Advent Crown - A Module Suitability Review.

M-2 Bradley from 2-156th Infantry, 256th Infantry Brigade (LANG), 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), in the suburbs of Katowice,  May 12th, 1997 (AP)

It's been a long time since we wrote one of these. Chico of the T2K forum and DC Working Group fame has written something that's been missing from canon for some time. A history of the 1997 NATO offensive into Poland. Operation Advent Crown is available as a free PDF from Chico's website, and it has links to accompanying maps!

In short, it's a great companion to anyone running adventures in the pre-nuclear exchange phase of the war. There's enough detail to clearly follow the action, and the sidebars are informative, and there's a good breakdown of Polish internal forces and how they work (including how the ORMO really fit into the Polish paramilitary structure.)

But, here's the thing, how does this work for miniature gaming fodder? Quite well, especially for larger games like Fistful of Tows and Command Decision. This document is chock full of ideas and scenario fodder.

Some of the ideas I can pick out are:

Smaller Games:

• Urban fighting in Opole and Czestochowa against determined defenders, especially the Polish airborne in Czestochowa (see Black Madonna for further details on Czestochowa).
• The "shadow war" between special operations units and MPs/rear area protection units in both sides rear areas (this especially lends itself well to Force on Force and Black Ops).
• The bitter fighting of the Battle of Sulechow between the Soviet 35th Airborne Brigade and the US 36th Infantry Division (this is bitter fighting between US National Guardsmen in their first engagement and Soviet desantniki who have nothing to lose).
• Linked scenarios of the fight of 17th Jager Bn, 1st Panzer Division to cut off the Hel Peninsula vs. a force of OTK, NJW, and Polish Navy. Jagers will eventually be reinforced by US 6th MEB. 
• Raid by US 4th Ranger Btn and German 25th, 26th, and 27th FJ Brigades against Soviet rear.
• US XI Corps elements versus Polish scratch forces in the Carpathians.

Larger Games:

• The breakthrough at Wroclaw (Soviet 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division and Polish 2nd Mechanized Division versus US 11th ACR and German 27th FJ Brigade).
• The amphibious landing at Kolobrzeg (Danish Jutland Division, plus elements of British and US Marines vs. elements of 22nd Soviet Army).
• Battle of Poznan (Officer Cadets, OTK, WOW, ORMO, ZOMO, Polish Army support elements, along with remnants of 9th Mechanized Division versus VI German Corps).
• Battle of Tuchol Forest (US 2nd AD holding off counterattack by Polish 4th Army, being reinforced by Soviet 20th TD. Americans are reinforced by counterattack from US 3rd ACR).
• Lodz Breakout (WOW Brigade, TF of Polish 11th AD, Polish 9th Border Guards Brigade, scratch force of OTK, ORMO, and stragglers vs. US V Corps consisting of 8th ID (M), 1st AD, 1st Canadian Division and 11th ACR). 
• Warsaw  Counterattack by Soviet 11th Guards Army vs. PzGruppe Westhaven (specifically 217th Pzgdr Brigade with heavy NATO air and artillery support)
• Rearguard action by 49th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment versus German VI Corps near the Wisla.
• 116th ACRs crossing of the Wisla vs. Soviet 3rd GMRD.
• US XI Corps vs. Polish 2nd and 3rd Army on the outskirts of Warsaw.
• Soviet 4th Guards Tank Army counterattacks against German 1st Gerbigsjager Division, later 3rd Panzer Division, 240th FJ Brigade, and Danish Jutland Division east of Warsaw.
• German III Corps versus the defenders of Gydnia and Gdansk.
• US VII Corps versus Soviet 1st Shock Army near the Soviet border.

A Submission of One Reader's Army in 20mm!

US Forces in Poland
by Jorge Del Rio
An article for 500 Miles to the German Border

This article is solely an overview of the Forces that our group has met or will meet in their attempt to leave Poland.

The troops are mostly members of the NATO Allies that were fighting in the area in June of 2000. 

