More Vimy Project Planning

As I mentioned in the previous post I am back to working on the Vimy Project. Little has changed since I set out a plan to get it done two years ago (the last time I thought about getting this project going again) – except now I’m going to squish everything I’d planned to do in three years into one.

No problem.

Actually taking stock of things yesterday I figured out I have about 40 battalions of stuff to paint up – There are four in the 3rd Division, eight in the 1^st Division, and all twelve of the 2^nd Division. There are four more in the 4^th that I never finished up because they weren’t involved in the actual attack on Vimy (as they were being held in reserve for an attack on “The Pimple” the following day), which I may or may not finish for April. There are also, I think two British battalions on loan from 5^th British Division that were operating in the 2^nd Canadian Division’s sector that I need to paint up. On the German side I have four German Regiments that I need to cast and paint up toys for (3 battalions each, for a total of 12).

I have 48 weeks to go, so I don’t see all the painting as insurmountable. Painting a battalion (or two) of 15 figures in a week would be no problem for me. Mind you, there are some Brigade/Divisional staff and guns and crews and such to paint as well… Still ONE battalion, plus some guns and stuff each week…. still very doable.

Then there is the terrain…. That will be a LOT of work, but I should be able to set aside a good chunk of the summer to get most of that done.

I think the trick is to not try to do too much all at once – especially right now! May and the first few weeks of June are just batsh!t cRaZy. We have so much going on with the skewl year wrapping up; rehearsals, recitals, finishing up projects before our yearend portfolio review… it would be mad to take on much right now, and it would probably end up discouraging me and setting me further back. So for now I am committing to get one battalion (plus some other stuff) done each week for the next two months. Also I could work towards cleaning out the basement so I have space to set up and actually work on terrain and play test the scenarios when it’s done.

In July and August I’ll try and get the bulk of the terrain building done. That would just leave me having to finish up painting the figures through the fall and winter. (and working on another somewhat related project… but more on that in a bit…)

That brings us to September… and ToonCon. I had said I was going to do something at ToonCon. But I also said I wasn’t going to work on planning stuff for any other games. Then I got this Idea: REGINA TRENCH. The Weekend of Tooncon will be just before the 100^th anniversary of the battle of Thiepval Ridge on the Somme – where the Canadians had their first crack at Regina Trench. I know… I know… This will require building MORE terrain! But I think it will be a relatively easy thing to build and I may just build it out of some generic modular trench terrain sections that could be used for any other trench battlefields on the western front – I’ve been meaning to do something like that for a while.

As for the 13^th Annual Wargaming Birthday bash in February (2017)… Well, it’s likely not going to be a skirmish campaign like this year. I’m thinking I might play Vimy By Divisions. If I have the terrain completed and enough figures I could play the battle on each Division’s front separately throughout the weekend.

I guess I'll need to rent a hall to set it all up on the day. Luckly 9 April 2017 falls on a Sunday, so I can do it ON the actual anniversary and be reasonably sure at least a FEW people should be able to show up.

I guess I need to find some people to show up and PLAY the game! When I ran the 4th Division game at Mayday 2007, I ran the Germans (with the help of Will!) and had four Canadian players - each taking half a brigade. I'll probably need 4-6 helpers just to run the Germans, and another 12 players if I gave each player a full brigade.

And After…?

Well since I have all the figures, I could build some terrain for Passchendaele (or use some modular trenches) to play at Tooncon in September of 2017… Maybe do some games of the last 100 days in 1918…?

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – to finish up the 9^th Brigade.

(If you missed it, I posted the Royal Canadian Regiment yesterday

Royal Canadian Regiment

The Royal Canadian Regiment was the only Permanent Force infantry unit in Canada when war broke out in 1914. Shortly thereafter they were shipped to Bermuda to replace the British garrison. They arrived in France in October of 1915 and joined the 7^th Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 3^rd Canadian Division. Also In the 7^th Brigade were the 49^th (Edmonton) Battalion, 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada), and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (which I have yet to paint).

These, as with all the figures in the 7^th Brigade, are from Great War Miniatures.

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

The Royal Canadian Regiment – ready for action at Vimy Ridge.

Detail of the Royal Canadian Regiment – the grey rectangle of the Third Canadian Division surmounted by a green circle – green for the senior brigade in the division, circle for the senior battalion in the brigade.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

I’m already working on Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – to finish off the 7^th Canadian Infantry Brigade… hopefully I will have them up by weekend’s end. Then it will be on to the 9^th Brigade  - which has three more battalions to finish up , and then I will be finished the entire 3^rd division! 

