SMG Club Game (2-29-20) WWI Wings of War

The South Florida Miniatures Gamers had a fun game of Wings of War WWI on (2/29/20) at our Fort Lauderdale clubhouse, Das Krieg Haus.

 This is a fast and simple card driven game system that is huge fun to play and very easy to set up. We played an "Escort Mission" with the British attempting to recon an area of the German forward outposts. The German mission, was of course to shoot down the recon plane so as to protect their forward assets.

The game was a hoot and I really love this system, I should definitely play it more often. I'm sure my kids would enjoy it as well as it's not one of those "ALL DAY GAMES" that they loose interest in after a few hours.

The British aviators won the day, they successfully reconnoitered our front lines and safely returned to base to provide the data to their forward HQ.

We had a small, but fun turnout. My regularly scheduled game was postponed due to my son's soccer team making it the championship game so I most definitely needed to be there, and in addition I'm one of the assistant coaches as well! Steve K was kind enough to drive up from Miami and host this game for us. Not only that but he brought amazing Jamaican style patties with him and treated us all. Thank you Steve!

Post scrip: Since this game the world has been turned upside down with the global COVID-19 Pandemic. That being said we've temporarily suspended all monthly club games for the near future. We hope to be back together as soon as things get better and we are allowed to congregate again.

Everyone be well and stay Healthy!!!! Cheers, Sgt G.

Here is Sgt G's tri wing plane that went down in flames ignominiously.

 Here's Steve K's plane, he flew much better and survived the day.

 Here is the card deck that runs the games, each person pulls (3) cards for each turn. Each card has a maneuver that ties into the last one. The cards are specific for each type of plane and have different turn radius', different maneuvers, and such.

Above is the range stick, there are two ranges, short and long. The range stick is placed at the base of the firing plane and must touch any part of the target's plane base, but must be within the firing planes arc of fire.

 Each plane comes with its own movement deck and flight stand, however a core game box needs to be purchased for the rules and range stick.

 From left to right: Steve K, Steve CQ, Capt Ron.

Front and Center: Sgt Guinness

The first two sets are Wings of War - Famous Aces (Nexus Editrice 2004) and Wings of War - Watch your back! (Nexus Editrice 2005). The first one includes a selection of fighters with personal colors of the most renowned aces of World War I: the planes are Fokker Dr.I and Albatros D.Va for Central Empires and SPAD XIII, Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Triplane for the Allied. WoW - Watch your back! adds other fighters and some two-seaters allowing bombings, recon missions and other special scenarios. WoW- Burning Drachens (Nexus Editrice 2005) is the newest set in the World War I series. It includes drachens, AA guns, machine guns, air-to-air Le Prieur rockets, trench systems, and optional altitude rules. WoW- Burning Drachens includes rules for solo play as well as multi-player dogfights, bombing runs, and strafing or recon missions. Each set allows 2/4 people to play; the number can increase using more than one set.

Wings of War Miniatures adds war game miniatures to Wings of War by introducing model airplanes on 1/144 scale that are used in place of the airplane cards. The miniatures are made of pre-painted pewter and plastic and come with a gaming base and a set of maneuver cards. A number of different miniatures have been created, and serve as an extension to Wings of War - Famous Aces, Wings of War - Watch your back!, and Wings of War - Burning Drachens.

Goodbye my friend....Rob Hall

It is with great sadness that I must advise of the passing of a close friend and club mate Mr. Rob Hall who left us this past Friday (1/31/20) late afternoon. He had been battling liver cancer for the past few months after successfully coming back from a stroke a few years ago. Rob was a good friend, a good person, and a great guy to game with. He was an avid gamer and historian who loved the horse and musket period. He worked for the railroad the majority of his adult life. I will surly miss him, his dry humor and wry wit. We will cherish the many memories of epic games, road trips, fun cons, Tajicon games, and the camaraderie of SMG games in Bill's Garage.
Rob was the kind of guy that would literally give you the shirt off his back, A kind, funny, unselfish, warm soul who was a pleasure to be around. He was always willing to help with a project, assist in running games and loved to be around his friends talking history and gaming. I don't think I'd ever heard him utter a negative word about anyone.

Below are just a few of the many comments I'd received when I posted the notice of Rob's passing to our SMG club mates ( the South-Florida Miniature Gamers). He was also a member of HMGS-South, HMGS-East, and the Jacksonville Garrison. He will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace my friend.....

I count Rob among my true friends. Rob gamed with our group in South Florida even though he had to drive all the way from Jacksonville. He always arrived at our home with a bottle of wine for Barbara and a bottle of scotch for me. He was always invited to stay, but always booked a hotel as he did not want us to be disturbed by his snoring. Rob accompanied me to Historicon, Cold Wars and Fall In countless times. He assisted me in running my games for many years at these conventions and both Recon and Hurricon. I drove up to Jacksonville, and stayed with he and his wife Robin prior to leaving for Lancaster, PA or other parts North.  He was always a pleasure to be around. Rob leaves a huge empty spot in our gaming community. My friend Vince and I were able to visit Rob a few weeks ago. He was still hoping to get in one more "big game" before he left us. I hope to have the opportunity to raise a glass in his honor at Recon as a group. He is truly missed.

