Also this week I completed a simple model from Raventhorpe, a Caterpillar D7 dozer, I copied images from a build on the British Modeler Forum. I need to make the corresponding LCT number now!
Quite happy, acrylic with enemal streaking and grime, and powders. Crewman is Plastic Soldier company.
Cheers
Matt
One of my primary projects for 2024 is to build an accurate Pegasus bridge table on a permanent setting, with that in mind I have started to collect a number of period photos together, plus intelligence photos, postcards of the village. I will also identify the gliders and build them as per the description of the destruction upon landing. I will be using three or four books on the subject plus a few local photos from my visits and actual measurements for scratch building or 3d printing. I will also build specific tiles for the table to cover both the Bénouville bridge (pegasus), and the Orne river bridge (Horsa), plus the village of Bénouville up to the cross roads and perhaps the chateau Bénouville and the edge of the village of Ranville.
I plan to build all the buildings at 1/76th scale approximately so the templates are not to large. For he bridge over the canal I have purchased the 20mm resin bridge from ravensthorpe for Pegasus bridge but have already started to add a few modifications to the resin piece including new hand railings and more accurate supports and the boom gates. The bridge over the river Orne will be a 3d printed piece. The narrow gauge rail line will be likely N scale track to reduce the footprint of the line. I have purchased the Bénouville chateau also as a 3d file, not sure if i will add it to the table though as it is huge.
 |
 |
| The Bénouville Gare (railway station) and water tower was still in its position on DDay along with the rails. I have only ever seen it on a pegasus bridge table once. The station and tower were removed in 1960, a similar station remains today which I have taken photos and measurements from. |
 |
| A photo of the construction of the second bridge (replacing the swing bridge) in the mid 30s, note how the bridge if off set to the road alignment to the village of Bénouville, this was changed when the new bridge was installed in the 60s. A much better view of the light railway line, the station and water tower, directly behind it was a deep drain which runs through a culvert under the road behind the cafe Gorondee also. |
 |
| British soldiers crossing the bridge heading to Ranville. note the boom gates, metal pedestrian fencing the bank revetments, the edge of the gunpit, and the British load sign |
 |
| A postcard from 1960, note the bridge footings and shorter span bridge, with the proud jetty. The old 1960s bridge in the museum grounds is one panel longer than the ww2 bridge, this is a photo of that bridge before it was moved. |
 |
A photo of the bridge after the war as the sandbags are missing on the control shack, the Pegasus sign is up on cafe Gondrée, note the large trees on the right where the train station is. |
This years big ww2 project is the 50th Infantry Division for D-Day to Holland. I have chosen my favourite 20mm figs for my Brits from my stash of Britannia miniatures. Painting has commenced and is more than halfway complete of the infantry figures after three days.
I will break this into the 69th division first, plus support elements, then perhaps another infantry Division later on. Rapid Fire rules so Battalions are around 40 figures.
1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers (D-Day)
6th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers
81 SQN
No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
 |
74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment
296th (4th) Durham M7 105 preists
298th (1st) Durham (towed 25 pounders)
90th (City of London) Field Regiment
357th (1st city of London) sexton 25 pounders Sherman V observation tanks
358th (2nd city of London) sexton 25 pounders, Sherman V observation tanks
102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment
99th battery |
| The 102nd had their own tac plate of blue and light blue |
25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Polston AA 20mm gun and tow
1 x crusader AA
82nd LAA battery
Bofors AA battery
6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry lt Col A. E Green
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry lt Col R. P Lidwell
231st Infantry Brigade Brigadier A.B.G Stainer
61st Reconnaissance Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps
plus assorted trucks, medical and bits
cheers
Matt
3rd Battery 4 x 7.2 inch Howitzer Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
5th Battery 4 x 155mm Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
16 Battery 4 x 155mm Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
28 Battery 4 x 7.2 inch Howitzers Scammel Pioneer trucks or Albion CX22s
Due to Covid we thought we would have no Holidays this year, a fellow wargamer and saviour came along, Paul and Stella offering us to holiday with then down south in the Massif Central on the edge of the Alps. Paul and I have similar collections in the same scales 28mm Napoleonic, Ancients and 20mm WW2 and use the same rules, I guess we have chatted on forums over the last 15 years or so, but had never met face to face.
I think Paul’s collection of 28mm Napoleonic collection eclipses mine by quite a lot and you will find him regularly posting on General de Brigade and Rapid Fire forums. We decided to conduct a Sword Beach game using the Rapid Fire rules from the D-Day scenario book. Paul has a huge collection of ships, including large destroyers down to the landing craft and support ships, and a lovely table set up for D-day landing scenarios plus the specific funnies for the landing along with the Sherman DD tanks, and the normal French villages etc.
I elected to be the attacking Brits and Paul the defending Germans. The scenario calls for the capture and destruction of three of the bunkers and hard points along the beach plus one inland, a very tough ask.
some of the landing craft are also hit with artillery on the way in
another heavy damage.......the story of the game for me lots of 1s and 2s rolled
A second vehicle pushes pas the first only to hit another mine!
Next turn Paul makes sure of the funnies destroying the heavy damaged ones with AT fire......it was one of those days.........
the infantry make it ashore relatively unscathed
The infantry stormed ashore and surprising took very light casualties, however the remaining tanks were all knocked out except one which i leave covered by the other two tanks and await support
Again I lose the supporting tanks to mines!
murder in the centre, most of two companies are cut down by MG and artillery fire, I managed to get one tank forward with a bridge alsmost making the wall.....
landing party is ashore finally radio contact and shelling begins....although very few targets
The commandos arrive !
the commandoes make short work of the position, fabulous grenade work again clears the way
meanwhile a patrol boat moves in for close fire support
Finally we clear the right, at this stage we call it a draw, I am in control of the beach, but failed to have enough turns to capture the inland bunkers, still a good game, we nearly restarted in the fifth turn as I had lost all of my armour by then except one vehicle........a great time never the less.
I have never really been a fan of actual D-DAY landing games, but really enjoyed this, it really was a spectacle. Paul is planning a visit to mine place in the spring to play either on my Pegasus Bridge table or Arnhem...or something else ......we shall see!
cheers
Matt