Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Hoagie on February 18, 2025, 09:48:15 PM
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Okay, so I'm very happy to have found this forum, and as a step in trying to get off certain social media apps I'm getting back into "old internet", i.e forums and blogs. I'm also ressurrecting my until recently rather inactive blog for this purpose, have a peek for my almost finished 10mm GNW horse&musket project.
As a long time fan of Warwick Kinrade's excellent ww2 ruleset Battlegroup, I was very much intrigued by his latest ruleset Nam'68. It sure reads like something I haven't tried before, especially the way it creates non-symmetrical battles.
It will be some time before I'm ready to set up a game. I don't have any suitable jungle terrain pieces lying around, tho I'm slowly working on trying to rectify that. What I have finished is a fire team of US infantry, and a handful of Vietcong fighters, with more on the way. For Nam'68, that's enough figures to get a game going. I've never been closer to start a project in 20mm scale (so many great options for the Vietnam war), but I eventually went with Flames of war's 15mm 'Nam range, as they are reasonably easy to get a hold on in the EU. With that said I'm also pleasantly surprised by their quality, great looking sculpts all around!
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7MnnaNZupAUp6Bl9ZVL5JZ2UQM0dkq6zlpGXEymOdG7yaZCJB-XJerE0-JhCP2Y9BlBvVLBssqRZwjDrCW7oFQcP_SChgzHRXNhKuPiASwcRkobtQaFV4aK2HHtN4fxBe4_uuvCPVqssfpFFrFUbxW1zvjLRs-fE1oi1urD4NGVm4qkJE8m5J_5RkmQ/s3486/_DSC6013_edited.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFKJYvU3ZwosB_IBjdmLTQft_Z7t-0ya_uVxOyp_rjLm3fnQJdxtHpW026swotzE99IMhr-LsMDV5nsRY77Q4DIe2DDwO1oEJ-c4cp30GHgdMEjj35ybKPztoScTurRBaLBiP5eZxY34DSy6BLi_YMd5eEgZEt2dLXZMi1hqEOQo9Hg/s1600/1739270548348276-2.png)
I've always loved the look of the Sikorsky H-34, so while the rules only gives specific stats for Hueys', this lil' guy will do the airlifting in USMC based games. As I haven't found suitable plastic model kit in 1/100 scale (there are ones in 1/87 which I may well get at some point), I got a friend to 3d print one for me. Decals come from https://helicopter-decals.de/
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn0tByKUWct406Nv9Mf2lpMXMSU_Zn4amsooPQcvYJJxycZXBVO2mZTdW2ATzjq1_siqt4Cx7IsV_UfZeU0nKB7bab8wNnIIS8hnxhggSAvmNwqa-Brs1nLnx6-DHzsa1BgRxoImVqp5rVya6c_wWJuecKEZJImNTtITHMsV91KiLfQ/s1600/20250214_115332.jpg)
For my painting recipes, Michael Farnworth's book "Modeling and painting Vietnam Wargames" has been very useful, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwld9Wkf2y0m1epIyjxXVajzYS3naHXZrWyjSXl1K7UZRpDsSZZX1Vxzl9qKd340qiemQa8MNKk1x9kdoX2c53Z7SNpuSaMQ03mKPLxiR2rK8lbW_fRuSqjJBwwv8hrdTPrzuA-GctaVpoomUOdzXeXtbYt-31DnyTQAq6PNcnDxc4qw/s1600/1739270532413242-6.png)
That's it, for now. I'll try to come back soon with more finished figures.
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Beautiful work on those! I hope you post more photos as you go.
I love the H-34 you’ve done. I built a similar H-34 for my 28mm marines, only to realize that the model kit may be a bit too fragile for gaming and the rotors keep snapping off. I’m mulling over some more durable remedies for that.
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Thank you! To be honest I'm quite pleased myself, it has quite inspiring to get into a (for me) completely new wargaming era, with new uniforms, new history to sink my teeth into. Annoytingly enough I'm out of plastic 20mm bases atm, and so has a bunch of finished minis who only needs basing lying on the table.
On the subject of rotors breaking of, to be fair they shouldn't be visible on a running helicopter, if you can see them while in a hot LZ you're in trouble. The 3d printed ones I got with the 3d print are neither straight nor sturdy, so I might make my own in plasticard. We'll see.
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Love it! My favourite period in my favourite scale :)
I've been trying to get hold of a copy of that book for a while now, but the website has gone dark, and the only place I've seen a off seems dodgy as all out...
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I got Modelling Vietnam Wargames from Caliver Books who is the UK publisher of it nowadays, which a serious business and very good, their webpage is a bit... vintage.
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....The number of Times I've tried the search engine on there and not found it...
Now.. One look.. and there.
Sheesh. Still, thats ordered now.. so... Yay!
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I thought you could strengthen the fragile blades of the model helicopter by gluing metal spokes of stiff thin wire to the underside. If you have the right skills, you could even cut a groove for them on the underside with an engraving machine. Or cut a circle of a suitable diameter from a transparent material, like plexiglass, which would represent the rotating blades in action.
https://scalemodels-ru.translate.goog/articles/3981-imitacija-vrashhenija-vinta--video.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=wapp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIbJhgxthRY
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Or cut a circle of a suitable diameter from a transparent material, like plexiglass, which would represent the rotating blades in action.
Thank you for the video, this is definitely something I've considered!