Assorted Extra Great War Canadians

Along with painting up the Royal Canadian Regiment (which I’ll be posting pictures of in a separate post shortly after this) I painted up a few other odd extra bits this past week. All of the figures are from Great War Miniatures. Some will likely be Brigade and Divisional officers… some are just spare infantrymen that I had and decided to paint up for giggles.

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

These chaps will form the 9th Brigade or 3^rd Division’s command elements.

These are just some spare infantrymen that Terry passed along to me. I don’t actually need them for any of the units I have, but I painted them up just the same…

A solitary spare German infantryman.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

The Royal Canadian Regiment 

Guaiacan Commandoes

Guaiacan is a fairly sparsely populated planet in the Goschvac system. It is a warm and wet world and slightly larger than most inhabited worlds of the Imperium. Vast forests of very dense hardwoods cover most of the surface that isn’t open water. The wood of these trees is sought after throughout the Imperium – both for it’s beauty and it’s strength and durability. Most of the population is involved in the forestry industry in one way or another.

Guaiacan is far from the troubled spots of the Imperium and has known nothing but tranquil peace for millennia. That does not mean they are unaware of their extreme good fortune and the cost of maintaining this undisturbed existence. Though the total population has been maintained in the tens of millions, every generation Guaiacan tithes a regiment of 10,000 of it’s best to the Astra Militarum.

The Guiacan excel at Light Infantry, Reconnaissance and Commando raiding tactics – especially in jungle or forest environments. They are capable of operating at length behind enemy lines for extended periods. Imperial commanders knowledgeable of these assets have used them to great affect in many campaigns on forest or jungle worlds to regions. Guaiacan regiments under command of those who are ignorant of their particular skill and see only their numbers have almost always met with inglorious, tragic ends, fed into the slaughter in pointless wave attacks.

The Regiments are organized into 10 “Commandos” of approximately 1000 soldiers each. #1 Commando is the Headquarters and Support Commando, containing the Regiment’s command and signals, supply, and medical staff. #2-#7 Commando are the “Fighting” Commandoes that do the bulk of the work “at the sharp end”. The “Fighting” Commandos are divided into ten squadrons of approximately 100 soldiers, which are divided into Troops of varying sizes, depending on their combat roles. #8-#10 are Reserve commandos made up of the younger members of the Regiment – those recruited just before the Tithing – which will ultimately supply replacements to the Fighting Commandos as they suffer losses.

The Fighitng Commandos are largely independent units with organiccombat support elements. Within the Commandos, organizations are largely administrative as the Guaiacan are always very adaptable and have a highly flexible command structure and will switch elements about depending on the nature of the operations.

Here is one possible organization of a Guaiacan Commando Squadron.

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

An entire Guiacan Commando force ready for action. Most of the models (except where otherwise noted) are from Games Workshop. They are © and ™ Games Workshop and painted by myself and posted here entirely without their permission.

Head Quarters Elements

Squadron Command Section:

Company Commander with Bolt Gun

Veteran Guardsman/Commando with Heavy Flamer

Veteran Guardsman/Commando Medic

Veteran Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Mortar

(91 points)

The Guaiacan are deeply religious people and their faith in the Emperor is unwavering. They are often accompanied in battle by  Ministorium Priests. The figures are actually Black Tree Design Dark Age Monks converted  with some gen-u-ine GW Imperial Guard bitz. (The Codex says I can have 3 @ 25… I have four… so 100 points)

Commando Sergeant Anders (as Sly Marbo)

(Actually in the latest Astra Militarum Codex Sly Marbo has been deleted from the force options… but I still have the figure – and the previous Imperial Guard Codex – so I might field him for giggles from time to time. Unfortunately I cannot LOCATE that older Codex at this time, so I’m not entirely sure how ).

I have a number of other Headquarter elements I could add to the force that aren’t pictured here… Commissars, Regimental Advisors (Astropath, Master of Ordinance, Officer of the Fleet), Primaris Psyker, Enginseers, etc… They are usually not Guaiacan (and some of them aren’t painted yet… and as the jungle fighters aren’t the only Imperial Guard I have, those that have been painted are generally painted in a more generic scheme rather than the jungle camouflage)

Troops

Veteran Commando Section –independent squads of some of the more experienced Commandos often given taskings of their own under direct control of the Company Commander.

