February Digest #2

English Civil War

Spent some time tonight working on the Royalist Horse list. Having to scrounge for figures to comply with the original listing but finding there are now shortfalls somehow. So some changes required...that's if I can't find enough figures soon.

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Unfortunately the original list is out the door. Discovering I stuffed up the original order means there is a considerable shortfall so I'm having to reduce numbers on a few 'large' units such as Prince Rupert's Horse. And changing the composition by standardising Royalist horse units to one stand of two figures throughout - heavy and light. 

Some painting work done earlier today on Cary's Horse, Prince Maurice's Horse, King's Lifeguards, and the two Lifeguard units for the Princes, and Northern Horse. Having to scrounge around for spares to fulfil Queen Henrietta's Horse. 

Some more painting done with the baggage train tonight. Slow progress because I'm out of touch with model painting at the moment. Plus, it's no longer the passion it once was but still a mildly interesting and often occasional exercise in time wasting. Says a lot about my enthusiasm these days regarding this hobby.

Water cart, stores wagon, and gunpowder cart (bottom left). I think I'm missing something for the ammo cart. Will probably modify it to make sit higher whatever it was. And the mule train. King Charles I, accompanied by his two aides/couriers, are overlooking the scene but unaffected by the activity happening. 

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Did some work on command figures tonight as I got into the workbench pretty late. Namely worked on Rupert and King Charles with his two aides/couriers. Not much progress made really but sufficient for the time spent. Still more work required however - flocking, and a great deal more detailing for all four figures if I want to make them acceptably presentable. Hopefully I can have something to present for this month's hobby achievements over on Oz Tabletop Forums. Doing so will provide a bit of incentive to clear my to-do list.

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Vietnam War campaign

Action at Ca Bong or "Boom, Boom, You're Dead!"

Operation Black Bottle began just before dawn as three companies from the 1st Battalion, 54th Infantry, 9th Division began their northward push up the Song Hoa river. 

Leading the way is Riverine Force Team One (Petersen), consisting of two Monitors and three Tangos, and transporting A Coy (Donald) and half of B Coy (Schuler). Team Two (Delweere) - two Monitors, two Tangos, one Command, is about ten minutes behind carrying the remainder of B Coy (Clarke) and D Coy (Zollerfeldt).

Donald's mission is to land south of the Suoi Trang river at Noi Buon. Secure it. Then advance on to Ca Bong from the south. Meanwhile Petersen with Schuler is to advance directly on Ca Bong, disembark and secure it and await the arrival of Delweere with reinforcements. Petersen is to provide fire support from the river and keep it free from interference from expected VC defensive measures (floating mines, etc.).

Delweere is to offload remainder of B Coy at Ca Bong and then proceed north some distance to offload Zollerfeldt and D Coy along the Ca Bong-Co Lac road.

Intel is sketchy (as in fluid and none too reliable) but it is known a strong VC battalion - the 275th - is operating in the area. And using Ca Bong as a main town within their network. Securing its capture would seriously impact on that network.  And disrupt any VC operations on this side of the Suoi Trang river where the VC have operating in many cases openly and with impunity.

FF are to treat all villages flanking the river as neutral but with caution. If fired upon, units are cleared to open return fire with force. However, once opposition goes quiet, cease firing and standard rules of engagement applies.  

Air and artillery support are on call but only in dire situations. Priority to be determined by supporting units, and on the proviso the targets are firstly clearly identified. No blanket preliminary artillery barrage is permitted. Only the FAA, FOO, or company commanders may authorise air/artillery support. 

With the recent incident at My Lai resounding globally, Headquarters is seriously adhering to strict rules of engagements: clear identification of enemy first before responding. Discretion to be exercised by the local commander based on rules of engagement in determining return response to being fired upon by the enemy.

Commanders for this venture are as follows:

Land operations - Maj. Schuler (B Coy). Officer commanding entire operation.
Riverine operations - Lt. Delweere (Team Two)

Terrain Points of Note: The crossing of the Suoi Trang can be done by foot as the water there is mostly shallow (no more than knee deep). But it deepens the closer to the Song Hoa so that crossing can only be done by swimming or boat. 

West of Ca Bong is a large palm plantation that reaches the road and borders both Co Lac and Ca Khoc and extends south for several kilometres. The Old Colonial Plantation is still occupied by a wealthy local family whose loyalties are unknown. 