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I used transparency material printed with a blurred rotor blade in motion design. Here's a pic:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdQn9Lfm3kOhARdtGF_JBVK3EsusLoVTIXs798aAkOjheIxG4T2BulPMm-vqWhJSPnIZBcWZrcaH2dFt97QuKkt4Z84exhPa2gn4VmMfStONTTiu4rKO62_xBoRuNBQZd0Ax4QICPK8Qb6ofRyY5oHpLo90ONWxbJVDXNAJ6xxaNujob4Al0PmT8x/w612-h640/DayCon2022%2005Arrival%20Mercs.jpg)
Mike Demana
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Looks good so far. We just finished the 2nd game in our Nam '68 Tour of Duty - see my "Vietnam Stuff" thread...
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Progress is slow as always but I finally got the UH-34 in the photo booth, as well as two prone VC fighters. I find the VC use of all black clothing quite considerate, a pleasant reprieve from Peadot and Denison smocks.
(http://i.imgur.com/cdDlcvD.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/cdDlcvD.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4hnPW7E.jpg) (https://imgur.com/4hnPW7E)
(http://i.imgur.com/YNmSxs9.jpg) (https://imgur.com/YNmSxs9)
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Looks good so far. Keep at it!
Love that King Bee....
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Progress has been slower than usual as a shipment containing bases has been delayed since early february. Peter Pig on the other hand, ships lightning fast, fantastic service as usual. (if only they could get some more EU friendly shipping or EU stockist).
As you can see, Indochina scenery is in the pipeline. I haven't seen these painted up, so I would appreciate any tips for links with that.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xN7nteeKL2pMXEmZ-AYlxY-le7GN2cUCWpE6SVtGXoZWK3awLRCaFGizgBKMMJTSdwipgrMQxWsDabWfILy0csGBclGUVIhhLZTIIQmDi_ZMACATtvAWGG0GCA6siQGSWmPa4PQ2NhqK298rr_WtMyqnPvLx4wZEzmJJpkUjBqabOQ/s1600/signal-2025-05-01-134321_002.jpeg)
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Finally got around to basing a few Vietcong fighters I painted ages ago, still issues with an order I put in back in january that hasn't been sent, including a lot of plastic bases I was planning on using for this project. >:( Anyway, I've resigned to go with metal washers for now though I find them just a smidge to thin to easily pick up for skirmish level play but eh, one can always go back and rebase them later.
Next up is basing another batch of US and after that it's civilians. The weather has at last proceeded into spray can season here in the frozen north, so there will be terrain to come too.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaJDtC796lyAPQ7Es9xou4RmoM5hwYnofVYgSTp9AeQvWVVdxnTAgjJM11J5xiNnVBH7O06hg7JlSRJl2BqU5ft_Ol1cHiaV5NBD3m41qqbOgKtP0mILqJiLvM4a49UsX0TuuRmPq_NgfnzEj9nj5ATvfrU8N-6CGRz82GWddy6SGBQ/s1600/1747605036305850-1.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaJDtC796lyAPQ7Es9xou4RmoM5hwYnofVYgSTp9AeQvWVVdxnTAgjJM11J5xiNnVBH7O06hg7JlSRJl2BqU5ft_Ol1cHiaV5NBD3m41qqbOgKtP0mILqJiLvM4a49UsX0TuuRmPq_NgfnzEj9nj5ATvfrU8N-6CGRz82GWddy6SGBQ/s1600/1747605036305850-1.png)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn75-Acv8L8UJc8gKQ5yfoJ_LbC084ArscbHRmp5dz3e5mh2T72dfznx7tdjaGNeTZE4G3b7yjswhKJibjp78nnGsBeWdpF09c02QHJ2_TZBNpd4YRCIZSzLb42HPgvBoE9mhBV5sZN4yUNbigsfAkuiqUNuuczM5XF3kwFrXdaiffrw/s1600/1747605040140347-0.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn75-Acv8L8UJc8gKQ5yfoJ_LbC084ArscbHRmp5dz3e5mh2T72dfznx7tdjaGNeTZE4G3b7yjswhKJibjp78nnGsBeWdpF09c02QHJ2_TZBNpd4YRCIZSzLb42HPgvBoE9mhBV5sZN4yUNbigsfAkuiqUNuuczM5XF3kwFrXdaiffrw/s1600/1747605040140347-0.png)
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These are looking great! I'm moving along on my project with you in a parallel, 28mm universe... :D
Mike Demana
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Progress is slow as always but I finally got the UH-34 in the photo booth, as well as two prone VC fighters. I find the VC use of all black clothing quite considerate, a pleasant reprieve from Peadot and Denison smocks.
(http://i.imgur.com/cdDlcvD.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/cdDlcvD.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4hnPW7E.jpg) (https://imgur.com/4hnPW7E)
(http://i.imgur.com/YNmSxs9.jpg) (https://imgur.com/YNmSxs9)
Where did you find the 15mm UH-34? It looks great!
All your figures are Peter Pig?
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These are looking great! I'm moving along on my project with you in a parallel, 28mm universe... :D
Mike Demana
Thank you Mike! It's been a great surprise to me as well as inspiring that there are quite a few Vietnam projects ongoing like yours! :)
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Where did you find the 15mm UH-34? It looks great!
All your figures are Peter Pig?
Thank you, I was quite pleased with it! I had a friend 3d print it for me off a free stl I found on wargaming3d. It's decently detailed for 15mm scale but it's the decals that really made it pop.
The decals are from: https://helicopter-decals.de/ (https://helicopter-decals.de/)
STL: https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/sikorsky-h-34-helicopter (https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/sikorsky-h-34-helicopter)
I have later found out that there is a 1:87/H0 scale plastic model kit H34 from Airpower87 that is commercially available, at least in Europe, that I might buy and build for the fun of it. It might work or it might look a bit too big or brittle for wargaming use.
