Pin Markers

For the last year I have been using Red Cross markers as pin markers for my Bolt Action games. To be honest, one of the reasons I enjoy the game is the scenery, man do I love some good terrain and buildings. So it always seems to rub me the wrong way when we are playing a game and there are dice being used as pin marker, and even my own markers look out of place on an otherwise awesome table. I know, it's just one of those things that are a necessary evil to run games and keep track of things. The pin markers Warlord sells just don't look right to me. The rifle and helmet symbol is one used to mark graves and might make for a nice scenic element but they just look out of place in my opinion. The guys over at the WWPD forums have some good dial markers that looked interesting, but these were a bit beyond my ability.

Well I started thinking of what I could use that would be less visually intrusive. Eventually I came up with the idea of using something that looked like a bullet kicking some dirt up into the air. After all, I already had some smoke and explosion markers, so this should fit in well with what I already have. I also thought this would be really cool as it captures that old war movie / action vibe and would, if done right, look pretty sweet.

So I tried sculpting some. After all, how damn hard could it be? Well after half a dozen tries I gave up and started looking around the internet for something that matched my needs. After a few weeks of looking the only thing that I came up with was using some Armorcast cinematic effects muzzle flashes. I took these, turned them sideways and mounted them on 1/2" washer base with some green stuff.

After the green stuff hardened I painted and flocked them. I am hoping the flock will help them blend in with the game mat. The results were okay. I mean, I am not totally blown away by the look, but I think they will serve better than my old Red Cross markers or some dice.

Now if you work for Armorcast, or Warlord Games. I want...nay, I need! some really cool pin markers that look like dirt getting kicked up from some machinegun fire. So get to it!

.50 Cal Jeep

I finally got around to putting together my U.S. jeep by Warlord Games that I bought over a year ago. It was something that I just love the look of, but because my U.S. force languished while I worked on my Germans and Soviets, it just got put aside.When my 2 1/2 ton truck arrived after being on back order for six months I dug my jeep out again and put both of the vehicles together. Then I left both of them sitting on the shelf all summer unpainted.

"Sir, Alpha Company reports that they have discovered an intact wine cellar at a Chateau just up the road"

The assembly was very easy and took about 15 minutes. Which left me wondering why I hadn't gotten to doing this earlier. The kit comes with a driver and nothing else. So I looked around the internet trying to find some extra crew because it looked rather empty. I found some good vehicle figures at Old Glory Miniatures from Westwind's, Berlin or Bust line of figures. I was going to order these, but life was so hectic this summer I just never go around to it. So later in the summer, in an effort to get some stuff finished and put away I started chopping up some of my extra figs from my War Games Factory Americans.

"Private, get to that wine cellar before those bastards drink all of the good stuff"

I had to remove the legs with an exacto knife and reposition them so that I could get them into the jeep. Overall the figs were a good size match for the jeep and look pretty good. The gunner is loading the .50 cal in preparation to fire, while the commander is holding his binocs in one hand and pointing to something with the other.

"load that .50 cal soldier, I want anyone who touches the 1921 Conti before I arrive shot"

The .50 cal is from Company B and was pretty easy to mount. The driver I altered slightly by sawing off the top of his knit cap and sticking a helmet over the top of it. This was it looks as if it is about to fall off, or he has it sitting on top of his head as if so he can hear the radio chatter over the walkie talkie better. I then also removed the rifle from his right hand and added a walkie talkie using green stuff and a little wire.  As usual, the painting is mediocre and the photos are atrocious.

Perhaps some day the U.S. decals that I ordered though my LGS and Warlord Games will come in and I can pretty up some of my American Vehicles. However, I have pretty much just given up hope that these will materialize before I drop dead.