Trouble’s a-Brewing

Mr. Miller was over to paint last night and I finished up the remaining three stands of African Mercenaries/Nobongoan Special Air Service…

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


These are a mix of manufacturers/ranges/eras… most are Platoon 20 Vietnam Special forces… but there’s a couple Aussies in there too… and some others…

I also painted up a Tallarn Scout:


(I’m calling him a “scout” because he’s the only one I’ve painted so far and is thus “scouting ahead” of the rest of the [unpainted] squad)

The figure is a Tallarn Imperial Guardsman from Games Workshop (pictured here entirely without their permission). I kind of like the figures. They’re hideously expensive so I’ve been picking up a few here and there off ebay. I like the idea of fielding HORDES of these as an Imperial Guard force… y’know… if I was actually remotely interested in playing 40K… I’ll probably just put together a squad or two for some Savage Sci-fi Skimishin’.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

A Border Skirmish in Timbogo!!

More New Stuff for AK-47 Republic

Trouble brewing in Africa…


These are an odd assortment of 20mm metal figures from a variety of companies (I think some might be Platoon 20…?)

I have another three stands worth of these – just a bunch of odd modern 20mm figures I had lying around and figured I could use them as African Mercenaries (or maybe Nobongoan Special Air Service…?). The other three stands are partly finished – expect them in the next few days…

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

More 20mm stuff, apparently…?

Lions Reinforced

The “Lions of Timshasa” are the elite of the Federal Army of the Republic of Timbogo (F.A.R.T.). I have been re-basing some modern stuff and in the process realized I’d need to paint up some extra troops to be able to field a couple of forces for AK-47 Republic. I have a few more to paint up to finsh on force. Some other moderns will likely be pressed into service as a “Colonial Power” or “Superpower–backed Client State”.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


The new “Lions” – These are 1/72 plastic figures from a variety of manufacturers… mostly old Esci Nato and Warsaw pact forces.

The newer forces are in the darker fatigues (they’re fresh from the factory and haven’t faded… and perhaps they’re from a different dye-lot… I guess that’s what happens when you buy factory direct “seconds” from China…)


I also painted a couple new stands for the Regulars… well… the mortar stand in completely new and a couple odd figures on some of the other stands…

The Command stands aren’t for AK-47 Republic. They’re for when (if) I use these guys in Cold War Commander

Hopefully at some point this month I’ll be able to get them into the field…

I’ve been thinking up new faction names (in addition to The Federal Army of the Republic of Timbogo (F.A.R.T.) and the Peoples Revolutionary Army of Timbogo (P.R.A.T.) I’ve already used)…

Timbogan Union for Real Democracy (T.U.R.D.)
Jihad for an Independent Liberal Timbogo (J.I.L.T.)
Timbogan Workers Army of Terror (T.W.A.T.)
Congress of Unity for Northern Timbogo (taking it a bit too far…)

I’ve also been thinking about some neighboring countires; Nobongo, Kobongo, and Gobongo… and all the possibilities there…

Jihandic Union for Nobongo-Kobongo (J.U.N.K.)
Nobogan Army Reserve Division (N.A.R.D. – Which is part of the Nobongan Army Reserve Corp…)
Workers Alliance for Northern Gobongo (W.A.N.G.)
Workers Alliance for Northern Kobongo (W.A.N.K.)
Democratic Independence Crusade for Kobongo (D.I.C.K.) or maybe…
Democratic Independent Nationalists of Kobongo (D.I.N.K.) (Splitters!!)
Central Union of Nobongan Tribes (taking it a bit too far again…)

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Probably some more moderns (African or European?) hard to say… Probably a few more African Regulars…

I have a pile of 1/72 plastic modern Germans. I bought the packs for the Milan ATGW teams (which I used for my modern British forces...) and have no great desire to do modern Germans... I thought I might use them as Future War troops (for Future War Commander!) and just paint them up with some funky fun camo... something similar to the Timashek Legion... but maybe in blues and greens...?

What to do... What to do...?

