Well, I finished a few more things today, but I don't think I am going to get the last 11 15mm figures on the table done before midnight, so... this is the o-fish-ul last post of material this year. Plus, my beloved Texas Aggies (Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 1994, right here!) just won a hard fought bowl game against Duke, coming form 21 points behind to win by 4. And the gluten-free brownies for tomorrow's lunch came out awesome (I tried a 'test' brownie - with ice cold milk).
So, without further ado... some Ogre minis! Oh, and a slipped in shot of some Martian shield gunners.
A Paneuropean GEV-PC, in German service.
All of these GEVs are part of I.Luftpanzer Division.
A trio of Paneuropean "Cossack" LGEVs.
In German service, I call them Luftpanzerkampfwagon I.
Paneuro Logo, handpainted.
The entire LGEV section (two flights) of I.Luftpanzer.
25mm Shield Gunners from RAFM.
German Ogre Infantry (actually GW Epic Space Marines)
This is the 2nd Battalion, I.Panzergrenadier Regiment.
Some of the things I have finally finished up over the past few days, as I got the chance to do so.
First up: A Paneuro Cybertank
This is a French Fencer. Its main armament is a collection of missile racks.
It is named L'Orient. The original Orient was a French ship of the line
that blew up at the Battle of the Nile when her magazine exploded.
It has both the original turret and the up-gunned Fencer-B turret. (Shown here and below)
I hand painted both the Paneuro logo (the Corinthian helmet) and the French roundel.
The roundel was easier.
Five of these small tank bases were completed for my Dystopian Wars Prussian Empire force.
This is the Staff base for FOW British 8th Army artillery.
The map is a printout of an actual Tobruk map.
Here's the WTO (Wireless Telegraph Operator)
An observer stand. Note the sparse brush they are taking cover within.
Same observers, different view.
The entire Artillery HQ. Now I need to paint some guns.
I have also finished painting the five Martian Shield Gunners that have been languishing on the table, but no photos just yet. I have updated my painting log, and I am just at 100 28mm figures this year. Pretty good. I am going to try and finish some more 6mm vehicles for Ogre (the Luftpanzer company I received for Christmas, for example). I will also try and finish off some more 15mm figures. I have ten British naval Brigade troops on the painting table right now, and I am considering tackling a batch of 15mm salamander men from Khurasan that I got from Eli a couple of years ago, but never figured out how I wanted to paint them. Now I think I am just going to go with classic green and get them on the table!
This year, as usual, I got very little in the way of gaming-related items. But what I got was pretty cool.
From my mother, I received two of the now unavailable boxed sets of Ogre Miniatures: Paneuro Set 6 and Paneuro Set 4.
My lovely wife bought me the Ogre 6E Exclusive counter sheets from BoardGame Geeks. I particularly wanted the not-Godzilla and the radio tower. The Ogre Ninja and extra Mk. VI were nice bonuses to those.
And that's about it, strictly gaming-wise. I got the boys some Munchkin cards and dice, so it was definitely a Steve Jackson Games bonus Christmas...
In the comments, please share what gaming goodies you may have received this year.
One is the semester of school, with the submission of my 13 page paper titled "Collaboration in Three Balkan States, 1941-1945." We will celebrate tonight with Hobbit-y movie goodness. SMAUG!
The other is my punching out and constructing the pieces for Ogre Designer's Edition. It only took about three weeks.
The image above is Steve Jackson Games's version. Mine is a bit messier, with the pieces of Nihon Empire kit sitting in one of the empty bays.
The next few days will consist of painting minis, buying Christmas presents, painting minis, wrapping gifts, painting minis, going to Austin, and painting minis.
The Day of the Doctor, Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary Special episode, was just brilliant. No spoilers, in case you are a Whovian who was tied up and forcibly kept from viewing it (because if you're a real Whovian, that's what it would have taken to keep you from catching it). But it was AWESOME, and it sets the 12th/13th Doctor up for a really cool quest next season.
How does this relate to gaming? I am going to order some 6mm not-Daleks after I get home from our vacation this week. The time has come.
Yesterday, from about 1600 to 1640 hours, a Combine Ogre Mk. III thrashed a Paneuro armored battalion. It was AWESOME, even though I lost to my 14-year-old son.
Opening Setup
Yes, that is a platoon of infantry under the Ogre.
