"Cold War '85 - ready for gamin'" Topic

This has been one of those projects – it first started as a 3D-conversion idea for a new board game called Forward Defense '85. Next, back to Dunn-Kempf, to use that US Army 1980's era training ruleset over the same terrain scape. Now, it's finally done, and ready as its own kit for fightin' that Cold War Gone Hot -

The pictured area here is real, real estate, from a part of Germany's Heesen region, and an area found on US Army maps as the Hunfeld sector. A 6km X 4km map portion served as a design section for what the Dunn-Kempf training sets would featured as their vacuum-formed, 3D plastic terrain boards (see linked article on D-K below).

PDF link

Here's a closeup of my battle board, looking towards the East German border, and with Hill 451 on the left (this was the actual area of operations of the US Army 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Having done a number of WWII 1/600th scale (3mm) games before, for this Cold War project, I wanted to get minis a bit bigger, but still small enough to be able to field platoon-size units with on a normal 6 X 4 ft. table. I found 1/500th scale minis available from Shapeways, and started the collecting…..only to lose my 3D Print source when the company went under. I now have a new source, and so the project continues.

A view of these 4mm size miniatures as platoon-based units, approaching some coming action in the near future -

Looking good, Dave, looks like the Red horde is rolling, now I need to see the Apaches and Abrams tearing huge holes in their ranks!

V/R,
Jack

Absolutely lovely, FlyXwire! Everything comes together like a plan …. or something.

"Germany's Heesen region" It is actually spelled Hesse.

But that is a magnificent creation you've made. Our group uses 6mm figures but the 4mm you're using look great.

Jim

Thanks Jack, and those Apaches – they'll make it on the 5th order (maybe). :)))

Thanks also Pete – it's been a little bit of a journey, and not quite there yet.

Speaking of journeys, ColCampbell I appreciate your kind words also, and actually, the region has been spelled a few ways (Hessen is also easier for English speakers to speak and read)-

britannica.com/place/Hessen

Oh, I see my typo now, an extra, "e" instead of an "s" – sorry members (I usually do pretty good typing with just these two fingers).

After looking at the link, I just had to go leaf through my copies of the old Wargamers Digest. Sure enough, I have that issue, March 1979. And then I realized it was 46 years old…

Gamertom!

And they say history repeats itself….or sometimes – better late than never. :)

Way back when in our gaming area, we sort of had a division of labor going on – a couple guys would do Ancients, some Medievals, ACW, WWII, etc., and a few doing Moderns. Now, there's a few of us picking up many periods that have been left vacant.

No regrets.

Here's how I'm marking the two damage states tracked by the Pz8 rules -

The platoon bases (reflecting scale combat frontages) also double for space to place markers and deployed infantry upon.

Weren't M-60s the US MBT in 85? IIRC, The Abrams came along later. Always wanted to wargame that NATO training exercise that nearly started WWIII! Able Archer

Dave, those bases and damage markers look absolutely brilliant!

Jack

Those explosive effects are excellent, FlyXwire!

Dye4minis – I was on M-60A3s in Germany during my time there from 1981-1985. I was in 3rd Armored Division and as I was leaving in May 1985, my Battalion, 2/33 Armor, was leaving for transition to the M-1.

It depends on which unit you were in as the changeover was gradual and not overnight. As I recall, in 1982 the 3rd Infantry Division was already getting their M-1s and 11th ACR got theirs before we got ours. We were still using the M151 jeep at this time as well although we received our Kevlar Helmets to replace the Steel Pot in 1984

I have 11th ACR operating M1s as early as Autumn Forge in 1983.

Check out this slick video:

YouTube link

(film production date shown June 1985)

Jack, thanks bud – but the effects don't come close to that cool pointer you always use in your AARs.

Pete, you were a Cold War Tanker!

Thanks for that info guys. 20 Years in the USAF and never got to Europe till 2010 (Kelley Kasserne which used to HQ for 7th Corps at one time?) In 81 I was in St. Louis – USAF Recruiting Support.

Tom, thank you for your service!

(what part of St. Louis was your office, or down on Spruce Street?)

Hey, we have the Marines, Army, and Air Force all in representation here – just need the Coast Guard and Navy now…..

Last base needed for this first game completed.

I took a bit more time on the ground work for this one (1/500th scale BMP-2s, measuring just 1/2 inch long, but still with darn good detail).

