This year we have advanced in technology with the acquisition of a Lulzbot Mini 3D printer.  The printer is technically my sons (bday present from his gran), but I have been capitalizing on the use.  Andrew spent the first month with the device building a full size vex Mythoclast rifle from Destiny.

Version 4 is here.  I was able to attend the Beasts of War Boot camp for FOW Version 4 and it was an incredible experience.  I would go back for any other game I am interested, just to hang out and have a good time.  I met a lot of great people that I would love to game with anytime.

The WWPD Firestorm Campaign for Bastonge continues this week with the Battle for Clervaux.

 

Borrowed from the scenario for Cafe Schinker:

Situation: Situation: The 39th Fusilier Regiment is the southern prong of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division’s push towards Bastogne. Fusiliers have crossed the Our River in the early morning hours of December 16th, 1944. Their immediate objective is the town of Café Schinker. The town is defended by “L” Company of the 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. The US must try to hold on tow the town, while the German Grenadiers must quickly break this position to clear the way for the Panzers pf the Panzer Lehr Division when they start crossing assault bridges being erected across the Our River.

This year the gaming club selected two battlefield scenarios to run for Market Garden.

One of the most iconic weapons of the Cold War are the aircraft.  The A10 is my personal favorite.  The only way I would have joined the Air Force is if they would have guaranteed me to be an A10 Pilot.  They couldnt, so I joined the Navy and became a Civil Engineer Corps Officer (Seabee)

The Battlefront A10 model is top notch.  It is easy to put together with minimal clean up on the ordinance.  I cant wait to play this on the battlefield.

On the Soviet side is the small and sleak SU 25 Frogfoot.  Such a small craft with a powerful punch.  Again great model,  it took quite a bit of time to clean up the ordinance on this kit.  I picked the 357th squadron as the model for the camouflage pattern.

US Rotary aviation is the Battlefront plastic model kit of the AH-1 Cobra.  This is a very well done kit and I like it better than the original BF resin Cobras.  I went with the plain Jane US Army appearance.  Even today the Blackhawks dont really have many markings.

Saving the best for last.  The Mi24 Hind.  I remember this beast from the movie Red Dawn in the 1980s.  I was so enamored by it that I made a lego version as a kid.  Overall this model looks great, but sucks to put together.  I had issues with the rotor blades and the cockpit.  Hopefully, version 2 of this model improves upon assembly!

 

The question here is… how much do I expand my Pacific Theater Forces?

The Answer is “of course I need one more USMC company and support”

I had the privilege to travel with my command on a Staff Ride to visit the battlefields associated with the Seelow Heights and the Battle of Berlin.  The Navy never had staff rides and it was an amazing experience to attend one as a civilian.

I have completed a number of FOW units this year.  The big one being the 5th Gebirgsjager Company.  I should have added beards to my miniatures!!

The Korsun-Cherkasy Pocket was almost another Stalingard.  The Germany 8th Army which was part of Army Group South had been ordered by Hitler to hold a 100km salient in Ukraine.  A benefit of hind sight is we need to thank Hitler for being such an amateur general allowing his forces to be encircled and destroyed.  However, in the Korsun pocket it wasnt quite complete destruction.  The Germans lost many troops and almost all the heavy equipment, but the majority of the soldiers in the salient were able to escape through sheer determination.