I have continued chipping away at my 28mm Japanese infantry trhat wi be used mainly for Rapid fire! I have enough now to field a Japanese infantry regiment but still require a few more bits and pieces, such as a few more medium machine guns to round out the "battalions." I have a few more MMGs on order form the Assualt Group and each battalion will field 2 when finoished. 1st Battalion Mainly Warlord Games jungle fighters but a few other ranges thrown in.  HQ 4x Coys (8 fus each) 2x knee mortars 1x 70mm infantry gun 1x MMG (it will eventually be two MMGs) 2nd Battalion (as above&n ..read more

 I’ve been building up my WW2 forces in 28mm of late and trying out different rules. I’ve had a couple of solo games of Bolt Action but aspects of the rules I do struggle with. I see the order dice mechanic as both a strength and weakness of the system. A strength in that it does allow the player to priorities choices and so face a range of decisions each turn. I also like the pin mechanic and see it as another strength of the system.  However, Bolt Action does have a number of flaws. Firstly I don’t like the fact that it is easily exploitable in that you can “stack up” on cheap fill ..read more

 I've just painted up another squad of Warlord Games Japanese. i've now 3x squads of 11 men and today added some lone snipers as well. I'm not relaly a fan of prone figures so converted three of the prone figures to snipers in spider holes ready to snipe and unsuspecting enemy and am quite happy how they turned out. I've also given each squad a flag, simply as the look cool and IMO rule of cool always prevails.  Three anti-tank teams. A very quick paint job- block paint and wash and not even bothered with highlighting. They'll do on the table.  Craig ..read more

 I have painted up a couple of squads of Warlord Games plastic Japanese for Bolt Action so decided to have a little playtest game last night to try out the two armies. I decided to modify the Flames of War hold the line mission for the game and it worked fairly well.  I only played a few turns and didn't get a result but enjoyed the process and hope to get a full game in one weekend soon using these two forces. Briish and Indian infantry begin to advance supported my a carrier and Stuart.  The Japanese lie in wait.  On the right flank the other tow infantry secions adva ..read more

 In the last couple of weeks I've been explerimenting with making rice paddies for games set in Burma and he Far East. Quite happy wih how hey have urned out so far, bu ened o make a few more when i get time.  I also took the opporuniy to tidy up my jungle terrain that had got a bit chipped in the past few years. Someone needs to wrie  abook, 101 uses for plastic aquarium plants :)  Until next time Craig  ..read more

 I've been chipping away at my British & Commonwealth armies for the Italian Campaign and also for the 14th Army in Burma. Both forces are built around a combination of the Warlord Games Late War British/Canadian infantry and the 8th Army infantry boxes. The Forgotten 14th Army in Burma- again a kitbash from the various ranges. Most are in trosusers but there are a few in shorts as well and I've added plenty of bushhats. These guys are painted in a tropical  green uniform.  Last nights addition- a section of commandos.  I must say I am really quite impressed ..read more

My latest little project... yet another version of British/ NZ Infantry for the Italian campaign. I wanted the infantry to be in trousers and with earlier war equipment than is on the Bolt Action LW British/Canadian infantry sprues so have combined the 8th Army and the LW boxes and mashed them up so that most infantry have trousers and rolled up shirt sleeves but a few have battle dress and a couple more still in shorts. The two boxes mix together really well and makes for a great, very easy to do, project.  3x Sections: LMG, SMG + 7 rifles 1x 9 man Royal engeinner sectrion-= making use ..read more

A productive week in the wargaming hobby.  Frist up a Warlord Games/ Italeri Panther A with Zimmerit. Can't remmber when I got it but it's been lying round made up but unpainted for far too long. Was very happy with how it turned out.  Project #2- new barded wire entanglements for Bolt Action games.  Pretty simple- the key as far as I am concerned- is to use tile spacers from the local DIY store for the supports.  This morning I painted up another squad of US infantry in Greatcoats- again these are the lovely Artizan Designs range. I can't recommend them enough. T ..read more

 A few random updates for the week Cassino Campign Game #4- Crossing the Garigliano The forth game in my campaign is completed. the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cross the Garigliano river, Janaury 19, 1944. Cassino Campaign- Game #4- Crossing the Garigliano. to prepare for the game I "needed" some extra British infantry.  British Infantry reinforcements I have a platoon of the lovely Perry Miniatures metal  WWII range for the Italian campaign but they are true 28mm and quite slight compared to Artizan Designs and Warlord games figures as well as being a few mms shorter so as a res ..read more

 I’ve always had an interest in the Battles of Monte Cassino, partly due to the involvement of the 2nd NZ Division in the battles.  My first two games of getting back into Bolt Action were themed on the Free French trying to outflank the Gustav line just prior to the start of the Battles for Monte Cassino so I’ve decided to continue this theme into a solo wargaming campaign. I’ve some excellent books on the campaign including John Ellis’ Hollow Victory and Plowman & Rowe’s Battles for Monte Cassino then and now which is an amazing resource for the battles. So what I am thinki ..read more