Well I've been re-basing and painting a few new figures for my AK-47 Republic armies... The re-basing has put more figures on a base ans so I'm having to paint up quite a few extras to be able to field two formations. When I actually have some units completed I'll post some pics.

Of course then I was looking at Stephen Thomson's finished WW2 forces this morning and have a hankering to get back to the 28mm WW2 stuff and just finish it up before moving on to other things (as I had been planning to do - and doing a good job of sticking to it - for... well... most of this year...)

Oh and Bob's Pretty Pikemen got me thinking about my ECW stuff waiting in the wings...

Urrrrr....

Okay... finish AK-47 armies... THEN finish 28mm WW2... THEN I'll have to think about what to do next... probably something DBA/HOTT related, though perhaps some of it's variants covering the English Civil War or Seven Years War.

Too much fun stuff to paint, so little time...

Nuthin' Much

Not a whole lot to report here...

I am still alive. Haven't played any games over the last week or so and what little time I've had to devote to hobby stuff has been spent re-basing moderns to slowly bring them up to the new basing standard.

I've mostly been working on Modern Africans (and equipment that could potentially be used by Modern Africans) as a friend expressed an interest in trying out AK-47 Republic. Might also give Cold War Commander a go again.

Of course as the new basing scheme has more figures per base I'll have less elements than I began with so I may end up painting a few 20mm moderns before this is all through.

After the dust settles on all this re-basing nonsense, I think I'm going to finish up some British and French Seven Years War stuff.

Graduates from the F.A.R.T. Officer Academy

The government of Timbogo announced today that the first class of officers from the new Federal Army of the Republic of Timbogo (F.A.R.T) Military Academy will be holding their graduation parade today. This is a move to modernize the F.A.R.T. Previously officers were selected through the traditional practice of following the biggest meanest most aggressive of thugs. After some stuffy of the more effective Western Powers militaries it was decided that perhaps some educated officers might help the efficiency and effectiveness of the F.A.R.T. (It surely couldn’t have anything to do with that ridiculous, inefficient democracy rubbish!)

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


These, like the Timasheck Legion are some more surplus Firefight 20 East Germans tha I got in a trade. The stand on the right isn’t an HQ stand, they’re an SA-7 SAM unit (also being trained at the Academy).

There hasn’t much need for anti-aircraft units in the past as the only threats to Timbogo have been internal: the People’s Revolutionary Army of Timbogo (P.R.A.T.). P.R.A.T. never had anything quite so modern as air power. There has been some concern about external threats lately. It has been rumored that trouble may be brewing on Timbogo’s eastern border with Zutu. It seems that Zutu is planning to reassert it’s traditional claim to the disputed territory of Zutim (which, it has recently been discovered, has vast untapped oil fields below it!). Backed by western powers (or at least western oil companies) the Western Horse Infantry of Zutu (W.H.I.Z.) is sure to be fully supported by the latest in killing technology should a shooting war break out!

I guess I better start "recruiting" (Painting!) some new regulars for these officers to command!

Violent End to Ceasefire in Timbogo

(Reuters – Timpala) After nearly a year of shaky ceasefires and peace talks in the small central African country of Timbogo, full-scale fighting has broken out in again in the oil and diamond rich western province of Wuhu. Forces of the Federal Army of the Republic of Timbogo (F.A.R.T.) launched a major ground offensive against several strongholds of the Peoples Revolutionary Army of Timbogo (P.R.A.T.). The operations have had limited success so far. A spokesman for F.A.R.T. admitted that they may have underestimated the current strength of P.R.A.T. Local sources have also indicated the P.R.A.T. fighters have been fighting back tenaciously. It seems both sides only used this recent lull in the fighting caused by the ceasefires to re-arm, recruit and dig in for the next round. The future looks bleak for the impoverished African nation.