The primary members are small groups of troops from the 4-12 Cavalry, which was 5th IDs Divisional Cavalry Squadron, the 1-11th Infantry and 3-11th Infantry. The 5th ID was destroyed recently near Kalisz, however multiple small groups of troopers are scattered everywhere. Several groups ended up south of Kalisz in hiding where the Command Group encounters the commander of the local Polish Home Army.

The Command Group
The Command Group is what I call the primary group of explorers; they are not exempt from getting killed especially if they suck at rolling their dice. Most of us have several player characters in the game at the same time.

The Battalion Commander Major Jeremy Rivers is the former Squadron Operation Officer for the 4th/12th Cav, he has a 4 member team with him in his M1165A1 command HMMWV, the team is composed of Elhiem and Hotspur miniatures and one of the many HMMWVs that I have from Ken Overby.

Sergeant Major Steve Webber’s team – Sergeant Major Webber was my former partner and he was a 30 year veteran, who was whip smart and has sharp wit, his team is specialized, he has 9 other troopers, including 4 Air Force Special Tactics, Special Weather and JTAC personnel as well as a K9 Named Wolf, the other members of the team are 5 Covert Action Group operators one of which is his XO and wife using 2 M1114 armored HMMWV, they are a command level group that is also a Direct Action team.

The Squadron Command Section – in 2 M1165A1 command control communication vehicles they were giving a briefing to the Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon, which was part of the Corps Long Range Reconnaissance Company. The Captain in the operation cell is the 4-12th Squadron’s Intelligence Officer and 2 of his people round up the 10 personnel in this section of troops. In addition there are 10 Military Policemen that are the security element for the headquarters in 2 M1098 Hummvs with .50 cal HMG.

The Command Group, Picture by Author

The Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Travis Kaminsky and Lieutenant Ryan Christopher USN, the platoon was 40 personnel in strength until they were ambushed and lost 15 personnel, now 25 strong they have Polish GROM and PsK Marines as part of the platoon. They have 1 M1165A1, 1 M1114, 4 M1025/1028 and 2 M35A2 2.5 ton trucks, 1 of them, an Armored truck with 4 .50 caliber Machine Guns and 2 81mm Mortars, the other carrying all the heavy supplies of the platoon include half of the ammunition for their weapons, the vehicles Hummvs from Ken Overby and the Academy 2.5 ton trucks all the miniatures are from Elhiem Figures. The platoon also has 3 sniper teams. This Platoon and 3rd Platoon of Team Alpha became Team Bravo, 1-11th Infantry.

Team Alpha, 1-11th Infantry

The 1-11th Infantry Regiment, was organized into 2 infantry companies and a heavy Mechanized Infantry Combat Team, comprised of the battalion's remaining armor.

This Company was found south of Olesnica in the town of Nieciszow. The Company has 18 HMMWV (M1025/1028/ 1165 and M998 weapons carriers all from Ken Overby), 88 troopers most of these Elhiem Figures.

After meeting the Headquarters elements and RSTA platoon the decision was made by the Commander to take 3rd Platoon and attached it to the RSTA and reorganized as Team Bravo, 1- 11th Infantry, both companies and the Headquarters elements are currently in the vicinity of Prosna Creek, south west of Chotow, Poland.

Team Bravo, Picture by Author

Team Bravo 1-11th Infantry

This company is made up of 3rd Platoon from A Company 1/11th Inf and the Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon combined to form a Company to give the group some depth on the ground like D Troop they have 8 M1025 Hummvs with 4 carrying TOW II Launchers, a Command Section of 1 M1165 and 1 M1114 Armored Hummv, and 1 M35 A2 Gun Truck. The reorganization of the 1-11th Infantry came about after meeting with the Polish Home Army Commander in Slawin, Poland.

