Much Appreciated Mr Gow !

I had a nice parcel arrive in yesterdays post from the old country. After a touch of correspondence from Tim 'Megablitz' Gow at http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.com/ .

"You'll have gathered from recent blog posts that I am currently sorting out the stuff from JR's attic -while his wife was glad to see it go she was pleased with the idea that I'd pass some items on to others. So it is then, that once I have been furnished with your address, there will be a small package winging it's way to you. I'll also deal you in on the recent WW2 haul."

When you get a email like this it can really make your day, and upon opening the parcel I was delighted to find a nice selection of German mid to late war heavies, which I have passed on to my partner in crime Al (He was very chuffed to put it mildly) as accordingly to Tims wishes while I managed to add a book and the Sdkfz 250 and an old Airfix article concerning the Scorpion AFV, a not too beat up Hasegawa Stuart light tank.

Also in the box was a selection of ESCI Japanese figures, Airfix German Para's (Both sets of which I have none) and the ESCI Italian Mountain Troops. These were from Tim's personal stash.

Both Al and I take this time to thank you Mr Gow, and if there is anything we can do for you just drop one of us a line and we will do our utmost to repay the favour.

Slaying The Stash 14: Para Jeep Update

A minor update tonight focus on the Para Jeeps I have been working on for my upcoming Air Landing Glider Battalion. I need four Jeep stands per Battalion, with one of them being MG armed. I added a black scheme on them but although I have seen photos of this, I am not sure how common this was.

Second stand, this will go with a 6 Pounder AT and I have plans to attach the gun to the jeep full time.

Command Jeep stand, of which I need to find a driver...And a Command figure that fits.

Supply Jeep stand. To keep the trailer attached I based it on a stand, which I have not done before. I am not that keen on the idea, but it gets the job done and I will probably have to do the same for some of my Matchbox Halftracks as the tracks are perishing. I also need to add some stores.

Slaying The Stash 13: Total War On Mess

Like most normal blokes I treat my man-cave like the way its meant to be treated, if its seems a tad untidy its okay, if it is accumulation of empty beer bottles I can live with that, if the carpet monster has started to reject model or soldier parts from its depths and they are emerging from the floor coverings and building mounds with mass transits systems between each floor city then that's alright , I presume that pay taxes, but when the 'filing' system interferes with the fortnightly wargame then its Total War on Mess!

You can tell by these grainy shots (the cobwebs cloud the lens) that it my have got out of hand.

Al, bless his heart has struggled to conduct operations, and I in my own defence have not found the time or energy to act on my own good intentions to re-org and carry out a re-firb. My plan was over Summer to carry out a re-model of the space to make the most of the limited space.

That has changed, yesterday I conducted total war on the loft. Eleven hours (yes 11!) were spent in action, followed by a further three hours today, why I even vacuumed...

Part of the to do list of equipment, boxed and ready, I actually added another 15 or so kits to this box over three or fours after this shot was taken.

M1 Abrams boxed and waiting for a nice NATO colour scheme and repairs.

My fetish for Churchill's remain unfulfilled, must get on to that. When I do at least I shall be able to find them in one place.

My surplus of boxing burns, why keep so many old boxes without a purpose, better they go to Valhalla! We are too remote for recycling here on the Coast...Before you ask.

End results, un-built stash in order.

Even the aircraft which are tricky devils to house have room to await ops.

I now have room to construct and paint, the wife is chuffed to get the kitchen back for a while.

I sorted the spares box into a organised (for now) system, huzzah!

Look Al the floor space is actually floor space!

Completed tables of equipment and Units are now housed safe and sound and await proper box markings which I will will do at work this week. Overall this was hard work and wasted the majority of the weekend model wise but well worth the effort, its still will get a upgrade this summer

Slaying the Stash 12: Headquarters Coy 2 Para

The last of 2 Para in today's short post (TGIF). Up today is 2 Para Headquarters Company, which is a small sub unit compared to yesterdays Support Company. Battalion Command Stand with ESCI Officer and Revell Radio Operator. The ESCI pose is quite like the Airfix US Marine Officer.

And Recon Motorcycle Stand, as I constructed the other night, with ESCI Sten gunner.

Complete sub-unit. 2 Para complete and into a box to hide away until needed, mind you 3 Para is under construction as we speak, while a Air landing Glider Battalion is next on the list. The two Parachute and one Air landing Battalion will give me at least a Brigades worth of Infantry which is probably enough for me. If carrying out Arnhem or such I would team up with Al who is in the process of a sort out as well of his Airborne Forces.

