Tabletop CP: 8th Army Hobby Series Part 1- The Plan

[@jekylthorn8969]

That British officer is exactly how all our front line commanders looked in the heat of action. Calm under pressure, Old Boy! 😉 Bit late to the party but I have saved this entire playlist and intend to binge watch the lot! Looks awesome, many thanks!!

[@MrRschwab]

A clean slate sounds great. The generic Commonwealth tin helmet, gives you greater flexibility. Every game a different unit from Scotland to New Zealand! Your fast painting guides are great!

[@jdmcdonald4258]

I've recently built a New Zealand 8th Army platoon for BA, using the box set and some extra sprues. I struggled to have enough "tin helmets" for the whole platoon, so ended up with 2 squads Maoris, 2 squads NZ Scots and 1 squad of Engineers. The Maoris (very nasty) and NZ Scots have 13 figures/squad, which enables me to field early/mid war or inexperienced/regular/veteran. I made a Flamethrower using one of the plastic figures and a 2" mortar. It fits in with the rest of the platoon, but I'm not sure if I would use a flamethrower wearing a pair of shorts and a short sleeved shirt! I also used a couple of the Bren carrier passengers as drivers for trucks. More BA please.

[@akarow3251]

Great video! Excited to see them against the Italians!

[@samb2052]

I’ve concluded after several years of CoC, that I’ll always build four rifle sections for any platoon. Most games I play are part of a Pint Size Campaign and a fourth section is usually an option. If available it’s always worth taking. As for British platoons, I always take a 2”, two of them if possible. The smoke is a great way to negate a powerful enemy.

[@tabletopcp]

Yep. Excellent idea. I will make a fourth section for these guys too. And a second 2” mortar.

[@Andrew-se4tg]

Looks great man! Would be Awesome to see a building/painting tutorial on the universal carrier's!👍

[@yendub]

I just finished up my South Africans using 2 Commonwealth 8th army boxes. I went that way for 2 reasons. First is that I love some of their special rules, and they can still be used as "generic" Brits. Also, each sprue had 3 heads with winter style hats and I am going to be using them, along with German and Soviet winter boxes, to make a Finnish army (German body, Soviet arms/weapons). The reverse will make a decent Hungarian force. Only downside to my method is that I have no PIAT option.

[@tw33dal3]

I've already suggested games based on Wavell's campaigns against the Italians in 1941. Much less well known than the campaigns of 1942/3. That would mean looking at Humber ACs and the earlier cruiser tanks and Matildas and perhaps a truck to creae a 2pdr portee. For background, though rambly, Moorhouse's "Desert Victory"

[@crossbones8956]

This has been a great series. I just started building my 8th army and this has been great to follow along with. I have the 8th army box set, the three pack of M3's, an extra 6 pounder I got as a prize at a tournament, the Gentlemen's War box on the way, and a Matilda on the way. Oh, and a box of Commonwealth, and two sprues of the 8th army that I had lying around. I can't wait to jump into this MASSIVE project. The largest BA project I've done yet! Anything you think I should add?

[@tabletopcp]

That is quite the project! From the looks of it I think you will have everything you need to field whatever you want. Maybe some trucks?

[@yendub]

For the Sikh - save the heads. You can put them on regular BEF infantry (or commando box for better look) and have them fighting in Burma/east.

[@straygeologist]

Just been thinking about doing something similar, leaning heavy into SAS. Perfect timing!

[@jtwargames523]

I've got the same starter set and was wondering exactly the same thing - I'm tempted to have a section of tin helmets and a section of Sikhs - not historically accurate in terms of regimental structure but surly there was lots of mixed formations during the height of battle. I'm also looking to use these figures for early war Malayan campaign games too

[@jessicawood767]

Dang thats alot of stuff!

[@richardb1815]

looks like a good plan Travis. I'll be working on my Australians alongside you so I'll be watching your progress with interest. Love the idea of an all Sikh army but there would be a lot of fiddly head swaps to do on the gun crews

[@tabletopcp]

Thanks Richard. I am worried about the head swaps. Never been good at that sort of thing. Some of the gun crews may stay British depending on how it is sculpted.

[@seamus5253]

For my Italians, I took Empress models I clipped off the heads to replace with Warlord Bersaglieri heads. It took a little doing but in the end it looked great.

[@JonJonRon]

If you don't go Sikhs I will!!! After I finish my Tirailleurs force though. Great vid!

