Mad Lemmey's Painting Blog

 Mark and I met up for a game of BKCIV, and to allow Mark to use his Early War BEF forces  We went for an Encounter game.   I put out myEarly  War German armour (minus three Pz38(t) that I left at home), supplimented by some of my DAK to llow a decent amount of points, and drew a rough line halfway, which landed us with a 'What if' game somewhere in The Balkans in 1940. So, ignore the later Panzer IIIS in desert cammo, they are really earlier ones, honest, and the obvious DAK infantry and trucks, just imagine they had been issued tropical kit early,  maybe!  Straight away, the difference in command levels shows. The British are mostly 7s with a CO of 8, the Germans are 10s and 9s. That is a huge difference. I won the initiative, and gave Mark the first turn, and all of his units failed to appear! Much hilarity and a little swearing happened instead.  My CinC ooccupies the crops over the halfway line, the infantry commamd moves through the left hand cen...

Phillip invited me for a game of BKCIV at Leighton Buzzard Wargames Group. His mighty Kampgroup Thomaz vs the 139th Light Heavy Infantry under Lt Col Antrobus. Timeframe: Late 1941. 2000 points each. Only thing not allowed was prepared bombardments. I forgot that bit, and bought one anyway, but did not use it!Phil is a great chap, and has beautiful forces and great terrain, what is not to like? My list, this time, Antrobus has aquired the help of a squadron of Lend Lease tanks, his newly added Valentines, and the three Crusaders that he was used to. One infantry company with the veterans and the mortars had the Valentines, the other was led by Antrobus had the HMGs, the Bofurs and the four lend-lease tanks.Both had two trucks and a carrier platoon. The third command the Humber and the three Crusader tanks. No 2lbers, portee or dismounted will be used. 139th Light Heavy Infantry, in their prime, so far down the Army Order of Precidence that the retired lighthouse keepers bin emptiers f...

Dik at Leighton Buzzard had asked for a game of BKC IV, in 10mm. He has an immacualtely painted and huge collection of WW2 centered around mid to late War Germams, , plus ALL the Tigger that were in Tunisia. Thankfully, he did not need those, and only put out Panzer IVs and IIIs, with a bucketload of infantry with a decent amount of support weapons. I took Antrobus and his boys of the 139th Light Heavy Borcester Infantry; this time upgraded to veterans (as we were now in 1943, not their usual 1941). The six Mk13s were retired for this game, and the new Valentines ame out for the first time. Yup, it's my desert terrain, again! I know Tunisia is meant to be greener, but it was my grab box. Turn 1: All my forces failed to arrive, and one command even blundered! Antrobus had raided the motor pool, and found many captured German trucks, but two of the truck detachments crashed into each other on the Ciaro bypass, meaning that the infantry was walking, again! Turn 2 and they and the arm...

  Phil asked me to do a commission for him, to add to Kamphgroup Thomaz. Diorama based on 'Ice Cold In Alex' - "Are you sure you're an ambulance?" Before the pedants get busy, I know Katy is a hard top Austin K2/Y, but Pendraken don't do one. The Horsch is Scarlet's painting I just did the driver, that way it matches with his army. I know ICIA is in black & white, and yes, I was tempted to piant in black & white... Not as clear as I hoped     Now I need a beer !

Kampgroup Thomaz had retreated to the next settlement in line, a place that The 139th Borcester's translator callled "Makan Jamil Limaqhaa Shay 1 ". Another Hasty Assualt, but this time, Lt Col Antrobus, their commanding officer, had thought more than one step ahead, and had brought trucks. Admittedly, Antrobus is the sort of chap who shoots the regimental sheep for Sunday lunch, then moans about a lack of mint sauce. Okay, so the trucks were definitely 'borrowed', but his men did not have to struggle across the desert on foot this time! He also brought 60lber artillery (off table) and mortars, with the express aim of getting shots on target and removing some of the Jerry anti-tank guns that had so caused issues last time .  Antrobus had split his forces into three sections, right of centre, a mortar platoon, an Bofurs 40mm gun battery, two carrier platoons and the Humber were tasked with attempting to pin the right centre at long range. The infantry and HMGs were...

Neil asked for a game of BKC IV to get to know the rules, but using his 20mm Spanish Civil War troops. Which I might say were beautiful. He had even rebased them specially! Phillip kindly put out the terrain, and I put out the Republicans, I went with three big commands, two of anarchists and one of Popularists with the CinC and bunch of armour and an anti-tank gun. Neil had five smaller commands(!) two of Moroccans, and the rest of different Nationalist commands, but no armour. We both had a CV9 commanding officers, but all other commands were C7, and this would be very different to the previous desert games with high cammand stats! I went for the Popularists down the middle and right, Anarchist on either flank. Neil got four out of five of his commands on, but one stalled. this would be the theme of the night. The Popularists armour piled up the road, supported by their infantry and an anti-tank gun. Anarchists to the right terrain hopped. Neil advanced up the centre too, and his...