I'm mixing figs from Battlefront/Flames of war 'Nam and Peter Pig. The Battlefront Vietnam era US infantry (apparently they did two different runs of models, I'm talking about the later one, the "old" sculpts are sold as ARVN nowadays) might be one of their absolute best metal sets, fantastic sculpts and great poses all around. Peter Pig is always my go to for a second supply of 15mm figs to vary up the poses.
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Thanks Hoagie!
I had some of the FoW first run VN stuff, and the headlamp stars on the NVA regulars were hilarious! lol
Agreed on the ARVN and US stuff though, pretty good.
Never owned Peter Pig, but I’m thinking I should try some!
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More good progress there. Well done!
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Finally got to base a bunch of the US grunts, and basically what I need for the first game apart from a vc smg team and few civilians. Miiight be the last finished minis for some time as we're having our second child literally any day now. :o
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV260Xh6fdw1xvX9BmjMoZUo7XH6RgxCPEVRDpvas766GHuZeMTKxxTiCfwBqHmMJ_qJNOnhMxMAd_0Ml7fEgls_Bs__RONm5uoGjeOKL47_y9V8lt4vQccim9j6uB7Pkyi9bHcJUTNxvL_BIduASY6gDoGkWzib-0BZtYdY_UFdzrA/s1600/US%20fireteam%201.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV260Xh6fdw1xvX9BmjMoZUo7XH6RgxCPEVRDpvas766GHuZeMTKxxTiCfwBqHmMJ_qJNOnhMxMAd_0Ml7fEgls_Bs__RONm5uoGjeOKL47_y9V8lt4vQccim9j6uB7Pkyi9bHcJUTNxvL_BIduASY6gDoGkWzib-0BZtYdY_UFdzrA/s1600/US%20fireteam%201.png)
The second fireteam
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeVIV2PlYc6N3Ltnw9utT2bGy6MBi9_h73yjCL4LLV8gW_Wo6m1MbeZrNY-cju96hH2TLFcsF_k4Bz_Ark07Tv7VMpp_u1GD2LozgUaHkGYmsF0fjpH1SmTw8RM3msOwo6XeMSrOYB06muTFj8xNLcMbcYB0TuWS7WFC3A9o37gHXKw/s1600/US%20plt%20hq%20n%20mg.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeVIV2PlYc6N3Ltnw9utT2bGy6MBi9_h73yjCL4LLV8gW_Wo6m1MbeZrNY-cju96hH2TLFcsF_k4Bz_Ark07Tv7VMpp_u1GD2LozgUaHkGYmsF0fjpH1SmTw8RM3msOwo6XeMSrOYB06muTFj8xNLcMbcYB0TuWS7WFC3A9o37gHXKw/s1600/US%20plt%20hq%20n%20mg.png)
From left: Ammo bearer, m60 gunner, Plt Sgt, RTO, Plt Leader
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Good figures and painting. What company makes these?
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Good figures and painting. What company makes these?
Thank you Louie! They are made by Battlefront/Flames of war.
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A great thread - hadnt seen some of those buildings previously
:)
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Those grunts look good. Well done!
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A great thread - hadnt seen some of those buildings previously
:)
Thank you AKULA, I think they're quite neat. I think these kinds of buildings don't do well at all as 3d prints or mdf (which seems to soon be the only options in 15mm) so I'm happy we still have Peter pig and Timecast in business for good proper resin buildings.
Those grunts look good. Well done!
Thanks Jim!
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really impressive. I wish my 15's looked as good.
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really impressive. I wish my 15's looked as good.
I checked out your blog, Mellis -- very cool. Love the bunnies... :D
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming on the Vietnam War... lol
Mike Demana
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really impressive. I wish my 15's looked as good.
Thank you Mellis, I'm glad you like them. I did try to put more effort into painting them compared to my ww2 stuff in 15mm as I'm planning on running very small games with nam68.
Another problem with 15mm is that I don't think I will be able to differentiate them enough to use without labels. I've printed these very simple labels, so for example the leader of the second fire team of 1st squad gets the label 1-2-1 etcetera.
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If you are set in your squad composition, I would use something on the flocking rather than labels. For example, 1st Squad has rocks on their bases. 2nd Squad bushes, etc. I've never been a fan of lettered labels on the backs of troop bases, but do what pleases you. It's your game!
Mike Demana
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If I want to differentiate between squads, I use different colors (greens, browns, grays, etc.) on their base rims...
