"North Africa - the Long Retreat, pre-game show" Topic

Hi All,

An upcoming scenario in the works here. Before I pack it up for the road trip in a couple weeks, to the local games day, took some pics to set the stage.

1/144th scale armor, Time Cast buildings, and desert mat by War Sigil (further dry-brushed to highlight the excellent ingrained details)

Outstanding looking setup.

MH, thanks for that!

Here's the 'aerial recon' view (I try to snap an overhead pic to guide setting up the scenario for at the shop or convention). Area is a 6ft. X 4ft. table layout – this game will be largely a rearguard action shootout…..ranging across from ridge to ridge.

Once the British Sherman squadron gets closer to the dwellings and foliage bits, cover will kick in (if they get that far). A last minute [slower] arrival from the retreating KG Menton column will be adding some additional excitement to the mix. ;)

How do you get that uneven terrain look from a mat? Is it how the mat is made with lumps on the surface or do you put something under the mat to raise up areas?

MH, I've got 1" thick insulation foam underneath the mat at two of the opposing corners to simulate the rises, but I don't think this is what you're wondering about.

A lot of the undulation is caused by the variance in coloration I guess. I did a lot of dry-brushing on the surface textures too – w/tan – then white – then tan again to mute down the white a bit. I think the effect is almost like our dry-brushing the raised details on our models, which can pop the relief edges and contours and do that beneficial 3D exaggeration.

It certainly fools the eye, nice work!

Kampfgruppe Menton – Sonderverband 288 (288th Special Services Unit) was a rare, and unusual German unit that fought in North Africa during WWII. Perhaps even rarer was the "tropical" version of the StuG III D that the formation operated as a 3-assault gun platoon in the unit's Panzerjager company.

A nice article here on a restored example of this rare StuG -

link

(there's a video online also that might be interesting viewing too)

Since KG Menton had at least a couple of their StuGs still operating, and later capture after 2nd El Alamein during Operation Supercharge, and as the Germans retreated towards Tobruk and beyond, this unit and some of its equipment seemed perfect to feature in this scenario here.

Requiring only a few new models for the game, I decided it would be fun to customize this platoon of distinctive StuG III D's from 1/144th scale Dragon Panzer Korps kits, and add a few needed bits (road wheels, jerry cans, spare track, and air filters) to complete the illusion.

Here's the tropical trio ready for their primer coat (RT WIP) -

Your scenery work is simply amazing. Vast scenarios whether depths of Russian Winter, snows of the Bulge or, here, the Western Desert.

Your next task is the entire length of the Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Concorde and, of course Place d'Etoile. I want to see M10s under the Arc de T and M4A2s outside Le Meurice, not to mention that Panther under the obelisk….all in 1/144th.

A temporary aberration, but I have just finished Mort-Homme in 1/35. It seems massive and does not have its 501RCC crew yet. Funny thing, none of the family like it as much as the 1/72 scale version, however more detailed….and I think they are right. Detail on tiny models is more impressive somehow……..

DH, I feel crazy to show these StuGs after seeing all your great customizing work over the years!

Looking forward to seeing your BIG model next…..btw, do you have space on your shelves for it? :)

FlyX that's a beautiful set-up!

I like the various extras carried about on the StuGs, but also on Shermans. Gives each vehicle a bit of extra character.

I also appreciate the oddball assortment of German SPs you are using. SdKfz6 "Diana's" {if I recognize them correctly) are a rare treat on a game table -- particularly when placed in the right time and location. And are those a couple of PzrJgr 1's I see in the first pic or three? I'm just imagining the challenges for the German player (and the surprises in store for the British player) when you have 47mm guns and short 75mm L24s firing at Shermans, only to then to be followed by 76.2mm L53 guns the next moment.

I like your terrain too. In particular the buildings -- the arched roof structures, I am given to understand, were progressively more common as you moved west along the Mediterranean coast, being pretty much never seen in Egypt, but downright common by the time you got to Tunisia.

Looks like it will be both a treat to the eye and a game to remember.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Thanks Mark, and your scan of the land above is good (but we would expect that with your penchant for detailing).

The StuGs, when they finally arrive, will have only a few turns of precious HEAT rounds to fire, then after that's depleted, they'll need flank and rear shots to be effective against the Shermans, which might tempt their player to over-engage with them, instead of trying to shoot and scoot (and needing to maneuver the platoon with its overriding aim of breaking westward towards freedom). Of course the British tankers won't know about these ammo limitations, and may carry on as if the StuGs continue to be effective opponents.

Little facets like these can make a game play different every time a scenario is fought out on the board.

@Fly…

Dave, wonderful layout! Am looking forward to seeing some AARs. Good to see you representing something out of the ordinary with Sonderverband 288. You may find this reference useful if its not already familiar to you…

link

Have never heard of War Sigil mats before… something to check out based on what you say.

That's an excellent resource Wargaming-USA!

Will at War Sigil does excellent mats – he's quite the artist really. Just Jack here on the forum has gotten a few of his mats too. I know he's slammed for business, but if you have the time to spare before needing delivery of a mat (many months extra in fact), his TB fur, or canvas creations are beyond par IMO.

I've done a half-dozen TB fur mats, but can't come close to his quality, and his water effects must be seen to be appreciated.

If you have the time to await delivery, and especially if you have a custom mat design in mind, maybe with beach, or water crossings, etc. on it (he's done some mats for Blood & Plunder pirates boards for example), then Will is the man!

link

warsigil.com

The StuGs are done, and with just needing a base coat, and no intricate camo pattern, as seen on some of the other painters' great models on this forum, I got off easy with these!

