[Sangin] Radio Dishdash Taliban minis

My aggressor forces have been sadly lacking for some time. I recently however got these three 'leftovers' from Pooch. These are by Radio Dishdash and are very cool sculpts by Ebob, the same sculpter who has done their excellent modern ANZACs. Like those minis his experience really shows with excellent scale and proportion. Perhaps more important is the sense of action in the poses, even the walking sculpts have a very good animated look to them.
The details are great as well, with appropriate clothing, weaponry, and accessories.;-)
The costumes are the usual mix of shalwar kameez, woolen vests, sandals, turbans, beards and light weaponry!

With an armored tactical vest underneath his woolen vest.

He is usually going to be the boss. Need to finish the base as well.

The PKM is always around as well.

I have repainted this turban, don't worry folks! Got it, basing required...

This is what I am talking about. Action shot!

He will be a tactical leader type, just look at that pose! Great sculpt!
They have ten different models so far and I will be getting more.

First batch is done, working on the second.

Note black boots and lighter mattock handle were both corrected.

[Sangin] BMNT (Beginning of Morning Nautical Twilight) Local Raid of Opportunity

So Simon and I hadn't played Sangin in a bit so we decided to have a go. First off he showed off some really cool new Empress minis he has for his Bad Guy (tm) pile. Russian 'Green Men' as well as generic Central Asian baddies. Of course some of these could substitute for various Special Forces or Allies or whatever. Your definition of baddie may vary as well.;-)

I showed off Despatches 2.

We had a quick bash up in my garage with my limited terrain, but I think we have reasonable cover and terrain options etc. I am working on more.;-)

We each had 650 points or so with Simon defending and leaving half off table to arrive in a hilux within a couple turns of shooting starting.

I was arriving and placed within 6" of our ride the Afghan National Army Commando, Ford Ranger. We had to assault the compound. 80

Pre-dawn Predator surveillance indicates that Taliban aligned fighters are present.

US SOF mentored Afghan National Army Commandos debus in the neighborhood.

Immediately the government Ranger is spotted, then the ANA left flank security comes under fire!

Simon immediately spotted my single ANA left flank security and started popping off at him.

Being pipped right out of the bag isn't surprising so they go to work.

Everyone else started moving into position quickly. PKM and RPG to the roof for base of fire and left flank support. US SOF moving up towards the right. ANA NCO consolidating with his soldier on the left.

Left flank secure, base of fire onto the roof, pop smoke and rush...Go, Go. Go!

Once the SOF troopies are on position smoke goes over the hedge to cover their movement since firing is already going on.

Realising the size of the attack, the guard pulls back to the gate.

I think it was around now that Simon thought I was going to bore him to death with all my creeping around outside of LOS (line of sight).

ANA support weapons covering the objective as well as the left flank from the roof.

There was a lot of happy jawing going on as well, not noticing the time slip away...

USSOF working up the right flank. They know there is someone covering it but can't spot him!

Their PKM gunner on our right gets up to move to a better position and gets spotted by our PKM gunner on the roof. One long burst later and he's not getting up. Our ANA roof overwatchers continue their vigil.

ANA NCO and his driver won't be shown up by fancy pants Yanks! 

My ANA NCO was actually a Veteran as well as an NCO. Of course he was quite keen! His rifleman dutifully followed his impetuous charge.

A very surprised flank guard staring death in the face!

The tactic is the much vaunted technique attributed to the USMC, "Hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle!" Historians know that in fact it is from the British Great War Playbook.

Sometimes a well timed charge works...

Fun game Simon. When your reinforcements show up they will introduce a real headache. Too bad we couldn't finish. Next time!
Huzzah bro!

Scratch-built Shipping Containers, 28mm or 1/48

So I decided that I needed more modern like terrain a while ago and I had an idea to make some shipping containers. I put it off several times, thinking 'aren't there some cheap ones floating around somewhere?', and ' how much time 'til this essay is due?!'.
Ahem, then the other night I had it visualised and decided to strike while the iron was hot. lol

Quick dimensions... IRL 2.59m x 2.44m x 6.1m for a 20' 'standard' container, (12.2m L for a 40' obviously) Those translate to 5.4cm x 5.1cm x 25.4cm for a 40' 'standard container', (which makes a 40' container pretty big on a 1200mm square tabletop!) So I made two 20 footers, (12.7cm long for a 20'), rationalising that they had a better chance making it to remote areas of Central Asia in any case.;-)

I would also like to add that there have been several attempts to change the standard container size and there are some regional ones as well with slight variation, but this shape has been in use for decades and will be for some time as there are millions in circulation! (No fellow CHCH peeps, they are not all here. Just all of the traffic cones are here...)