I took a bit of a break from gaming for the last couple of weeks after Fallcon… Wanted to do a bit of painting and organizing… realized the organizing I wanted to do would probably take all winter rather than one month… and then got anxious about playing again and moving on with things. So during the summer I got excited about Blitzkrieg Commander and Cold War Commander. Then I had to just put them aside for a month or so and concentrate on forgetting about them and relearning rules I had already mentally cast aside so I could run it at Fallcon. Anyway I’m anxious to get moving on with some BKC/CWC action.

Last night I decided to run a little AK-47 Republic scenario using the CWC rules. The scenario was set up just like a regular AK-47 game with both sides having five units – I ignored the political track, in fact I completely ignored points altogether – both the CWC and the AK-47 Republic point systems. I determined the attacker randomly and each side rolled randomly to see which units were available at the beginning of the game – objectives were determined and victory points would also be worked out according to the AK-47 Republic rules.

There was one little hitch – one objective had to be the crossroads at the center of the table. At that crossroads was a unit of French Foreign Legionnaires. They had been deployed there to look after some French interests in Timbogo. At the village at the crossroads were some cute French humanitarian workers with some NGO or another (not to mention the French oil and diamond mines down the road, just off the table…). If fired upon or if any of the African forces came within 10cm of them they would just start shooting and thereafter shoot at the closest Africans on the initiative phase of one players turn or another – to be determined at the time they were activated. What I should have done is have them activate if any firing took place within their initiative range – whether it was targeted at them or not!

Gary played the forces of P.R.A.T. who were defending. I played the F.A.R.T. troops, which were attacking into the P.R.A.T. held regions of southwest Timbogo. Gary got three of his five units and deployed one on each of the objectives and kept the third in some trees in a sort of reserve. I got four of the five units to start and deployed them at my table edge.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)

The “Lions of Timshasa” F.A.R.T.’s elite special forces commando unit was engaged right off the bat! They tore into the P.R.A.T. unit defending the objective area closest to my table edge. These guys would be “professionals” in AK-47 republic, in CWC I gave them 4/30 attacks and no CV modifier to enter Close Assault and +1 attack in Close Assault.


The rest of the F.A.R.T. regulars start making their way to the other objective at the far edge of the table. Both sides (wisely) gave the French a wide berth.


Gary’s “reserve” actually I had to get past them to get to the second objective – they kept me pinned down in the tall grass for most of the game… well them and the RPG that they had…. Well them and the RPG that they had and the fact that my regulars couldn’t make command rolls to save their lives…


There’s the French.


These are some of the P.R.A.T. troops holding the far objective – they never fired a shot in anger the whole game – at least not at the enemy.


My guys again on the “advance”. The technicals and Greyounds proved to be quite useless – in the face of RPG-wielding African warriors… The Mercedes is my CO, gotta ride in style!


Away they go… or... don’t…


The Lions of Timshasa about to finish off the last of the P.R.A.T. forces holding Objective #1 unfortunately it was only a 20 point objective.


This was about as far as the F.A.R.T forces got. In the distance was the big objective (30 points)

After we finished nattering and getting caught up I imagine the game actually took about two and a half hours. At the end we totaled up the points.

Here’s what I got points for

3d6 = +11
Objectives +20
Enemy units (formations) destroyed (one) +10
Player was fair and honest throughout the game +3 (pulled the wool over Gary’s eyes to get him to agree to this one, eh?)
For a grand total of: 44 victory points! Huzzah!

Here’s what Gary got points for:

5d6= +20
Objectives +5
Enemy units (formations) destroyed (one – my technicals!) +20!?
Player was fair and honest throughout the game +3
Player was lucky several times throughout the game +3
(Gary did not get the +1 point for his name being Rob, because it isn’t.)
For a grand total of: 51 victory points!

According to the rules a difference of 7 indicates “a clear victory, well at least in the view of the victor”. That seems reasonable. If it had lasted another round I’m sure Gary would have swarmed the remaining Greyhound with infantry in a close assault and destroyed it that would have given him another 20 victory points! Luckily the game ended and the forces of F.A.R.T. called it a day and headed back to Timpala having to be satisfied with having destroyed/captured one of P.R.A.T.’s caches, as well as destroying a unit….