And beautiful they are! Really first rate stuff, FlyX. You say just base coat painting, but so much detailing and weathering. And the stowage … each one just a little bit different from the other -- so well done.

I particularly like the Jerry cans. Wish I could find a source for some in 6mm scale…

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Mark, thanks bud!

Hey, remember the In Service Miniatures from back in the 1980s & '90s – many of their castings 'borrowed' from other manufacturer's lines. The interesting thing of course, was their stowage applied.

So if ISM encrusted all this stowage and mechanical parts back then, why aren't their stowage kits available from the existing micro-scale lines now? I have to admit, I've not checked any of the recent 6mm catalogs, but your comment leads me to believe that these bits and pieces are still wanting fulfillment (or wider availability/lack of basic demand perhaps).

Maybe we could get Captain Pete to use his connections with GHQ, and forward the idea of them making customizing kits by nationality, with stowage gear, petrol tins, jerry cans, and mechanical parts too, the later with road wheels, track sections cast for some of the common tank chassis of a period/theater?

Some final game prep – I need order counters for the Brits!

Previously only have made these up for the Eastern Front (and for using with our current modded rules system).

Here's my illustrated how-to on making these ones needed for this upcoming desert game.

After the counter artwork is printed out (I also plastic laminate mine), and that stuck onto a "strengthening/thickening" inner core material (for these I used sticky-sided magnetic sheet), then using a hobby punch each counter side can be punched out. They make these punches in useful round shapes, squares, etc., and in different sizes – these are 1" OD, and make easy to pick up counters with your fingers.

I did this punching for both image sides, and glued each corresponding counter (magnet sides) together. Lately been preferring the magnet material since it's durable, but also imparts a pleasing weight to the counters too. Fun foam sheet is an alternative material, which is easy to punch, if it fits into the jaws of your punch, and the foam can also be bought in sticky-sided sheets.

Doing double-sided counters, and having sticky-sides for both "halves" can be done without needing to glue two backs together – I've printed on sticky, packing label sheet before, and then punched and peeled the label backing side off, to affix these as one side of each counter's face (which already has the opposite, printed side affixed via its sticky-sided backing). Laminating label sheet is tricky though, but the removable side of the material can be peeled off once punched and/or cut, to reveal its sticky side.

Anyway, maybe some useful info here for someone thinking of making up their own game counters.

That is a great looking layout, FlyXwire! I noticed the Dianas right away and the KG Menton Stug IIIDs look excellent. I also noticed the slight differences between the 3 Stugs in the picture.

I ran a breakthrough at El Alamein scenario several years ago at a friends house. This game represented a last ditch effort by the Afrika Korps to halt a breakthrough by a British tank regiment supported by infantry. I think we had a squadron of Shermans, a squadron of Grants, and a sqaudron of Crusader IIIs in the mix for the British. The Germans had a variety of Panzer IIs, IIIs, and IVs, plus some AT guns including an 88 or two and some infantry.

This was all played at a scale of 1/285th.

I will check again with GHQ about stowage and a lot of other things I am interested in. I have e-mailed them in the past about things and don't often get a firm answer.

I have had some of my requests seen realization in the past and some I am still waiting for. I have been after them over the last few years on some new WWII infantry packs but so far have seen virtually no new infantry of any type in the last few years. I admit to being disappointed this year as not a single wish I had made it to the production line. Well… maybe next year.

I will e-mail GHQ again very soon and let them know of the interest in vehicle stowage.

Here is part of my Sherman squadron.

The detail on the Sherman M4A1s is just terrific. Direct vision ports for the driver and assistant, really well defined periscopes on the turrets and hulls, the three piece noses, the sandscreens….heck the ventilators are better shown than on many a 1/72 model.

The stowage on the Stugs is well worth a mention too.

Thanks for showing

DH & Pete, thanks so much guys!

Pete, that sounds – and your Sherman Mk. IIs really look great – for what must have been a great Micro-scale scenario.

Thank you FlyXwire and deadhead!

It was an interesting scenario to be sure, FlyXwire. I may run a similar one again and tweak it a bit. It was about 2 or 3 players to each side so that the workload was manageable using the Mein Panzer rules.

I also ran a Russian front scenario a long time ago featuring Germans trying to defend random truck convoys coming onto the board and the Russians trying to get points for killing them.
The exact location and arrival time of the convoys was not known to either player which made things interesting.

I still get Sherman nomenclature wrong, but I am learning.

These are indeed strictly speaking Sherman IIs because British operated, not M4A1s as in US hands.

Pete, that truckin' scenario sounds interesting too.

Wonder if that could be done cooperatively – with the GM running the gauntlet with the targets, um – transports that is, and the players doing most of the shooting……might make for a fun convention-style game setting, just to get everyone "warmed up". (or maybe even a good way to intro a ruleset)

DH, M4A1s is fine in my book.

I remember mentioning US trucks as the "duece-and-a-half" to my WW2 veteran dad once….he said he never heard them called that during the war, they were 6X6s to him (but what did he know – he was Airborne). :)))

It was an interesting scenario and I ran it at least 10 to 15 years ago at the local game store. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures available to show. It did motivate me to paint even more 6mm trucks in order to put it on.

Yes, I do think this game would be good for a GM to run the trucks in lieu of being totally random generated as we did. Either way, I did not want either player to really know where and when the convoys (truck roaches) would be arriving.