Bolt Action - Retreat from Stalingrad Scenario.

Today's game at the local club was one of my own creation. Based on an incident outlined in Gunter K. Korschorrek's excellent memoir "Blood Red Snow", it pitched the Soviet forces against a rapidly assembled Wehrmacht rearguard. The Germans were defending a small town and a bridge which had been designated an assembly area for those retreating from Stalingrad at the end of 1942. The defenders consisted of three infantry squads (of mixed Regular and Veteran troops), a light infantry gun (pictured), a couple of MMG's and two Panzer IV's. The Russian side had three infantry squads, two mortars, and Anti-Tank Squad plus two T34's. A devastating barrage and some lucky dice rolling held the Red Army in check at the beginning, and prevented them from concentrating their attack. Although the T34's fared somewhat better by rolling forwards and pinning some of the German infantry in the buildings whilst destroying a Panzer, then bringing down some deadly mortar fire on a nearby Infantry squad who pretty much disintegrated. The infantry gun's inexperienced team were quaking in their boots and hitting everything but a target until the last Panzer IV swung round a corner to smash the Russian armour. Next the Soviet hordes came crashing through undergrowth on the German left flank only to be cut down in crossfire from the MMG and LMG of a nearby infantry squad. 

Waffen SS Motorcycle with Sidecar and Dispatch Rider.

Both are 20mm Britannia Miniatures (http://www.britannia-miniatures.com/catalog/) WW2 models. A nice addition to my ever expanding German army. Noticed lots of people selling off 20mm models secondhand recently. Managed to grab a whole box of Russians plus vehicles the other day for the bargain price of forty quid from a nice man at the local club. These will undoubtedly turn into my winter project should I find myself snow bound ("is this it? is this Stalingrad?" to quote the Peep Show TV programme). By the way Skytrex the local and much famed miniatures company are now selling off their entire Wargames arm and solely investing in the train side of things from now on. If someone is looking to take any of this over, and has cash to invest, then they should drop them a line here: http://www.skytrex.com/. I'm assuming that includes the Command Decision 15mm WW2 product range, which are great models plus much cheaper than FoW and Battlefront.

Napoleonic Polish Regiment - 28mm

Front Rank 28mm Napoleonic Polish, along with their White Eagle flag top (also FR). The flag itself came from Maverick Models, which is the same place I bought my Italian standards from. These figures were lovely to paint. I decided on a Vallejo Dark Blue with highlight on the jackets rather than the usual darker Prussian Blue that I used on my French infantry. I've one more unit to paint before the Sunday game and their ultimate (hopefully victorious) destiny!

"Vive L'Empereur" Statue at Les Invalides, Paris

A photo of the Statue entitled "Vive L'Empereur" taken at Les Invalides in Paris. A fantastic statue which depicts a Grenadier waving his bearskin. The plaque nearby stated that it was made sometime in the 1940's. Interesting as this would have been during the period of the occupation. From what I gather the statue has been moved around quite a bit. I've seen web pictures of it when placed in the courtyard and other places. It currently resides on the upper floor overlooking the aforementioned courtyard. Wonder if anyone has considered replicating it as a Wargaming figure? Might be a nice idea?

20mm Western European Buildings

A selection of the 20mm Western European buildings I bought from Lancer Miniatures recently. Purchased unpainted originally, and finished by yours truly. The first 3 storey building comes in two sections to reveal a groundfloor bunker. I was really pleased with the quality and the price. They've a very nice selection on their website (including a pretty cool looking ruined Casino), plus their delivery time was excellent - came just two days after placing the order. Take a look at their website here: http://lancerminiatures.com/

Graves of Marshal Ney, Marshal Massena and Generals Foy and Gobert

The photos above are from the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, situated on the Eastern side of Paris. Not difficult to get to and only four or so stops along from the City Centre (Notre Dam or Latin Quarter area). It's literally heaving with graves and monuments relevant to military history, and contains the final resting places of not only the above mentioned Ney, Foy, Massena and Gobert, but also Bessieres, Davout and others. There's also some stunning monuments dedicated to all those (including foreign nationals) who served in the French Resistance and Free French Army. Maps are available online, or at the main entrances to the cemetery grounds.

Napoleon's Tomb - L'Hotel Des Invalides, Paris

I've just got back from my holiday in Paris, and decided to upload some of the military related photos that I took during the six days I was there. Obviously lots of sights to see (I've the sore feet to prove it), which can't fail to impress anyone involved in the wargaming hobby whatever their chosen period. I'll post these up in sections anyway, which will be easier to browse on the site.

Napoleon's Tomb is situated in the Église Du Dome (Dome Chapel) to the rear of L'Hotel Des Invalides which houses the National Army Museum. As many would already know Invalides was originally started by Louis XIV to lodge veterans from his wars, but Napoleon I reorganized it and converted Saint-Louis Chapel into a National Military Pantheon. It was in 1840 with the creation of Napoleon's tomb under the Dome that it was finally esatblished as such. Included under the Dome, near Napoleon, are the tombs of Viscount de Turenne, Marquis de Vauban, Napoleon's Son (The King of Rome), his brothers Joseph and Jerome and also Marshal's Foch and Lyautey.