Live From Fall In 2011

The following is a collection of pictures taken by Dirty Jon's partner Ted.
>>>CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST

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Stützpunkt Nests (including 88 nest) Review

FROM THE BATTLEFRONT MINIATURES WEBSITE

Battlefront Miniatures' spotlight of the Stutzpunkt Nests
Battlefront Miniatures' spotlight of the 8.8 Nest
German strongpoints were formed along the Egyptian-Libyan frontier to slow British counter-offensives launched from Egypt. At Halfaya Pass their Luftwaffe 8.8cm Flak36 guns made light work of the then undefeated British Matilda tanks. Each Stützpunkt was based around a key fortified position held by entrenched infantry supported by machine-guns, anti-tank guns and the devastating Luftwaffe 88s. Lurking behind the strongpoints are artillery and mobile reserves of panzers and motorised infantry.

THE 8.8 NEST REVIEW

This is an impressive and intimidating piece to have on the battlefield! I must admit that I thought it looked so cool and was so iconic of the desert warfare that I immediately tore open the package and had it finished in the next few hours. The model itself is pretty good. The large nest-base is a bit sparse, but of course it should be for the desert! It is very well textured, making drybrushing it a piece of cake and the end result looks great. One big plus here is that it would not be hard at all to use this nest in other eras- I'm particularly thinking about Hell's Highway.


The base of the gun is modeled on the nest with the gunshield and cannon being separate pieces. The molds were fairly crisp and didn't require any unnecessary clean up. The crew are all new sculpts with pros and cons. The big pro is that they are not on the standard "pedestals". I wasn't sure if they would come with them or not. The other pro is that the sculpts are new! Cool to see. The only real con is that a few of the guys look pretty rough. Some slightly screwed up proportions on one or two of the crew. Nothing noticeable at 15mm though of course. Once this was all assembled I was quite happy with it. Well worth the price in my opinion.
23/29 8.8cm shells

THE NESTS REVIEW

These nests both come in 1 box and have largely the same pros and cons of the 8.8 box. The gun sculpts were quite good and easy to assemble. Pay no attention to the fact that I left the magazines off the 5cm cannon. I just noticed it- somehow slipped my mind!


On a whim I decided to see if a medium base would fit and it fits- perfectly! I quickly decided to model the gun and crew on medium bases so I could stretch the usefulness of these nests a bit further. They can now stand in as 47 nests for Australians/Italians, or HMGs in a pinch. Their versatility thus puts them a hair above the 8.8.
27/29 8.8cm shells

IN FLAMES OF WAR

weapon	range	ROF	anti-tank	Firepower	Notes
Stutzpunkt 8.8cm Nest	40"	3	13	3+	Flak Nest.
Stutzpunkt 5cm Nest	24"	3	9	4+
Stutzpunkt 2cm Nest	16"	4	5	5+	Flak Nest, Anti-Aircraft

THE STUTZPUNKT

The Stutzpunkt platoon is a massive defensive platoon. Comprised of the equivalent of a schutzen platoon, 4 nests, and a number of linear fortifications. The Stutzpunkt company has loads of mobile reserves- making it the ultimate counterpunch list.


The price of the basic Stutzpunkt platoon can inflate based on what you take. At its most basic it has 7 MG teams, a light mortar team, 2 HMG nests, a 5cm pak 38 nest, a 2cm nest, and 2 trench lines. This clocks in at a whopping 385. You may then add an additional AT Rifle team for +20 points, up to 2 minefields at +50 ea, and up to 4 barbed wire entanglements at +10 each. At full strength this unit is 505 points! But wait, it gets better! You can attach the compulsory 88 nest which costs 235 points. All said and done this entire unit can cost 740 points!

Image taken from EasyArmy.com - the #1 source for online Flames of War listmaking!

I am excited about trying the Stutzpunkt out. I think they could be an incredibly fun list to play!

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Review: Battlefront Pigments & Paint

At Fall In I picked up a set of the new Battlefront Quartermasters Pigment Set-QPS04 and Joe Krone hooked me up with a can of the new German Armour (SP06)
I had some old Panzer IV F2s around that needed to be re-done, so I broke out the Simple Green and stripped them down to give this stuff a try.

REVIEW - PIGMENTS

This is a pic of the Pazer IV F2s before applying any pigments. This being my first experience with pigments, I went with a platoon that I could afford to mess up. All of the reading I did online said to completely finish the model before applying pigments, so I did. I went for a very weathered Afrika look for these guys. I only used the European Mud pigment -- I read that mixing several is really the way to go. Baby steps!

