Bolt Action 3 - Battle of the Bulge Starter Set - Unboxing & Review

[@chitzkoi]

Oft neglected, but the winter GIs are excellent for Korean theatre as well. Frozen Chosin makes a great addition!

[@jonathanbirkeland1085]

The Winter German Fallschirmjager bodies are generic enough too that you could use them for Korea as well just by putting the extra US heads on them. That would be a very cool way to use them!

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Good call!

[@WoollyMikePhotography]

If they make a Plastic sprue for North Koreans then would be an awesome move. Would need a new set of Army lists for v3 first though.

[@chitzkoi]

@@WoollyMikePhotography that would make a fool out of me. I must've bought up every box of the metal ones left in the UK!

[@lordtiali8572]

The box sounds a bit like Operation Stösser. A paratrooper drop behind the American lines on December 17th, 1944. The aim was to land around 1300 paratroopers near Malmedy (Belgium), secure intersections and roads, and 24 hours later to get support from the 12th SS Panzer Division. Due to bad weather (the launch was during a snowstorm) and very inexperienced pilots, many of whom had never flown a Ju52 or ever been on a real mission, only a fraction of the paratroopers arrived near the drop zone. Most were dropped in Bonn (80km away) or were still sitting in the planes when they flew back. The paratroopers were also inexperienced and some died during the jump/landing because the training was too poor. The bodies were not found until the following spring. Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte gathered around 300 of his men. He wanted to wait for the 12th SS Panzer Division, as they only had ammunition for one battle and not enough men to occupy the crossings, which could not break through. On December 19th he gathered his men and retreated towards the German lines, surrendered and was taken prisoner. On the American side, however, this caused such confusion that paratroopers were reported throughout the Ardennes region. An entire regiment (U.S. 18th Infantry) was then tasked with searching and securing the region, with almost 3,000 men and 200 tanks. This tied them up for several days and meant they were missing from the front. --- As always, the contents are a great box, but it's not "my" theater and I'm not really interested in collecting another German or US army just because they're now wearing winter coats

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Certainly this set is going to involve a whole new terrain set if you want to go for it, but it looks great, and does feel different.

[@trekanbelluvitsh]

Great hobby gossip on a great box. Fun to watch.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Thanks for watching!

[@aledroberts6151]

Hope your recovering Kaiser, I have to learn Bolt Action as I won this set and two Sherman 76's in the raffle :)

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Yeah, going well thank you. So I guess you won those in the Crack Con raffle. Sad to miss this one.

[@dm51964]

My set arrived today and the two new sprues are outstanding

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Sure are

[@JRE7632]

Great unboxing and review guys

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Thanks again!

[@dm51964]

There was a German Para drop in the Ardennes Offensive but it failed and the troops featured here in this set are units that went in on foot and on AFV's. The German Paratroop drop in the Ardennes during World War II was part of Operation Stösser, also known as Operation Hawk but it was a failure due to poor weather, poorly trained inexperienced troops were used and a lack of supplies. Some of the survivors did however create confusion and panic in already edgy American forces

[@dm51964]

Also if the heads can be swapped out for the German Infantry in Great Coats and you leave out the Para weapons you should be able to make late war German infantry in winter kit and reversable camo was issued to some units

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

A paradrop in an operation specifically planned for awful weather when airpower can't be used sounds pretty doomed form the get-go.

[@dm51964]

@@ModellingforAdvantage It was but that never stopped some German high command lol

[@charlesvanonselen6251]

STG 43 was used like an assault rifle/machine gun (personal) to allow troops to be able to deal with various scenarios (Med-short distances with improved rate of fire). You are correct that it did NOT replace the MG34/42.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Oh completely. I think this conversation was largely about the FG42 - which is an entirely different weapon. I may have mis=spoken the name in the video.

[@willtijerina5149]

The thing I can never understand is why figures that are meant for gaming need to have so many parts to build each figure. But, you might say, it's so you can customize your poses. Yes but when you have them on the table and your playing is there anyone saying, "Oh I really like the way that figures arm is at a 5 degree angle difference than that other figure". It should be about getting to play as fast as possible. Have a variety of poses like 1/72 figures do and make each figure a quick build (other manufacturers do this). It's just something that's always bugged me especially since I'm an old dude now and just want things more simple and straightforward.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

I hear you. There is definitely a sweet spot which varies between hobbyists. I like some pose ability, but largely want simple kits. What I really prefer is the widest possible range of arms to choose from holding canteens or whatever to make them a bit different. Very little work for me, lots of variety still.

[@rich_john]

Great review. Looking forward to more v3

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

100%

[@BradsSuperEthical]

I believe a standard Rifle Company would have a Weapons Platoon with a single mortar squad consisting of 3 60mm M2 mortars. This is in contrast to Airborne Division Rifle Companies having 1 60mm M2 mortar per Rifle Platoon. I do not recall the reasoning behind the difference, but my initial assumption is that the Airborne Division may have had their composite units arranged to maximize their ability to operate independently.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Makes sense.

[@e-4airman124]

this is better than the book type too small to read with a magnifying glass a waste