Painting Update - WWII, Trench Crusade

Here's another update with what I've been painting.

I've been coaxed into joining a Trench Crusade campaign by a friend and some other local gamers. I wasn't really interested in the rules, but they seem to put on a fun enough game and I haven't played anything campaign-based in a while (maybe I can get them interested in some Blood Bowl?). I put together a Trench Pilgrim warband using the St. Methodius subfaction, as I liked the big mech-like Shrine Anchorites. 

The above features the warband's two Elite choices, a War Prophet and a Castigator. The two other unique models are a Shrine Anchorite and a Stigmatic Nun.

The rest of the warband consists of a few Trench Pilgrims and a couple Ecclesiastical Prisoners. 

I've also been working on the Germans for the Chain of Command campaign. Above is a standard infantry squad. It's smaller than the American squad by a couple of riflemen, but has an integral light-machine gun. 

Big Day - Fire in the Sky AAR

This past weekend was Cold Barrage. While I wasn't able to make it to Saturday, I had decided to volunteer as a gamemaster on Friday, running Fire in the Sky.

Amazingly, three people decided to sign up! We had enough time to run through three scenarios from the rulebook with some slight modifications. 

First, I ran the players through a quick history of Operation Argument (or Big Week), then a quick walk through the rules. After answering some questions, we hopped into the first scenario: Rolling Thunder.

The Allied player started with three squadrons of P-47s, defending three squadrons of B-17 bombers. The Germans have two ME-109 squadrons (one of which has one-shot rockets attached) and one FW-190 squadron. 

The Germans appear randomly (both in time and deployment space) behind the B-17s, with one squadron starting on the table. 

The initial German attack was successfully, with the rocket-equipped Me 109s knocking out two B-17 sections before being wiped out in return.

Unfortunately, Lady Luck seemed to be against the Germans in this scenario. While they managed to shoot down a couple of B-17 sections, the Germans were eventually either shot down or had to retreat. The Americans claimed a solid victory. 

The second scenario, Zerstorer Ace, gave the Americans three P-51 squadrons, while the Germans would be attacking with two Me 109 squadrons and one Me 410 squadron. The Me 410 squadron leader was also an Ace, which meant his could reroll failed Firepower rolls and Saves and could modify his Special Ability die roll by plus or minus 1.

This was another uphill battle for the Germans, as their activation cards saw them go in piecemeal against the Americans and were picked off. The slower Me 410s were the last to go in, but their anti-bomber guns and rockets weren't enough to shoot down the amount of B-17s needed to even the score. 

Which meant another American victory!

I decided to change things up for the final game and skipped to the Dora Dora scenario. The Americans had two squadrons each of P-47s and P-38s (my favorite twin boom plane!). The Germans originally had three squadrons of Me 109s, but I swapped squadron out for two squadrons of FW 190s. 

For this scenario, the Germans could deploy their squadrons as they pleased. 

During this scenario, the Germans had better luck with activation cards. They also spent a good amount of time circling around the American formation in a large group, rather than approaching by separate squadrons. 

It was during this third game that the Germans solidified a potentially devastating tactic: get in close, wait for the Americans to approach, then use a Reaction to slip towards the B-17s and then attack. This led to one squadron of B-17s being wiped out!

However, the American players still had Lady Luck rooting for them, and while this was the closest game of the three, the Americans still scored more victory points by the time the last German squadron was cleared from the skies.  

Overall, the players said they had fun and one (a board game designer working on his own strategic-level game focused on the 8th Air Force!) commented on how the game had enough period-specific distinction to feel correct. I was also complimented on my work with the miniatures, which was very kind.  

I feel like I have a handle on teaching the rules. I have two immediate improvements that I know I have to make: 

1. I need to make the German players more aware that they can use their Reaction to beeline towards the B-17s (they just can't attack them during the Reaction)
2. Squadron Leaders are NOT needed to perform combat actions such as Side Bounces, Rear Bounces, or Focused Attacks. This stemmed from me extending the condition that Squadron Leaders are needed to fight head-on for zero action points, or are needed in order to attempt Reactions, to other complicated aerial maneuvers. 