4/12 Cav, Picture by Author

C Troop, 4-12th Cavalry 

The troop was part of the security screen for  5th Division. The troop was almost wiped out if not for the prudent and analytical mind of a young platoon leader. Realizng the platoon was cut off and had been bypassed, the unit hid in a nearby wood and played dead for hours. Once darkness fell, they repaired their vehicles and  quietly slipped south to a wood area at a road intersection south east of the town of Slawin, Poland. The Troop consists of 24 Elhiem Figures, 4 M3A2 (Trumpeter) and 2 M1A1 (Trumpeter) and 2 M987A4 Fuel Tankers. This unit was merged with Combat Team Crowe to reinforce the Combat team

“Combat Team Crowe” 1-11th Infantry
“Combat Team Crowe” C Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry- consists of the battalion’s Heavy Company with 10 M2A2 Bradleys and 4 M1A1 Abrams. The battalion was heavily engaged in Kalisz and attempted to withdraw, but were overrun and destroyed piecemeal. The only survivors are the Command Element, in 2 M2A2 Bradley 12 personnel, 1st platoon with 4 M2A2 and 24 personnel, and 3 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks from the Company Armor Platoon. All the Vehicles are Trumpeter and the figures are a mix of Elhiem, and Combat series, with a pack of the original Twilight: 2000 US infantry figures.

Combat Team Dawes, Picture by Author

Combat Team Dawes, 3-11th Infantry
On the night of the 18th of July, while hiding in the woods north of the town of Chotow, Poland, what is left of L Company of the 3nd Battalion, 11th Infantry in 6 M113A1, 2 M901, 2 M106A1 and 1 M1A1 with a Mine plow joined C Company to give nearly full strength. Fuel and Ammo had been a major issue as the team was fighting and running they have made it to a dude ranch in the Polish Resort town of Slawin. The M113A1 are armed with twin Machine gunners, each of them also has a M2. 50 Cal gun team and 6 Riflemen for a total of 11 personnel, which would be deployed to form the perimeter defense for whatever base they form. The M106A1 have a 81mm Mortar team as well, as the crew members for the 120mm mortars with 7 crewmen for the 2 mortars. The M901 each have 2 Javelin teams with 3 Riflemen as support for a total of 7 personnel per carrier. This team’s strength was 84 personnel.

All the Vehicles are Trumpeter and the figures are a mix of Elhiem, and Combat series, with a pack of the original Twilight 2000 US infantry figures.

The 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry S3 Operations Officer and the crew of his HMMWV had joined the 3rd/11th Platoon once they joined up with the other groups in the town of Olobok, they merged into the Squadron HQ

SF Teams, picture by Author

Special Force Operational Detachment Alpha A311

US Army SF ODA A311 were members of the 3rd Battalion 20th Special Forces Group, team of operators was working deep in the Polish countryside alongside a Polish Special Operation Unit GROM Group using Soviet captured vehicles, and US Army ¼ ton trailers, with a M1077 truck with a 500 Gallon fuel bladder for their supplies.

The SF team had the mission to locate the SS-25s that were in the field, finding it they notified their C detachment which started the chain of events leading to the Death of the 5th Infantry Division, the team in their hides were able to pin point the attack that was under way, they reported it up the chain, only to be ignored.  

The team and their GROM Counterparts are currently just west of the village of Slawin, Poland in a truck repair yard, repairing their M1077 which had a broken axle.

Task Unit “Ardent SARCAP”, Intelligence Support Agency
The Intelligence Support Agency was created in 1981, in the aftermath of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, under the US Army Intelligence and Security Command. The team is composed of 20 troopers they are using Polish Civilian vehicles and a couple of Russian Jeeps. This team was broken down into 4 sections command/support, HUMMIT, SIGNIT and a Direction Action team of 8 shooters which ,were to protect the other personnel.

Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Grade Mariana Davalos, a sultry Polish-American Blonde oversaw the HUMINT team, with 3 others, all dressed like peasant workers, they would travel around on horseback most of the time. They were in the St Laurent Catholic Church meeting with a contact from the Polish Home Army, when the 5th Division was destroyed to their north, the team remained in place trying to determined what happened to US troops. 

The rest of the Ardent SARCAP team had set up operations headquarters alongside a team from the 30th Royal Marines Commando S Commando Company, SIGINT in an abandoned ranch southwest of Olobok, Poland.