Here you see the platoon from a distance after the pigments are applied. The effect is subtle and just barely noticeable from this distance.


Here are a couple of close-ups of the tracks - you can see the pigments now. They provide a more 3D type of look to the mud and filth. I only applied the pigments to the very lower section of the front and back. I did do both the upper and lower tracks with different levels of application -- the most on the #1 tank, less on the #2 and even less on the #3 tank.

The price is of course incredibly attractive! I got 6 Pigments for a very small $35 -- this is pretty cheap when compared to other pigments. There is a great selection of colors and they are very easy to apply with Mineral Spirits from the local hardware store.


Score: 12 out of 12 Cake Donuts

REVIEW - PAINT

Here you see the platoon sprayed down in the base color. It is hard to see here, but it is slightly darker than the Dunkelgelb of Late War.

The quality and price is the same as the other paints from Battlefront that I use all the time. However, the utility of this particular color escapes me. I even posted on the Battlefront forum for some guidance and got no reply at all. I do not think that I will be buying this color.

Finding no guidance for the use of this particular color, I painted these up with Green Ochre (on the left above) as the base color. This seemed to look ok, but I failed to see why I would need this particular spray can first - they released a Green Ochre for the Italians anyway. Battlefront seems to have little mention or guidance for this color. Until they make it clear what it is for, I'm giving it a fail.

Score: 1 out of 5 Hits in Defensive Fire

FROM WIKIPEDIA

On May 26, 1941, mere weeks before Operation Barbarossa, during a conference with Hitler, it was decided to improve the Panzer IV's main armament. Krupp was awarded the contract to integrate again the same 50 mm (1.97 in) Pak 38 L/60 gun into the turret. The first prototype was to be delivered by November 15, 1941. Within months, the shock of encountering the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks necessitated a new, much more powerful tank gun. In November 1941, the decision to up-gun the Panzer IV to the 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun was dropped, and instead Krupp was contracted in a joint development to modify Rheinmetall's pending 75 mm (2.95 in) anti-tank gun design, later known as 7.5 cm PaK 40 L/46. Because the recoil length was too long for the tank's turret, the recoil mechanism and chamber were shortened. This resulted in the 75-millimetre (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/43. When firing an armor-piercing shot, the gun's muzzle velocity was increased from 430 m/s (1,410 ft/s) to 990 m/s (3,250 ft/s). Initially, the gun was mounted with a single-chamber, ball-shaped muzzle brake, which provided just under 50% of the recoil system's braking ability. Firing the Panzergranate 39, the KwK 40 L/43 could penetrate 77 mm (3.03 in) of steel armor at a range of 1,830 m (6,000 ft).
By August 1942, Rommel had only received 27 Panzer IV Ausf. F2s, armed with the L/43 gun, which he deployed to spearhead his armored offensives. The longer gun could penetrate all American and British tanks in theater at ranges of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft)

IN FLAMES OF WAR

Name  Weapon	Mobility  Range	Front  ROF	Side  Anti-Tank	Top  Firepower	Equipment and Notes
Panzer IV F2 or G  7.5cm KwK40 gun	Fully-Tracked 32"/80cm	5 2	3 11	1 3+	Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Protected ammo.

... and we will pretend that I didn't number these all wrong and have to go back and fix it....(lighting makes these look a bit yellow)

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German Infantry Guns: 7.5cm lelIG18

I needed to paint up some 7.5cm lelIG18 guns for the upcoming tournament, so I went with the Hermann Göring GE558 version to go with all the stuff I am making out of Dogs and Devils. These little guys are great to use for pinning... though with only 2 guns you have to re-roll hits ...or for supplemental AT. With ROF 2, AT 9 and a 3+ FP, they cannot be ignored. They are especially good for Mid-War, as they are only costing me 70 points!

FROM BATTLEFRONT

The 7.5cm leIG18 was developed by Rheinmetall following WWI. It was adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1927 and remained in service until 1945. It had a unique loading system. The breech was fixed and the end of the barrel was hinged. The gun was then loaded 'shotgun' style by elevating the breech end of the barrel..

IN FLAMES OF WAR

Weapon	Mobility	Range	ROF	Anti-Tank	Firepower	Equipment and Notes
7.5cm leIG18 Gun  Firing Bombardments	Light	16"/40cm 48"/120cm	2 -	9 3	3+ 6+	Gun Shield, Smoke

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WWPD Dispatches From the Front For Episode 29 Now Live!

