tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76357627663391544822024-03-13T16:14:51.509+01:00One Project Too FarRisaldar Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038284490314016322noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-72617570291200488642016-06-16T14:01:00.001+02:002017-11-24T09:10:14.986+01:00Updated map for Fire & Sword in the Sudan
Steve Winter's Fire & Sword in the Sudan which used to be available on his Colonial Angle website is a very ingenious set of campaign rules where the players are pitted against Mahdist hordes which are automatically generated.
Its only drawback is the fact that the original map was a very lacklustre bitmap image put together using Paint and was crying for an update. Below is a downloadRisaldar Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038284490314016322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-67715807816237767972016-04-05T12:02:00.004+02:002016-06-09T08:37:25.739+02:00Where'd my photos go?
A slight account migration mishap has resulted in all the blog's photos disappearing into thin air and I am slowly putting them back in. It shouldn't be too long but it is tedious work...
EDIT: Done! If some photo has slipped under the radar, don't hesitate to leave a comment.
Risaldar Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038284490314016322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-40991035142037945192015-05-18T13:51:00.006+02:002016-06-09T08:32:12.242+02:00Book review : Vietnam Ironclads by John M. Carrico
Vietnam Ironclads: A Pictorial History Of U.S. Navy River Assault Craft, 1966-1970 is a real labour of love by John M. Carrico covering all of the boats used by the Mobile Riverine Force (TF 117) in 136 pages. Look no further if you have any interest in the ATCs, ATC(H)s, ATC(R)s, MONs, MON(F)s, CCBs, MSR, and ASPBs or want to know what were the differences between Program 4 and Program 5 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-61001188267330196162015-05-14T14:22:00.001+02:002016-06-16T14:07:42.115+02:00Air Cushion Cavalry: The US Army's Bell SK5 ACV in Vietnam
Hovercraft are to Vietnam what
Kingtigers are to World War 2: the coolest piece of kit, produced in tiny amounts and fielded by gamers in numbers far exceeding their
real life counterparts. Maybe the attraction stems from the fact that
they embody like few other vehicles the 1960s fascination with
emerging technologies. Or maybe it is simply because we've all, at
some Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-4645010909354503712015-04-11T11:06:00.006+02:002016-06-16T14:08:14.476+02:00Six Block War: finding your way around the Hue Triangle
Although it is completely atypical of the war, the battle of Hue during the 1968 Tet offensive has long been of particular interest to me. This may be because the very first serious Vietnam wargame I played (way back when Salute was held in Kensington town hall) was a participation game set in Hue although my lacklustre performance as a USMC platoon commander would probably have ensured Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-36294329797415340992014-11-20T12:13:00.006+01:002016-04-05T11:28:12.081+02:00Not dead yet
Well, well, well... Doesn't time fly? There I was thinking that I should get back to updating this blog when I suddenly realised that the last entry is one year old!
To make it short: no, I'm not dead yet. But a new baby, a new house, a new job and a new country have severely cut down on time available for miniatures or anything gaming related over the last 12 months. Not to mention the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-25335443152198332792013-10-25T21:31:00.001+02:002016-04-05T11:21:14.697+02:00Artscow review: custom card decks for Longstreet and Blood & Sand
Card-driven games as not to everyone's taste and while some people loathe them, I love them. I sometimes think this dislike of card-based rules is something of a knee-jerk reaction as there are as many ways to use cards in a game as there are rules out there. For example, cards are at the heart of Sam Mustafa's Longstreet ACW rules, governing turn sequence, activations and impacting the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-13302269207694393472013-09-13T13:51:00.001+02:002016-06-16T14:08:46.554+02:00Hip to be square: Italeri/Fabbri 1/100 Mil Mi-8 review
Used by soldiers, spooks and warlords the world over, Mil's Mi-8 Hip is probably the world's most produced helicopter (although Bell's Huey is another contender for the title if the whole 204/205/212/214 family is included). Yet, much like the CH-47 Chinook, it is not very well represented in 1/100 scale.