Dumped this back here from another thread.

My local group probably wonders why I like developing in these smaller scales now – but it's about Respect.

As a scenario designer, I can do so much more with smaller-scale units, and on a resulting bigger battlefield (and so punching way above your weight class).

Before the playtest this last weekend, I urged the buds to remember one thing I mentioned from my game/rules preamble if anything -

Mission, Maneuver, Firepower

At this 500th to 600th scale range (possible w/Micro-Armor too), there can be interlocking missions at play, maneuvering on the flanks, and a need to close range for effective firepower.

That's what flows from these little scale minis across the kilometers.

Btw, a great WWII game report thread here – maybe Captain Pete urged the same – Mission, Maneuver, Firepower. ;)

TMP link

Excellent work on those little tiny minis, FlyXwire. They definitely have that small unit tactical look to them.

Thank you as well for referencing my "Stemming the Tide" game as well. I appreciate it very much.

Fly,
Great stuff!

Joe

Thank You Joe!

Matter of fact, I'm running the game this weekend at our local game con – DieCon.

Here's a map like the Soviet players will receive as part of their briefing.

Trying to make this feel a bit retro, borrowing both from Dunn-Kempf and Team Yankee, but rendering the game on-board with as much visual fidelity as I can accomplish at the moment.

Looks great! Should be a fun time

Joe

Joe, it was!

Pics from the West German Frontier, and some of the first fighting of WWIII -

That is a great looking game, FlyXwire!

Thanks Pete!

(it produced a good battle narrative – so mission success)

I was a Riley Barracks, Bad Kissingen in summer of 1986, and the cav squadron on post already had M-1s when I showed up. That would be 3rd ID area, but I can't remember the cav unit designation, or whether they were division or corps troops.

As always FlyXwire, great looking board!

Hi Robert, thanks for the compliment.

Good time for an update too – supposedly my 1/500th scale Bradley M2/M3s have just been shipped. I reached out to a prior POD supplier I had used back in April, for the possibility of getting these printed up.

Now in July, this 'initial test' order seems to be on its way (but not holding my breath either – and then must see if the scaling is right on these too, to work with the collection).

Think I would have gone with Pico/Oddzial Osmy 3mm for these Moderns, after this collection build experience.

Beautiful board. I am a big fan of Pico/Oddzial Osmy 3mm Moderns – I plan to someday use mine on my original Dunn Kemp boards – mine are based as platoons on Flames of War bases – the bases are a little small but feel better with the ground scale of 1" = 50m or 1" = 100m – most likely will use GDWs Combined Arms rules – I too was introduced to D/K by the March '79 Wargames Digest article – I was a High School sophomore & was a WWII minis gamer with Airfix troops & Rocco tanks using Tractics. It instilled a love of modern micro armor until this day. Was able to secure almost 2 full sets of boards & minis while at Ft Lewis in the early 90s. I love your use of the WG article – my soviets attacking south could have sure used that hill you put between Oberweisenborn & Unterweisenborn :) – I have several of the period Hunfeld Mapsheets in 1:50,000 – if you'd like a couple email me @ dfrankpapa at gmail.com

David, thank you for your awesome comments.

Pictures of the DK boards from your past convention games, and some that are in a museum in Canada, were the only current images I could find as I worked up this project.

(you've saved some awesome history)

That hill – and no one else w/o your knowledge would have probably noticed I added that – just seemed needed to somewhat reflect the lay of the land there – and with the model contouring I could use under my mat.

I've finally gotten my 3D-Print Bradleys in 1/500th scale, and know we would all enjoy seeing pics of your 3mm Moderns on those FOW bases too!

Those look excellent, FlyXwire! Each base is a mini diorama.

It looks like you are using static grass on the bases. Do you have a recommended static grass applicator that you use?

Thanks Pete!

No applicator, the stand tops start from a railroad grass mat, that's paper-backed, which I circle-cut to fit my round bases.

The tan paper backing also doubles as track ruts, which are further enhance with a brown-colored pencil (the pencil's tip also works to knock off the static grass to create the rutting).

Pete, you're the first forum member to ask about this (it's a super time-saving technique), and one reason I linked this thread in the Basing section.

With this 1/500th scale project, I started with as much of a clean-sheet approach as possible.