Out of Storage Part 3: WW2 in Color and in 15mm

Got out some of my old-time favorite minis for playing Flames of War.

Two Tigers and an Elephant aka Ferdinand

An assortment of half-tracks: 2x Sd Kfz 251/1s with
MG34s and an Sd.Kfz. 251/9 with a 75 mm L/24 gun  
Buildings in the back are JR Miniatures with a
Tiger and an Elephant doing a photobomb

One of my favorite AFVs, the T34/85

A column of T34/85s and truckload of Strelkovy

German 3.7cm Flak 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz.7/2
Gesundheit!

Green Army Men - Yoga Joes

One of the things I love most are interesting finds that not only tickle my brain but also make me laugh. One such find was during a visit to the Museum Store at HMNS (Houston Museum of Natural Science). Most museum store fare are overpriced knick-knacks that clutter most desks and shelves. 

The obligatory Museum Store

Then I found the coolest thing while browsing around... 

But first, some background.

A staple for little boys and most budding gamers, I would guess that
most of us have started with the standard Green Army Men in a bag.
This bag of plastic soldiers gave me loads of good clean fun as I simulated
these little battles

Before the advent of computers and tech-toys, these low tech plastic
toys were powered by our imagination. No batteries included nor needed.
With all the standard poses we've come to love and expect, these mini
soldiers were ubiquitous for most boys in my generation

The Toy Story movie franchise featuring these little plastic heroes
made me fall in love all with them all over again. In fact, they
intrigued me so much I re-watched their scenes over and over again.  

So fast forward years later, I was at the HMNS Museum store when I noticed these plastic soldiers displayed on a shelf. I could've missed these bad boys amidst all the other bric-a-brack but they caught my eye.

I nearly missed these bad boys!

Upon further investigation I leaned closer and got an eyeful.

I didn't end up buying them there so I took the information from the card and looked them up online. The good news is that googling them will lead you to Amazon where they can be easily got. So get 'em already!

Re-purposing of a classic. Brilliant!

Funny as hell!

New and Old Toys, Part 6 Stalingrad

You ever set up your game table for a specific scenario and end up with 'free play'? Such was the case one day after I set up my Stalingrad table intending to skirmish an urban ruins clash against the usual suspects of belligerents. After the table was set (...the battle lines are drawn...) I had some visitors 'oohing and aahing' over the set up. Now mind you, these visitors of mine were not gamers. And unbidden they started pulling minis from collection and placed them on the table. The result was pure fun and unplanned...

(click on the pix to enlarge)

The initial setup: 28mm urban ruins on
my 5'x7' gaming table

A PanzerGrenadier column with BMW Troopen scouts
and fullysupported with a PZII and SdKfz 251 Halftracks
with some command elements in tow entering the sector

The objective: ammo and supply dump made up with
my collection of crates, barrels, oil cans, sandbags, etc.

Soviet Strelkovy and Maxim MG Team race to get into
position when all of a sudden, the Bugs attack!

At the opposite side of the table StormTroopers advance
supported by an AT-ST while a trailing Rancor goes amok

Standard StormTrooper maneuvers as they fan
out outflanking an unsuspecting T34 and the dinos

A T-34 and a BA-6 are duly engaged with the Alien and
a raptor as a T-Rex and a Bug are locked in combat 

A Stug IIIG with some BMW Troopen get in on the action

The Alien sneaking up on an unsuspecting Soviet Scout
observing the passing of the PanzerGrenadier column

Blade showing up for a cameo appearance

A soviet sniper sights on a T-Rex from Hobby Lobby

A mixed bag of belligerents including an armor
clash between a KV1 and JagdPanzer IV 

A melee and free-for-all ensues!

"All together now!"

Bolt Action: Japs vs Marines

A few months ago, Mikey and I decided to try one of the amphib scenarios using Bolt Action, some 15mm minis on his Hexon table. Great fun was had by all. Sorry, this isn't really an AAR, just enjoy the pix, why doncha?

(click on the pix to enlarge)

Mikey's homemade bunkers using ceramic tiles

Historicon 2015, AT LAST!!

Boy, oh boy, after 25+ years I finally got to go to Historicon! 

Without further ado, on with the eye candy...

Cool Naval Game

1:144 scale planes

Modern Warfare skirmishing in 28mm
Buildings supplied by Miniature Building Authority 

Scratch-built medieval castle in 15mm

Scratch-built ancient hill fort in 15mm

Ginourmous castle in 28mm supplied by Miniature Building Authority

GHQ demo table featuring modern warfare in the Mid East
with all their associated toys in 6mm

"We are the Borg. You will be assimilated.
It is futile to resist. We are the Borg." 

Dropzone Commander in 10mm

Godzilla makes a cameo apprearance

More lovely bits from Dropzone Commander

Napoleonics in 6mm

WW2 in 28mm

"Blackhawk down!" Beautiful 2 ft square table for use
with 28mm US Troops vs Somalis using Skirmish Sangin rules.

One of the wackiest games I've participated in this con: Gnome Wars!
Here's the Sikhs with their Colonial Officer.

The Gnomosapiens and their pet dynos.

Jack o'lanterns

"Gingy, are you there?"

Looking for them Lucky Charms!

Cavalry support on Irish Setters

Zombie Gnomes with Skeleton troops

Roman Age skeleton troops

Air Support

German Gnomes

Russian Gnomes

Pirate Gnomes raid

Redcoat Gnomes supported by Zombies

Miniature Building Authority's product and demo table

The obligatory but still eye-catching Warhammer tournaments 

Period literature of Regency England featuring an amalgamation of
Pride and Prejudice, Sharpe's Rifles and Master and Commander
meets Zombies in 28mm

The Pegasus bridge in 60mm (note the bananas on the left)