UNIT Mobile Communications Van

 A new vehicle for my UNIT troops.

This is my UNIT Mobile Communications Command van that can be used by the Brigadier as a mobile HQ or to call in air strikes.  It is a conversion from a Dinky Toy BBC mobile Television studio vehicle. Various Black Tree / Harlequin Troops are posed in the foreground.

UNIT Mobile Communications Command Van

Here is the original Dinky van before repair and conversion including repainting.

DINKY SUPERTOYS TV MOBILE CONTROL ROOM

Terror at Devil's Bay August 2019

I ran the Terror at Devils Bay scenario again with two players (Ted and myself) on August 5, 2019.

Introduction

 The Master is attempting to find his TARDIS component hidden on the base HMS Sea Spite, and has persuaded the Sea Devils to attack the base to divert the defenders.  The Master has disguised himself ad a Naval Captain so gets to use the DWMG infiltrator rules (he can't be attacked unless he makes a hostile action or is identified by Jo, the Doctor or Benton who must be within 6" to do this.  The Doctor is on the scene to help the base defenders but he and Jo are not aware the Master is on the base.

The Base is defended by Captain Hart's HQ squad, Lt. Bakers Duty Watch, Sgt. Benton's UNIT squad, plus the Doctor, Liz Shaw, Jo Grant, and the base scientist.  The Sea Devils have 3 squads of Armoured Sea Devils, two of which include Myrkas

40mm Bofors gun

Pulp Alley II Kick Starter

My Pulp Alley Kick Starter package finally arrived.  It contained the new Pulp Alley II (PA II) rules, a scenario books and some additional cards.  I look forward to trying the new edition of the rules.

The new PA II rules, scenario and cards.

PA II Kick Starter set guarded by 
my highly trained Watch Cat!

Black Tree Order - All Good

I just received my latest Black Tree 28mm W.W.II and Doctor Who order from their Memorial day Sale. It made very good time, well packaged, was complete and even included three bonus figures, plus John added in the discount I neglected to apply.  This is typical of the good service I get from John Olson at Black Tree / EOE Orbis.  I know he gets a lot of flack for problems with some orders, but in view of the health and family issues he has had I think he is doing an excellent job and it is a shame buyers only want to post about bad news rather than good. Black Tree is one of the companies I order from on a regular basis.

Black Tree 28mm W.W.II Soviets and Sea Devils

Gaming theory: Doctor Who Terror at Devil's Bay Location

Creating game landscape for 

the Sea Devils: Terror at Devils Bay

HMS Seaspite as set up for Cangames 2019 in May.

One of the challenges I faced creating my Doctor Who game based on the Sea Devils episode: Terror at Devils Bay was how to create the key feature the Naval base HMS Seaspite (as it is called in the TV episode the Sea Devils) which was filmed at HMS St George, Fraser Gunnery Range.  Unlike a historical scenario a Sci-Fi scenario offers more options.  Why does it matter?  I think for two reasons firstly it help to create the most accurate or atmospheric recreation of what the game is based on, and secondly it can impact play balance.  Plus it is an opportunity to compare images of the game set up versus what the actual base that was used for the film shoot looked like then and now.

Roofing material

Walthers Roofing material

I tried out some of the Walthers Cornerstone Roof Texture material on two of the flat topped buildings I used for my Doctor Who Terror at Devils Bay game and was very pleased with the results.

Post game picture showing Walthers roofing ballast

Unidentified 28mm Computer type machinery?

I got the resin item in the picture below about 5 years ago in an eBay lot of computer related items (main frames, consoles etc.)  that were made by Scotia Grendel and Armorcast.  However I can't find this one in the Scotia Grendel, Armorcast or Ainsty catalogue.  It is about 1 inch long and Kkind of looks like it could be a  hard drive or a memory bank, any ideas what it is or who made it?

?

Doctor Who: Terror at Devils Bay, Cangames 2019

Terror at Devils Bay: 2019

This year's game at Cangames 2019  (originally scheduled for 2018)  was entitled Terror at Devils Bay using the Doctor Who the Miniatures Game II (DWMG II) rules and based on the Doctor Who TV episode "The Sea Devils."

The  Scenario:

It is 1980 shortly after the Doctor has foiled another of the Master’s nefarious schemes and returned him to his prison cell at Scarock Castle.  To ensure the Master does not escape Earth the Doctor has taken a vital component from his TARDIS and decided to deposit it for safekeeping at a nearby military base.  Accordingly the doctor along with Jo Grant, and a UNIT squad under Captain Yates visit HMS SEASPITE at Kearvaig Bay, a research facility and former gunnery grange to hide the component.  While visiting the base the Doctor learns from Helene Salinger, the chief scientific advisor, that her latest deep sea probe was lost at sea, and that ships have been mysteriously disappearing. The Doctor decides to assist her with the new probe investigate the rash of ship disappearances in the area.  Meanwhile the Master has escaped, contacted the Sea Devils and persuaded them to attack the base. This will provide him with an opportunity to enter the base disguised as a Naval Captain to look for his hidden TARDIS component.

 Turn 1, Sea Devils advance towards the beach

Doctor Who- Terror at Devils Bay Test Game for Cangames 2018 (Updated)



Test Game: Terror at Devils Bay:  May 6, 2018 (Updated)

This was a test game for the Cangames Convention late May 2018, using the DWMG rules.  We wanted to see if the forces were balanced.

Some of the buildings still need painting but I wanted to test out the scenario to see what further work needed to be done, or not. I had 4 players for the game, the scenario is designed for up to 8 players. I will not provide a detailed AAR, but just let the pictures tell the story.

View from the Sea Devils Side, many buildings
still need more painting



Things I purchased at Cangames 2019

This year at Cangames 2019, I bought some 28mm scale diecast vehicles at reasonable prices:

Centurion tank by Dinky

Set of three 1939 British Army transport vehicles by Ledo.

Terror at Devils Bay Prep Cangames 2019

Preparation work for Cangames 2019: Doctor Who: Terror at Devils Bay.

Where things were in late May 2018

A lot of work needs to be done on the buildings, boat, land rover and a few figures.

Recent finds: King Kong

A couple of items I found on a recent trip to the Merrickville Street Sale: King Kong and a suitable evil temple for 28mm scale.

 The ape was a plastic toy, the temple a Terrarium decoration.

The temple & Kong, houses in background are 15mm