These are designed for both wars of Ozz and Dragon Rampant Games. The trees were given to me by John G aeons ago, but I have only now found a use for them.

In the movie Wizard of Oz (1939 MGM) the Haunted Forest is portrayed by apple trees.

“The Fighting Trees are sentient trees found in the Land of Oz, located on the border of Oz’s southern quadrant known as the Quadling Country. They are ancient, being thousands of years old they are deeply rooted by the hundreds, all in a long line that stretches out for several miles. Their job is to keep intruders out of the enchanted forest that dwells behind them, which they guard and protect. They are said to have thick flexible branches that substitute for arms and fingers and their bark resembles faces that allow them to see and hear everything surrounding them.” Oz Wiki

Where’s the Tin Woodsman when you need him!

In the Wars of Ozz game ,and indeed in Frank Baum’s books, the trees are represented by both Apple trees that can “shoot” apples and Haunted trees that are close combat monsters. These are the latter!

I will add some spiders when I find the box I put them in!

The ideal place for a “Lesser Witch” to hang out.

Now to find some apple trees! I am going to cheat and purchase these. Mark Morin has more patience than I do!

Ten of these will be arriving soon from Amazon.

I was looking forward to reading this book about a Commando in New Guinea and Borneo. This is an autobiography and tends to suffer from some of the worst aspects of autobiographical writers.

“This is no ordinary war memoir. In 1943, 20-year-old Brian Walpole left his Melbourne home for the steaming jungles of New Guinea to serve in one of Australia’s first commando units. Then in Borneo, as a member of the elite Z Special Unit, he fought alongside headhunting Sea Dyaks, who are paid a bounty for every Japanese head taken. Brian learns their language, sleeps in their longhouses. The experience changes him forever.
Yet despite being surrounded on all sides by grotesque images of death, this is above all a story of life, reflecting the author’s motto: life is for living. His real-life story records a true experience of Australia at war that has so far been little known.” From the publisher.

If you want to read about someone who single-handedly was responsible for saving Kanga Force in New Guinea, a playboy when recovering at home who was very popular with the girls, and someone who confuses the facts in Borneo, then read it. The fact that it was written by a 90year old some 60 odd years after the events is probably the reason for the factual discrepancies.

I would give this one a miss.

Whilst only effective against the lightest of enemy tanks the ATR at least gives the platoon some anti-armour protection.

They are very effective as anti-infantry snipers where their hitting power makes up for the snipers advantages.

These are Warlord Games plastic Eighth Army painted up as Australians.

The advent of the Jungle Division reorganisation saw the departure from the OOB of specialist units like MG and mortar platoons, but these were reinstated towards the end of the war.

I will start on the rest of the platoon very soon (Greek WW2 first)!

The 2023 conference will run online from Wed 8 November to Thu 9 November 2023. You must register to get access to  links.

All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Savings time. (GMT + 11 hrs)

The Full program can be found here.

This is one of those books that suffers by trying to cover too much. There is a good rationale for choosing the following:

• Amiens, August 1918 (First World War);
• Midway, June 1942 (Second World War);
• Stalingrad, Sept. 1942 to Feb. 1943 (Second World War);
• Imjin River, April 1951 (Korean War);
• Tet Offensive, Jan. to Feb. 1968 (Vietnam War)Yom Kippur, October 1973 (Yom Kippur War);
• Falklands, Apr. to Jun. 1982 (Falklands War);
• Kuwait, Aug. 1990 to Mar. 1991 (First Gulf War).

The book is very interesting and tries to place each battle in context and its impact on the world. It does achieve this. One of the reviewers writes “It is adequate as a primer, but surprisingly dull for a book based on a TV series, and lacks the level of detail to appeal to history enthusiasts.” https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1RVI5E315KFZ6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007W1BPV8

I would agree with that summation. Certainly not for the history buff or wargamer. Good as a basic introduction but that is all.

Guru finally has finished some painting in November! Yippee!

The Witch is from Wargames Foundry and comes as a set of four witches and a cauldron.

The wizard is from Reaper.

Is this the start of a “Land of Harvest Army”

As we are wanting to play Baron Wars I thought I should start on these Reaper townsfolk.

Based and undercoated and ready to start.

Well not quite.

Again not much completed today. I have been absolutely not interested in painting so I have just been getting more stuff ready for painting. No I don ‘t need more on the painting table!

At least I can say I did get something done. Three Anti-tank rifles for an Australian Late-War Mortar Reinforced Platoon were put togehter and a few basic colours slapped on.

Also a wizard and a witch were also prepared, undercoated, and some painting as well.

Note the poker chip used as a base. They are 40mm rounds and make excellent cheap bases. I regularly look for them in Thrift shops. This one cost a few dollars, had over 200 chips in it, and came with a pack of cards and a tin!

I intend to paint the wizard up a a “Bright Wizard” – remember those!

I don’t know if the pot or the witch is more attractive!

Finally. I have also put together A WW2 German Opel Blitz. The cabin and hood has been left off so that I can paint the driver and interior.

I also have the seated troops to put together and paint.

Might feel motivated to finish these tomorrow……………..might!

Just a very quick post today. we went “window shopping” yesterday to look at lounge suites and outdoor furniture to decide what we wanted for the new house as a result not very much completed on the hob by front.

When we arrived back home I did manage to put together and apply the basic paints to a Sd.Kfz 251/16 Flammpanzerwagen

Hopefully I might get a bit more done today.

The beautiful gardens of the Tohoku Monastery are about to faces the ravages of war.

The Head of the Tsugaru Clan, Nobuhira, has contracted a band of Ninja to dispose of the Monastery’s Abbott. The Abbott has long been in opposition to Nobuhira and was in favour of Tsugaru Kumachiyo as head of clan following the death of clan head Tamenobu in 1607.

In games terms the winner will be the first to destroy their opponents two Samurai (leaders). resulting in either the protection or death of the Abbott.

The Abbott is safe at the moment in the temple’s pagoda but this could change quickly if his loyal monks are defeated.

The attacking Ninja

The Monks defending the Abbott.

The Ninja take first blood by downing the monks 2IC

Ninja advancing to take the centre of the garden around the bridge.

The Ninja 2IC is being surrounded.

A monk Naginata unit is reduced down to a single monk.

The Ninja leader attacks the remaining monk leader on the garden boardwalks while the rest of the ninja advance to support.

Ninja v monks with the monks winning decisively.

Down to the wire as the ythe two remaining laders advance on each other.

The remaining ninja leader is taken out by the senior monk leaving the Abbott to fight another day.

A great game was had by all. Test of Honour is a great narrative game.

Nothing finished today as we went to see how our new house build was going. We were very pleased with the progress.

The kitchen taking shape.

Lake view from the front balcony

Rear balcony

Butlers pantry sink

At least I put together my two big cats and put on their basic colours.

The first big cat a Panzerkampfwagen V Panther

The second big cat a Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I

A stray Sd.Kfz 251/7C Pionierwagen with panzerbuchse 41

Did you know that the big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars can roar, but they can’t purr. Cougars and smaller cats like bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, and house cats can purr, but they can’t roar. Most Cougars I have met only think they can purr!

I have three more German kits to put together. I intend to build them all and paint them to this stage before I go back and add the detail to finish them off.