It is smaller now than it was before the Ogre ran it over.
Lesson One: Bring more howitzers, and shoot at the treads. I only had one howitzer, and I didn't hit his treads with it except for one time. I did slow him down, though.
Lesson Two: Take out the Primary Battery first. Secondaries don't have much range, missiles are limited in number, and AP can't hurt anything but infantry.
Lesson Three: Hold your infantry back to someplace where you can combine their attacks with something else. Like howitzers.
Lesson Four: GEVs, or even LGEVs, once the Primary is out, are your best friends. Yes, a missile will take them out. But you should be able to maneuver so that you can zip in, shoot, and zip out, getting out of Secondary range.
Plan for next time: More howitzers. Blast the treads. Combine to take out the Primary. Once it is immobilized, work over the Secondaries.
Overall, I LOVE my Kickstarter 6th Ed. OGRE set. Finally. But I think it was maybe worth the wait.
10. California Raisins 'Heard it Through the Grapevine'
Can't beat the Mo-town sound for sales. These guys made it into the Smithsonian. More than most of us will ever be able to say.
9. Dunkin Donuts "Time to Make the Donuts"
Haven't we all felt like poor Fred the Baker once in a while?
8. Tootsie Pop "How Many Licks?"
The world may never know. I don't like them - I'm a Blow Pop guy - but the ad is still great.
7. McDonald's "Recital"
Earlier I said you can't beat Mo-Town for sales. Well, this proves I was a little off, because this ain't Mo-Town. "And I would eat them all myself, and not give any to my dumb brother..." This may have been written by my sister.
6. Coca Cola "Mean Joe Greene"
C'mon, you gotta love this one. How did they pitch it? Who doesn't want a stinky sweaty jersey from a large and intimidating athlete? But it works.
5. Wendy's "Where's the Beef?"
If ever anyone became famous for a tagline, this is it. Clara Peller, at the age of 81, became an icon of commercial advertising.
4. E*Trade "E*Trade Baby: Milkaholic"
"Milk-a-wha?"
3. Coca Cola "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"
A classic. Just awesome feel good stuff.
2. Goldie Blox 'Girls'
This is one of the coolest products I have heard of in a long time for kids. You can vote for them to get a free spot on the Super Bowl broadcast. Please do.
1. Nissan 'Toys' Commercial
I love the look on Ken's face at the end. That's right, Ken: Barbie is GI Joe's honey now, you ascot wearing nancy.
The lovely Lady Felicity, the last member of Lord Curr's Company to be completed, is now ready for viewing. Please do not ogle her; it's both unseemly and dangerous. Those pistols she's packing aren't for show!
The next miniatures is the first of a batch that I was given by my good friend Eli Arndt, proprietor of Loud Ninja Miniatures, blogging wizard, and all around great guy. He sculpted them (his first comercial sculpt, if I recall). They are 15mm scale anthropmorphic owls, called 'uhul.' Unfortunately, the sunlight is sort of washing out the color on him. Since it only took me about two years to get around to painting him, I figure the rest will be done by about 2020...
This last photo is a fellow you've seen before. Now he's all finished, with a flocked base and some protective clear coat. Here's Ape-X, from Reaper's Bones Chronoscope line. He's supposed to be a mutant supervillain or some such, I think. I am using him as a mind controlled slave to the nefarious and secretive Doctor Vardu...
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Arkham, Mass.-- The terrified citizens of the small town of Arkham, Mass., can breathe a sigh of relief. After days of strange happenings, peace and quiet have returned to their once-idyllic village, thanks to the efforts of three brave investigators.
"I'm just your normal, run-of-the-mill, archaeology professor/world traveler/treasure hunter," said Monterey Jack, one of the investigators, when asked how he came to be prepared to fight an otherworldly horror and its monstrous minions. "I mean, anyone with nerves of steel, muscles of iron, and a cast-iron stomach would have done the same. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a bottle of Bushmill's that needs rescuing from that liquor store."
Doctor Vincent Lee, of St. Mary's Hospital, was also instrumental in the investigation. It was his well-timed hail of buckshot that thrust the unimaginable horror back into the cold and dark from whence it emerged. He was also responsible for the death of respected local businessman Hugh Bottoms. Mr. Bottoms was dressed in outlandish robes, spouting gibberish, and viciously attacked Dr. Lee in Uptown. Dr. Lee pronounced him dead on the scene after shooting him. Twice.
