WW2 Omaha 28mm

In preparing for our Omaha 28mm beach game we needed some 6th Naval Beach Battalion (NNB) guys to help clear a path through the beach obstacles (apparently there were approx. 400 men and 15 vehicles in the battalion at Omaha).

The USN was painted originally on beach party engineers helmets (along with a blue or grey band, the red arc denotes beach personnel)  to stop them getting involved in anything inland. These guys are navy but placed under the Armys control for the beach landing. So anything up to the high water /tide line is their job - to clear. A hard task under fire!

So these models were made using just green stuff putty moulded to a half body - with all extra bits (heads, arms and kit) from the good old bits box. I based them on a clear bases as these will be placed onto our sea mat.

P..S. If anyone knows of  any 28mm "USN" helmet decals let me know. 

The teller mines are just wooden sticks cut and more green stuff for the mine.

I ended up doing about 15 off these guys. So these not only add a "make a path" element to the beach game but also help use up some of the "bits box."

Also got the Wargames Illustrated free sprue of Russian 28 Infantry to make (cheers to Warlord) with so I did a conversion to an US Beach Master. I just thought the megaphone would look different on the beach (look out...he's armed with a megaphone!).

I had to chop the boots and replace with the US leggings, heads and packs

So that's another guy for the beach.

And...just for something different on the German side...I liked the Russian female head and dog on the free sprue.  But I didn't want to go down the "TNT dog" route so...This is what I came up with as an alternative. 

Female German medic with dog transport...

He 'ant nothing but a hound DOC!

LOL

28mm Bolt Action Omaha

 Its been a while since I posted so here's some pictures of the items I have been working on.

Picture: from our previous game of Omaha

We have most of our Higgins ready for the next Omaha game (at Carronade 2026) but we needed some troop fillers to make the boats look full. We also didn't want to make it too expensive!

So I had designed a print which would give me some options...

The points below are useful if you are thinking about doing something similar.

1. The 3d printer I have is not great at detail at this level. Its a PLA printer not resin. So I designed a base 2mm thick and placed some legs on it (using Tinkercad). You won't see the bottom of the guys when its in the Higgins boat. 

2. I then ensure it fits into half of the boat easily. You need to be able to remove these without breaking parts. If you have it as a half boat section - then you can also use ammo boxes to mix up the loading pattern in your boats (with other 3d print of boxes onto the same size of base) or just have 2 sections of troops in a boat. It just makes it more flexible.

Its also a good idea to twist the 3d image/sketch of the legs 5 or 10 degrees away from the front on some of them. This makes it  look more random. 

3. The next part takes time. You get you green stuff out and sculpt in some bodies and use the heads and arms from you bits box. Tip: On the new Warlord Ranger and Infantry plastic sets you actually get twice as many heads as you need. So this makes this an easy route for parts.

 Below: on the right you see the 3d printed base and legs. The picture on the left has a green stuff, arms and heads added to the base of the figures.  With some basic colours.  

You can then amass a fair amount of guys for your Higgins boats. Remember that most of the body is hidden by the boat and the second row won't be seen as much. You can also add back packs ...I just added these to the rear guys as its very tightly packed. Using a medic in the load is a nice way of adding a little detail to the mass of helmets (you can also use "officer helmet bars" for this job).

If you have a guy with his rifle up...its also an easy lift point to remove the section from the boat!

If you have the cash its also nice to just have full figures in the boats on a removable base.

Below: From our previous game we used a mixture of metal and plastic figures to create the image below. It does look better but does costs a lot more. 

I also did a a quick Belgian Gate or c element print. This was inspired by reading that the engineers had to climb onto these metal structures in the sea - under fire - carrying explosives - in order to blow them up. That's some job!

Below: An engineer climbs up the centre strut after having placed other charges on the left hand strut. 

The structure is cut down to look like its in the sea with a clear base (with a helmet floating past!)

This is just spare parts and green stuff.

So now its just enough time to say Merry Christmas to all and we will see what goodies Santa brings.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

 

Higgins Boats 28mm

The six new 28mm Higgins boats arrived and I made up 2 more from scratch to the same size...so that we could blow them up!

Below: our new 3d prints to be painted and decal'd.