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Time for a few new more VC models, mainly freedom fighters with smg's. I haven't really found proper VC's with smgs in 15mm, so I had to improvise a bit. The lad with the slightly oversized mp40 is a Peter Pig vc sapper, the rest are actually from the Montagnard range. The last guy to the right is a VC nco, but he'll work double shifts as an infiltrator with pistol when I'll need him to.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWgfTT97tGkgBUpXHYVBy1dCtMgHIi54jvu1WjvKhX_JeqeEwaUYBQccPxoBRZtHflvtDGfMNl9MO4CaR4ypvWF_YnCIJ19ZVKc_0T24Qc-UiatGeoqvhR9lRE2smrt8X-xIpnIo-fitEC643DQfA_B5HmbPVxc59zT2xwZO6_fOVpg/s1600/1750064194154124-1.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWgfTT97tGkgBUpXHYVBy1dCtMgHIi54jvu1WjvKhX_JeqeEwaUYBQccPxoBRZtHflvtDGfMNl9MO4CaR4ypvWF_YnCIJ19ZVKc_0T24Qc-UiatGeoqvhR9lRE2smrt8X-xIpnIo-fitEC643DQfA_B5HmbPVxc59zT2xwZO6_fOVpg/s1600/1750064194154124-1.png)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXE77uVZIJRXnEgT_rEy-hPN2QFxCs0qHPhhbl38SXkIawh11SlKtQMTxgJ2BxdDRNOLfWpwBtUr7YtKzKxOK8RmkVgYWfhHCBu6JCTUMsikv207XVVyS9L6eCDxxushp7uUa4RZ60dXKdTQ8fdm292zJMtSmVzSjpAbL0eL-Dcz21A/s1600/1750064199041141-0.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXE77uVZIJRXnEgT_rEy-hPN2QFxCs0qHPhhbl38SXkIawh11SlKtQMTxgJ2BxdDRNOLfWpwBtUr7YtKzKxOK8RmkVgYWfhHCBu6JCTUMsikv207XVVyS9L6eCDxxushp7uUa4RZ60dXKdTQ8fdm292zJMtSmVzSjpAbL0eL-Dcz21A/s1600/1750064199041141-0.png)
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If you are set in your squad composition, I would use something on the flocking rather than labels. For example, 1st Squad has rocks on their bases. 2nd Squad bushes, etc. I've never been a fan of lettered labels on the backs of troop bases, but do what pleases you. It's your game!
Mike Demana
I do something similar. Different coloured tufts.
Really nice work on those 15mm figures. :-*
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... the rest are actually from the Montagnard range. The last guy to the right is a VC nco, but he'll work double shifts as an infiltrator with pistol when I'll need him to.
Drat, that is an excellent idea, noted those down for my own collection and the next order.
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I do something similar. Different coloured tufts.
Really nice work on those 15mm figures. :-*
Thank you Carlos!
Drat, that is an excellent idea, noted those down for my own collection and the next order.
Thanks, I think it turned out quite well! You can make almost anything look VC with black "pyjamas" and a red scarf (I know Vietnamese scarfs are traditionally white and black, but try paint that in 15mm...) The only fig I'm not completely happy with is the guy with the cap, it's not my favourite sculpt, and the baseball cap doesn't really breathe communist freedom fighter lol
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Just paint it red. Make Annam Great Again. ;)
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They look good. Maybe that cap is a battlefield trophy....
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These all look really good.
The H-34 decals do really make it pop, I have some prints of that model but just plain green finish...
I think i'll invest in the decals they really do finish it off nicely.
Tim
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Just paint it red. Make Annam Great Again. ;)
Hey now lol
They look good. Maybe that cap is a battlefield trophy....
Imdeed, and could also easily be any infiltrating vc during Hue or the embassy storming.... I have a vision of ending a tour with a guns blazing urban fight in Hue(setting the campaign to start in 1967 but I'm sure that still works out).
These all look really good.
The H-34 decals do really make it pop, I have some prints of that model but just plain green finish...
I think i'll invest in the decals they really do finish it off nicely.
Tim
Thank you, and please post the final result! You got the link to the decals, right?
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Time for a few new more VC models, mainly freedom fighters with smg's. I haven't really found proper VC's with smgs in 15mm, so I had to improvise a bit. The lad with the slightly oversized mp40 is a Peter Pig vc sapper, the rest are actually from the Montagnard range. The last guy to the right is a VC nco, but he'll work double shifts as an infiltrator with pistol when I'll need him to.
Have you considered https://eurekaminuk.com/collections/viet-minh for SMG armed troops?
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Time for a few new more VC models, mainly freedom fighters with smg's. I haven't really found proper VC's with smgs in 15mm, so I had to improvise a bit. The lad with the slightly oversized mp40 is a Peter Pig vc sapper, the rest are actually from the Montagnard range. The last guy to the right is a VC nco, but he'll work double shifts as an infiltrator with pistol when I'll need him to.
Have you considered https://eurekaminuk.com/collections/viet-minh for SMG armed troops?
That's a good shout Stevie, I know that range exist, and might well get myself a set of french and vietminh at some point, but right now it's a bit too expensive to get a parcel from the UK to the EU just for those smg figs, I'd need to make a larger order.... hmmm...
If you have one of those painted up I'd love to see it!
EDIT: hm Eureka actually has a pretty good and EU-friendly shipping price...
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nice work on those 15mm VC :)
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Thank you AKULA!
I've finished the last of the current batch of vc figures, very much a bits and pieces set. I Will have to go back and finish up a few more SKS and bolt action riflemen, but for now I have a few of each type of gun that can come into play early-ish.
