Silver Bayonet Goblins

In the most recent copy of Wargames Illustrated the advert for figures for The Silver Bayonet caught my eye, specifically the goblins.

The term goblin is loosely applied to a large group of wingless, ‘trickster’ fairies, and each nation has their own varieties and terms. While these creatures are small, and physically weak, they are also tough, hard-to-kill, and capable of huge amounts of mischief. One of the worst features of goblins is that their existence seems completely at-odds with technology, and their mere presence causes technology to fail. This, unfortunately, includes firearms.

These figures remind me of the goblins from Harry Potter, I think they could be used as proxies for them as well.

The Silver Bayonet is a gothic horror Napoleonic era game.

As the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better…

I like the cover of the rules, very nicely done.

The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, co-operatively, or competitively, with players progressing through a series of interlinked adventures with their soldiers gaining experience and suffering grievous wounds, and their units triumphing… or falling in the face of the shadows. It is a game of action and adventure, where musket and sabre meet tooth and claw.

I always liked Flintloque, which was a fantasy Napoleonic game, so can see why this appeals to me as well. Might see if I can get a copy of The Silver Bayonet rules.

I have a few unpainted human Napoleonic figures, so thinking that this might make for a good scenario for a few games.

Short Sunderland MR5

This Sunderland was on display at RAF London.

The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

It entered service in June 1938 and was the first British flying boat to have power-operated gun turrets as part of its defensive armament. This strong protective armament resulted in the Germans giving it the nickname ‘Flying Porcupine’.

I enjoyed walking through the Sunderland and it is an impressive plane.

By the start of World War Two in September 1939 three squadrons had been equipped with the Sunderlands. Seven hundred and forty-nine Sunderlands were built, and they served throughout the war. The final Coastal Command Sunderland operational mission was in June 1945 over four weeks after the German surrender. Long-range Sunderland operations also took place overseas from bases in Africa and the Far East.

Post-war the type took part in the Berlin Airlift carrying 4920 tonnes (4847 tons) of freight. During the Korean War Sunderlands based in Japan undertook nearly 900 operational sorties totally over 13350 hours of flying. The Sunderland finally retired from RAF service in 1959 when the last aircraft were scrapped at RAF Seletar, Singapore.

The Sunderland’s design was so good that it remained in front line service for over twenty years. It was also the last flying-boat operated by the Royal Air Force.

Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

There is also a Short Sunderland at Duxford.

Cursed City Returns this March

Announced on Warhammer Community today, Cursed City Returns this March. Warhammer Quest: Cursed City is the an instalment in the smash-hit adventure game franchise.

Cursed City

Join with up to three other players to fight back against the undead scourge infesting the Cursed City, an ancient settlement gripped by a terrible curse thanks to a foolhardy deal struck with vampire lord Radukar the Wolf. Play as one of 8 beleaguered heroes trapped within the ancient city’s walls. Each adventure is a race against time, as when the sun sets the dead grow in power and fall upon anyone unlucky enough to remain in Ulfenkarn’s streets.

A year ago the original boxed game sold out in what felt like minutes when originally released.

I did think about buying it, even though impossible to get through my usual discounted suppliers, another of my FLGS had a copy at full price for a while, so I had a chance. In the end I said no.

This time, hmmm. There is a lot in the box with sixty miniatures and lots of boards and cards.

The thing is I don’t even need to panic worry so much.

Don’t think you’ll be able to grab a copy this March? There’s no need to worry – Cursed City will be receiving a full relaunch later this year, along with some juicy new expansions.

I am still tempted though.

I am also tempted by the re-release of Blackstone Fortress as well.

Decisions, decisions.

Westland Sea King HAR3

This Westland Sea King HAR3 was on display at RAF London.

Westland Sea King HAR3

Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare, the Westland Sea King was adapted for long-range RAF search and rescue duties as the Sea King HAR3, serving in the UK and Falkland Islands.