Using thick cardboard or foamcore cut the floor and reinforcing for the walls

Roof is cardstock and the walls are stripped cardboard

The second ready to go

Glueing with PVA and weights to add strength to the bond

More of the same

Added cardstock front and split back for the doors

Just need to add locking bars and other details. One red primer the other blue primer, both with random shipping logos. This is intended to make them usable for near future Scifif as well.
The scale looks good. My converson was based on 1/48 if anyone cares. Most of my models for 28mm are 1/48 and look pretty good for wargaming purposes.

Would love suggested corporate logos to use! One might have to be Blue Sun...

50,000 Page Views and the Arid Tabletop

Had a test layout while resting my brain this morning. Wanted to see how it all shapes up.
Not too shabby for quickie gaming potential.
Could use a couple gates, and a bend or two for the road as well as the stream.

ANA patrol heading for a ford on the way home

Trigger-man's eye view

From the mountainside where the civvies are hiding

Gotta make it to the ford.

Next WIP are some scratch-built shipping containers...

[Sangin] Interdiction in a 'stan.

A small group of terrorists had been traced to beyond the northern border of Afghanistan. A raid was crafted to decapitate their organization before they could cross the border.

Andy and I got together last Friday night for a game of Sangin. He had decided to break out a bunch of different terrain and we decided that it was some historic place in an obscure country.
We decided on 1500 points, enough for lots of toys and troopies.
That got him over a dozen terrs and a couple IED's.
I got a half dozen Marine Recon Veterans with an Elite Corpsman, a Dumvee, an ATV an off table Scout/Sniper team and a CASEVAC CH-46.

Surveillance drones had followed this truck

The plates were confirmed as belonging to "****"

One of his 'snipers'.

The boss and some of his buddies await their reinforcements

It's just after BMNT, or before dawn if you prefer.

The vehicles are screening themselves behind a stand of trees

Shots ring out and one of the team is critically wounded already.

The Corpsman moves to provide critical life saving aid while the Dumvee moves to cover them.

While this is happening the dumvee makes it's FO roll to call a Scout/Sniper team

One shot, one kill.

The boss and his buddies keep up the fire hitting the recon team leader.

The boss is shot but another 'sniper' as well as another terr are in good cover

We got a 40mm grenade in there finally!

Pushing up the left for security.

Seriously considering career opportunities.

Fun game! I think Andy mistakenly felt sorry for me and didn't bring on his reinforcements immediately.
His IED's were on the other side of the table waiting for the helicopter to land! Evil.
Due to the immeditate casualty we just left after the initial contact.
We used dawn, some vehicle rules, off table snipers, IED's (never got used) as well as aircraft (that also never got used). We both have our 1500 point listst drawn up now so we'll be able to play more next time.

[Sangin] Happy Bloody Birthday Simon!

Had a great couple games and a massive chin wag with my mate on his birthday. What a better way to celebrate than exchanging gunfire over pints?

LCpl Badass runs forward to the compound solo

On overwatch, pretending not to notice the Taliban

A missed RPG hit where that red die is. It obliterated the two men closest to it and injured the NCO as well. What!

Muj RPG gunnery instructor wipes out half the patrol

Others rush forward to celebrate the success

Sole survivor

All right that was a lucky shot lets try this again.

In proper defensive positions, spread out...

This time I got the lucky first shot. Killing his RPG gunner and the guy next to him and the other two members of his fire team. What!

Dice are bizarre sometimes...

Anyway, I've started modelling my ANA Commandos and biker. Simon, your Taliban look great in their ninja scarves. But I'm falling way behind on my posting!
So here you are.

[Sangin] Presents in the mail!

Pooch and the guys at Radio Dish Dash have got me these minis to build up my Afghan National Police  / Afghan Commando forces.
They are the awesome Eureka minis. Two packs of ANP's, some of which I will convert to look  like Commandos. (Except they will still be carrying Soviet bloc weapons.8P)
Anyway they are great sculpts.

Police caps and PKM's

Half are in US kevlar helmets, the other half in the Castro caps. They are all carrying Hungarian AMD-65's with RPG7's and PKM's for support. The Afghan Army and especially the Commandos carry US weapons primarily.

Kevlars and Hungarian AK's

 Also Pooch hooked me up with this! A Maisto Ford Ranger which I will turn into a Police truck. (Like the Dead Kennedy's song.;-) If you need vehicles for your modern games, zombies whatever, check these guys out. Maisto.com they do a line in 1/47. And tell me where you find them!

ANP Ford Ranger

 Lastly another guy for my MARSOC unit, on an enduro bike. Yeehaw! Great model.

MARSOC outrider

I might have to get more bikers...