Doug's New Tanks

Doug sent me some photos of his new Dragon Model tanks. The Green one is a British Firefly tank(modified Sherman) and the other is a German Panzer VI Tiger tank. Many Dragon models are ready-made die-cast metal...take them right out of the box and enter the battle!

5 More for the Front

O.K. ... with the completion of these five Americans the G.I. fighting force is up to 20 men. The Americans can now field a force sufficient for a blitzkrieg game! Pictured above, from left to right:
50mm mortar crew-Fantassin Miniatures
Thompson Submachine Gunner(rear)-Fantassin Miniatures
M1 Garand Rifleman(foreward)-Fantassin Miniatures
M1 Garand Rifleman-Sergeant Majors Miniatures

Additionally, on the workbench I have five more U.S. infantrymen in the works(B.A.R. Gunner, Bazooka Man, 1 Semi-Automatic Rifleman/Radioman, 2 Riflemen)

Sniper Pic from Komrade Doug

From another front we have a pic of a sniper in one of Komrade Doug's "Blitzkrieg 2" 1/35 scale games about to hit his mark from the top of a tower.

On the Production Line: American Vehicles

Today just a small sampling of the American vehicles that will soon be seen at the front. From left to right are the M3 Half Track, the M3 Grant Tank and the M4 Sherman Tank(late war version). Here are the stats that they will be using in the game:

M3 Half Track: Light Vehicle, 50mm Machine Gun, Troop Carrier

M3 Grant: Medium Tank, 75mm Gun(fixed), 37mm Gun(turret)

M4(76) Sherman: Medium Tank, 76mm Gun, 50mm MG

The G.I. Family Grows

(click on the photo for larger image)

As the American forces prepare for operations, their numbers have grown from 5 to 15 in the last week! Soldiers are a mix of Fantassin and Sergeant Majors. As of right now, the total force consists of the following weapons breakdown:
7 Rifles
2 Semi-Automatic Rifles
3 Thompson SMG
2 B.A.R.'s(LMG)
1 Bazooka

(& the the unit above includes 3 officers who can be identified by the bars on their helmets)
I have begun working on five more figures, and once they are done, and our compliment is up to 20, they will ready for battle with their armor compliment. Troops in progress include a 50mm mortar crew.

Work in Progress-Sgt.Major's G.I.'s

After purchasing some German Airborne from the relatively new 20mm manufacturer, Sergeant Majors Miniatures, I thought I'd pick up some of their American "Ranger" line to supplement the many U.S. troops that I have bought from Fantassin. I thought you all might like to see what my guys look like when they are in the early stages if painting. Here are some G.I.'s glued to nails(my handles for painting them) and primed with a brown paint and enhanced with a blackwash. Now the real work begins!...

Battle for the Bunker!

It was an epic battle today on the Eastern Front! The Red Army triumphed against a well entrenched Wehrmacht foe. The battle opened with intense armor engagements on both the left flank and the right. Aggressive Russian advances on their right wing were paved with strong armored assaults and help from a 76mm AT Gun. In the meantime, a Soviet HMG and Sniper detachment blunted efforts of a German Fallschirmjager unit to counter-punch on the Soviet left. As German forces became more aggressive with an airborne thrust against the Soviet left late in the battle, Russian mortar shells rained down upon them with devestating accuracy. As the battle drew to a close, the majority of the field was in Red hands, and the German forces clung to any quarter of the bunker complex that they could.

Also Debuting Friday...

...will be these Wehrmacht(German Army) mortar crew(102mm), Anti-Tank artillery crew, Heavy Machine Gun Crew and assorted infantry types. Figures are by Fantassin and AB Miniatures. Be sure to click on the image for a larger view.

Blitzkrieg Battles!

Here I will document the many battles and upcoming events that will grace our 20mm battlefields. I will begin with a sneak peek at some American G.I.'s who have just been painted and will be seeing action in club come February(click on the image for larger pic).
Above are also some new German Fallschirmjager(paratroopers) who will see action thsi Friday for the first time. They are by Sergeant Majors Miniatures...a relatively new figure producer. In total, 30 new combat-ready Soviets and Germans will be in this week's battle.