Good fun! There was a lot of tension in the game and it really looked like it could have gone either way a number of times early on – especially in the first fight between the Lions and the P.R.A.T. troops holding the first objective – the first turn it looked like I was just going to roll over them. The second or third turn, however, one of the P.R.A.T. units won a close assault destroying one of the Lions and forcing two others to retreat! GAH! The other main fight went back and forth a bit – two forces blazing away at each other from cover – taking turns suppressing each other but not causing any real harm… Then I started failing command rolls and Gary had a couple of strings of successful rolls, which kind of turned the tide. For the last couple turns the writing was really on the wall and I was just dragging out the inevitable trying to at least hang on to the units I had and not lose anymore. I had one run of successful command rolls, unfortunately it was in maybe the second last turn and it was with the single Greyhound (2/50 attacks) even with bonus dice for being under half and being an AFV vs. unarmoured within 20cm I just couldn’t cause any real damage!? After about six or seven shots in a row I think I only managed to take out one MG stand and maybe cause a hit or two but no suppression on another…? Maybe Gary will remember. It was sad. Sad, but fun just the same. Thanks Gary!

Next week Britton has expressed an interest in some WW2 tank action in the desert! Perhaps we will see the 150th Brigade try and defend the Cauldron at Gazala!

….or maybe I’ll just say “Tough crap! My House - My Toys – The Russians are invading England tonight!! Huzzah!!”

We shall see….

If you got this far why not post a comment below and let me know what you think?!

Raid on the SDG (AK-47 Republic)

Mr. Tim Miller and I played a little AK-47 Republic this evening. It’s been a while, we had to look up a bit, but it was total chaos and a whole lot of fun.

I played The Federal Army of the Republic of Timbogo (F.A.R.T.), the government forces of a Super-power backed client state. Mr. Miller (or Dr Timothy Millerbutu) brought out his Social Democracy of God (S.D.G.) a rebellious religious movement that has been making trouble in the southern parts of Timbogo.

I ended up attacking (because I had more points devoted to political maneuvering) the S.D.G. rebels compound in an attempt to stamp them out once and for all.

I don’t remember what units the SDG had. I know on the political maneuvering low charts he got one of the militia units upgraded to regulars, on of his regular units was convinced of it’s own invincibility by the use of jeu jeu berries and added +4 to all it’s movement die rolls for the game, upgraded four units to heavy weapons and frightened off a few of my militia units.

I had one unit of professionals, “the Red Guard”, consisting of four stands of infantry armed with small arms and one stand armed with RPGs. I also had two units of regulars, Groupe Mobile No.s One and Two, respectively, each with four small arms equipped infantry plus a couple of heavy weapons, trucks, and one had an armoured car supporting it. My other two units were local militia units, the Southern Timbogo Local Militia Companies No.s One and Two.

Due to pretty high rolls on the cost of political maneuvering (bad) I only managed to get the gifts of heavy weapons (upgrade one small arms infantry stand in each of my units – regulars took HMGs, the rest took RPGs), and two tanks which were added to a unit of opponents choice… so they were assigned to the unit of militia at the bottom of my list (least likely to start the game on board).

Checking to see which units we had to start with the ADG got two (one regular, one militia), I got the Red Guard, Groupe Mobile No. One (the one with the armoured car!), and Southern Timbogo Local Militia Companies No. Two (the one with the tanks!). So things were looking good so far as he could only defend two of the three objectives to start with.

I selected three objectives and secretly wrote down which was worth 10, 20, and 30 victory points. Then the SDG defenders set up their initial units. Then I set up on my initial units on my table edge, as selected by the defender, except for my Red Guard which, being “professional” quality, may be inserted by helicopter!

Here’s what it all looked like when we got set up…

(click on pictures to see a bigger version)


This was taken from the North end of the table. At the northeast corner (bottom left) is my Southern Timbogo Local Militia Company No. Two with its two bonus tanks. Their objective was the supply dump in the tall grass. This one was worth 20 victory points. The SDGs regulars with APCs nominally defended the area, but when they saw the tanks show up, they decided it was time to bug out.