Next up is terrain, civilians and the US second squad. But we'll see how quick I can work through that, as of course we go into summer vacation mode, which entails... going outside... :'(
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZFJheJiS7ODP_SS6ESPSoc72tQnYJ5_kqwQ7HctEyCfTNsZjih_zIkU8YnAIn7X8D9_648bn_CxM0CIhpwjT5z-_N5-UFjjfr2ex3RGqexV5xhZ40m5VHtWnQq-fIFzCMezHAp5BK5xUCSpTHC_U3WZI7jAEYBeM8vYXQx6IQUEmBw/s1600/1750591889630947-0.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZFJheJiS7ODP_SS6ESPSoc72tQnYJ5_kqwQ7HctEyCfTNsZjih_zIkU8YnAIn7X8D9_648bn_CxM0CIhpwjT5z-_N5-UFjjfr2ex3RGqexV5xhZ40m5VHtWnQq-fIFzCMezHAp5BK5xUCSpTHC_U3WZI7jAEYBeM8vYXQx6IQUEmBw/s1600/1750591889630947-0.png)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQTC3ShTGY7R-vbzdd-LThuSG0l7aGTu-I0_XMBwuLqL4nOozjdBGqgDyNgCPYyjpsMdaXQvn9AOp2ccE8Akgz-DvNvMHZpiTX1kxHpTNgXAFbjroBA_JIZ5FgURqDM0GKlBccK6vGPNYmt6r0LunOORXe6ynfu40byQIGkcIld4CFw/s1600/1750591884690928-1.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQTC3ShTGY7R-vbzdd-LThuSG0l7aGTu-I0_XMBwuLqL4nOozjdBGqgDyNgCPYyjpsMdaXQvn9AOp2ccE8Akgz-DvNvMHZpiTX1kxHpTNgXAFbjroBA_JIZ5FgURqDM0GKlBccK6vGPNYmt6r0LunOORXe6ynfu40byQIGkcIld4CFw/s1600/1750591884690928-1.png)
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That is boo coo numbah one VC, my friend! Your project is going to look fantastic on the tabletop!!
Mike Demana
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Dem fellers be lookin' good, too!
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That is boo coo numbah one VC, my friend! Your project is going to look fantastic on the tabletop!!
Mike Demana
Haha well I certainly learned something new from desperarely trying to google That vietnam war slang 😅 Thanks! It does come together quite well, I really feel the inspiration to work on it!
Dem fellers be lookin' good, too!
Thank you Capn!🫡
Just a quick update today, I'm jot bringing out the photo box for these, but I did a few casualty tokens to swap out downed figures instead of tipping them on the side. Quite happy with 'em, as usual with Peter Pig!
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Those look great, Hoagie! Sorry to mystify you with the pidgin Vietnam English. I found the best way to immerse myself in that was to read some of the excellent novels set in the war (many written by veterans). Two of the best that I've read include, Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes, and Fields of Fire, by Jim Webb.
Boo coo is pidgin for the French beaucoup (much, many). Number 1 is the best, number 10 is the worst. :D lol
Do the rules you're using require casualty markers for something? I like using things that add to the look of the table instead of MDF or plastic markers saying, "Shock" or "Disordered," etc.
Mike Demana
Mike Demana
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The casualties look good. How do you plan to mark the level of wound (light, severe, dead...)?
Another good book is James R. McDonough's Platoon Leader (which was made into a movie in '88).
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Nice work on the casualties.
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Do the rules you're using require casualty markers for something? I like using things that add to the look of the table instead of MDF or plastic markers saying, "Shock" or "Disordered," etc.
Mike Demana
Yes, Nam'68 has every figure act independently and can be lightly or seriously wounded.
The casualties look good. How do you plan to mark the level of wound (light, severe, dead...)?
Another good book is James R. McDonough's Platoon Leader (which was made into a movie in '88).
I'm using tiny 5mm dice, yellow for light wound and red for serious.
Nice work on the casualties.
Thank you!
I have finally had the pleasure of running a small game of Nam'68 last thursday, and it was a blast, literally and figuratively! I'm gonna try to write up an AAR by the end of this weekend!
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Looking forward to the write up!
Mike Demana
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Looking forward to the write up!
Mike Demana
Me too!
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As previously mentioned, I finally got to run a game of Nam’68 with two mates of mine visiting the scorching hot(!) north. We rolled up a Search and sweep scenario with 5 search points, sweeping down a main road in the late evening. I gave them a reinforced squad and a M60 team (dividing the two fireteams between them and sharing the M60 team), a slap on the back and let them out into the jungle.
Oh yeah and a partly generated Mission briefing to set the scene(not necessary to read):
MISSION BRIEFING
• Date: 14 January 1968
• Location: Village of Phu Lac, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam
• Unit: 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
OBJECTIVE
Conduct a search and sweep operation in the village of Phu Lac, a small rural settlement suspected of concealing Viet Cong supply caches. The village is located approximately 12 kilometers southeast of Quang Ngai City and lies adjacent to Highway 521, a key route used for enemy logistics.
TERRAIN & FEATURES
• Phu Lac Village: 3 structures, sparsely arranged.
• Paddy Fields: Surround the village on the north and south sides; visibility is limited due to tall grass and irrigation dikes.
• Route 521: Dirt road running west to east through the centre of the village; potential for ambush or IEDs.
• Nearby Terrain: Light jungle to the west.
ENEMY SITUATION
• Expected enemy presence is low.
• Intelligence suggests possible hidden supply caches rather than active fighters.
• Civilians may be sympathetic to VC; exercise caution during interactions.
MISSION TIMELINE
• H-Hour: 1600 – Depart from Firebase Granite.
• 1630 – Arrive at Phu Lac via Highway 521.
• 1645–1900 – Conduct sweep and search of village structures and surrounding fields.
• 1900–1930 – Debrief and extraction.
