ACE 20mm WWII Kits

A year since the last post ......

Anyway ... onwards without any promises :)

I was in the basement a few weeks ago and opened a large plastic storage crate and was transported back 7 or 8 years ago to a period I was accumulating a lot of 20mm WWII gear.  As I rumaged through the box I came across a number of kits from ACE.  I have always been in fear of these after hearing terrible stories of how hard they are to build ... after I had bought them.

These ACE kits were among many I found in a storage box in the basement 

So I thought what better way to start again than to dive head first into them.  I started with a late war ambulance based on the RSO chasis.

Didn't take long to need a drink

Among the wonders in the kist are photoetched tracks.  These are fiddly.

But when installed look pretty good.

Work has been incredibly busy and all consuming over the last few weeks.  So I didn't get much time to work on this - but have managed to finish the build this weekend.  It is still in three components until it gets undercoated and possible basecoated.

I have also spent some time on a few other models that I rescued from the basement.  More of those in the next couple of posts.

A few scenic items

Just got a package from Take Cover Scenics https://takecoverscenics.co.uk/ .  I have traditionally made all my own scenic stuff for the tabletop but wanted to get some of these as they looked so good on the web.

For my 6mm WWII, Modern and Napoleonics I got a flexible field as well as some bocage.  I also splurged and got a section of 20mm deluxe hedgerow.

All are very well made.  Comms with John was great throughout the process and I received some photos as work was progressing.

6mm flexible field

6mm flexible field

20mm Milicast Churchill with Deluxe Hedgerow

20mm Milicast Churchill with Deluxe Hedgerow

6mm with bocage

Numidians are done

I have finally finished all of my Numidians for the Punic Wars project.

Numidians on parade

This is the first of the armies that have been completed - although the Carthaginians and Gauls are well progressed and a small start has been made on the Spaniards and Romans.

Over the past few months I've painted:

• 1 Mounted Commander
• 1 Foot Commander
• 5 stands of light cavalry
• 12 stands of javelin armed light infantry 
• 5 stands of javelin armed skirmishers
• 1 stands of sling armed skirmishers
• 2 elephants

The full army consists of 

• 1 Mounted Commander
• 1 Foot Commander
• 12 stands of light cavalry
• 5 stands of imitation legionnaire light infantry
• 12 stands of javelin armed light infantry 
• 11 stands of javelin armed skirmishers
• 3 stands of sling armed skirmishers
• 2 elephants

That's a total of 267 figures.

Light Cavalry

Imitation legionnaire light infantry

Skirmishers and javelin armed light infantry

Skirmishers and javelin armed light infantry

More light cavalry

2 elephants and supports

Mounted commander

Foot commander

TYW Tercio

I have picked up a quantity of the wonderful 10mm figures from Pendraken.  First forces I am having a go at are for the Thirty Years War.

This is a Spanish Tercio from the early period - a central pike block that was supported on the four corners by shot.  It was intended to be able to defend itself from any direction.

Think I know what I am doing for the next few weeks

it is clear that things are out of hand.  So between jobs at home and family and friends I think I know what I will be focusing on over the next week or so.  Let’s see how much actually gets cleared.  

Borodino Big Game

Last weekend a group of us met at John's house to re-fight Borodino.  John had painted the entire Russian Army and also made the purpose built terrain for the game.

The figures are 15mm - many brands but certainly many many Minifigs - including some strip Minifigs.  Rules used were Age of Eagles.

An overview of the table.  Russians on left, French on right

My command - lots of cavalry including the Russian Guard cavalry

The lay of the land prior to the first shots

The Russian cavalry advance

An infantry fight in the centre

The redoubt is lost - hardly surprising when you see what was coming onto them

Russian cavalry starting to get going

The Russians aligning in anticipation of a French infantry assault

Any general will tell you that logistics are the key to success - a restock of the troops overnight.

Russian supplies on the left and French on the right

Hard pounding

Broken through the French Cavalry and getting ready for the second line

Lots of Russians pushing forward on their right flank and the French were in some trouble (at this time)

This is the status late on Sunday.  The Russian left flank (top of picture) has been pushed back uncovering a Grand Battery.  The Russian middle is just holding but is quite brittle and on the Russian right flank (bottom of photo we have pushed the French back and were getting quite excited by the chance of getting into the French left flank, then into their rear  ..... until the sound of drums, Vive L'Emporer and bearskins became visible on the horizon (middle right in column coming on)

Status late on Sunday

The Russian Grand Battery and the Russian line forming again after having fallen back.

Grand Battery after having cleaned out a few Poles

Russian spies report bearskins on the march

It took quite a while for the French Guard to get going, but when they did they were rushed to their left flank against my advancing Russian cavalry.  If they weren't needed there - or after having dealt enough damage to the Russian cavalry, they could have turned right and punched through the Russian centre.

The Guard advances