SBS Boat, Picture by Author

SBS Boat, Picture by Author

45th Commando, Picture by Author

W Company, 45th Royal Marines Commando

W Co. 45th Royal Marines Commando, is a 2 teams of British Royal Marines force, the first team is a Special Warfare Intelligence Team, 17 Royal Marines, belonging to 30th Royal Marines Commando, the intelligence and general support commando., in my little world they are a SIGNIT, signal intercept team, and intelligence operators, commanded by Captain Danielle Start, a character that is the combination of two of my coworkers, yes both blonde and both very British, the team has 3 Land Rovers with ¼ ton trailers, or travel on horseback when they split up into smaller teams. This team ends up working with the Command Group. All the figures are Elhiem figures, as are the 4 Quad Runners; the 3 Land Rovers 110 are Airfix models

W Company 45th Commando Royal Marines were part of the NATO Mobile Force Brigade GCE (Ground Combat Element), in the Baltic, W Company was tasked to provide security for the SOE resupply base at GK Driveline 17 to which they provided a reinforced platoon which served together with the local Home Army Battalion that help control the city of Olesnica.

The company other 2 platoons of Marines in what are known as Close Combat Troops, and a Weapons Troop (platoon) with 3 L16A1 81 mm mortars and 4 GPMG on tripods, were sent to Poland to assist with the Offensive, and find a missing SS-25 missile Launcher and a S-300 Battery that was protecting the SS-25.

The Company was being airlifted via 9 HC-1 Special Operations Helicopters from Royal Air Force 34th Special Operation Aviation Squadron, when 4 were shot down. This nearly half of the unit on the ground at the GK Driveline 17 plant in Olesnica, Poland. Where they have a large Factory like building in which they are hiding the 2 HC1 Chinook that remain operational, and the senior Marine on the Ground is the 1st   Lieutenant in charge of the 1st Platoon, the 2nd Platoon and parts of the weapons troop. The decision was made to leave the GK Driveline Plant and take all the personnel on the 2 operation HC1 to a location north near Gdansk, Poland, where the Royal Marines would meet with Polish Special Forces Unit Formosa and set up operations. 

Command of W Company will be turned over to the newly promoted Major Danielle Start, RM when she rejoins the company, currently she remains south at the compound that her section is sharing with the American Special Operations Intelligence Unit, Ardent Sarcap.

I am trying to find BV202 for their standard transports, I will probably get 3 or 4 one for each troop to carry their supplies, and the Land Rovers going to the weapons troop to transport the mortars and the ammo.

The US Air Force 752nd Special Operation Group
This group is based in the United Kingdom, and provides Special Operation Aviation Support in the European Theater; they have MC130, MV22, MH60H, and MH53G aircraft as well as the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, with the conflict going as long as it has some of the operators had been attached to various units in the conflict, the members of this unit must have been service members in another Special Operation unit prior to entering the Air Force Special Tactics community (that was a requisite in 1998, since 2001 it has changed with the higher operations tempo) So I have scattered throughout my units Combat Controllers (CT), Para Rescue men (PJ), JTAC Operators and others. Most the personnel will be seen with elements of W Company Royal Marines and Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 311.  These miniatures are Elhiem Figures.

 
In my current adventure, the possibility of coming across a resupply by the Air Force 752 Group or the Royal Air Force 34th Special Operation Squadron which also operates the MH 47G.in the form of 2 MH47G or the single MV22 Osprey which remains operational.

The US Air Force 321st Special Tactics Squadron (STS)
This squadron, combined with the unit’s sister airborne units in the 752nd Special Operations Group allowed the group to be capable of handling situations within a 4300-km range of RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom or further with fuel stops and make up the special operations forces element of the United States Air Forces in Europe, their specialized training and support structure make them a very versatile unit.

The 321st STS provides a quick reaction, rapidly deploy-able force to establish and provide air to ground control during special operations or conventional missions. Its combat controllers and Pararescuemen conduct the reconnaissance, surveillance, assessment and creation of assault zones sites and provide air traffic control and long range secure command and control missions.
Currently deployed in the field in 4 member teams, there are 4 teams from the 321st STS on the ground, 1 of these teams is with Command Sergeant Major Webber’s team. The other 3 teams are scattered in the area south west of Olobok, where they have been coordinating air drops for the Polish Home Army.