10 Veteran Guardsmen  plus two grenade Launchers and a Heavy Weapons Team with Lascannon.
(90 points)

This squad is made up of older "Rogue Trader" era Guardsmen I happen to have kicking around for 25+ years... They have all been stripped of their original paint-jobs and repainted in recent years.

Number One (Assault) Troop

Number One (Assault) Troop Command Section

Troop Commander with Power First and Bolt Gun

Guardsman/Commando with Heavy Flamer

Guardsman/Commando with Sniper Rifle

Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Auto Cannon

(78 points)

Number One Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Flamer

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(71 points)

Number Two Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Grenade launcher

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(71 points)

One of the Guardsman/Commandos in this section is a Copplestone Castings Future War Trooper that’s been converted – There just aren’t enough female Guardsmen out there so I had to make a few of my own…

Number Three (Demolition) Section

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns and Demolition Charges

(90 points)

Number Four (Light Anti-Armour) Section

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

2 Guardsman/Commando with Plasma Guns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Melta Gun

(70 points)

Number Two (Assault) Troop

Number Two (Assault) Troop Command Section

Troop Commander with Power First and Bolt Gun

Guardsman/Commando with Heavy Flamer

Guardsman/Commando with Sniper Rifle

Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Lascannon

(88 points)

Number One Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Laspistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Grenade Launcher

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(71 points)

Again, one of the Guardsman/Commandos in this section is a Copplestone Castings Future War Trooper that’s been converted.

Number Two Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Melta Gun

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(75 points)

Number Three (Demolition) Section

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns and Demolition Charges

(90 points)

Number Four (Light Anti-Armour) Section

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

2 Guardsman/Commando with Plasma Guns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Melta Gun

(70 points)

Number Three (Support) Troop

Number Three (Support) Troop Command Section

Troop Commander with Power First and Laspistol

Guardsman/Commando with Heavy Flamer

Guardsman/Commando with Sniper Rifle

Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Lascannon

(82 points)

Number One Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with lasistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Flamer

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(70 points)

Number Two Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword (Close Combat Weapon)

6 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Flamer

1 Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Missile Launcher

(71 points)

Number Three (Sniper) Section

3 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

3 Guardsman/Commando with Sniper Rifles

(36 points)

Number Four (Heavy Support) Section

3 Commando Heavy Weapon Teams with Heavy Bolters

(75 points)

Number Four (Reserve) Troop

Reserve Troops aren’t part of regular commando forces. The Reserve Commandos are made up of the younger, less experienced members of the Regiment that were likely recruited just before the Tithing. They are generally only fielded as part of a Commando force when the opposition is expected to be light, in order to give the Reserve Commando members some actual combat experience, or when the situation is desperate and all available bodies are needed to be thrown into the fray!

They are generally more lightly armed and often carry a locally produced (on Guaiacan)  older pattern Lasgun.

The figures are mostly old I-Kore Void figures that were among the first of all these “Jungle Fighter” figures I picked up – back when I was using them in a Savage Worlds campaign as Morgan’s Mauraders – a rival mercenary unit that the players force often ended up being hired by their opponents. 

Number Four (Reserve) Troop Command Section

Troop Commander with Power First and Laspistol

2 Guardsman/Commando with Laspistols

Guardsman/Commando Heavy Weapons Team with Mortar

(35 points)

Number One (Reserve) Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Laspistol and Close Combat Weapon

9 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Flamer

 (55 points)

Number Two (Reserve) Commando Section

Commando Sergeant with Laspistol and Close Combat Weapon

9 Guardsman/Commando with Lasguns

1 Guardsman/Commando with Flamer

 (55 points)

Elites

Elements of Abhuman REgiments are often semi-permanently attached to the Guaiacan Regiments to offer some support and tactical flexibility.

Ogryn Section – an attached squad of abhumans.

Ogryn Bone ‘Ed with 3 Ogryn (170 points)

Ratling Sniper Section – another attached squad of abhumans

5 Ratling Snipers (50 Points)

Fast Attack

Scout Sentinel (and a dismounted Vehicle Crewman)

(35 points)

I have a second Sentinel to build at some point... but that's not going to be any time this year, so I thought I'd go ahead and post pictures of the "Complete Force" without it... 

Extras

These are a few spare/left-over figures I have. If I decided to use vox casters I could add these to the Company or Troop Command section in place of on of the special weapon Guardsmen…?