I also need to redo the unit labels, as I messed up some of the plane designations. A friend also suggested adding Axis and Allied symbols to the labels for better recognition on the table. I did this in marker before the game, but proper symbols would be an improvement. 

That said, I believe I have a good enough handle on the rules that I plan on running more games this year, and can hopefully make this a successful 6x6 goal. 

 

Painting Update - WWII

 I'm back with another painting update! 

I've continued apace with the 15mm WWII project for Chain of Command. Two more infantry platoons have been finished, in addition to the platoon commanders, a Sniper Team, additional BARs (which are an option for the American player to add to their infantry squads), and two bazooka teams. 

I also completed a medium machine gun team and a heavy machine gun team. 

These are a trio of engineering teams that represent options for the American players to help clear German defenses.

The Americans can also bring a light mortar team and a medium mortar. Technically only the heavy mortar's forward observer is on the table, but I put together a heavy mortar base as a reminder for players that it's available.

Four M4 Shermans are the last of the American models to work on. No fancy versions here, as the only enemy armor in the campaign are a pair of Marders on one table. Their main concern will be anti-tank guns, panzerschrecks, and panzerfausts.

Painting Update - Atomic Tank, Space Gits, WWII

Here's my first painting post of 2026! I had to delay a bunch of varnishing, as the temperatures haven't gotten above freezing for some time now. 

Having finished the Robot Legions models from the Atomic Tank starter set, I moved on to the Galacteers force. Above is a pair of Heroes, a trio of Missile Tanks, and a Mobile Command Center

And to round out the force are Heavy and Regular Infantry Units and a pair of the titular Atomic Tanks.

I've also painted a small gang of Orcs for Space Gits with basic equipment. A local club is planning for a campaign in a few months, which is convenient! 

My main project for the first half of the year is to paint American and German platoons and assets to use with the 29 Let's Go! pint-sized campaign for Chain of Command. The above is one of three American infantry squads in 15mm. 

Eviction Notice - 'O' Group AAR

I recently paid a visit to my old South Jersey Gaming Association group in New Jersey, both to see how they're doing and to potentially run some games of Fire in the Sky. The hope was that I could convince the group to let me also run games at 2026's Wings & Things event at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. 

Unfortunately, a number of illnesses meant that there weren't enough folks to make a third game worth it, so I decided to jump into Ted's O Group offering instead!

The scenario was a 1942 attack by the Germans in Russia. The Russians had 5 BUAs to defend; the Germans either needed to cause 3 FUBARs or control 3 of the 5 BUAs by the end of 14 turns. 

The Germans started their attack strong, forcing the Russians out of the farmstead on the right flank. 

A lucky shot from the Russian infantry gun knocked out an advancing Panzer II. Combat Patrols were placed to occupy terrain (and I think this was a mistake on our part, deploying infantry into the woods instead of the town. I forget why we didn't deploy a unit to the town directly with no enemy units within 8". Fog of war, I suppose!

The left flank was relatively quiet. 

The center saw most the action during the game, with both sides devoting infantry platoons to attacking the center town and nearby farmstead. 

The Russian infantry gun redeployed to assist with adding fire to the beleaguered infantry platoon that was caught in the open. 

Wanting to keep the Germans out of the center town, I moved a Russian infantry platoon in to occupy it. 

In what was my best move of the game, I managed to guess that the Germans would try to deploy their armor to the most open part of the battlefield, and prepared an ambushing anti-tank gun. When the panzer platoon moved into the open, the gun opened fire. Between some incredibly hot dice rolling and being able to both react fire and fire in our phase, one tank section was knocked out and the other was damaged. 

The Germans attempted to deploy an infantry gun to the woods behind the village they occupied, but concentrated Russian fire and mortars managed to rout it. 

The remaining German tank section moved to support the attack on the center village. A German platoon, with a machine gun section attached, held down the flank and halted any Russian counterattacks. 

Both sides exchanged close ranged fire, hoping to cause casualties.

Seeking to put some pressure on the German right, I threw out a Combat Patrol deep on their side, hoping to deploy a platoon and flank the Germans with their attached machinegun. 

