Skirmish Campaigns France 40 Withdrawal to Dunkirk

Ok so it has been a long time since I last posted anything but I have not been idle.  My brother is still working on his Polish Army which has been enlarged to include Calvary.  The Germans have been completed but don’t have an opponent as of yet.  With the recent sale of a large collection of 20mm minis that were just laying around looking for a new home, I had money to spend.  I have always been interested in gaming the 1940 campaign in the West in 28mm and with the varied early war British tanks available from Warlord Games, I could not resist. 

Before I dropped any money, I wanted to find a scenario book to provide a framework for building my BEF Army.  I picked up a copy of Skirmish Campaigns book covering the Dunkirk.  For those that are not familiar, I must say, that each of the skirmish campaigns books I have had an opportunity to look at or own are great, and this one is no exception. 

Part of the France 1940 series, this book comes with 12 scenarios organized into 5 campaigns.  The objective of each of the campaigns is to buy time, the more the better, buying more time for the Allied Armies to evacuate the continent.  The victory conditions for most of the scenarios are constructed in this way.  The allied armies add time for achieving victory in the scenario and lose it by failing.    

The first campaign pits the Germans against the Belgians.  The second campaign covers the encounter battles between the 3^rd Royal Tank Regiment and the 1^st Panzer Division in and around Calais.  The scenarios of the 3 RTR campaign feature relatively large numbers of tanks on both sides, so since I’m building 28mm BEF, these will have to wait.  The fourth campaign covers the French and also features large numbers of Tanks, so difficult as well in 28mm.

The scenarios in the Ypres Canal Campaign, which is the 3rd Campaign, as well as the Western Line (5th and final) are more attainable in 28mm so I will focus on these for now. 

 

The scenarios in these 2 campaigns have some unusual minis that also made them appealing.  The scenarios “Get your men out” and Fighting Withdrawal” both require stretcher-bearer teams as one of the British victory conditions is that they evacuate all the wounded BEF troops from a church while defending the perimeter against the German assault.  The other unusual requirement is for British and French motorcycle dispatch riders in the variable attachments in the Western Line campaign.  I settled on Black Tree Design British stretcher teams, which with the recent sale I was able to pick up for less than $10.  The motorcycles I found were made by 1^st Corps in their WW1 range of 28mm. 

More German Troops

Busy week, got several more models finished.  Started out with completing the 75mm Infantry Gun with 3 crewmen.  The gun and crew are all Black Tree Design 28mm.  Each model including the gun are mounted on metal bases for safe transportation.

Nex completed the Black Tree Design 28mm MG34 in the Heavy Machine Gun role.  Again the model is mounted on a rather large metal fender washer. 

The last model was the Tamiya 1/48 Scale Panzer IIA/B/C.  I chose to build the B model and added a Bolt Action 28mm Early War Panzer crewman from Warlord Games.  This model was a joy to build, going together in approximately an hour.  I was initially somewhat hesitant to get this model as I hate assembling the individual track links but was plesantly surprised.  The tracks were so easy that even I could do it with little problem.  To complete the model I added a few spare stowage parts laying around in my extras box. 

This model also compares nicely with the diecast Panzer 38T and scales nicely with the Black Tree Design Germans.

Overall, the German Army is coming together.  I have a few more figures to paint, a couple of Panzer 38Ts to repaint and a PAK 36/37 then they will be ready to battle my brothers Polish Army.

Second Squad

Just finished the Second Squad and got started on the 3rd.  All are 28mm Black Tree Design Early WW2 German Infantry.  These came out fairly nice especially considering how little I paid for them. 

I also finished up the Company B models Sdkfz 221.  Added a Bolt Action Early War tank commander from Warlord Games.  These are very nice models and as you can see, match nicely with the Black Tree Infantry as well as the 1/48 scale Diecast Panzer 38T.

 

Also added a few more decals to the Panzer 38T as well did a little dry brushing to add more detail to the model.

 

Will complete the rest of the Regular Army Infantry, finish up the 75mm Infantry Gun then will start on the Waffen SS.

The 1st Squad

     My brother and I have decided to switch sides, he will build the Polish Army and I the Germans.  Neither of us has built these armies so should be fun.

