INWarD 2019

The start of a new month means that it is only 6 days until INWarD 2019, the International Naval Wargames Day. To be honest I'm nt sure what my INWarD game will be this year, th 6th is a work day so I may try to get one in early at the weekend (that said it is also the IPMS model and wargaming show at Thornbury and I'm there all day doing Wings of Glory - but I guess I could break out the CMBs and we could run an air/naval game). The alternative is something on the 7th as I may be having a well-earned day off (assuming I don't go for a day trip to the Mach Loop.....)

Whatever happens, INWarD should be a fun day for naval wargamers around the world - even if it does start and end a day or two either side!

Frakkin' Toasters!

The ability to splice 3D models together brings some interesting possibilities. So here's an example of a well known sci fi phrase being brought to life :)

Also just completed, a couple of B5 Starfurys, almost my favourite SF fighter (just edged out by the Buck Rogers Thinderfighter and one other that shall be revealed in a few days....)

Bidi-bidi-bidi

More ships rolling off the Photon production line, this time Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is the subject, with some more fighters made for use with Ares' "Battlestar Galactica" game (there is a link, the Thunderfighter from Buck Rogers was originally intended to be the design for the Viper in BSG, but didn't quite make it).

There are some lovely STL files on Thingiverse for the Thunderfighter, the "Traeger2 variant, and the Quadfighter 4 seater, as well as the Draconian "Marauder" or "Hatchet" fighter. I was a firm fan of Buck Rogers when it first appeared on TV and my love for the series (series one anyway, series 2 was dreadful) continues. And all because of the designs of the fighters. Yes, just because of that....

Anyway, here they are.....

Spare Ribs

I was reminded/embarrassed by Brian Weathersby's blog post about the RIBs I was supposed to do for "Whale Wars" some time ago but which I had completely forgotten about. Inspired by Brian's lovely examples I knocked these up last night,combining a few models on Thingiverse to create a craft with three crew (I have a few 1/700 models for my "Bulldogs Away" collection but they seem a bit odd charging into action with nobody aboard). I'm working on another one with a "rollbar" just now, but these will do nicely to be going on with. They are deliberately overscale to give them a bit more presence.

Vipers and Raiders

I've been quiet here but busy "at the office". The latest models to come out of the print and paint shop have been a trio of Colonial Vipers and Cylon Raiders from the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. Some readers may remember I got a copy of BSG from Ares last year prior to its launch, but my chums in the local games club didn't really take to it. Despite that I thought I'd add to my stock of fighters with these 3D printed models.And to be honest I've always preferred the original series Raiders to the re-imagined ones.

1/600 Romanians

Latest models off the stocks (or rather off the printer) are the core of my new Romanian flotilla in 1/600. An interesting mix of Vosper, BPB and MAS boats with a trio of MFPs in support. There are also three Kriegsfischkutter to complete the set (plus an extra one due to the arrangements I used when I was printing) plus a larger 1/300 "mother hen".

Also tucked in there are a couple of 1/300 MFPs, so far these are the largest 3D prints that I've attempted. I was most impressed with the skills of the modeller, the detail in the weapons is awesome (so good in fact that the 1/600 models have problems with the extremely fine barrels.

Denmark Strait - The Battle

I played out my Denmark Strait battle last night on the anniversary of the battle. Alas no photos as the lighting in the lounge isn't great (and I forgot anyway). The game was played using my "Find, Fix and Strike" rules.

Battle of the Denmark Straits

Battle was joined at 0558 as Hood and Bismark began to trade shots at 25,000 yards, Hood scored first blood, causing a hit and minor damage to Bismarck.

0604 – Holland completes his turn and closes with the German squadron. Over the next 10 minutes the range slowly drops to 18,000 yards. Bismarck scores a 15” hit on Hood, causing minor damage and a small fire. PoW suffers a gunnery failure

0614 – The range has fallen to 16,000 yards, PoW clears her gunnery problem and scores an immediate critical hit on Bismarck, causing heavy structural damage

0620 – Prinz Eugen engages Hood with 8” but to no effect. Return fire from secondaries on Hood and PoW cause minor damage to Prinz Eugen

0625 – Lutjens orders Prinz Eugen to close with Hood to execute a torpedo attack

0630 – Hood Alters course to the South to prepare for Prinz Eugen’s attack. Bismarck hits Hood but no serious damage is caused. Hood’s minor fire is extinguished.

0635 – Prinz Eugen prepares to launch torpedoes but is crippled by a deadly salvo from Hood. Her torpedoes run wide, missing the British flagship. At the same time a hit from PoW destroys Bismarck’s bridge, killing the Captain Lindemann and Admiral Lutjens

0638 – Both British battleships concentrate on Bismarck, but PoW’s guns fail again. Bismarck scores a heavy hit on Hood causing major damage

0646 – Hood is slowed by her damage and hauls off, but takes the opportunity to finish off the crippled Prinz Eugen.

0652 – Bismarck hits PoW for the first time but causes no damage. In return, PoW brings her guns back into action and causes heavy damage to Bismarck. This, combined with her earlier structural damage, slows the German battleship and places her at significant risk

0658 – PoW scores another heavy hit on Bismarck, leaving her crippled

0705 – Bismarck is now effectively unable to fight, but PoW’s guns fail again

0720 – PoW brings her guns back into action. In the next 12 minutes she hits Bismarck repeatedly leaving the German battleship in a sinking condition.

0725 -  Bismarck hauls down her colours as scuttling charges hasten the sinking of the once-proud battleship. PoW moves in to pick up survivors.

This was a fun game to play out, taking about an hour to complete (so not that much different from the time of the "actual" game, which was pleasing). I included the two British cruisers in the game but they were never in a position to affect the outcome. I included a rule that caused PoW to suffer a gunnery failure if a d6 roll of 5+ occurred at the start of the gunnery phase; the effect of this was to  cause PoW to check fire until the failure was completed (a d6 roll of 4+ at the start of each subsequent gunnery phase). This was a bit more severe than the actual effects of her failures in the battle, but served to speed up play and gave a good feel to the game.