 
2nd Platoon, Regimental Reconnaissance Company, US 75th Ranger Infantry Regiment
The Ranger Reconnaissance Company is a deep strike reconnaissance force, basically the most badass of all the Ranger bad asses. They operate behind enemy lines usually in small teams capable of gathering intelligence, conducting surveillances and conducting surgical strikes that require absolute finesse. 

The platoon has 24 members divided into 4 small 6 member teams with 1 acting as a headquarters, they have 1 M1028 Hummv and 3 M984, 5 ton trucks that they use to keep all their worldly possessions, the team was assigned to link up with W Co, 45th Royal Marine Commando and become its 3rd platoon. Currently operating in Poland at large, no known location for the teams, all the teams were ordered to withdraw on foot back to their home base which is north of the city of Olawa, Poland. 

Polish Special Operation Unit Formosa, 3rd Platoon, Seal Team 4
The Polish Special Operations Community was always very close with the Western Military units, Formosa was no different, working with the US Navy Seals and Riverine Warfare units and British Special Boat Squadron.  

When the war broke out Formosa, did its job conducting patrols in the Baltic and protecting Polish interests, when the war got closer the unit’s interest remained pro west, when the US 2nd Marine Division came to Gdansk all that change with the unit openly allying itself with the NATO forces and 3rd Platoon Seal Team 4 which was part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces. 

Formosa moved its headquarters away from the Port of Gdansk and into the town of Swibno, Poland at the mouth of the Vistula River. 3rd Platoon Seal Team 4 remained behind when the 2nd Marine Division began there push towards the German Border along the coastline. With them stayed 2 MH60L, 1 SH60F, and 3 MH6F and additional crew members they have set up an airbase of sorts near the port, the helicopters extremely well hidden to avoid detection. Currently their strength is 123 personnel, 47 of those are US Navy personnel. In addition to the helicopters, unit Formosa has 3 CPB90, 6 Seal MK V Boats, and 7 Rigid Raider Boats. 

Where are, we going to go…?
The heroes of our games are engaged in a lot of cloak and dagger,
1) Destroy an SS-25 missile, which does not work and the supporting forces, they are going to be operating in the area south of Olawa, Poland.
2) Where they will encounter the Polish People’s Army in larger encounters as they try to accomplish their own missions in support of their Soviet Masters.
3) Assist the Royal Marines Captain in making it to the Baltic Coast, where her command is awaiting her arrival.
4) Air base 39, an abandoned Warsaw Pact Air base in Olesnica, Poland poses an interesting number of scenarios that I have yet to explore.
5) Move north towards the Polish Home Army’s area of control, which is west of Warsaw to the Baltic Coast.

Short News Post

Hey all,

 I wanted to let everyone know "500 Miles.." is far from dead. I've just had a lot going on RL wise. Nothing bad, all good, just very, very, busy. We have a lot coming up in the pipeline, and I wanted to let folks know what to expect, as well as get a blog post out for the month!

 So, without further ado, here is what's coming up:

•  Reviews of some new figures from Ehliem of specific interest to the Twilight: 2000 miniatures gamer.
• A new Module Suitability Review of an article on Advent Crown, the NATO offensive in Poland in 1997.
• A review of the new Colors of War Book by Battlefront.
• My upcoming trip to Historicon!

I think that's enough on my end. TTFN all and happy gaming!

Diecast Car Conversion for 20mm or 1/72 Scale Wargaming

Here is another contribution from our resident modeling talent, Evil Von Scary!

Welcome gentle reader to another post from "It's 500 Miles to the German border". 

I started modifying die-cast and cheap dollar store plastic toys as stand ins for my own Twilight: 2000 campaign. We use 1/72 (20mm) models, terrain and figures sometimes to resolve combats in the rpg as a sort of rpg/table top hybrid.

