Happy New Year!

A death in the family makes you reflect. I have been very blessed and hope to share this with others this year. I had 10 people over in my house for the holidays and it was great! Even got several games in and took several snaps.

Biggest news is Platoon Forward is almost complete. Rich and I work on it every day. It is 75% done and looks great. I am really excited as there has never been anything on the market like it.
I really hope you enjoy it. Should be done in 4 weeks.

Played a U-Boat attack using my Release the Hounds rules. They held up well to this type of game.

Minesweeper Onyx protecting a convoy

I have been looking for early war Italian Torpedo boats in 1/1200 scale. The only ones I could find are late war made by Figurehead and they are pricey at $13. Now my friends know less about naval affairs than I. they think torpedo boats are all JFKs PT 109. So... I bought some Japanese light destroyers from Eagan's ships for $4.25. I think they painted up reasonably well.

Wakatake on the Left

Lupo on the Right

Come on-- its not that bad!!!

The grand event was a Lazy TW&T game with my brother. Meeting engaement in a town between the screaming eagles and the SS. This is my brother we are talking about here so historical accuracy that I pride myself on and fair play will not be found!! He did get me the Miniatures Building Authority Rathaus for Christmas which is a nice model. The only thing is I don't know why they didn't put a clock on the tower. Each of us got 2 squads and an armored car plus 1 tank as a reinforcement. Random entry and turn of entry.

The picturesque town of
Smokum with Dad
looking on

I entered 1 turn early from the near side on the above picture and he entered from the far side. I made straight for the new building (Rathaus)

My brave troops crossing the bridge

at Smokum

The evil SS enter and split their forces

My brave eagles made it to the Rathaus first. He had one squad go towards the Rathaus and one go towards the train station.

Evil SS assault the back of the
very nice looking Rathaus

I beat off his pathetic attack at the Rathaus. Meanwhile he had one squad move into the train station. I decided to move one squad against the train station with my Stuart tank in support.

Disaster! 4 Eagles down

Somehow he cheated. I lost 4 men crossing the square and the rest paniced. They would lose 3 more before the battle was over. we retreated to the Rathaus to lick our wounds.

The Evil assault on the Rathaus

We managed to beat the first attack off.

Not much to do with the battle
but I wanted to blow up his
Jadgpanzer

His second assault got into the building and only sheer american guts threw the evil, stinking nazi, jack booted killers out! However, we took significant casualties and the Jagdpanzer was still outside. The last piece of the puzzle was dinner was in 20 minutes. So the Lt came to his decision. We would break out of the Rathaus.

The Eagles breakout!

The breakout caught the automan slopeheaded dumb Jerrys completely by surprise and the american heroes did not lose a man!

It was a blast!!

Off to my Grandmother's funeral tomorrow. She lived 94 years and did alot of amazing things. She died peacefully in her sleep. You can't do any better than that!

God Bless

Joe