2014 Tournament Season

With growing family responsibilities at home as my son gets bigger and starts to throw around the word "daddy" a lot more, 2014 is already panning out to be a big year so I sat down and had a look through the tournament calender to try and plan out the year so there would be no (okay, fewer) surprises on the home front. It also gave me an opportunity to work out what was on the painting schedule.

February: Battlecry and Flames Of War. This will be the first road test for my Desperate Measures Reluctant Trained Tigers.

March: Ides of March and Warmachine. Dusting off my Circle forces and using this to incentivise me to paint up the Woldwrath!

April: Hamilton EW Tournament and FOW. This one is a little up in the air for me right now, but my French are looking for a reason to hit the table and this might be it!

May: NiCon and TBC. Love heading to sunny Tauranga, just need to work out what is on the menu I guess.

July: Panzerschreck and the FOW Doubles Event. It is just easier to give into Evan's nagging and head down. Plus Mike and I have something to make up for after our terrible performance last year.

August: Call to Arms and WarmaHordes. Not sure what I would take, but the WarmaHordes guys in Wellington are great to play so hopefully the timing of this works out.

October: BFGT and FOW. This could be coinciding with my 40th so might be a little challenging, tempted to play in the split 1 day Mid War, 1 day Early War events... wonder how I could convert my '56 Israelis to Mid War?

November: Rallypoint and the WarmaHordes Teams Event. Three man teams and this year it is Ghordson Earthbreakers all round.

So, painting needing to be done for five events this year at minimum, plus some more post war Israeli's for work no doubt.... maybe it is time to start reducing my expectations!

Soviet Mid War Tankovy Company

It has been a while since updates - between a lot of painting and a couple of tournaments, not to mention all that 'boring' family stuff... Since the last post was about my GT list, I thought I would share some images of the 2012 Mid War GT "Best Army" (pretty chuffed I have to say - it was even worth the shot of ketchup during our 24 hour painting challenge a couple of months ago).

The list was:

Light Tankovy Companies: 10x T-26S obr 1939: 205 points.
9x T-26S obr 1939: 190 points.
Heavy Tankovy Company: 6x KV-1e: 620 points.

Tankovy Anti-tank Company: 4x 76mm ZIS3 guns: 130 points.
 Light Armoured Car Platoon: 3x BA-64 75 points
Armoured Car Company: 10x BA-10M: 310 points
Sporadic Air Support: I-153: 90 points 

I painted up a few extra pieces along the way just to give me a little flexibility for future events.

Battalion Commander

First T-26 Company



Second T-26 Company

KV Company



Zis-3 AT guns



BA-64 Armoured Cars

BA-10 Armoured Cars (winners of my "man of the match" for their performance over the weekend)



Objectives

If you shoot them enough, you can kill the biggest of targets!

Now I am trying to work out what I want to paint next for the force... the lure of T-28s is very strong I can tell you now!

Flames of War Mid War GT 2012

T-26 in 3 colour camo - thanks to http://www.o5m6.de/

Twas the night before the Mid War GT

When all through the house

Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse

In the figure case tanks lay

Put there with care

Painted and varnished

They would fight like a bear

When out in the lounge

There arose such a clatter
Oh darn... I've forgotten to put some decals on he said!...

During the Iron Painter event at work I managed to complete about half the force, and as it was I managed to go so close to finishing off the army with plenty of time to spare only to stumble at the last hurdle. Luckily my wife asked me a question about 45 minutes ago which reminded me of the 3 small jobs I had still to do. So here we are 10 hours before the GT, 2 jobs down leaving one last job to do - varnish my T-26s.

KV in process (left) and finished (right)

Luckily for me I love the smell of Moana (the worlds best varnish) in the morning and since it dries in about 5 minutes I can complete that final job first thing tomorrow morning. 

As for the army list - here you go:

Light Tankovy Companies 
10x T-26S obr 1939: 205 points.
9x T-26S obr 1939: 190 points.

Heavy Tankovy Company
 6x KV-1e: 620 points.

Tankovy Anti-tank Company
 4x 76mm ZIS3 guns: 130 points.
 

Light Armoured Car Platoon
 3x BA-64 75 points

Armoured Car Company
 10x BA-10M: 310 points

Sporadic Air Support
 I-153: 90 points.


Total Points: 1620 points

The plan is to use the KVs to lead the charge, T26s will protect the flanks whilst the BA-10s use their mobility and lack of Hen & Chicks to be my mobile force. The ZIS-3s can hopefully protect an objective and the air support will take out German Tigers.... or at least that is the plan. I'll let you know how it goes next week....