Some 1/72 is either difficult to get or next to impossible or if available cost prohibitive. Die-cast is very cheap. I found out about a game called "Gaslands" that uses die-cast cars modified to look post Apocalypse in a sort of death race game versus other vehicles. I won't get into that game in this article but I do recommend that readers look into it to see if it offers anything that might be of use to your own campaigns or war-games.

I learned from a local hobby shop in discussion about using diecast is that they call it "box scale" in comparison to other model scales. Meaning being that it is whatever fits into the box. Most peg die-cast (hotwheels, maisto, etc) as being 1/64 ish scale. So I usually carry a 1/72 figure around for when I happen to look through die casts to get one that's about the right size. I will have links throughout the article to highlight or go into greater detail various aspects.

Todays project is a Hotwheels 1970 Roadrunner. 

Disassembly: drill out posts and pry it apart, lay out parts left to right.

Be sure to take pictures (especially if doing multiple vehicles), so you remember what parts go where.

Next, strip the paint from main body: I used pine-sol in a lock-tight container and dropped parts into it. I was trying to find a more "enviro" way of stripping paint. It worked but took the better part of a week to erode the paint enough.

Modifying: I made use of various parts from my parts box. I've also seen online (from Gaslands Hobbyists) people using jewelers saws, etc. to chop out parts of the die cast body. (As always, please take your time and be careful).

For this car, I added a driver, mesh for front windscreen, created extra fenders, back window armor, and added .30cal MG and pintel mount as well as some "bolt on armor" made from polystyrene and drilled (for the bolts). I then used some rigged rebar for protecting the headlights, etc.

Painting:   Where to start on the subject of painting? I have found trial and error and/or whatever works well for you is best. 

I started this project with standard flat black primer then did a dry brush white to highlight details. Then I began to think about rust, weathering and what was this cars original paint job. Most of the car and its metal parts should be rusty and NOT the same color as the cars original paint. I rusted and weather the car then splashed/blotted/dry brushed on a lighter shade of "original color" then "re-rusted" and weathered the model. 

I then went back and added ink for highlights and then finally used the original color, dry brushing ir on mostly with a few thicker strokes to give the impression of rust from underneath the paint.  I then painted the interior and the driver.

Reassembly:  I then put the model together again without the windows. It all pretty well snapped together without much trouble and voila!! I will say that looks a little more bad assed than the sissy paint job from Hot-Wheels, lol.

I hope you enjoyed the article and pics and that it inspires you to try it out for yourself. Thanks for tuning in. - Evil von Scary

The completed model-various angles

News All Around, and a Question to the Readership?

Well, there's much to discuss. First, the Battlefront Team Yankee line is just going strong as usual, and what I am seeing is interesting, namely, Oil War!

Taken from Battlefront Website

It's not just the book which is interesting, it's the product line. Not only do we get Israelis, Iranians, Iraqis, and a host of other stuff (US 9th Division everyone!) but we're getting M1A1's finally! So yes, 15mm players rejoice, no more scratchbuilding required.  We'll stay on this news but I have attached Episode 38 of "No Dice, No Glory" for further details on this release. Thanks to contributor and reader Jorge Del Rio for this big heads up!

Now, let's discuss the big news for the Twilight: 2000 fans in the room. Marc Miller has told us that a V4 is being worked on and a formal announcement about the new version will be made in the fall. 

I am cautiously optimistic regarding a V4. But considering what happened with Twilight: 2013, that caution is akin to Charlie Brown seeing Lucy with that damn football again! 

So here's what I am going to say to Mr. Miller. Please, you have hard core fans who love that game enough to write about it, blog about it and just plain spend their time with it 35 years on! Give it the treatment (and especially the timeline) it deserves. Ask us! Many of us have spilled so many electrons for this game, we'd be willing to do more. And most of us would probably do it for little if any remuneration other than our name in a book or two. 

I know this might very well fall on deaf ears, but it's worth making an appeal. We'd certainly like the old girl given the justice she deserves.

We'll keep you posted, gang!

Had a productive weekend!