The Germans, after softening up their Russian targets, launched an assault into the center village and captured it! The Russian platoon holding the village retreated. 

As we approached the end of the game, the Germans seemed to hold the upper hand with three BUAs captured. 

However, capturing the village placed the Germans out in a salient. The Russians focused their firepower and, combined with a successful result, successfully recapturing the village. 

Down to the wire, the Germans attempted to once again take the BUA. Orders were spent, dice were rolled, and when the dust cleared the Russians had held the line. 

I appreciated getting the chance to play O Group with the SJGA group. As I often say, I need to play these rules more often, as I was wrong on several points (Dave Brown's QRS sheets are often extensive but not comprehensive). It was a shame I didn't get a chance to run Fire in the Sky, but there's always next year!

Painting Update - WWII Planes

 After a bit of a lull in posting, I'm back with what I've been painting.

With the USAAF finished, I moved over to the Luftwaffe. First finished was a large squadron (four flights) of Me 410s. 

And a small squadron (just two flights) of Ju 88s. 

The first proper fighter for the Luftwaffe is the Me 109, which I've painted seven flights of.

And finally, six flights of Fw 190s. 

That's the Fire in the Sky project done and dusted! I just need to label the various bases and pick up a proper aerial battlemat. Deep Cut Studios makes a fantastic looking mat with a European landscape with some clouds that will be perfect, though the local tariff issue will likely bring the cost up. But at least I can call the project finished!

Painting Update - WWII Planes

Now that I'm finished with my Historicon posts, here's a look at what I've been painting since my last update.

My main hobby effort has been going towards 1/600 WWII aircraft, focusing on "Big Week", or Operation Argument, in February, 1944. This was the effort by the Allies' air forces to cripple the Luftwaffe prior to the invasion of Normandy later that year.

Last year saw the release of the up rules Fire in the Sky, which captured my attention due to it's focus on fast playing, squadron-level aerial combat. It seems like every other aerial combat game focuses on the few seconds in a dogfight where individual planes come into contact. Big Week looks at the "longer" (entire minutes!) engagements, with squadrons engaging, bouncing, and disengaging.

As the first rulebook for Fire in the Sky focuses on Big Week, the center of every scenario is three squadrons of B-17 bombers, which act as the objectives for the German players to shoot down. 27 B-17s looks fairly impressive on the table!

The Big Week scenarios call for a variety of Allied fighter squadrons, with a few scenarios needing two squadrons (six stands) of P-47s

As well as two squadrons of P-38s.

And to round out the USAAF planes, three squadrons of P-51s.

All of the planes are from Pico Armor, and have mostly been 3D printed. While lighter than the metal models that they used to be, they also come with the printing supports still attached. I had several models break - especially the tiny structures of the P-38s - that required gluing or entirely new models. 

Painting Update - Napoleonics, WWII

Here's a look at what I've been painting lately. 

I've begun the next part of the Napoleonic project with more skirmisher bases for two infantry brigades. 

I also finished the command elements of the 1940 German battalion. 

As well as artillery support bases.

And machine-gun support bases.

To finish up, a pair each of anti-tank and infantry guns. 

The only pieces that I need to complete now are some horse-drawn wagons for the French and Germans for moving their guns around the battlefield. 

Painting Update - Quar, WWII

 It's been a couple months since I've shown what I've painted. So here's an update!

 

 

I finally started in on some 28mm Quar models; Coftyrans to the left and Crusaders to the right.

I changed some of the colors, especially the green on the Crusaders' coats, compared to the 15mm models. It also helped that I primed them grey instead of black, which makes missed spots more difficult to hide but brightens the colors overall.

 

 

I've also started in on the 15mm Germans for my 1940 O Group project. Above is an infantry company. If you notice that it's larger than the French company, it's due to the Germans using a "square" platoon structure in 1940 with four squads in a platoon. 

For something a little different, I've also taken to painting a bit for Turnip28. Not for any particular reason, since I'm not aware of anyone that plays locally. But it's something different. 

The above pair of models would work as a "snob", or an officer. I just added green-stuffed faces to some War of Ozz Munchkins and muddied up their pants.