COMMAND & SIGNAL
• Platoon Leader: 2LT James “Red” Howard
• Radio Call Sign: “Bravo Three”
• Company HQ Call Sign: “Bravo Actual”
• Frequency: PRC-25, Channel 3
Part 1.Initial deployment
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k1uXcF0Q91aQ-86Dh-OxgxNsgUOmDnlvHLAY_FccV4yW7Kn40ot_LAGm9a4UruW3FzQOrlcUnvFOLsA57Pbc5MSf96ITBGu_cCC30VPLopZ1-uCuYZSuOhUJtwUL-Og3D8U5uIEtJuHO_dWufXkeHriJWP1ooDGSTPXDrbQToB-YmA/s1600/Map1%20annotations.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k1uXcF0Q91aQ-86Dh-OxgxNsgUOmDnlvHLAY_FccV4yW7Kn40ot_LAGm9a4UruW3FzQOrlcUnvFOLsA57Pbc5MSf96ITBGu_cCC30VPLopZ1-uCuYZSuOhUJtwUL-Og3D8U5uIEtJuHO_dWufXkeHriJWP1ooDGSTPXDrbQToB-YmA/s1600/Map1%20annotations.png)
Taking point proceeding down “highway” 521 into the small hamlet of Phu Lac was fire team 1 lead by Sgt Harrison, with fire team 2 (Cpl Burgess) following behind. As Cpl Burgess’ team had already seen some combat attrition, being down to 3 men and of suffering morale, was reinforced by the platoon Sergeant Watts and Sp. Ellis, the platoon medic.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwb6UtApZs8Z47iiAqp-Mf7U72y2zn92rf-MbfKtZ3Ql-sDs4ej71-q42_gKDLB1khyphenhyphenvtoyo4-RVmeKMAUgRhfbpElgjR45TTwS983pchzFB_mKV974_BjqzgwiWgGrs_w7fk-X8sKmN9x16omAdOCIG27DB-JFd73ytehYcXNqRCtsA/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_007.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwb6UtApZs8Z47iiAqp-Mf7U72y2zn92rf-MbfKtZ3Ql-sDs4ej71-q42_gKDLB1khyphenhyphenvtoyo4-RVmeKMAUgRhfbpElgjR45TTwS983pchzFB_mKV974_BjqzgwiWgGrs_w7fk-X8sKmN9x16omAdOCIG27DB-JFd73ytehYcXNqRCtsA/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_007.jpeg)
The author being slow on the draw with the camera, here Pvt Stone had already taken off to search the hooch in the foreground.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBM-Hby8FAxkzjp4n9sqm0QR2C4WhOVoJrCGjclxJcIMJ-fOs04vHDwEtaLt0LjKVpatLbKhAMW-f9YvbpOGXCPcJpSybaYbxr3ESppo2JpbKAyUVyONyQXObztVAx0J1klmgpL_quxZsgH1cbpAzVFaRv6nC-Ps3mDqOlmwqeIh-sw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_002.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBM-Hby8FAxkzjp4n9sqm0QR2C4WhOVoJrCGjclxJcIMJ-fOs04vHDwEtaLt0LjKVpatLbKhAMW-f9YvbpOGXCPcJpSybaYbxr3ESppo2JpbKAyUVyONyQXObztVAx0J1klmgpL_quxZsgH1cbpAzVFaRv6nC-Ps3mDqOlmwqeIh-sw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_002.jpeg)
The reinforced second fire team.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRjmQ7VzYVMRvmzbFzKpcRwzzfcO1Q8vu_tR7ljthLV-Lu-XGLCgeoJLeuGETOvJoZI8O8voes3SVFau9yAeTF8gfW3Pf7NvH61Ogi3jpNXS34mUf8qvYxrWMAtLSwt8eD9lJo-5hvkqSe_3B1hbwCoaxrEYb1_SEDYjBTq0skZxTjg/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_003.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRjmQ7VzYVMRvmzbFzKpcRwzzfcO1Q8vu_tR7ljthLV-Lu-XGLCgeoJLeuGETOvJoZI8O8voes3SVFau9yAeTF8gfW3Pf7NvH61Ogi3jpNXS34mUf8qvYxrWMAtLSwt8eD9lJo-5hvkqSe_3B1hbwCoaxrEYb1_SEDYjBTq0skZxTjg/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_003.jpeg)
The M60 team lead by Pvt Hayes deployed in the bush to the south, taking point on a small hill looking down the village.
It's getting late here in the north, so that will be it for now. I'll try to get to the action in part 2 tomorrow.
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Lovely looking table you got there. :o
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The table looks amazing -- love it! Looking forward to part two of the report... :-*
Mike Demana
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Thanks everyone, and without further ado:
Part 2. Explosion-proof americans
Fire Team 1 quickly secured a position in the center of the village, settling into a paddy field while Pvt. Stone began searching the central hut. The calm was shattered by a sudden, loud explosion followed by a rising stack of smoke. It didn't look good from Sgt. Harrison's position.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWycV_TULH6ofgH8U-LXYvyNX9AiTo3AbsyRElD9GkdY_a1e8F89xlYwM7OyAV8DKSUDYiJ3lW2TdLx2bt30niTT_d0tX7kkRGa8vERdhgMoNun_uRtd-GyhtpH91V260rZbso8FEw_CqC_cp2dGWVewHkgrJkzCH601nkrVAGWGAw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_006.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWycV_TULH6ofgH8U-LXYvyNX9AiTo3AbsyRElD9GkdY_a1e8F89xlYwM7OyAV8DKSUDYiJ3lW2TdLx2bt30niTT_d0tX7kkRGa8vERdhgMoNun_uRtd-GyhtpH91V260rZbso8FEw_CqC_cp2dGWVewHkgrJkzCH601nkrVAGWGAw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_006.jpeg)
Fire team 2 had taken an approach northwest to investigate a large stilted longhouse. Pvt. Medina and Pvt. Hall sprinted across open ground, taking cover behind a nearby tree. Unbeknownst to them, the tree was booby-trapped with an old French 80mm mortar round. The device detonated, obliterating the tree and setting the longhouse on fire. Miraculously, Medina and Hall emerged unscathed.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5k8vgeMBesarmM8Kzv-2bcM6-IqRniu_jV90bjRdAAEDbjue_T3AyISSnTxSuaB61MxVPTsJ5PN99r1BhsQxT3vyGcgNx6l48QSK-NOKGtCRI6PLgiYfEriZdjrdd8krKWhGPCro1vfLNv8xyv8owNSyt2M7Uo_ZbYd83QzZ6fBL_g/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_004.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5k8vgeMBesarmM8Kzv-2bcM6-IqRniu_jV90bjRdAAEDbjue_T3AyISSnTxSuaB61MxVPTsJ5PN99r1BhsQxT3vyGcgNx6l48QSK-NOKGtCRI6PLgiYfEriZdjrdd8krKWhGPCro1vfLNv8xyv8owNSyt2M7Uo_ZbYd83QzZ6fBL_g/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_004.jpeg)
The explosion appeared to be the signal for the VC to launch their ambush. Light machine gun fire erupted toward Fire Team 1 but did nothing to rattle the grunts, who immediately returned fire, pinning most of the lmg team.