I've been painting this mess of Soviet vehicles for a long, long time. And well, I finally finished them. Lord knows, it took a while. I used a method I found on the old Guild website, that I've slightly modified, but it works well and gives the vehicles a nice "worn" look.

As soon as I find a copy of the method, I will post it here, but I wanted to show off the vehicles in their glory. Lemme know what you think gang!

Overall, am I as good a modeler as some of what I've seen on the net, nope. But am I happy? Yep.

3 Butler Printer Models T-64s. they're fairly rough on the detail and l/76th as opposed to 1/72. But I do look them for what they are, decent looking Russian tanks. 

2 S-Model BMD-2. I liked the ease of construction. Didn't like the fragility of some of the parts, such as the treads, and the brass parts seemed a bit unnecessary. 

The Trumpeter T-55 to me is a great kit. It was a bit unexpected to screw together the halves of the hull, but I liked the kit overall, assembled it in an afternoon! 

3 BMP-2 from Butler's Printed Models. They're 1/76th as opposed to most of my collection being 1/72nd, but they look decent painted up. The detail is rough, as most folks have said, but for a wargaming piece, they're serviceable, and paint up well.

2 Revell T-80s, I built one with no reactive armor and a Liberation Minis crewman in the hatch. He turned out pretty decent, and a Model Collect T-72, which looks awesome. The Model Collect was a joy to put together for such a complicated kit.

A S &S ZSU-23-4. She looks awesome painted up. Yeah, the details can be a bit rough, but I was pretty impressed overall with the ease of the assembly, except for the radar mast. All in all, I was pretty happy with the kit.

A pair of PSC T-55s. Detail was a bit meh, but I liked the options out of the box. They assembled quickly enough and I was darn happy with the kits as a whole.

GPS Survey, Round 3

Hey gang,
 It's nice to have loyal readers, and I do love writing for you guys. It's nice to be part of the Twilight: 2000 blogosphere, with such sites as The Savant's Rants out there. I do like getting the pulse of the readership from time to time, so hence, this GPS Survey!

 I promise, it will be mostly painless.

Or at least less painful than the poor guy on the ground got...

Please answer this thread in the comments, as it will allow me to track answers.

So, here's the questions?

1. Do you think the focus of the blog is too wide, too narrow, or just right?

2. If you answered too wide or too narrow, what can I do to improve that?

3. Any miniatures/rules we're overlooking that we shouldn't?

4. Any other kinds of articles you'd like to see?

5. We're thinking of doing interviews with whomever we can track down from say, GDW or Grenadier or even just prominent modelers/wargamers who have an interest in the milleu. Anyone you think we ought to talk to?

6. Finally, any other articles/ideas YOU'D like to see?

PS: The sci-fi anthology with my short story is now out. Please if you haven't already? Pick up a copy, the other stories are damn good too, and for $2.99, you cannot go wrong! 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1091824290/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kit bash Airfix 1/76 RAF Recovery Set (03305): PART 1

Our kit in it's natural form

Welcome gentle reader to another installment of "It's 500 Miles to the German Border". As our local Twilight:2000 campaign takes place in the US, I've been focusing my model making more to reflect that.

This time around I'll be sharing my (mis)adventures in kit bashing/converting the Airfix 1/76 RAF Recovery Set (03305). This one from what I have read is a reproduction of the 1970s kit (of a WW2 subject).. Now currently, Airfix has let this kit go OOP. I was able to get it pretty cheap considering all of the goodies it came with: The kit has a few figures, as well as 2 motorcycles, 1 crane/truck and a tractor-trailer, plenty of Post-Apocalyptic conversion fodder goodness!

Normally I wouldn't have bought this as its a WW2 kit. But as my son and others have pointed out that it will still run in a post-EMP world.  That's good enough for me! My apologies to the WW2 sticklers out there.

The kit itself is worth the price I paid, as it was cheaper than I would have spent on a regular Trumpeter or Revell kit with just a single model in it. And, as my full intention was to "Mad Max" this kit, I am not too upset in case something goes wrong, as I might be with a more expensive kit. I also bought a bunch of die cast cars that I'll be modding in another article.

