Magnum PI

 

I really loved the series back in the eighties and thought it would be great to play Magnum PI games using Fistful of Lead rules.

There are two 28mm Thomas Magnum miniatures that I'm aware of: one by Crooked dice and one from the Zombicide game, but I didn't like them. After a lot of browsing I bought a pack from Artizan designs Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang range (KKBB202 - Field Agents). Two miniatures from the pack were suitable for Magnum and Rick (swapped Rick's pistol for a spare UZI from the Project Z women survivors sprue). For TC, I used a Warlord Games USMC plastic mini with a head from the Project Z survivors sprue.

I'm still looking for a suitable Higgins miniature. Preferably in desert/tropical British uniform:

Thought about using a Copplestone figure (with a head swap) but it's too big when standing next to Magnum and Rick:

Dobermanns I have (I think from Black Cat miniatures):

And of course the Ferrari (die cast Western Models WP110 Ferrari 308 GTSI):

This Academy kit provided TC's chopper:

Still searching for a suitable Higgins figure though.

Indiana Jones and the lost Aquila: Part four

Part Four: Into Darkness

Don Lardo and his minions have entered the cave under the Lost Temple. Indy had to wait for reinforcements after being defeated in Part Three.

Fortunately his companions Rupert Jenkins and Ginger have recovered from their injuries received in Part Two. They've enlisted the help of adventurer Sir Bartleby and his assistant Jarvis. 

Together they subdue the guards left behind by Don Lardo at the cave entrance and descend Into Darkness.

The Heroes

The Villains

We used the FFoL Darkness rules for fighting inside the cave, with an additional rule: characters can carry torches (if they're not carring two-handed weapons). This increases visibility range to 18" but makes the one carrying the torch easier to hit with ranged weapons.

Inside the cave Don Lardo has found the Aquila! When his minions are finished wrapping it in protective material near their campfire they hear sounds coming from the cave entrance. On their guard, they are moving to investigate.

Indy and friends decide to split up into two teams, each exploring a different cave tunnel.

Sir Bartleby has extinguished his torch

Don Lardo's minions are moving forward to engage Indy's party while the Don himself is valiantly guarding the camp.

Contact! Jarvis throws his torch to the center of the cave tunnel, revealing Emir the Bloodthirsty who, being just out of charge distance, keeps firing his revolver at Jarvis until he's out of ammo (hitting only rock).

In the other tunnel, tenente Strapazo and marino Corsa perform a classic pincer move in the darkness  and gun down both Sir Bartleby and Ginger.

Sir Bartleby makes a succesfull recovery roll and starts beating marino Corsa with his walking stick.

Tenente Strapazo has put Ginger out of action and is signalling to Don Lardo, who is carrying the Aquila.

Meanwhile Jarvis has lit another torch and taken out Emir the Bloodthirsty with a well aimed shot. But he and Indy are now facing three approaching henchmen.

Despite holding a torch and being at point-blank range, Indy and Jarvis take out all three henchmen.

The ruckus has angered a really big snake (joker card), which is slithering towards Indy! Using his whip to strike from a safe distance, Indy takes out the snake.

The fight in the other tunnel is not going well for the heroes. Sir Bartleby has lost the fight and now Don Lardo and the marines are moving towards the cave entrance.

It's not over yet, however. Rupert Jenkins is waiting for them.

Joined by Indy, Rupert incapacitates the tenente, while Jarvis tries to intercept the Don, who is sprinting towards the exit with the Aquila.

Indy engages marino Corsa, but the Don is too fast for Jarvis and escapes off table. Victory for the villains!

Don Lardo manages to slip away, being joined later by "tough as nails" tenente Strapazo. Indy and his friends search the cavern and the camp but must conclude that Don Lardo has the Aquila. 

Italy is far away however and a lot can still happen before Don Lardo can get the Aquila to Rome. Because quitters never win and winners never quit, Indy will return in part five of The Lost Aquila!

Project WW2 Pacific Part 6

Finished painting the Japanese. I'm not that happy with how they turned out, but they'll do. I found them a bit cumbersome to paint (quite soft detail) and struggled finding the "right" color scheme. Apparently Japanese uniform colors varied considerably. In the end I chose a really faded green look for jungle fighters that have been in field a long time.

The entire platoon plus support

MMG support

Grenade discharger squad

Rifle squad plus LMG squad

Engineer team

Chui and Gunso

Specialists

Infantry gun support

Spider holes

Everything in a box

The Battle of Frank Sanbeans farm

In the first of a new series of Sharpe Practice games I 've got lined up, after concluding our imaginations campaign, we played the Battle of Frank Sanbeans scenario from the Toofatlardies Summer Special 2017.

Union forces must hold the farm, assisted by farmer Frank Sanbeans and his kin (irregular skirmishers), while the Confederates must crush the Union forces and capture Frank.

Frank Sanbeans

Union troops hurriedly take up position behind a low stone wall, taking fire from approaching Confederate skirmishers.

A large Confederate formation is coming down the road, but Yankee troops are on their way to intercept them.

Bullets are flying across the field behind the farm. Frank and his brothers and cousins are sniping at the approaching Rebels from the house.

The main Confederate formation is deploying in a line, and more groups are coming on the table. Meanwhile the main Union formation is still trying to cross the low wall.

Frank's men take out the officer commanding the Confederate skirmishers, but it's only a minor wound.

The Yankee troops have finally deployed in a line formation across the road.

Battered Confederate skirmishers retreat and make room for more Confederate troops.

The Union lines are under pressure and starting to crumble.

A virtual wall of bullets take out the entire Sanbeans family, wounding Frank and punching holes in the Union defense.

At this point we called it a night. My Union force was severely depleted. My opponent's Confederates were still going strong. Taking a wounded Frank with them, the Yankees retreated, yielding the farm to the Confederates.