Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Reinforcements For Russian Month

Yesterday was a happy one at the Mad Padre's Painting Chapel on the edge of the frozen Canadian prairie. Two parcels were waiting for me when I arrived home from work. One contained an intriguing collection of 15mm Battlefront figures, the result of a trade between myself and fellow blogger Chris Stoesen of Wargamer's Odds and Ends (check out his scenario books while you're there). I had a bunch of 15mm ACW figures that were never going to get painted, and he had some WW2 figures, which might, possibly, get painted, and it was a good deal all around. About a third of the minis Chris sent me were Russkies (the chaps in the centre on the popsicle sticks), and so they are going to get slotted into the schedule as Russian February continues.

Now I'm mindful as I writethis that today is Ash Wednesday, and today during the liturgy we confessed "Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts". I'm really hoping for an exemption from "intemperate love" when it comes to wargaming toys, and I haven't yet heard the call to stop painting or playing as my fasting regime during Lent. Maybe I'm not listening hard enough, I'm not sure. (Holds hands over ears - LALALALALALA). The other box to arrive yesterday was from my pusher (err, I mean, my dealer), James of J&M Miniatures, who lived up to his repuation for fast and courteous rabbit-enhanced service, and sent me a box of five 15mm T34/85s from Plastic Soldier Company and the new Ostfront rules produced by PSC and written by Warwick Kinkade, Battlegroup Kursk.

The T34s are the first products I have seen firsthand from PSC and I am impressed. After wasting three hours of my life trying to assemble and then binning a Nitto Tiger tank model that I got at some flea market, I will only build simple plastic tank kits from now on, and PSC, like Armourfast, are simple. I've only briefly looked at the sprues, but everything looks cleanly moulded and I think I can put all five together in an evening. They are nice kits, and will give me a start on a 15mm Soviet force to allow me to dual-role all the 15mm German kit I originally got for Normandy. I'm sure I can get the T34s done and painted as one of my Russian entries for the Analogue Painting Challenge.

Why Battlegroup Kursk? Chalk it up to my "intemperate love of worldly things", or, if you are slightly kinder, to my "oohh shiny" moment. It does seem an odd move for me, especially as I have TFL's IABSM3 rules and Richard Clarke is within days of coming out with his Eastern Front supplement. If I have to explain it, I guess because people I respect, like Mike Siggins in Battlegames, or Donogh McCarthy on his blog, have said good things about it, and because I've been tracking Kinkade since his involvement with KG Normandy and the late Warhammer Historical. I've read interviews with Kinkade and like some of his design ideas. Am I convincing you yet? No? Oh well. I've only had the briefest of time to peek inside the book. It reminds me of a Games Workshop rules book, hardback, impressive production values, lots of pictures, and a helpful modelling section. I of course am a sucker for eye candy, but I hope to try the rules soon. More to follow on that, including some peeks at my 20mm Soviet army when we get to April and my "Resurrected Armies" project.

In the meantime, may God prosper your brushes and bless your dice rolls!

13 comments:

  1. Glad the minis made it to a good home

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    1. Thanks, Chris. Likewise, I am those ACW figures are well billeted now.

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  2. A haul worthy of your talents Mike. Dual use of forces just makes good sense.

    Regards Paul

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    1. Thanks Paul. "Good sense" and my hobby aspirations don't always go together, but glad you think so. :)

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  3. Great to see you have a copy of Battlegroup Kursk, I will be using the core rules for Normandy.
    I understand your reflections about "..intemperate love..." - we just need to hold our hobby loosely and not get too hung-up about it I guess. I figure God has given me these good things to enjoy, help my sanity, and provide an outlet for my creativity- plus it's a great way to make some new friends :)

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    1. Amen, Jacksarge. Looking forward to how your Normandy project works. I believe IronFist/WK is treating that next.

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    2. Indeed, I have pre-ordered my copy from the PSC website :)

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  4. Padre, I want a report on the Kursk rules when you have read them, and AARs once you have played them as I have been eyeing them for a while but managed to temper my love for worldly things. So far.

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    1. You'll get an AAR as soon as I have one, mate.

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  5. I fully understand the notion. I have been tempted by the Battlegroup Kursk rules too, although I am fully entrenched in the IABSM camp. I enjoy reading rules, looking at the pretty pictures, and you never know when you will meet someone who wants to play a non-lardie game.

    I own, among others, Kampfgruppe Normandy (lovely book, you could kill a man if you threw it at him), and Bolt Action. I will probably get the Battlegroup Overlord book too for inspiration.

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  6. Besides, scenarios are often easily converted between systems.

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  7. I always have a little laugh when you talk about your "painting Chapel." It reminds me of the "Wargamer's Psalm"... "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle" (Psalm 144:1)

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  8. :D
    Looking forward to seeing the Ivans painted up.

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