In the middle of the table is the SDG compound proper. It was left undefended so I did a coup de main helicopter assault on the area with my Red Guard. Only three of the five made it there but they secured the area and held it for some time. This one was only worth 10 victory points.

At the far end of the table is another supply dump defended by some SDG militia. Groupe Mobile No. One was tasked with attacking there. This one was worth 30 victory points and was the most bitterly fought over.


There’s the Southern Timbogo Local Militia Company No. Two with its two bonus tanks.


Here is Groupe Mobile No. One. The two trucks are loaded with six stands of infantry; three small arms, two RPG, and a HMG.


The Red Guards make their helicopter assault. Each stand has to dice and on a 5 or 6 they just don’t show up…


…I ended up with two small arms and one RPG stand on the ground.


The militia of Southern Timbogo Local Militia Company No. Two swarmed their objective with little trouble, as the defenders mounted up in their APCs and bugged out. The tanks exchanged fire with them for a couple turns. While pinning them a couple times and forcing some morale checks, I did little else. They on the other hand took out one of my tanks with a pretty lucky shot!


The APCs made for the compound and fought for several turns with my Red Guard. Ultimately the Red Guard was wiped out (fighting to the last man!), but they tied up the Regulars for the game that could have otherwise destroyed my militia. They also ended the game with two morale failures. One more (and they made a couple close ones!) and they would have been gone too.


Groupe Mobile No. One fought a short sharp action with the militia defending their objective, killing a few and setting them to flight. They had little time to consolidate on their objective as SDG reinforcements arrived just as the Militia were leaving.


My second company of militia arrived around the same time. I sent them in to help hold the objective being held my the first company, just in case some SDG reinforcements arrived at that end of the table…


The carnage at the SDG compound. Some of their reinforcements arrived and tried to make it to the compound incase the Regulars with the APCs failed their last morale check and left. At the end of the game the reinforcements hadn’t arrived but the Regulars were still there and holding the objective.


The carnage at the southern objective. Groupe Mobile No. One was shot up pretty badly by the SDG reinforcements and called it a day. The SDG took some losses themselves, however, and failed two morale checks. Groupe Mobile No. Two arrived as reinforcements on their first turn on the board the SDG mortars blew up one of their truck and one of the infantry stands in it. That very truck, however, gave a single extreme long-range burst from its MG, which killed on mortar team and pinned two other stands. This was enough to cause a morale check, which they failed, and caused them to leave the battle. The game ended before I could get to the objective however.

Adding up the victory points

F.A.R.T. (attacker)
3d6 roll= 15, +20 for the objective I held (the supply dump), + 20 for the two units I forced to rout and, +3 for being fair and honest throughout the game for a total of 58…

S.D.G. (defender)
5d6 roll= 19, +5 for the objective held (compound), +40 for the two units destroyed/routed, +3 for being fair and honest throughout the game, +3 for being very lucky several times in the game, (no +1 for being named Rob while defending..?!) for a total of 70…

A difference of 12 indicates “ a clear victory to the world’s press”

It was a fun game and very close. Had it lasted another turn or two Groupe Mobile No. Two could have been on their objective for another 30 victory points. If the SDG regulars with the APC had failed a third morale test (they made a couple just barely) that would have been one less objective held for the SDG and one more unit wiped out for me…

Despite being a victory in the world press, with the losses from the raid and knowing their compound has been compromised the SDG will probably be going into hiding for a bit. Perhaps they’ll even slip across the border and cause trouble elsewhere for.

That doesn’t mean the trouble is over for the F.A.R.T. however. There’s trouble brewing on it’s Eastern border with the Republic of Zutu. There are rumours about that the Western Horse Infantry of Zutu (W.H.I.Z.) has been deploying to the area and may be preparing for an invasion of Timbogo’s oil-rich eastern region…. We shall see (when Mr. Miller finished painting his new force…)