QRF make two resin and white metal models in their modern 15mm range: the Mi-8TV Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-53079748845526818172013-09-02T17:18:00.000+02:002016-04-05T11:43:52.796+02:00Imperial Rover: QRF 15mm Landrover Series II review
Way back when I was a wee lad (well, actually it was more like ten years ago), I bought some QRF 15mm LWB Landrovers which had formerly been part of the Denzil Skinner range and a while back I enquired as to whether this model which had disappeared from the QRF website was still available for purchase as I fancied adding a quartet of them to my (very) slowly growing Imperial Twilight in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-18643420749544253402013-09-01T11:30:00.000+02:002016-04-11T10:09:50.048+02:00Helmand workhorse: QRF 15mm Pinzgauer truck mini review
Along with the WMIKs and Snatch Landrovers, the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Pinzgauer truck is one of the iconic vehicles of the early days of British operations in Helmand province and QRF happens to have a very nice one in its British softskin range.
The diminutive Pinz is a very simple model with only six parts: four wheels, a truck body and a tilt. It is nicely detailed with a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-24450019717101529752013-08-30T20:01:00.004+02:002016-04-05T11:22:37.801+02:00Chieftains, by Bob Forrest-Webb
Chieftains by Bob Forrest-Webb first popped up on my radar screen way back in 1986-87 when I bought TTG's Battlezones - Scenarios for the Ultra Modern Period which featured Chieftains amongst its list of scenario sources though I was never able to lay my hands on a copy.
This book popped up again a couple of years ago when it was recommended over on TMP but again no joy was had in finding Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-66348785276681234632013-08-27T00:35:00.001+02:002016-04-05T11:54:25.140+02:00Recce rodent: QRF 15mm FV701 Ferret Mk 2/3 mini review
Just for a change, a Cold War stalwart has joined the ultra modern vehicles I have on the assembly line: QRF's 15mm FV701 Ferret Mk 2/3 which is an exceedingly nice little model (and a really small one too).
There is actually not a lot to say about this model: the detail is very crisp, the proportions are spot on, the casting is free of flash and mould lines and assembling theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-65417344553269619292013-08-26T11:29:00.005+02:002021-10-13T00:52:29.913+02:00Pocket MBT: QRF 15mm FV107 Scimitar Mk1 review
For a bit of armour support when the Warriors and Challengers are not around, the Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle can stand in as a pocket MBT (well, that's what the Treasury seems to think anyway). This is produced both by QRF and possibly MJ Figures. The latter is sold as a Falklands-era Scorpion but the gun looks like something of a cross between a 76mm low pressureUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-62074474423056908262013-08-25T10:16:00.000+02:002016-04-11T10:10:25.947+02:00Chobham gypsy wagon : QRF 15mm up-armoured Warrior review
Along with the Challenger 2 (reviewed here) my last order from QRF included a trio of MCV80 Warrior with Chobham which is the FV510 Warrior in its wartime configuration with large slabs of Chobham applique armour added to the front and sides.
This configuration was first seen in Operation Granby and also used in Kosovo and Operation Telic. For a mid-eighties vehicle both Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-18114149762244958052013-08-24T00:35:00.000+02:002016-04-11T10:13:15.766+02:00Old, cold warriors: Roskopf 1/100 model vehicles
Rather less well-known than Roco Minitanks, producer of 1/87 vehicles, the RMM Roskopf range of 1/100 models produced in Germany from the late 50s to the early 90s has quite a bit to offer a wargamer interested in putting together a 15mm Cold War force or one of the numerous ones that use NATO hand-me-downs.
Obviously, since the range had models released over nearly forty years, the quality Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-86602215576388066462013-02-19T15:27:00.003+01:002017-11-20T22:34:53.218+01:00Castle of steel and Dorchester, part 2: Building a better Telic 1 Challenger
While I think there are issues with the QRF Challenger 2's turret (see Castle of steel and Dorchester, part 1: QRF Challenger 2A1 review), it is a nice model which can make a relatively convincing rendition of an Op Telic tank.