Slaying The Stash 11: Support Company 2 Para

Getting down to the wire now with 2 Para. Above Command stand for the Support Company, Revell Officer in the foreground, and a minor conversion of a Revell late war British. I just cut one the helmet rim.

Mortar Platoon with the old Airfix "Bloobies"Paratroopers and a conversion of a old Matchbox Mortar. Actually ESCI log post, ammo box end for the base plate and Matchbox legs. I am quite short on mortars and want to save the best ones for Units that will get alot more game time.

Engineer Platoon, I could not be naffed converting anything so these ESCI Commandos will do the job. To tell the truth I had over looked the Engineer stand and was at a loss. Good to use a drop container though. I promise to do better for the next Battalion.

Medium Machine Gun Platoon, as previously posted, but now painted. The Maroon beret is actually bright red, but the wash toned it down nicely.

Support Company complete, huzzah!

Seoul 1985 Pt6 Red Dash

Back to the Seoul 1985 game Al and I conducted last week, on the right flank one of Al's NK Infantry Regt advances without delay crossing the main railway yard.

Meanwhile on the left flank one of the NK's Anti Tank Platoons engage the Airborne Sheridan Company attack which is supporting the South Koreans Homeland Defence Battalion. Dug into defensive works in the built up area, the South Koreans and US Armour cannot get to them, the result sees a M551 Platoon destroyed.

Vengeance is quick with Integral Anti Tank weapons from the Cut off ROK Company boldly counter stroking the T55 Battalion attack. A T55 Platoon burns.

Finally in range the South Korean Homeland Defence Battalion starts to engage the NK Centre, the results are fairly even, but the NK line seems to hold up well.

Not so at the lower centre flank, NK morale is sapped by constant bad dice rolls from Al and good dice by myself. This however seems to be the only area where poor dice is thrown by Al that night. Whats left of his Battalion here surrenders, I hope they are not expecting mercy from the embattled US Airborne Company facing them.

The remainder of the NK forces to the lower centre are pinned and are due to surrender as they have no retreat possible.

Still clutching at straws, in the centre of the table Al's NK's throw in another Company attack.

US Airborne Battalion centred and about to be joined by three Companies of ROK regulars counter attacking to the north.

Meanwhile to the right the NK's advance another Battalion.

ROK Homeland Defence Battalion starts to clear the centre left NK Regt HQ's and slowly they push them back, but they are starting to get some telling hits.

The T55 Battalion and accompanying Infantry Battalion trys again a attack at the cut off ROK regular Company, but suffers further setbacks...

We left the game here and will carry on perhaps next week, where we will see the NK's only major heli-borne air assault of the war. Yipes!

Slaying The Stash 10: C Coy 2 Para

The last of 2 Para's Rifle Companies is tonight's theme. Above a Rifle Platoon with ESCI Rifleman and Revell Bren Gunner pose.

Again a ESCI Rifleman and Sten Gunner from Revell. The netting on the ESCI Helmet is especially fine. I gave Al some of these ESCI figures the other night so he could tidy up his Para forces, however he could only think of RM Commando's and head swaps.

Command Stand. No pistol or revolver poses for these fellows.

Full Company out of the way. Onto the interesting stands next.

Slaying The Stash 9: Motorcycle Recon Platoons

As part of the Command Decision 3 Table of Equipment for British Airborne Forces, each Paratroop Battalion gets a Motorcycle SMG Platoon. I have accordingly thrown a couple of Platoon stands together.

Fujimi Harley Davidson (They were the only motorbikes I had) and Revell figure.

And the other Platoon Stand with with the squatting ESCI Sten gunner. I thought that having the Motorcycle on the ground with the Paratrooper next to it saves making a dismounted Stand as well.

These were a nice distraction to the Airborne Jeeps, but good progress is being made in that arena.

Slaying The Stash 8: Para-Jeeps

I decided to do something with the old Airfix Jeeps that come in the Buffalo Kit. While getting a second kit in a kit is always a bonus, this jeep is particularly awful to look at so dressing it up and hiding it under kit sounds to me like a good option.

This jeep has had a rear deck added, has have them all. 1/35 scale packs and pouches, Bren gun and a container from the Revell Para set.

Ammo boxes and rifle from the 17 Pounder Matchbox kit and boxes and tools from the Airfix Forward Command post.

This kit has much the same.

This is the Fujimi kit I knocked out yesterday, it is about 500% nicer looking that the Airfix kit. Matchbox Vickers added instead of the .50 Cal. I was not sure that British Para's used .50 Cals at this time.

These will go into the Glider Troops Battalion rather than the Paratroops Battalions I am making up. I had quite a bit of inspiration from http://www.miniaturezone.co.uk/ who conducted much nicer conversions than I attempted.