 Now is your chance to get your message on News from the Front (episode 29)!

Advertise, challenge, talk smack, or whatever!  And help us out at the same time.  It's a win/win, baby!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/wwpdpodcast/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686

Bid on break one or break two.  Or both if you're into hedging your bets!  Why not get your voice heard on the most boisterous Flames of War Podcast out there?

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British Heavy Armoured Squadron vs German Panzergrenadiers

Ted is a relative newcomer to our crew, but he's a very welcome addition quickly learning the ropes! We were able to catch up over the weekend and get a game in. I let Ted pick his poison after making a Motor Infantry list and an Armoured Squadron list. Ted knew his company was somewhat weaker against tanks, and so decided to man up and face the tank list. As this was a test for the upcoming I-95 tournament, we did 1500 points and the mission was Dust Up.

Steven's British Heavy Armoured Squadron HQ (2x Grants) 3x Grants 3x Grants 3x Grants 2x Crusader III, 1x Crusader II Motor Infantry Platoon (full) 3x Humber IIIs

Ted's Panzergrenadiers HQ (panzerknackers) Panzergrenadiers (panzerknacker) Panzergrenadiers (panzerknacker) Panzergrenadiers (panzerknacker) HMGs (combat attached) Mortars Nebelwerfers 4x Panzer III M

TURN 1

The board. I started with motor infantry and Grants (in the top right quadrant). My Humber IIIs used their recon move to sweep wide to the left. Ted started with panzergrenadiers and Panzer IIIs (displayed in the bottom left). The nebelwerfers are just out of frame in the bottom left.

Nebelwerfers set up.

>>>>CLCK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE AAR!

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Fall In 2011 Interviews: Joe Krone & Falcon Figures

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Steve's Reinforcement Has Arrived!

Isabelle was born at 4:26 on 11/22/2011.  7 pounds 9 ounces.  Everything was textbook perfect- zero issues.  The child can count base 10 on her digits.

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More pics from Paul from View From the Turret!

These are great, thanks Paul!

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After Hours Episode 12- One Hour and Fifteen Minutes!

After Hours 12- After recording episode 28, the dudes discuss player responsibility in a tournament, the new Hen & Chicks Rules, Movies, pizza and a ton of other stuff in the longest After Hours Yet!

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WWPD News From the Front Episode 28

"Revenge of the Noid"
One more episode in the can before Steven's reinforcement arrives! The dudes talk Skyrim, pizza, T-34s in Flames of War and Battlefront Miniatures' upcoming changes to Hen & Chicks. The dudes go on to discuss German National Special rules in n00b zone!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 0:00 - Intro/Fall In AAR
• 0:03 - Skyrim Chat
• 0:12 - What We've Been Up To
• 0:43 - Know Your Frenemy: Soviet T-34
• 0:50 - Hen & Chicks Rules in Red Bear
• 1:17 - Know Your Frenemy: Italian Bersaglieri
• 1:28 - N00B Zone: German National Special Rules

Download this week's episode directly: http://www.archive.org/download/WwpdNewsFromTheFrontEpisode28/WwpdEpisode28.mp3
Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wwpd-news-from-the-front/id398903039
Subscribe with other: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WWPDPodCast

Links discussed in this episode:
CGR Painters
Donogh's Wargaming 101 Post
Anatoli's Skyrim Review
HMGS
WWPD on Facebook



EDITOR'S NOTES:
Glad we got an extra episode in pre-baby! I want a pizza bag of holding.

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8th Army Motor Infantry vs Bersaglieri (Frontline Domination)

I was eager to get my new CR42 Falcos on the board, and simultaneously wanted to test a tournament build for my Italians. I talked Sean into taking Churchills since I knew they would be tough for me to face. We randomly rolled for mission and came up with Frontline Domination.

Sean's 8th Army Motor Infantry HQ + Sticky Bombs Full Motor Infantry Platoon w/ Sticky Bombs Full Motor Infantry Platoon w/ Sticky Bombs HMG Platoon Scout Patrol w/ Extra MGs 3x Churchills 3x Stuarts 4 Gun RHA Battery

Steven's Italian Bersaglieri HQ + Pizza bombs Understrength Bersaglieri w/ Pizza Bombs (CV) Understrength Bersaglieri w/ Pizza Bombs (CT) Bersaglieri Mortars (CT) Cannon Platoon w/ 4 75s (CV) Carri Platoon w/ 5 M14 (CT) Semovente Platoon w/ 4 75s and 4 AA MGs (CV) Sporadic Air

TURN 1

The setup. Blue = 3 points. Red = 2 points. White = 1 point. Tanks come on from the back edge on turn 1. Sean put his recon unit in a flank attack. The Brit

Bersaglieri hold a pass

>>>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE AAR

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Italian CR.42 Falco biplanes!