Bill Moreno

Good times and great memories of our friend Rob.  Thank you Vince for being there for us. 

Tim Harwood

So typical of Rob to not let on the issues he was having.  Always the gentleman he made it a point each convention to seek me out and let me know how much he enjoyed the efforts and the convention.  For me the comradeship we enjoy is over half the fun.  I will truly miss Rob.  I have the feeling we have one heck of a great convention brewing in heaven.  

Marc R

Well said Jeff.  Rob was one of the good guys.  And a lot of fun to be around for his love of history and the game.  R/ Jim

He will be missed. We were blessed with his presence for too short of a time, in our gaming club.

Duane Cunningham

Dear Jeff and All Wargamers:

A true loss – an absolute gentleman and raconteur; we will all miss his entertaining dry wit.

Bill Mcintyre

CTMM - 25/28mm Terrain - 17th Century to present day European or Mediterranean Manor House

This exquisite European or Mediterranean Manor House is made by the famous Chris The Model Maker. It spans generations and is a custom piece with lift off roofs and multiple rooms. The detail and construction is top shelf, professionally made, and very durable, everything we’ve come to love and expect of CTMM’s work! It comes from a private collection, has been stored in a smoke free and pet free home, has no damage or wear, and is in mint condition. It’s only seen the gaming table a couple of times!

Figures not included and are for scale purposes only. 

eBay link: https://m.ebay.com/itm/CTMM-25-28-mm-Terrain-17th-Century-to-present-day-European-or-Med-Manor-House/124068304387?ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=124068304387&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111&srcrot=711-53200-19255-0&rvr_id=2284849693299&rvr_ts=0c704a8a1700a9cca1962500ffe78789&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&ul_noapp=true&pageci=7388e4b0-31bd-4390-aeb3-f811b335b0e0

40th Anniversary of The Sword And The Flame!

This year will be the 40th Anniversary of the iconic colonial skirmish rules set "The Sword And The Flame" written by the venerable late Larry V. Brom, USMC. In my humble opinion these are by far the best colonial wars rules set ever written! The fact that I consider Larry and his daughters Lori & Christy my friends has nothing at all to do with my thoughts about these rules. I'd first found these rules at an old Historicon convention at the Penn Harris Inn about the mid 1980's. Larry was running an Egyptian vs Brits game and I instantly fell in love with the flow, game speed, period specific nuances, exciting melee phase, and the user friendly game mechanics.

I've been playing these rules ever since. I've tried many others, but none came close to the fun, excitement, and adventure of these rules, for me personally at least. The fact that the mechanics are set up for skirmish type actions and not competition has led the faithful followers of these rules to have one very common awesome trait among them, that all games must be FUN! The fun aspect has always kept me locked into these rules and I have made some of my best and life long friends while rolling dice around a rip roaring fun TSATF games table.

Larry's inspiration for writing these rules came from movies like Gunga Din. Here is a photo of a Gunga Din TSATF game run by Devon Start and played at our SMG clubhouse Das Krieg Haus in Fort Lauderdale Fla.

The epitome of colonial gaming, pictured are The Sergeants 3 and Gunga Din by Bob Murch of Pulp Figures (Code: PBT-5) https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/149, and painted by Devon.


Now with the 40th Anniversary Edition of this masterpiece rules set on the horizon I can't wait to see what Larry's daughters have done to celebrate the rules and Larry. Lori had told me that the 40th will contain updates, corrections from the official addendum, scenarios, and some surprises. Count me in!

Check out the official The Sword And The Flame Website: http://www.sergeants3.com/

Setting up my Sudan game table for HMGS-South's Recon-2019 convention in Orlando, Fl.

Devon Start's Gunga Din TSATF game table at HMGS-South's Recon-2019 convention, Orlando, Fl. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hmgs_south/info

I hope to see you around a TSATF table soon! Carry on, and have fun rolling them bones.....
Cheers,
Sgt. G.

Larry Brom - 1958

Recon-2007, Orlando Fl. Kay Bar & Bayonet play test crew.

From Left to right:

 Mark Stevens, Larry Brom, Jeff Baumal (Sgt G), George Carr Sr., Big Red, Mike Lucas, Marc.

PBT 26 - A  1930's version of The Sgt's 3, by Pulp Figures painted by the very talented Stan Johansen, https://www.stanjohansenminiatures.com/

https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/186

The Defense of Hougoumont: 18 June 1815

Hi folks,

Capt Ron will be running a 15mm Naps game this weekend. A very small portion of the Battle of Waterloo, the French attack on Hougoumont! The rules will be General de Brigade. The custom table is set, the first two divisions of French troops are laid out awaiting dice, the only thing lacking is YOU!

