"Arnhem at New year?" Topic

Would anyone like to play some Arnhem games in an iconic Arnhem battle building? We're going to go (approx) 28th December – 3rd January. We'll organise the toys and the venue and we can arrange reasonably-priced accommodation. You have to sort out travel yourself, but you can get a train direct from Schipol airport which takes about an hour. If you're interested PM me … thathistorybloke@btinternet.com

You might want to pitch it to the Dutch Miniature Wargaming Facebook group as well: link

Not sure how to get on to that – I'm a computer/IT ignoramus – if you wanted to make a post there I'd be most grateful.

Thanks for doing that AncientWarfare. I'm an IT idiot and easily confused by simple things.
Looks like this will go ahead with at least one big game and various smaller scenarios.

Had an email asking about cost….there probably is n't any. We may have to pay a nominal sum for the use of a conference room, but hopefully not. We'll be using 28mm figures and a streamlined version of Bolt Action.

28mm? Well 8mm to big for me.
I would like to attend, because i do have a part of the terrain available, also the buildings and figures.
I use Rapid Fire rules and according to the set up, i do have most British and German units.

Well, we certainly would n't be opposed to doing it in 20mm. We have a modest amount of German kit and an easily borrow more – probably as much as we would require and we are having a couple of buildings made for us – ones that Raventhorpe don't do as well as plenty of generic ones in 20mm.
I'm not sure how much interest there is really; so far there's only three – four including yourself.
We were planning on using a 'tweaked-for-history' version of Bolt Action or possibly Crossfire with developed bits as per Wargame Holiday Centre.

OK, so it looks like we're up to 5 players with a preference to do a big game on Saturday 2nd January if that's OK with you Mill1940. Just a thought, but would you like to be the umpire/game manager? You're probably more familiar with Rapid Fire than the rest of us.
We can definitely provide pretty much any German kit that's required, at least one battalion of British Airborne and infantry armour and artillery for XXX Corps spearhead units just in case they arrive on time instead of a week late!
Pat and I will be there from 28/12 and we'll be doing a game of some size pretty much every day – especially the evening of 31st so we can have the sound of the massive firework extravaganza in the background.

I may be able to join you for the game on 2nd Jan but need to check with the long haired General first. If required I would be able to bring a RF Bde of Brit Para's & some Germans. My local club has an extensive collection of WW2 German vehicles & I doubt it would be a problem borrowing some if needed.

It would be great to catch up with Ludwig again along with meeting & gaming with you all.

I'm guessing that Ludwig is Mill1940?
We should have two buildings that are not available commercially – the Dreyeroord Hotel and the Rhine Pavilion and we can bring as many generic buildings as might be required pus a 20 x 6 and a 6x6 foot cloth. It sounds like we can easily realise all the relevant units in RF format. Will your long-haired superior not join us? The whole project is the brain-child of my long-haired superior who will be bringing her 28mm stuff for the other games.

Mill1940

This is what i have to offer.
Including RF rules set up almost all units of 1st en 4th parabde, part of 1st airlanding, germans 2/3 of east and 1/3 west

That would be great Adie

This game will be at FIGZ at Arnhem on the 7th of june

That is great Mill1940 ! (or is it Ludwig?)
It's all coming together nicely I think. Tunnel Rat (is that the same person as Adie?) clearly has most of the rest of the British and Pat and I can bring some more Airborne infantry – by the sounds of things we'll have plenty. We can also bring some jeeps, 6-pounders and carriers. They don't have Airborne crew figures at the moment but I can do something about that easily enough.
As for Germans..we've probably got enough infantry to make up the required numbers. We have some German vehicles as well.
I think the 6 foot cloth would give us enough additional table space to extend the game to Arnhem and we can bring extra buildings – possibly ruined ones to make it easier to place figures. We can chalk roads onto the cloth where necessary tp avoid bringing our heavy MDF road sections….we are travelling by plane and will also be bringing our 28mm stuff, so weight is an issue! The bridge kind of presents a problem, but we don't really need the bridge so much as the ramp area and just enough of the bridge for a road to pass underneath.

Well the game terrain is not finished yet…plans are to expand to the east step by step, starting with the area around the railway bridge/ line and moving towards onderlan en bovenlangs…

I like to attend, but be aware that my job can spoil the fun at a short notice.
However, if Adie is attending, i will be willing to let you use the terrain under his supervision…and will make the arrangements if he agrees.

Perfectly understandable Mill1940. We will be bringing our 6x6 cloth anyway so it will be available if we need it. We've got plenty of time to sort out the details. It would be nice to extend the game toward Arnhem city of only to have the opportunity to use our Rhine Pavilion building!

can you show me a picture?

Not yet, it's being made by the Hacme chap along with a model of the Dreyeroord. It should be ready in about three weeks time.

We amy be able to borrow models of he St. Elizabeth hospital and the museum. We already have terraced houses which would do for the Alexander Straat area.

