20mm WW2 British - Westland Lysander for SOE operations

Just finished a small project, a Matchbox 1/72 kit of a Westland Lysander. Already in operation at the beginning of WW2, they weren't considered to be of much use, but then came into their own for SOE operations behind enemy lines in France, mainly because they could operate out of a small field, had tough suspension, and could fly at a low speed of 55mph if needed. Only one was lost in active SOE service throughout the war.

The SOE variants were painted matt black rather than the usual green/brown/blue combination of more traditional British warplanes.

Intended use of the kit is for a Rapidfire scenario game where the plane has landed, been met by British agents and Resistance fighters, and then discovered by German patrols, so mainly a small arms game, but maybe including a German half-track or two.

20mm WW2 - Operation Martlett - British vs Germans - Rapidfire 2 Rules

Some photos from our 'big' Christmas 2024 Club game, Operation Martlett, using Rapidfire 2 rules.

Lots of laughs, lots of blown-up AFV's (apart from one heroic Hanomag which refused to give up), good food and good company. Nine members involved in the game, never easy, and thanks to Adrian for organising.

20mm WW2 British - Softskin Vehicles and Carriers

Various WW2 British vehicles in 20mm to add to my collection. A few different manufacturers kits involved, and a bit of scratch-building. Thanks to Alex for painting the crew figures.

20mm WW2 British Dorchester Command Vehicle

This is a Badger 3D print of a 20mm British WW2 Dorchester command vehicle. A really lovely print with loads of detail and very little clean-up required before painting. They seem to have a pretty wide range of the less well known WW2 vehicles, as well as some more modern stuff, and in plenty of scales (I guess that's one of the benefits of 3d printing). Just added some stowage to the roof.

***STOP**PRESS*** RapidFire 20mm WW2 - German counter-offensive slowed

A German counter-offensive charged forwards, spearheaded by Panthers and Panzer-Grenadiers supported by Marder 3's, towards a village held by a smaller mixed British force.T

This was a Steve and Guy 'trial' game, getting further to grips with the RapidFire 2 rules whilst trying to iron-out some of the foibles and illuminate some of the lesser known rules.

Some new issues came to light, and in the end the British lost an heroic Wasp flame-thrower bren-carrier which tried to take out a Panther, three infantry, and had one Churchill lightly-damaged, whilst the Germans lost one of their two lead Panthers to indirect HE fire from a pair of 25pdr Sextons (all the direct AT shots from the British tanks and AT guns missed or bounced off) and three infantry.

Time ran out or the game would have got very interesting/bloody. 

20mm WW2 British Morris C8 Quad

This is the Plastic Soldier Company 20mm Morris C8 Quad, a fabulous little kit which goes together a dream. Roll on more WW2 games this year.

20mm German Sd.kfz 263 Radio Command Car

This is the Plastic Soldier Company 1/72 version of the mid-war German Sd.kfz 263 eight-wheeled armoured radio-car, and it's a great kit to build and paint.

20mm British M4A3E8 Sherman

 This is the Hasegawa M4A3E8 'Easy Eight' Sherman of Fury fame. It had a high-velocity 76mm gun.