The two hamlets north of the main road as it crosses the Song Hoa and connects to Lang Doi are small fishing villages where they eke out a living of rice and fish. 

East of the main road as far north as Ca Khoc and as far south as the Noi Buon road are numerous rice paddy fields belonging to the villagers. 

There is much traffic between both banks of the Song Hoa with trading happening all the time. So, be mindful the river will be busy in the mornings and late afternoon. 

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Delay playing out this scenario. Needs a full day totally devoted to playing it. Right now, however, I've got many other activities on my plate that I cannot spare the time right now. Definitely some time this week as I do need to clear the table from the garage for tidy up for my upcoming darts tournament post-Easter. Cheers.

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World of Warships

Sundays are relaxing days, as we all know. Jumped into the game after taking a couple of days off. Stress level returned almost immediately whilst playing. Controls seemed to stick at times throughout the session, often at the most inopportune moments. Puzzling phenomenon because the mouse works fine every other time. 

Anyway, I hung in there because I had one mission task to complete to finish the 120th Anniversary/Dreadnought mission. Did that soon enough and went to see what compensation I might get. Expected the usual credit spike.

Nothing. 

Checked the Compensation Rules on the WG site (link provided in the event). Everything seemed in order there. Checked the Dreadnought rules again. Notice then no compensation forthcoming. No mention of compensation whatsoever. If you already have it, tough titties, you get nothing. 

Bummer. WG keep moving the goal posts. There has always been compensation in such events. Now there seems to be nothing. 

On an unrelated matter, I looked at how much coal is required for Narai in the Surcouf Salvage event. Still not worth it. So I passed on that. Also saw coal can be had at a rate of 1000 coal for 100 steel. You know, egging you exchange steel for coal in order to eventually grab Surcouf. You're going to end up spending over a million coal to reach her though. Ask yourself is it worth grabbing this monstrosity of a submarine with cruiser guns? Only a deranged designer would come up with such a hideous vessel. But some people love ludicrous. 

As someone who has not bothered playing Ranked in a very long time, steel is about as rare as Research Bureau points to me so it would have to be a very tempting offer for me to part with my small but precious hoard of steel. For now, I'll pass.  

The Zarya-S is, as a YT streamer (and many others as well) pointed out, nothing more than a Tier IX Vladivostok.

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Was wrong about Narai. I recall it was one half of a duo of ships (the other was Cambridge) that came out part of an event last year that I was hoping to grab. Unfortunately I missed out but wasn't overly concerned because I knew it would eventually return. 

Initially dismissed it out of hand however because I soon learned that it was a clone of the infamous Tiger '59. Tarred by reputation. Dumb thing to do, I now admit.

However, since playing it, I like it a lot. It requires you to play her carefully (as in "take cover" at every opportunity; she's not a YOLO ship). Her rapid fire HE is good at starting fires more so when you place one of the Rong brothers (Seasoned commanders) on her. Which I did. 

All of this information learned thanks to another YT WOWS Community Contibutor (reinstated), one of several I follow for information.

Am I going for the Zarya-S? Short answer no. Long answer, unable to earn enough coal in time. 

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Today was the Narai of common derision - the Tiger '59 version. Easily smashed in the early games but came back after adjusting play to minimize her many weaknesses - paper thin armour, weak guns (rapid fire compensates plus ship build and selective commander skill - playing one of the Rong brothers). Lucky I was also playing the M. Colonna in today's grind which made the session bearable. Early glitch with the signup notification popping up briefly. And as suddenly as it appeared, it disappeared. Trouble-free playing thereafter. 

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Peterbilt 359 kit build

Ignoring the transfers that came with the kit. Instead I will go with a custom design. This is what I've come up after some nutting out all night. The fonts I found online; settled on three that I liked. Favouring the Excel one because it relates to movement. Problem is whether to hand paint or create a transfer decal. Undecided for now.

Made some notes to the rough design created. For sure the final finished work will differ slightly from the design concept shown above. 

Still planning on hand painting the lovely lady originally shown because she's the figurehead for this road vessel. Like ships of olde. First and foremost though, this rig is a working truck so Miss Peggy Sue will feature in a discreet location.

Top view of bonnet does give it that British flag look. May modify it or remove the central stripe look altogether.

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