             

Below: This is one of our original boats (see previous Omaha Beach Game) with a whole new set of figures... I had to use the old warlord figures to get some open handed figures. The gun crew and driver are just green stuff and extra arms and heads.

The idea was to show some guys exiting over the side walls...we have lots of wading guys already.

Below: Then I got a bit carried away and made up a scratch built Higgins - an exploding one - from mdf bits and placed inside a flickering (battery opreated) candle into the centre...I cut out the base so that the battery could be replaced. The effect worked out ok.

Then I started adding guys, helmets, weapons, bangalores etc. 

Above: The guys are falling backwards at the front due to the boat due to the shell impact.

Anyone any idea how I can store this ! LOL Its going to be a nightmare.

We can use this as a casualty marker in the game...

Then I did another scratch built half sunken one...to leave on the shoreline. This involved a shallow liquid water pour on the inside. I think I could've went higher with the pour on the inside to cover the guys... but the sea level of the mat outside the boat might've looked a little strange. So I went for a shallow pour.

Below: A guy stands on a box to get out - over the side. It was really just to put another marker on the table and it didn't really cost anything - it was just spares from the bits box and time. 

So I also used green stuff (knedite) to model gun crews and drivers for the new boats.

Next stop is terrain...

Omaha 28mm

 So we decided to return to Omaha Beach for our next game. We liked the previous version but decided to go larger...maybe it could be 12ft long...? This might be too big - but we will see how it goes.

We already had 125 off of the 29th Infantry 100 of the 1st Infantry and 100 Rangers but... it would be much better looking if we could use clear bases.. (instead of our traditional sand textured bases) which meant buying more...a lot more. I could not face re-basing our metal figures onto clear bases. But we still might need to use our traditional figures as well.

Seven boxes of Warlord Plastic (US Infantry and Rangers) and an additional 6 new 3d printed Higgins boats have been purchased to date.

So here's were we got to...with the 29th infantry and the Rangers

29th Infantry

I have made them up as Higgins boat teams so approx. 4 boats x 30 off (each with mortar, flame thrower, bazooka, bars and Bangalores).

Tip: I used a 15mm  scale arm patch decal on the 29ths helmets (as well as the standard 28mm decals for shoulder patches. I was not sure if this would work ...but I think it looks ok..

                                               

I really like the clear bases...                                

I used the contrast paint on the tunics and trousers..normal acrylic everywhere else. 

You can just make out an engineer on the far right (red helmet "arc")

So these guys were made up using the new plastics but with some various arms and heads (US Marines, US paratroop and even German heads!) to make them look better/ a more varied force.

Below: Then there is the Rangers 2nd and 5th ...maybe about 45 off approx.

Again these guys are packing heavy... 

I went for brown trousers just to distinguish them on the battlefield.

 

This guy is assembling the bangalore torpedo

I really like the new Warlord Rangers pack you do get a lot of gear....but  I would've  liked a .30 cal or .50 cal option (I used my spare paratroop ones) in the box. Also for this beach game I used spare heads from the bits box... to get the right look on some of them.

It would also be great if you could get a Warlord sprue set with like "generic arms" (with no weapons -like the old box set - but with the new thicker sculpted arms) and rows  of heads with no helmets...

We will also need more casualty markers, and more cliffs.... So watch this space.

    

Carronade Show 2025 - 28MM U BOATS

 Carronade Show 2025 was brilliant. It was a great opportunity to get our new game in front of gamers and we had a blast! Ohh and we got 2^nd place YEHAAAAH for “best demo game” not bad ...out of 39 gaming tables (usually about half are demo games). A special thanks to all the guys and girls that showed an interest and had a chat with us! Our table was busy all day but we managed to squeeze in the game...this is how it went.

 

Scenario

This WW2 game is a fictional representation of a U boat dock attack by Commandos. The Snowman (U-201) and a newer boat  U-977 are in dock. U-201 is in for supplies... however U-977 is here to pick up valuable paintings. Commandos are coming to sink the U boats. They include a land force (from the top of the table) and a small sea force (in kayaks).  They are well armed and stealthy. Two land units and two sea units. The Germans have in 4 units (Dock security/sentries, Kriegsmarine, U boat crews, and a veteran platoon).

Commandos objective - Sink the U boats. The kayaks will attack after the land force diverts the Germans away from the docks.

