has designed each turret to be fully cross-compatible with Daren Parrwood’s Grot Tanks.
Hammered together out of junk, spare Mekboy know-wotz and unbridled Grot enthusiasm, the Grot Mega Tank adds even more firepower to the battlefield madness that has come to be known as a Grotzkrieg, terrifying Imperial Tacticians, Eldar Farseers and Chaos Warlords alike.

I really do like this model alongside the Grot Tanks. The model is very ship like with battleship style turrets and a prow shaped bow. It is a very ramshackle vehicle and looks like (as it should) if the grots have just thrown it together from parts lying around the battlefield and stuff stolen from a Mek workshop. The turrets are interchangeable with those of the plastic Ork vehicles and the Grot Tanks allowing you an opportunity to convert the Mega Tank into a different looking model. Useful if you were to get two.
Having done some preparation work, onto construction. The main hull was then stuck to the front ram or Doza Blade.

The tracks were then added to each side.

I didn’t think that they were particularly well designed to join the main hull. I might later stick some green stuff between the inside of the tracks and the hull.

The next stage was to add the superstructure.

The key here is when adding the superstructure to ensure that the side turrets can continue to move.

See the full workbench feature on my Grot Mega Tank.

15mm British Trucks

These very nice 15mm British Trucks are from Simon’s collection.

See more photographs of 15mm miniatures for Flames of War.

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.