Outside of the usual modelling tools, I also wanted to use a wire mesh (to make windows look mean and really "Mad Max"). Normally an innocuous purchase for whatever reason, the stars really misaligned and nobody in my immediate area carried that stuff. So, I had to improvise and bought a plumbing supply part. Adapt and overcome!

I did pick up some snips which I thought would work well for the mesh but they turned out to be crap and the old standard side cutters (for models, sprue, etc.) actually did a better job cutting the wire mesh! Not so sure I'd want to use em all the time as I'm sure they're dulling out.

And thus, there went the first phase with the tractor-trailer:

The kit itself had pretty simple and well sculpted parts, the instructions were a bit wonky with circled numbers referring to the part numbers and other numbers representing paint shades. It was all a bit of information overload and at times, got quite confusing.

The sprues were easy to to cut and the parts needed minimal filing for very small amounts of flash as well as to assist in fitting.

This time I followed my own advice and dry fitted all the parts before assembly and priming (It was a painful lesson to learn, I assure you). I raided the spare parts bin on this build which is good for getting that post-apocalypse "junk yard" look.

I then finished the assembly and primed the kit in black. I personally like to do a "white wash" over the model, really just a dry brush in white to highlight all of the details then start adding color, by building up layers on the paints. I use washes to highlight different features and this time I used some chalk to help in making rusty effects.

I've added the remaining photos below for your consideration. Thanks for tuning in, till next time!

-Evil von Scary

Some Random Thoughts and Ideas

Some of this might be a bit OT, but I do need to get it off my chest somewhere I suppose.

First, I am being published as a sci-fi author! Granted, it's a short story in an anthology, but I am being published for a work of fiction!

Taken from Canon Publishing

Yeah, I know, not at all on-topic, but please forgive the indulgence. It's a big deal and I do hope many of you go out and grab a copy come April 1. No, it's not a joke.

Also, I wanted to pass this bit of news to local folks:

https://thegamestavern.com/blogs/news/important-announcement-we-are-closing-shop-to-reconfigure-the-business?fbclid=IwAR1KqhYbk06NOGImpUC7M7BjiZ9oYHhhtQvQJGS9AQ-oK4km225Pqm8eoBI

Important Announcement: We are closing shop to reconfigure the business.

by John Denton

 March 04, 2019

Today the team at The Games Tavern has made the challenging decision to close the doors to the shop to reconfigure the business in a way to continue to support you all – the most amazing gamer patrons in the world!


Without you none of this adventure would have been possible, and with your continued support we hope to provide continued content and service. We care about all of you and want to see the community grow and flourish.


If you have miniatures/models in the cases, or personal items in the shop please stop by to retrieve them. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to pick their things up before we start the work over here moving things around. Please call over the shop to schedule and we will gladly help you secure your items.


If you have special orders we have contacted you about please come pick them up this week! We have some items which we have called, emailed, or more to put them into your hands for at least a week now. Those items want to go home with you.


For any special orders we were unable to acquire because our suppliers were out of stock, which were pre-paid we will be issuing refunds shortly because we will be unable to make the orders while we reconfigure and do not want you to have to wait to receive your items.


I want to thank the amazing team and staff at The Games Tavern for the amazing job they do every day.


Keylon’s management of the shop has been outstanding and I cannot think of a better person to continue to work with in the future as we chart a new path. Thanks to Keylon we have grown far better than we expected. His ability to help each and every customer has been wonderful.


Ed’s general management and straight talk is legendary, and his ability to step in and offer the right guidance to the The Games Tavern as we grow continues to astound me, and I thank him for our chats.


To all staff past and present I am thankful because each of you add something to the mix, and continue to enrich our knowledge of the hobby.


For specific requests related to picking up your items or reserved orders which arrived, refunds of pre-orders mentioned above email: john@thegamestavern.com


Sincerely,


-John

I am really unsure as to what it means for the ultimate fate of The Games Tavern. I know I appreciated having them around and they were a quality shop. Let's hope this is temporary and they come back bigger and better than ever! Not much else to report, but we'll see where this goes!