Attendees thus far:

Capt Ron

Bill

Steve K

JJ and son

Victor

Jeff
Jennifer
Jim
Steve CQ

Come join us: SMG club, the South Florida Miniatures Gamers

May 25, 2019, 1000 hrs: Das Kreig Haus in sunny Fort Lauderdale Florida
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SOFLMiniaturesGamers/conversations/messages

Cheers,

JB

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hougoumont

GRINGO 40'S 28mm - Tonkin 1885 Range - Figure Size Comparisons

French Foreign Legion 1885


This post is a size comparison of these 3 figures with several other colonial type figures by several different manufacturers.

Gringo 40's - French Foreign Legionnaires - 1885, from left to right, codes: FTF-04, FTF-02, FTF-03.
http://www.gringo40s.com/french-foreign-legion-1885.html

I'm currently painting up some of these lovely figures for a web friend of mine. We are both interested in the Tonkin campaign and enjoy collecting miniature figures. I traded him some lead for my painting services. I plan on painting them with navy jerseys, white pants, white pith helmet, and black webbing for service in the start of the Tonkin campaign 1885.

As soon as I opened up the box of figures I immediately noticed how large these figures are. They are seriously large but are not too large to be used together with other figs on a gaming table once painted and based. That being said I will only use them in units by themselves with other Gringo 40’s as some of the other ranges are just too small to mix well. However I’m confident these awesomely detailed figs can be used with most of the currently available 28mm figs on the same table but in separate units as stated, so I decided to undertake a size comparison with several of the other manufacturer's figs I have in my eternal lead pile waiting to be painted.

Whether you agree with my assessment or not, the Gringo 40’s Tonkin range is so extensive that even if you don’t think that these figs can be used alongside other 28mm figs it won’t matter because this range alone has all the figures one would need to game this campaign on both sides.

Before I post the comparison pics I want to say that the detail on these figs is crisp and clean with MINOR flash and minimal mold lines making the prep and clean up a breeze. This being my first hands on introduction to Gringo 40’s figs, save for the amazing Raisuli figure my buddy the Mad Guru of the Maiwand Day http://maiwandday.blogspot.com/ blog fame gave me, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. In addition the uniform and equipment detail  of these figures are spot on historically correct. For example, these FFL figs are wearing naval troop jerseys as the original classic FFL uniforms we all know and love which are made of wool rapidly deteriorated in the extreme humidity of SE Asia. Thus they had to borrow bits of uniforms and kit from the naval troops already in theatre. They figs are also kitted out in the locally manufactured oversized pith helmets.

In the pics you will notice that the casted fig bases are taller / thicker than the other manufacturers figs. Grinding these down quite a bit will make them fit in even better with other mfgrs. Placing them on thinner bases would help as well. They are also thicker and bulker than the other mfgrs but once again, when painted, based, and in action on the table the difference is negligible in my humble opinion.

These figures also have great possibilities for other theatres and campaigns. I definitely intend on getting the full range of these great figs!

The following pics show the Legion figs I’m working on next to many different manufacturers. All figure manufacturer's names are from left to right.

Gringo 40’s, Old Gory NWF Indian, Gringo 40’s, Old Glory NWF British

Gringo 40’s, Brigade Games - German Asia Korp WWI, Gringo 40’s, Redoubt - Sudan Highlander

             Bicorne - NWF Sikh, Gringo 40’s, Castaway Arts - French Officer

Gringo 40’s, Askari Miniatures - French Marine Gunner, Gringo 40’s, Askari Miniatures - French Marine Gunner

Gringo 40’s, Stan Johansen - French Officer, Gringo 40’s, Pulp Figures - US Navy Deck Crew

 Gringo 40’s, Stan Johansen - French Sailor, Gringo 40’s, Stan Johansen - French Sailor

Gringo 40’s, Dixon - French Legionnaire, Gringo 40’s, Dixon - French Legionnaire

Copplestone - British Officer, Gringo 40’s, Copplestone - British Officer

Here are links for all the manufacturers listed above:

http://www.gringo40s.com/tonkin-1885.html

https://www.stanjohansenminiatures.com/colonial%2028mm.htm

https://askari-minis.com/

http://www.castawayarts.com.au/

https://www.bicorne.net/

https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/categories.asp?cat=115

http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/WW1--Germany_c_181.html

https://pulpfigures.com/

http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/

http://dixon-minis.com/


https://www.redoubtenterprises.com/product-category/colonials/boxer-rebellion/

Bud's Blast Markers - (11/2/18) - Update:

November 2nd 2018 - Update:

Bud's Blast Markers - "NEW"  Blast Pack💥🔥 you get 1 large 1 medium and 2 small for $25 bucks!!! Great product at a great price, just MHO.

http://budsblastmarkers.com