The New Wargame Room and Memoir '44

     While there is still plenty to do with my new wargame room, I managed to make enough room to set up a wargame. I've also have had renewed interest in Memoir'44.  Unfortunately, when I first bought Memoir '44 I didn't buy any of the other extensions of the game. Having recently read a book about the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, I started looking for the Eastern Pack, but found that the cost is more than I can afford.

   I decided to play a game of Memoir' 44 using the scenario of the airborne drop on Sainte Mere Eglise on D-Day. One thing I like about this scenario is after setting up the board, the Allied player drops 4 figures from above the board. Where each figure lands you add another unit, unless the figure falls off the board or lands on an enemy square, then the figure is removed. For the Americans, it worked out well. One unit landed in St. Mere Eglise itself, next to a German unit in the town. Another unit landed in the woods, between the town and a large force of German infantry and armor. The other two landed in the same hex; that means there was only one unit and not two. I wasn't going to report on this game, but it turned out more fun than expected. In the end the German counter attack broke the American's right flank and won the battle.

 

Starting to clean out my new wargame room.

After a few days of cleaning up the room.

Memoir'44 set up for play.

In the corner of the bookcases can be seen stacks of books and junk to be sorted through.

German panzers attack American paratroopers holding a section of hedgerows.

The paratroopers did have a strong line protecting their right flank guarding the approach to Sainte Mere Elgise. The Germans, lead by the panzer unit, smashed through the center of the paratroopers line.

The paratroops eliminated the panzer unit, but it is too little, too late. The Germans eliminated four units, thereby winning the battle.

One reason I wanted to use Memoir '44 is that I could use my old Airfix figures instead of the game figures. Unfortunately I don't have enough German figures and some of the figures I do have are turning brittle.

A New Wargame Room

      When I first started wargaming, I had a nice large gaming table in my basement, allowing for large scale games. However, my first dog started losing use of his hind legs and couldn't make it down to the basement, I started working on my gaming upstairs. After Scrappy passed, we got a new dog, whose short legs made it too hard for her to get down the stairs, so I continued most of my gaming activities upstairs.
    My wife started talking that she would like a room made in the basement. However I pointed out financially the cost would be too much for us right now. I then suggested I move my "library" or as Donna calls it, the junk room, down into the basement. By doing this, I can start weeding out junk that I no longer use. Also, and more importantly, I can make a larger wargame table and expand my gaming to beyond my chessboard games. What's more, Jerry has no trouble going down the stairs into the basement.
  The library will become a guest room. We have already moved a desk into the room. So if I choose to, I can still do small games upstairs.

Another One Day Army and New Terrain

     After casting several Peter Laing Guards and using them in a game, I was overcome with the desire to cast more, to be used strictly as "Toy Soldiers".  I cast enough for a whole army to create a "Red Army", and cast several more to round out the "Blue Army".  The Red Army received a paint job of gloss enamel paint. Once agin, the figures were cast, cleaned up, based and received their main paint job in a 24 hour period. Details, such as faces and crossed belts took extra time. At the same time I rebased my 18th century Toy Soldier armies. While painting my figures, I also painted one of my Backyard Wars figures as a member of the Irish Brigade based on the illustration in "Uniforms of the CivilWar 1861-1865" by Philip Haythornthwaite.

   Ian Dury kindly sent me some new  background scenery for my games. I think it will vastly improve the photographs of my games. Thank you Ian, I hope to put them to good use.

The new Red Toy Soldier Army marches out of town. In the background is the scenery that Ian Dury sent me.

The Backyard Wars Irish Brigade.

The Red Army lined up for their first battle.

The Sudanese advance their center.

The Red casualties start building up. The Red Army ended up losing this battle.