Got these guys painted over the weekend in anticipation of a Flames of War tournament coming up in December. They were a joy to paint but a nightmare to assemble! Flames of War have an assembly video over here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiVjmV_XMOo. They make it look easier than it was.

I was also a bit disappointed that the model was 1:144- it's already a small plane so this makes it look AOP sized. But, the end result is definitely nice! The included decals are great as usual. I also cannot say enough good things about the new flight stands!

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The CR.42 was a evolutionary design based on the earlier Fiat CR.32, which was in turn derived from the Fiat CR.30 series created in 1932. The Regia Aeronautica had employed the CR.32 during the Spanish Civil War with great success, which led to Fiat proposing a more advanced fighter based around the supercharged Fiat A.74R1C.38 air-cooled radial engine geared to drive a metal three-blade Fiat-Hamilton Standard 3D.41-1 propeller of 2.9 m (9.5 ft) diameter and a robust, clean, sesquiplane design. The rigidly braced wings covered with fabric were constructed from light duralumin alloy and steel. It reached a top speed of 438 km/h (272 mph) at 5,300 m (17,400 ft) and 342 km/h (213 mph) at ground level. Climb rate was 1 minute and 25 seconds to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and of 7 minutes and 20 seconds to 6,000 m (19,700 ft).

In spite of the biplane configuration, the CR.42 was a modern, "sleek-looking" design based around a strong steel and alloy frame incorporating a NACA cowling housing the radial engine, with fairings for the fixed main landing gear. The CR.42's upper wing was larger than its lower wing, a configuration known as a sesquiplane. The aircraft proved exceptionally agile thanks to its very low wing loading, although at the same time, the CR.42 lacked armour and radio equipment.

During evaluation, the CR.42 was tested against the Caproni Ca.165 biplane fighter, and was judged to be superior, although the Ca.165 was a more modern design which boasted a higher speed at the cost of maneuverability. Although the age of the biplane was coming to an end a number of other air forces expressed interest in the new fighter, and a number of early Falcos were delivered to foreign customers.


Soon after its combat introduction, Fiat developed a number of variants. The CR.42bis and CR.42ter had increased firepower, the CR.42N was a night fighter, the CR.42AS was optimised for ground attack, and the CR.42B Biposto was a two-seat trainer.

The Biposto was the most extensively modified, with a longer fuselage allowing a second seat to be placed in tandem. About 40 aircraft were produced by Agusta and Caproni Trento. Its length was increased by 68 centimeters over the standard fighter, to a total of to 8.94 m; the height was 23 centimeters less. Empty weight was only 40 kg more, as the wheel fairings had been removed. Overall weight was 2,300 kg. Top speed was 430 km/h at 5,300 meters, only 8 km/h less. Up to 1945, two machine guns were fitted.

Experimental configurations included the I.CR.42 (Idrovolante= seaplane) and the CR.42DB. Beginning in 1938, Fiat had worked on the I.CR.42, then gave the task to complete the project to CMASA factory in Marina di Pisa on the Tirreno sea coast. The only prototype was built in 1940. Tests started at the beginning of 1941, at the Vigna di Valle base, on Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. Top speed was 423 km/h, range was 950 km while ceiling was reduced to 9,000 m. Empty weight went from 1,720 to 1,850 kg, full weight from 2,295 to 2,425 kg.

The CR.42DB was an attempt to improve the type's performance by installing a Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 engine of 753 kW (1,010 hp).[9] This prototype, MM 469), was flown by test pilot Valentino Cus in March 1941, over Guidonia Montecelio, near Rome. This variant could reach a top speed of 518 km/h (323 mph), with a maximum ceiling of 10,600 m and a range of 1,250 km. The project was cancelled as the biplane configuration did not offer any advantages over contemporary monoplane fighter designs. Although it never went into production, to this day the variant has the distinction of being the fastest biplane ever flown.

It is still not certain how many CR.42s were built. The most likely estimate is 1,819 in total, including the 63 (51 according to some sources) produced under Luftwaffe control and the 140 produced for export.

IN FLAMES OF WAR

The CR.42 Falco is available in both early and mid war. It is armed with MGs (which hit on a 3+ , have AT 5, and firepower 5+) and bombs (which hit on a 4+, have AT 5, and firepower 2+).

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