German objective  - leave with the paintings to Argentina!  OR Leave without the paintings - but manage to save the U boats.

                                             

                                              Video link https://youtu.be/UDu1fbARzfU

Below: looking from the land towards the sea (from the top)

                   

                        Below looking from the sea (bottom of the 6 foot x 12 foot table).

Commandos are just waiting out of sight on the board edge.! Two U boats are in the dock.

Dock is busy.

Artworks are unloaded and heading to the u boats.

Checkpoint at the top end is calm..guy in the centre has a cigarette.

Guards (with dogs) hold back the dock traffic up. The centre road has been cleared of debris/bricks to give the port good access.

Meanwhile the dock is protected by a German veteran unit within the larger (taller) red brick building.

Below: Two torpedoes are being loaded onboard. I like the tide making on the dock wall - they turned out great.

 

Below: a good overhead shot of the boats. The green circle at the crane is a an open loading net.

Captains are barking out orders as torpedoes are loaded.

Below: The large warehouse on the right side has traffic moving through. Note the SDKFZ 116 "tank" transport parked in the middle.

Rin tin tin is on duty with a friend LOL 

Two large mobile railway cranes sit on the dock and a railway line behind them. The rail lines were burnt (hot wired) into the dock surface and railway wheels added to the cranes. The dock is paper with matching cobblestone (to match the mouse mat from Deep Cut)  or concrete.

A small workshop on the dockside. Lathes are our own 3d prints.

You can see the larger warehouse at the top of the picture. 

The Commandos are are about to attack from top and bottom edges of the table...

Still unaware the crew load the boats. Torpedo hangs from the crane whilst one is loaded below deck (left side). 

Walking the plank...

Below: Two groups of Commandos make their way over the walls towards the dock walls.  One group is spotted (dice are rolled to spot them) – one group is not. 

Commandos entering the area are spotted and take some causalities from Germans at the check point.

But a second unit go unnoticed.

Below: Search lights are our 3d prints.

Van Gogh Sunflower picture (and other paintings) are unloaded from the trucks onto the dock then onto a boat! (picture is scaled down from original).

Unaware its all about to get loud ...the Captains are being interviewed on dockside. Err you may want to move away from those gas cylinders ...

Note the German beer barrel.

The weathering on the lower ladder rungs looks good with the tide line.

The converted 3d u boat print looks great with the new snorkel fitted. Colour of the boat turned out good on the mat.

A train puffs to a halt...

                          

Below: Guards react to the sound of gunfire...Alarm!

Action Stations !! The converted  U boat sail has 2 twin cannons.

The attackers move at speed...

but make contact half way down...

but they give as much as they get!

German re enforcements move away from the dock (this is might be a chance for the kayaks section)

Below: Hurry up...(a "half" guy on U boat loading up). He is stuck to a clear base and can be placed anywhere - same base as the loading torpedo and crew.

Mortar and Vickers HMG are set up.

What is going on up there!

Recon on a Zundap 750cc with HMG

Using clear bases helps to make the figures blend into the mat.

Attackers set up another mortar

Germans run to engage...

Now is the time...the waiting kayaks go for it!

"All boats attack".

Spotted by the U boats AA guns - they take aim and the kayaks take some punishment...

Meanwhile at the other end...

Carnage as Germans meet the attackers...

The subs AA Guns fire on Kayaks again!

Nearly there keep paddling guys!

A suicidal paddle...

                                    

On the land side of the game the Germans are now winning

Below the last man is surrounded.

                

Kayaks on the right side are wiped out... 

Almost there... keep paddling.

AGHHH!

The U boats are ready to move...

Below: A "return to your boats" flare gets fired...

                    

Away all boats! The snowman also moves off

Next stop Argentina ...maybe!

Both ships look great I thought the camo works really well on the mat. 

The two painted snowmen on the U boat sail look good and being older has more weathering applied to the hull. 

So a great day out and we got a trophy (2nd) as well.  

The Commandos made great progress on the land side then ran into a hail of fire supported by fire from the high dock building. Attacking in 3 sections did stretch the German defence but not enough. The kayaks had a go .... but it was always going to be a tough job. The canvas skin of kayaks doesn't stop bullets. 

Thanks to the Cannonade guys and girls - another great show.

See our previous blog pages for the u boat conversion and dock build in detail.