Doctor Carolyn Fern, a resident psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum, counseled the other investigators during the course of these unsettling events. Her stellar work insured that the other investigators remained sane and capable.
"These 'monsters,' you see, are merely a projection of your own fears and anxieties into the world around you. Once confronted, they hold no terror for anyone, really. Except the ones that look like spiders. Those ones are evil, and should be destroyed immediately," she said.
A parade is scheduled for tomorrow, and the Mayor will speak. The investigators will be receiving the key to the city, a coupon for "Buy One, Get One Free" at the General Store, and an all-expenses paid tour to the Unvisited Isle. Light refreshments will be served, $1 cover charge.
The boys and I finished our first game of Arkham Horror this afternoon. We all had a lot of fun, and we managed to defeat the big baddie, Ithqua (actually, one of the weaker adversaries) after he awoke. So, chalk that up as a win, even though we didn't quite manage to seal enough gates to prevent his arrival in the first place...
A big update today. Lots of photos, and a few more are coming up on Victoria's Boys in Red, as well.
The Galvanic Ray Cannon
Germany's Newest Landship
A Simian Mutant Bodyguard for Doctor Vardu
OGRE meets Gojira!
IHMN: Lord Curr
IHMN: One of Lord Curr's Incorrigibles
A Texian Walker (French design) - a matched pair.
British Balloon Scouts (and nine friends)
In addition to the items pictured above, I also managed to finish two more of my India Pattern Carriers for Flames of War. I don't have any photos of them, though.
Plus, I have almost finished Lord Curr's Company for In Her Majesty's Name. Just lacking Lady Felicity, and she's still on the painting table. Once I finish her, I need to work on more Dystopian Wars vehicles - Prussian land forces this time!
On today's date, in 1415, French chivalry withered under a rain of clothyard shafts driven by Welsh yew. Heavily outnumbered and stricken with illness, the English forces nevertheless won a decisive victory on the field at Agincourt. Among Henry V's troops were a large number of Welsh and English longbowmen. They are generally given credit for the victory, having done fearful damage to the French knights and men-at-arms before they could close with the outnumbered English.
Why is it that westerns get so many great lines? I don't know, but they do. Maybe that's what I love about them. Note that I am excluding TV westerns from this list - which is why Lonesome Dove isn't on it.
10. Blazing Saddles
While I will argue that Blazing Saddles is the funniest movie ever made, it is also a western. However, it ranks lowest on this poll because it is really a comedy, in a western setting (well, for most of the movie).
9. Silverado
Honestly, I just always liked this one. Small town ruled by rich jerk, a heterogeneous band of heroes, and a great quote: "I don't want to kill you, and you don't wanna be dead."
8. High Noon
From a moral standpoint, this has got to be one of the best westerns ever. One man standing up for what he believes in, when everyone else tells him to back down. Plus, it has Gary Cooper in it.
7. Rio Bravo
John Wayne. Dean Martin. Ricky Nelson. And my favorite song from any western ever: My Rifle, Pony and Me".
6. A Fistful of Dollars
Why is this great movie at #6? Because there are even better ones below. But the scene where he walks past the undertaker and signals for two? Classic. My favorite of the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns.
5. Stagecoach
John Wayne's first starring role, as an outlaw stranded with a group of people on a stagecoach traveling through an Indian uprising.
4. True Grit
"Fill your hands, you son of a bitch!" 'Nuff said?
3. The Outlaw Josey Wales
Clint gets three, John Wayne gets three. I always loved this movie about the man tormented by the murder of his family and haunted by his past. Plus, it has some great lines in it:
"Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
"Endeavor to persevere."
"Are you going to skin those smokewagons or start whistling Dixie?"
2. Unforgiven
The best of the more modern westerns, by far.
"Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend."
1. The Magnificent Seven
My bar none favorite western movie. I love the crazy casting, and how Steve McQueen does his best (usually successfully) to steal the scene from Yul Brynner. Another movie with great quotes and a fun ensemble cast.
"We deal in lead, friend."
"That was the greatest shot I've ever seen! / The worst! I was aiming at his horse."
"Nobody throws me my own guns and says run. Nobody."
"As for women, I became indifferent when I was 83."