Westland Sea King HAR3

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters.  Powered by two Rolls Royce Gnome gas turbines, deliveries began in 1978, replacing the Whirlwind HAR10 and Wessex HAR2 in providing search and rescue cover for both military and civilian personnel across the UK.

Sea Kings were fitted with highly advanced search and navigation equipment and operated in all weathers both day and night.  Final RAF aircraft retired 2015, replaced by private contract civilian helicopters in the SAR role. The Royal Navy retired their Sea Kings in 2018.

There was also a Westland Sea King on display at Duxford.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkIIA

This Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkIIA was on display at RAF London.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkIIA

Designed as a scout car for the British Army Reconnaissance Corps, the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car (LRC) was also used by the RAF Regiment.

During the second world war the Humber LRC was used in North West Europe to capture airfields and act as a liaison for fighter bomber squadrons.

After the war finished, the Humber LRC continued in service and was deployed to Aden, Iraq and the Suez Canal.

See the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car Miniatures Gallery, where there are some 15mm Flames of War models of the Humber LRC.

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
Humber Light Reconnaissance Car

The Mid-War Monsters are back

We are seeing the return of the Mid-War Monsters for Flames of War. Though we’re not seeing new models (yet) we are seeing a re-release of the original monsters.

I like my TOG tanks, which I got when the Mid-War Monsters were originally released.

Though I still haven’t finished them, as you can see on the workbench.

The Tank, Heavy, TOG 2 was a prototype British super-heavy tank design produced in the early part of the Second World War in case the battlefields of northern France turned into a morass of mud, trenches and craters as had happened during the First World War.

In the end it never went into production, but as part of the Flames of War Mid-War Monsters range you can buy it and use it in alternate history games. I liked the concept and the model on the Flames of War website is quite inspiring.

Hopefully they are popular enough, that we get to see more of them, maybe some Early-War Monsters and some Late-War Monsters as well.

Red Arrows Folland Gnat

This Folland Gnat was at RAF London.

The Folland Gnat is a British compact swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft that was developed and produced by Folland Aircraft. Envisioned as an affordable light fighter in contrast to the rising cost and size of typical combat aircraft, it was procured as a trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force as well as by export customers, who used the Gnat in both combat and training capacities.

The single-seat Gnat F1 fighter was the forerunner of the two-seat Gnat T1 trainer which achieved fame with the ‘Red Arrows’ aerobatic team. Its aerobatic qualities led to the formation of the Yellowjacks aerobatic team in 1964, leading to the foundation of the world famous Red Arrows the following year. The team flew their red Gnats for fourteen years until they were replaced by the British Aerospace Hawk at the end of the 1979 season.

Several other Air Forces were attracted to the idea of a low-cost fighter. Finland purchased thirteen Gnat F1s, some of these being converted for reconnaissance work, whilst India bought forty.

There are two Folland Gnat planes at RAF Cosford.

Got a copy

Managed to get a copy of the Aeronautica Imperialis Companion.

The perfect addition to your games of airborne combat in the 41st Millennium is here in the form of Aeronautica Imperialis – Companion. This expansion collects new rules, aircraft, and factions, along with existing content previously found within White Dwarf magazine, allowing you to field squadrons from the Necrons, Asuryani, and Adeptus Astartes. Experience a deeper dogfighting experience with detailed expanded damage rules, new Ace abilities, and the challenges of limited ammunition. Novice and experienced commanders alike can use these rules to revolutionise their Aeronautica Imperialis games across a suite of new matched play scenarios.

I had planned to buy it from my local gaming shop, but they didn’t get any in. I had also tried a gaming shop in Birmingham, but I was a week early. I tried a few retail branches of Games Workshop as well, but they weren’t stocking it or had sold out (I didn’t ask). I did consider ordering it online, but at both full price and having to pay P&P I was a little hesitant.

In the end I managed to pick up a copy from Dark Sphere in London. Excellent.