       Since I’m building the Germans, figured that I needed to get a jump on my brother.  He has always been the considerably better builder and painter as well as being much faster than me.   I decided to build a Squad at a time, with a vehicle in between each.   I completed the first of each last week but am just now getting a chance to take some pictures and post them.  All are 28mm Black Tree Design and mounted on 25mm metal fender washers. 

     The Panzer 38T came out nice, especially considering it’s a 1/48 scale diecast model .  I removed the tracks, primed and painted it in Model Masters Euro-Grey.  Then went back and repainted the details, washed the whole model in brown acrylic from apple barrel and applied the decals.  The size of the model goes very well with the BTD early war German Infantry.

 

     After finishing prepping the next squad had to make a choice.  Fat Tire or Hefe Weissbier.

 

28mm Polish Army

Just waiting on three more packs of Infantry from Blacktree Design and the first phase my Polish Army will be complete. 

 

 

 

The Blacktree Design Polish figures are very nice.  Crisp details and match well, both heft and height, to the figures produced by Bolt Action Warlord games.  There is a handy painting guide painting guide on the warlord site that I will be using for these.  The figure on the left is a Bolt Action 28mm Polish Anti-Tank Rifle gunner and the one on the right is a Blacktree Design 28mm Polish NCO/Officer from their command pack. 

 

 

 

Thought I would include a couple pictures of the ever popular 1/48th scale diecast Panzer 38(T), by a variety of makers over the years.  This one is the New Millennium Toys copyright 2008 version.  I have seen these for years, on the internet and a few at walmart, but never a comparison to other 28mm scale tanks being produced today.  The tank on the left is the 28mm scale Bolt Action Polish 7TP Light Tank.  As you can see the model compares very nicely, and in my humble opinon, one can hardly notice that one tank is a 28mm or 1/56th scale and the other a 1/48th scale model. 

 

 

 

 

Figure wise, the total force consists of a Platoon Headquarters, 3 squads of Infantry, a Heavy Machine Gun Team, Anti-Tank Rifle Team, a sniper and a 37mm Anti-Tank Gun.  For the vehicles I have 3 of the TKS Machinegun armed tankettes from Blacktree Design, a Warlord games 7TP Light Tank and a truck to tow the ATG from Force of Arms.  I will start getting this force ready for the table in the next week or two and provide detailed reviews of each model. 

Warlord Games 28mm Sdkfz 222 Armored Car

Recently received my latest warlord games order, got a few things in this one all for the 1939 Polish Campaign.  One of the vehicles, the Sdkfz 222, is the subject of this post.  Thought I would do a quick review and comparison to the Company B Sdkfz 221. 

The Sdkfz 222 is a very nice model, crisp detail and very sturdy.  I comes with the gun assembly, turret and the wheels all cast in metal.  The vehicle hull is cast in a single piece of heavy resin that will hold up great on the table. 

You cant see it in the photo but the wheels connect to the hull with a nice slotted base on the back of the assembly.  This makes for a very rugged suspension that will hold up for years of rought handling.  The only complaint I have is that the wheels seem a bit on the smallish side, maybe its just me.  This size difference is really noticeable when compared to the Company B model in the next picture.  Not sure what to do about that, but my brother can worry about it as this is his model.

Here is a quick shot of both vehicle hulls and the wheels of each model.  Also note that the turret of the Company B model comes cast onto the vehicle whereas the Warlord model has a turret that is separate.  I think the detail is much cleaner and sharp in the Company B (also more detail) model but the Warlord model is a much more rugged model. 

Company B 28mm Scale Sdkfz 221 Armored Car

The first vehicle for my Skirmish Campaigns Poland 1939 is the Sdkfz 221.  The booklet requires a total of 3 of these gems and 2 of the Sdkfz 222.  A quick search of the internet for companies producing this vehicle in 1/56^th or 28mm scale revealed a single maker, Company B.

I must say that Company B has made a very nice model and provides first class service.  I placed my order on Tuesday night and received my model on Saturday of the same week.  The details are crisp and well proportioned.  The detail is so good in fact that it looks more like a 1/48 scale plastic model from Tamiya. 

 

I have a couple of quick pictures of the model and will post more after I complete it.