A Cromwell tank to kickstart my painting and some ACW games

In a recent visit to Melbourne, I couldn't resist dropping by one of the Model Shops, even though I didn't have any particular need. In the shop I came across an Airfix Cromwell tank which seemed like the perfect opportunity to kickstart my painting, which has been rather slow or non-existent lately.

Recent purchase

The completed Cromwell tank

During the week I been playing some quick American Civil War games using One-Hour Wargames rules. I have made a few tweaks to the elimination mechanism, modifying them to test unit morale instead, with the aim of avoiding outright eliminations. Instead, when a unit fails their morale test, they are forced to retire, enabling them to be potentially redeployed for defence or regroup to make attack again.

A game in progress using my old Minifig 15mm collection. 

I use the One-Hour Wargames American Civil War as written with the elimination section replaced by a moral section with the following rules.

Any unit that took hits during the shooting phase must test for moral. The procedure is as follows:

• Roll 2D6 and double the score. 
• If the score is equal to, or greater than, the number of hits a unit has taken, the unit passes the morale test.
• If the score is less than the number of hits, then the unit must retire 12” directly away from the enemy. The unit will pass through any friendly units and must be placed facing away from the enemy.
• Units are only eliminated when they are forced off the tabletop.

Any unit that has retired during the opponent shooting, may move or shoot during its own player’s turn. Although having the unit face away front the enemy will require it to move, pivoting, to face the enemy.

The tabletop setup for an ACW game.

I am planning to do some more gaming with these ACW armies. I will also be adding a few more cavalry and infantry units to them. Using some Minifig miniatures I had purchased 40 years ago but never got around to painting. They have been sitting in storage for all these years, but I'm now motivated to finally put some paint on them and get them on to the tabletop.

A few Minifigs finally see the light of day and will make there way to the painting table.

First scenery models of the year

One of my Christmas presents was a model kit of some traditional Korean buildings. They were all laser cut from wood with some rubberised sheets to cut out for the tiled roofs. The rubberised tiles roof material was really fiddly to do, so after one failed attempt I decided to use gesso paste as I have done before with buildings to create the tiled look.

The completed building which I will be able to use with when fielding my samurai armies.

WW1 Palestine project continues with a scratch built train

In the WW1 Palestine campaign supply lines were important to both sides due to harsh terrain and distances involved.

For Commonwealth forces the speed of their advances was determined by how quickly they could construct the supply lines. This supply infrastructure included water-pipes, a narrow guide railway, and chicken-wire roads (where the wire was laid down to stabilise the ground).

While the Turks had extensive railway network established. Large numbers of troops were tied up defending the railways against raids from Arab Rebellion forces and the activities of T.E. Lawrence.

As a break from painting figures and given the importance of railways throughout the Sinai and Palestine campaigns. I thought I should make a train and rolling stock so they could be represented on the tabletop and be objectives to be fought over. I opted to continue my scratch building approach and made some track from felt and a simple train. As with my recent scratch built models I rely upon painting the details rather than modelling them.

Supplies are on their way on the latest scratch built model

I used wooden dowel and beading to create the shapes of the train and its running stock. Cardboard is used on the sides to create a smooth finish and wheels.

Wood dowel and beading is cut to create the models

Cardboard is used for the wheels and sides

Additional circles are cut for the wheels to help highlight them and make them easier to paint

The same approach is taken with the running stock

Circles are cut for wheels

The tracks are made from some cut felt material which was lightly brushed with a sand colour. Once dry, I used a dark brown permanent marker to draw the sleepers and rails.

The train with figures to show the scale

A view from the top

I now need to find a suitable scenario to get the train in use on the tabletop.