So it looks like in total I could field up to 1795 points with ALL of the above elements. If I were going for maximum points I could also include a commissar (+25 points), Regimental Advisors (Astropath +25 Points, Master of Ordinance + 20 points, Officer of the Fleet + 20 points), a Primaris Psyker (+50-75 points, depending of level of Mastery), an Enginseer (+40 points). I could also give all of the Missile Teams Flakk Missiles (@10 points each) and give Melta Bombs to most leaders (@5 points each). This could easily tip me over 2000 points... 

The Boy is nearing completion of his Ork Force and the Girl occasionally paints a few Eldar (she recently picked up a troop of Harlequins and will likely get to painting those soon-sih). When they complete their forces I’ll post some pictures of them.

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

The Royal Canadian Regiment

I’m Back

These last few weeks have I’ve been in a bit of a existential crisis… It’s a long, boring story… The short version of the bits relevant to this blog and my hobby time in general is this: I have decided to recommit to The Vimy Project. I started the project over NINE YEARS AGO… and got a lot of stuff done… but then lost steam and let it slide… Two Years Ago I did some planning, thinking I’d try and get going on it again… but again got distracted by other things. As the one-year-to-go to the 100^th anniversary of the battle came and went a few weeks back I got thinking about it (and other things going on in my life) and after a bit of back and forth decided to try and go ahead with it.

What this means for me at this point is basically I will have to DROP EVERYTHING and remain laser-focused on the project for the next 333 days – as I have a LOT to do! So I will not be buying any new games, reading any new rules, planning campaigns or building terrain or painting miniatures for anything other than the Great War. All the miniatures on the workbench I was working on for Lion Rampant and Dragon Rampant and A Song of Blades and Heroes and Frostgrave and En Garde! and 40K have been squirreled away in boxes for next year!

That’s not to say I won’t be PLAYING any other games at all… I’ll probably get in a few games of these other games over the year – in fact I really HOPE I do (and maybe even get to posting some game reports! But I won’t be planning campaigns or painting new stuff for them – If someone else organizes it, I’ll play with the toys I already have (which is quite a few, really..)

(oh, and I have pre-ordered a few new games – mostly Osprey ones - Men Who Would Be Kings, Pikeman’s Lament, Broken Legions, Horizon Wars, and others – but as they arrive, they’ll likely just be put on the shelf and I will try my very best to ignore them until next year…)

In the meantime I did finish up a few last items on the workbench over the last week or so, before I put everything away…

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

Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega. Jules is from  Copplestone Castings, and Vincent is from a Wargames Foundry.

A couple of lads from Pulp Figures

Two middle eastern types from Reaper Miniatures.

The rest are from Games Workshop. They are © and ™ Games Workshop and painted by myself and posted here entirely without their permission. This is the very last of the Imperial Guard Jungle Fighters that I have… I may actually post some pictures of the whole group some time this week…

Heavy Bolters

“Doc”

Heavy Flamers

Sergeant and a couple of Grunts.

Signallers (the aerials broke off one, so I replaced them with a bit of wire and Green Stuff…)

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Great War Canadians! (or perhaps some pics of my completed Imperial Guard force…) and more on the plans for the coming year!

Wait, Out.

We are currently experiencing a temporary existential  crisis.

Please stand by.

One Halfling (Finishing Up a Unit!)

I finished one Halfling last night… but that finished off a unit… so…

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

One Halfling from Casting Room Miniatures. He looks like he’s on watch duty, but he will also serve as part of the Halfling Hollow Defence Committee Militia unit of spear.

Well I also added some shields to these guys I painted just over a year ago (to make them look just a tad more formidable… or something approaching formidable… or at least less like s squishy speed bump…).

The entire Halfling Hollow Defence Committee Militia Spear Unit. In  Dragon Rampant they will be classed as Light Foot (3 points). I was thinking I could give them the Short Range Missiles upgrade (to give them the ability to pick up stones and chuck them at an approaching enemy!)… we shall see…

The rest of the Halfling Hollow Defence Committee Militia will be a mix of Light Missile (which may or may not have the Sharpshooter upgrade… though I’m thinking I might leave that one to Elves… I don’t want the Halflings to be TOO effective!) and a few Scouts and/or Hordes.

I have a bunch of Halflings armed with short swords and I’d originally thought I’d use in mixed units of Light Foot… but then thought those might be a little too good. Looking at the overall effect off the units, they should be pretty weak… I was thinking I’d add Fearful… but that would make them so cheap I’d need even MORE of them! And I figured they’d mostly be fighting to defend their realm from outside invaders and raiders and would likely be pretty spirited in that defence…

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Probably more fantasy stuff.