Pvt Stone taking the cue to get on with it and get back to the fight, hurriedly searched the hut, sprang another booby trap - now a hand grenade perched behind a vase - which proceeded to blow out a side wall but nothing else. Lucky americans!
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXz0uXMr6AwguWdwAw_hmog2RLBSuq0uwojwQBNM09vRClgq_GkUdIQ6EgcPj3GbtyaiHIcb3xfzul5FO0CXmLCtU7GyrnFbsQ5NM71quO2xYBaKN80oR5LtR4cxGntTrzLQTITeQcne31jQgu1N2iK2HCbsBCmAVyHVmT_bxEFE6ng/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_010.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXz0uXMr6AwguWdwAw_hmog2RLBSuq0uwojwQBNM09vRClgq_GkUdIQ6EgcPj3GbtyaiHIcb3xfzul5FO0CXmLCtU7GyrnFbsQ5NM71quO2xYBaKN80oR5LtR4cxGntTrzLQTITeQcne31jQgu1N2iK2HCbsBCmAVyHVmT_bxEFE6ng/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_010.jpeg)
The VC had very little luck pinning anyone of Fire team 1, which then was free to push west into a better blocking position.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0chHdthM4PfXtBTgDxghWsJx7-jf69VdtSRmd9NqNQQh1bgXILMJ0xW7FcOltdQoy7RGP5y_-AQdVoqb7bDE5ecmdo_n9FmGfxURYKq8igPvvtlBrBXZLguRvuI53XWe_qYuFzA990Opa-uVZ3RULTtEFLrzywKYqAp__JDQXQ2sxA/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_011.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0chHdthM4PfXtBTgDxghWsJx7-jf69VdtSRmd9NqNQQh1bgXILMJ0xW7FcOltdQoy7RGP5y_-AQdVoqb7bDE5ecmdo_n9FmGfxURYKq8igPvvtlBrBXZLguRvuI53XWe_qYuFzA990Opa-uVZ3RULTtEFLrzywKYqAp__JDQXQ2sxA/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_011.jpeg)
A second VC cell, armed with outdated French bolt-action rifles, opened fire on Fire Team 1. Their marksmanship proved just as poor as the LMG team’s, and they were quickly suppressed as well.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6kgW9gjFs81zYscA4vJUgZxe9qp4IdjygZhmSsNf-d5pln3BSPR5YvZuhH-O2-i86mk2MOwt9x-W3xYgYoAhNs6_-j360uAXzRCZd58Jvspxt6vo3yhB4jhtXQLMSgupTHgwj_2tty6A1QvysJSzpxpWy1t57hxyZx2Cye3aXJLJHw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_008.jpeg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6kgW9gjFs81zYscA4vJUgZxe9qp4IdjygZhmSsNf-d5pln3BSPR5YvZuhH-O2-i86mk2MOwt9x-W3xYgYoAhNs6_-j360uAXzRCZd58Jvspxt6vo3yhB4jhtXQLMSgupTHgwj_2tty6A1QvysJSzpxpWy1t57hxyZx2Cye3aXJLJHw/s1600/signal-2025-07-24-233211_008.jpeg)
The quite populated village had civilians running northeast to cover behind the American lines, and it was this distraction that lended the VC their only success in bleeding the imperialist occupiers. A single vc infiltrator snuck up behind Cpl Burgess of fire team 2, who was pre-occupied trying to search the still burning longhouse for survivors of the explosion. Shot in the back at close range, Burgess was dead before he hit the ground.
A brief firefight ensued, somewhat longer than anticipated considering the precarious position of the outed infiltrator, ending with his death, breaking the morale of the remaining VC, who opted for fighting another day, disappearing back into the jungle.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1-m8qIiab8IHkvW3lfOmLd2hEyr5O-98eUpyKVuzBS2QiYc_yk6bAIBgn9xOMV5lIMPlYWQueMLoJbNDIJYKScvh13bHWeegO-fTBy-i2-oQrNH1Fc-qXj5uNR58mMavrzFpXOfhYrZ0dVUuDb_gZoqAhIjZtWUwvpkUU_m0-ahncw/s1600/IMG_6762.jpg) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1-m8qIiab8IHkvW3lfOmLd2hEyr5O-98eUpyKVuzBS2QiYc_yk6bAIBgn9xOMV5lIMPlYWQueMLoJbNDIJYKScvh13bHWeegO-fTBy-i2-oQrNH1Fc-qXj5uNR58mMavrzFpXOfhYrZ0dVUuDb_gZoqAhIjZtWUwvpkUU_m0-ahncw/s1600/IMG_6762.jpg)
For the Americans, the battle ended on a bitter note. With one casualty on each side, the kill ratio stood at 1:1 and scored as an US defeat.
