flames of war Archives - Page 35 of 41

German Panzergrenadier Platoon

As well as the boxed set, I also have the German Panzergrenadier Platoon blister. It contains three squads.

Flames of War General de Gaulle

A veteran of World War I, in the 1920s and 1930s de Gaulle came to the fore as a proponent of mobile armoured divisions, which he considered would become central in modern warfare. During World War II, he reached the temporary rank of Brigadier General, leading one of the few successful armoured counter-attacks during the 1940 Fall of France, and then briefly served in the French government as France was falling.

Charles de Gaulle is available for Flames of War and comes with a Somau S35 objective. The blister contains the metal parts and resin objective.

Flames of War French Char B1 bis

The Char B1 was a French heavy tank manufactured before the Second World War. It was a specialised heavy break-through vehicle, originally conceived as a self-propelled gun with a 75 mm howitzer in the hull; later a 47 mm gun in a turret was added, to allow it to function also as a Char de Bataille, a “battle tank” fighting enemy armour, equipping the armoured divisions of the Infantry Arm.

Among the most powerfully armed and armoured tanks of its day, the type was very effective in direct confrontations with German armour in 1940 during the Battle of France, but a slow speed and high fuel consumption made it ill-adapted to the war of movement then fought. After the defeat of France captured Char B1 (bis) would be used by Germany, some rebuilt as flamethrowers or mechanised artillery.

It’s as the German flamethrower variant that is sold for Flames of War that I purchased. At the time of writing battlefront have repackaged the blister as early war French version. I got two blisters of the Char B1.

Though having looked at the army lists in the Blitzkrieg book it looks like I should really have three, however there were only two in the shop when I bought them. So I ordered a third when I made a recent order for Flames of War.

Within the blister you get the resin hull and turret whilst the rest of the model is whitemetal.

See the full workbench feature on my Char B1 bis platoon.

I have also managed to get a fourth one to make as a command version.

Flames of War German Panzergrenadier Platoon

As well as buying the Panzergrenadier Headquarters I also was given the Panzergrenadier Platoon as a present.

In the box you get a bunch of resin, plastic and metal.

I do believe that I might need two packs for my army…

See more of the models for Flames of War on my workbench.

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.

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.

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.