Now just to put this statement in context, there was a time when I would whip out my ruler to check that a model was scaled correctly and refer to scale Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-82172726968658031362013-02-18T15:27:00.000+01:002016-04-11T10:11:19.192+02:00Castle of steel and Dorchester, part 1: QRF Challenger 2A1 review
My latest order from QRF included a Challenger 2A1 because nothing says "tank support" like a big Chally! QRF has four Challenger variants, with each of the Challenger 1 (Op Granby) and 2 (Op Telic) available in a plain vanilla or up-armoured versions. Three of these variants are unique to QRF since the only other 15mm Challenger, that offered by Skytrex and Old Glory, is a plain Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-90151756377322132412013-02-12T11:11:00.001+01:002016-04-05T13:23:23.014+02:00Cheap and easy DIY painting tray
A while back, I thought that a dedicated paint & modelling tray would be a good way to reduce some of the clutter on my hobby table and looked at the available commercial products. While there are plenty of choices out there (some of them pretty good), they tend to be a tad expensive for a souped up tray, especially if you have to factor in shipping.
Besides the price, I found that theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-91874052480344831082013-02-08T12:10:00.000+01:002016-04-05T13:35:10.451+02:00MJ Figures 15mm Panhard AML 90 review
Hidden away in their 15mm Falklands range, MJ Figures have a couple of AFVs, including a Panhard AML-90 armoured car. This alternative to Peter Pig's AML is rarely seen either on the web or on tables, so here is a closer look.
The model comes in 10 parts (turret, cuppola hatch cover, gun barrel, body, 4 wheels, 2 axles) and requires some assembly which is mostly straightforward. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-82280734142367737822013-01-29T11:38:00.001+01:002016-04-05T11:59:24.538+02:00Oddzial Osmy 15mm Embedded News Team
Since it would appear that no self-respecting army would nowadays go about its business without embedded news teams, there is no reason their miniature brethren should go about theirs unburdened by hapless journos.
There are three options for 15mm news crews: Peter Pig's TV/Media Crew (found in the extras of the AK-47 range) which is perfect for the 1960s or 70s, QRF's News Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-26809559049986360942013-01-23T21:55:00.001+01:002016-04-05T13:14:38.253+02:00Salvaging the Skytrex BTR-60
I took advantage of Skytrex's last Easter sale to buy some Soviet AFVs, including a few BTR-60s. These are the same models as the ones sold by Old Glory but I preferred to order from Skytrex because their moulds tend to be in better shape and they worked out slightly cheaper during the sales.
I was a little dismayed to find out that Skytrex had switched the BTR's production to resin without Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-79520856991141855002013-01-22T15:26:00.001+01:002016-04-05T13:15:00.761+02:00SIKU Tiger UHT to French Tigre HAP conversion
While there are plenty of 1/144 Apaches and Hinds, there is a notable lack of small scale Eurocopter Tiger helicopter gunship models. Operated by France, Germany, Spain and Australia in four different versions (HAP, HAD, UHT and ARH), it is about time Revell, F-Toys or someone decided to produce one. Addendum: I've just realised that Minifigs in fact has a French Tiger gunship hiding Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-55371091909868720542013-01-16T19:04:00.002+01:002016-04-05T13:00:09.492+02:00QRF 15mm Modern British infantry review
As I wanted to
field a modern British infantry platoon for Force on Force, I looked at the
then-available ranges, namely Old Glory’s and QRF’s before selecting the
latter.
The Old
Glory range seemed adequate (although some of the poses are hit or miss as
usual with OG) but the packaging made me pass them over. Not only is the actual pack content unclear
but ordering something likeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-34635307213881390912012-12-21T14:24:00.001+01:002016-04-05T12:52:46.722+02:00X-Wing Miniature game proxies : Revell Pocket Millennium Falcon
Revell Easy Kit Pocket Millennium Falcon with FFG X-Wing fighter
X-Wing has rekindled my interest in Star Wars fighter combat in a major way so I pulled the Revell Easy Kit Pocket Millennium Falcon from my stash of kits and gave it a coat of paint.
This was bought a long time ago on the off chance that the scale would match something and promptly put away after a quick look whichUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7635762766339154482.post-50205199472554266062012-05-14T12:55:00.002+02:002016-04-05T12:48:22.647+02:0015mm CH-47 Chinook testbed
As indicated here, I ordered the fuselage of an RC toy Chinook to check its compatibility with 15mm and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was in fact the correct size.
Here is a closer look at the beast which was quickly slapped together without too much care. It is still lacking engines and wheels which are on their way to me.
Rotors also need to be added and I plan to use clear Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6