We are also going to be in Arnhem from 30th July to 4th August; would weekend 1/2 August be a better period for everyone else? Not that there's a problem with doing both of course!

No. not a good time for me. Sorry

Not a problem, it's just that we will be there anyway.

Gents, I have the nod from the LHG so will be able to make it on the 2nd Jan. Between now and then I will make sure that the painting & basing of my Para's is finished & try to get some Arty & AT guns bought & painted too.

Can't make the 1/2 Aug as that is during a busy period for me – work, closing 7 schools & 5 nurseries, moving house & getting a holiday in!

If anyone wants to get hold of me via e-mail to firm up any details etc my e-mail address is Adie UNDERSCORE Russell AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

All sounding good. We've had an email from the sixshooters club in Amsterdam for August games..hope to play a 28mm Bolt Action game (or two) based on actions at the artillery lines near Oosterbeek church in among the gun positions and maybe even another game at another significant location.

Pretty much sorted for figures and vehicles as far as I can tell; Adie and Ludwig can let me known what – if anything – we still need. I'll start a separate thread about the July/August project.

Could anybody else needing accommodation could drop me a line sooner rather than later? It's unlikely that the hotel will be fully booked any time soon – if at all – but the more interesting river-view rooms are getting snapped up.

Tomorrow during FIGZ at Arnhem a new game RF….

Well the next goal is to add more terrain towards Arnhem and have it ready before Crisis

Sounds good! We should have models of the Dreyeroord and the Rhine Pavilion in the next week or two.

Hi, I wonder if anyone could help me with information on the Polish paratroop drop at Arnhem. My grandfather was a member of the Polish parachute brigade and saw action at Arnhem. I have found it very hard to find information regarding this formation such as order of battle that went into action at Arnhem as well as photos of the unit. If anyone does have information could they drop me a line on the email below.
Cheers
Ian
ian_mcculloch40@hotmail.com

There's a wee book called (I think) The Lion and the Eagle which would be a good place to start – also google the Pegasus Archive; it's a mine of information.

make contact with the airborne museum at oosterbeek, they have an archive and could point out the best books

Also Paradata and the Air Assault museum….exceptionally helpful people. I believe there is a biography of general Sosabowski which would undoubtedly be useful too.

So…having got loads of other projects out of the way..and having got started on a really, really ludicrous one…. I can now devote some time to the New Year project!
I've had some email issues (thanks BT; you're a national treasure) it might be better to contact me at….
thathistorybloke@outlook.com
Could I get anyone who is taking part – or who wants to do so of course – to drop me a line? It's probably time we sorted out who has got what, who wants to play Brits or Germans and and also to get an idea of anything we might require to acquire. I think we are pretty close, but I mistakenly thought SWMBO had a unit or two of British Airborne. I was utterly wrong, but she does have British units that could be pressed into service if we were n't being too picky and she's got a fair amount of German infantry and armour.
Also, if you want a room at the hotel it might be a good idea to book it soon-ish.

Last Crisis Antwerpen:

Area from railway Nijmegen to Elisabeths gasthuis.
Prison, the gasthuis, Station oosterbeek laag, etc

Stupendous – and complete with a model of the Rhine Pavilion, which is where we'll be playing! How sweet is that?

Oh…the Rhine Pavilion is the building at the bottom centre of the last picture the semi-circular balcony is about the size of a badminton court.

Yes, only buildings that should be on the table as they where, of course some smaller or just adapted because of the 180cm width of the table.
No none Arnhem buildings on this table, so that's why it is not rapidly extending to the bridge

Oh for those wondering Mill1940 that's also me.
TMP is disconnecting me each time….

Yup – I've ended up posting twice (as you can see) because the first attempt disappeared for a while. Pat and I are looking forward to this so much! After the game there will be wine on the big balcony (or maybe cocoa if it's really, really cold.)

There were some difficulties with the pictures, i hope they are visible now.

Wow….this just gets better and better.

Looks like we're going to have another games event at Arnhem in August next year as well. I'll make a new thread in due course. We may be able to borrow some British paras to help things along. all mine are 28mm, but I'm in the process of buying a load in 54mm – and of course Germans to match. I can't see us taking them to Arnhem, but if anyone wants to come to Shetland they'd be very welcome.

Great picture of the terrain at Crisis 2015 on the DHC wargames blog.

This weekends finished Tinkercad buildings, next step is printing and painting.
This is the part between Elisabeth Gasthuis and the old station: amongst them the museum and the school.

There will be more, like one across the museum and a few besides and across the building on the right.
After this, the old harbour area is next with some hotels and the bakery

Splendid. Pat thinks she might be able to borrow some British Pars is we need them; alternatively she could bring her US paras as stand-ins if we're not too fussy.

I will count the units that i have this week. Rapid Fire rulebook Market Garden is my basic. I think that i have 80% of the forces

Sounds very promising.

Without a roof, but ready to make the terrain and paint the museum….