Still, the campaign phase offered some consolation: both fire teams were promoted to veteran status, though the threat level increased to Mike (medium).
All things considered we had a lot of fun with this game, and looking forward to run it again soon. It was particularly nail-biting for me as the VC, as I had two turns of being almost perfectly lined up for a devastating grenade throw right in the middle of Fire team 1, but had ro play two turns in a row without any advanced actions >:(
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Very interesting. I'm be watching to see how your campaign unfolds. Looks like your boys got a taste of what's in store.
Nice looking board and figs, by the way...
Mike (Medium) Threat Level, huh? It'll be interesting to see how many squads are in your next game...
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Wow...the VC definitely had a downer of a day, while the Americans (especially those triggering the booby traps) were very lucky. Like Jim, I'll be interested to see the progress of your unit in its tour. :)
Mike Demana
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Very interesting. I'm be watching to see how your campaign unfolds. Looks like your boys got a taste of what's in store.
Nice looking board and figs, by the way...
Mike (Medium) Threat Level, huh? It'll be interesting to see how many squads are in your next game...
Thank you for the kind words, as the bar of writing up Nam'68 AAR's have already been set quite high by someone.... It really is the first proper AAR I've posted, never really a thing when I only was only interacting with historical wargaming communities on Facebook and instagram. AAR doesn't rea
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see. I don't know when we can play next time, the players were friends visiting from out of town, but I might "share" the platoon with a few other local friends who've been quite interested in trying it out... maybe they can have the other two squads.
Thematically, going up one threat level for the February game fits quite well with 1968, with the tet offensive going on. I'll have something cooked up for them >:D
Wow...the VC definitely had a downer of a day, while the Americans (especially those triggering the booby traps) were very lucky. Like Jim, I'll be interested to see the progress of your unit in its tour. :)
Mike Demana
They certainly were! I had all the assets for wreaking some havoc, but the dice said otherwise I failed more than one 2+ rolls, and they managed quite a few 6+'s. Yo ucan't plan for that! lol But it sure was a lot of fun anyway, and my players loved it! I do think they also made some good tactical decisions after the initial somewhat bunched up deployment that did constrain my own options, which is always fun to see!
I also put in a lot of effort to finish up as many figures as possible for the game, and this is the fruit of that labor:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzIRkaomB3a8dSwG2Q5NBNsB3xXNtH-AelvJ956HEuqq4TzWPXkezKAjnO-uTYPkZ8_LBsj_1TiDbpYKPWPC7iHNWGYKRL35CHJuik9PttfNz6zbG9BLrhhv8yub87gXpWtOQ-juMPCmlAMTzpOn0mseOfe5ZAdoIr191mA2QToLNnQ/s1600/sq2ft2+plthq.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzIRkaomB3a8dSwG2Q5NBNsB3xXNtH-AelvJ956HEuqq4TzWPXkezKAjnO-uTYPkZ8_LBsj_1TiDbpYKPWPC7iHNWGYKRL35CHJuik9PttfNz6zbG9BLrhhv8yub87gXpWtOQ-juMPCmlAMTzpOn0mseOfe5ZAdoIr191mA2QToLNnQ/s1600/sq2ft2+plthq.png)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdWaK2-AB0Q3RbICUXZVDu67Qv0aD_OLSzKWbMfVcFNzwERt79JWKyAQCXanpyTJHW0rfBZK6v9FSlQCXdRCqiBg4jl-lOkuP2XvWjYMknxtYmJ0LqBHzkHUKSz8VugZYJFIEzZ0KSMJf_0ENCbNsYYwSOnV68_ZKTT27Mg-ZZ-hzSw/s1600/2sq-ft2.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdWaK2-AB0Q3RbICUXZVDu67Qv0aD_OLSzKWbMfVcFNzwERt79JWKyAQCXanpyTJHW0rfBZK6v9FSlQCXdRCqiBg4jl-lOkuP2XvWjYMknxtYmJ0LqBHzkHUKSz8VugZYJFIEzZ0KSMJf_0ENCbNsYYwSOnV68_ZKTT27Mg-ZZ-hzSw/s1600/2sq-ft2.png)
I'm gonna put out the platoon roster next, and se how we can move things around in light of recent casualties.
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I really don't know how I managed to pull this off this but the assembly line just kept churning and the third squad is painted and finished, and with that the whole platoon! :o I'm gonna paint a few more nco's and a mortar team to have enough figures for a USMC platoon, but now it's back to Vietcong and terrain.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V1FXrMqvZYeox9MaG0t21KPxk9xIy9UebulOBv-7tkVEIbAgqC2CUmcy9xreBPBYiuuTjj_DWuthbQgpPhDrZRNpXy2Fm2yLnWs2cx3k92khgdW0WC7N3B2FFmBiTWgCn9DrEyAr62MXFRawbG-RtC0Pnyuu0CjXNCXsJVMWwppDeg/s1600/sq3.png) (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V1FXrMqvZYeox9MaG0t21KPxk9xIy9UebulOBv-7tkVEIbAgqC2CUmcy9xreBPBYiuuTjj_DWuthbQgpPhDrZRNpXy2Fm2yLnWs2cx3k92khgdW0WC7N3B2FFmBiTWgCn9DrEyAr62MXFRawbG-RtC0Pnyuu0CjXNCXsJVMWwppDeg/s1600/sq3.png)
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Those are some good-looking figures. Well done.
And to whom could you possibly be referring regarding Nam '68 AARs...? 8) Thanks for the compliment...