[@tabletopcp]

Oh I am going Sikhs. Already decided. Don’t tell anyone 😄

[@christopherstaerck1112]

How about an early Sherman in case you want to do late 1942 El Alamein (300 Sherman’s deployed in 8th Army) which was truly a Commonwealth battle against an Axis army of Italians and Afrika Korps. All the kit you have would work in that scenario except the 2-pdr but then you’d bring the 6-pdr in anyway. Good luck, it’s a great project! Cheers

[@anthonymazzo7026]

Sounds like a solid build plan. A Matilda II would be great as a support.

[@tabletopcp]

Yeah I will have a couple of those

[@jamesharms748]

How about a valentine? Something different and actually more of them than Matilda’s

[@tabletopcp]

@@jamesharms748 yeah. Getting one of those too.

[@michaelgriffin135]

Speed painting video would be awesome. Maybe you can make just one squad of Sikhs? Let your heart be happy a little 😁.

[@tabletopcp]

I will do a painting video for these guys. But it’s all Sikh all the time from here on out 😄

[@paulbenson9015]

Great Travis lookin good...we like chunky. As support and synonymous with 8th Army & El Alamein, how about a Mines Sweeping Team? Can't remember if they are on the Support list (Engineers On the Support list,

[@paulbenson9015]

Would make a nice Vignette 👍

[@tabletopcp]

Desert British engineers are very hard to find. There is some pioneer tools on the sprue I can use to fake it but there is no flamethrower or mine sweeper that I have found.

[@Its_Dave_Just_Dave]

If you have the Wargames Illustrated magazine near you, 1 of the 4 possible giveaway Free sprues for September is an 8th army one since you want an extra sprue, plus it will give you something to read

[@normanwood1994]

You might need to get another sprue to make some engineers. i have the Perry Ice cold in Alex set which has a truck and 4 figs (2 female). its very nice indeed.

[@tabletopcp]

Yes. I need some engineers. A flamethrower mainly as I can make some passable engineers from the sprues. But they are hard to find.

[@lesliemitchell4984]

Go Seeks as the are bad boys and the Axis loved them

[@mikeosman5634]

Do the Sikhs! That would be awesome.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

"Could have access to two 25pdrs..." Yeah, doing it proper British Army style! 😂

[@tabletopcp]

If you don’t have two 25 pounders are you even trying?

[@johnedwards3096]

Personally I’d consider adding a troop of Matilda’s it would suit the army looks wise (not sure on points not much of a min max type gamer) also it might interest you to look into Britain’s Indian divisions which sounds like what your looking for but generally would have a mix of commonwealth nations (Battalion strength on paper of one British brigade and two Indian or Ghurkas) that might enable you to build a Sikh squad into your army? Even though they commonly fought in the African campaign they also took part in Italy and Burma. Looking forward to seeing the outcome nonetheless!

[@jamesharms748]

I bought the Sikhs and they add some variety. I’m not 100% sure if they wore the helmets as opposed to the turbin.

[@thomaschase7097]

Why 1/48 (38mm / O Scale) scale vehicles, when figures are 28mm (1/64 scale)?

[@tabletopcp]

To match the scale of the Italian vehicles mostly. They have some small tankettes that look silly in 1/56 so went bigger with them.

[@stephenpodeschi6052]

Sikh infantry which do look cool or the option to have generic Eng/welsh/Irish/scots , Anzacs , Poles , Czechs , free French , South Africans , Rhodesian's , Greeks and possibly others ? ... Good luck fixing those guns and cannot wait for them to be stationed on the North African battle mat , which you have a lot of buildings and scenery for now .....lol

[@rickfryer2934]

Hi I love watching the games you play and was wondering which game system you prefer, is it Bolt Action or Chain of Command?

[@tabletopcp]

I like them both. Bit they are very different games. BA is more fast paced and cinematic, like a Hollywood movie. CoC is slower paced, more realistic. Like a simulation. Both are equally good, not really easy to compare though as they are so different.

[@rickfryer2934]

@@tabletopcp At the moment I only play Bolt Action with a friend. However, he is intersted in playing Chain of Command, but I am not so sure. Would I be correct in saying Chain of Command is a more realistic in depth wargame, wheras Bolt Action is more like 40K or MESBG ( Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game) from GW. The other games I play are skirmish games like MESBG so maybe a realistic game is not my genre.

[@tabletopcp]

@@rickfryer2934 yeah that what it is. CoC is more realistic for sure but it’s still fun. If you have WW2 armies and terrain already there really is no reason not to try it. I think you will like it.

[@rickfryer2934]

@@tabletopcp Ok I will follow your advice and read the rules. We have armies and terrain, not as good as yours, but we are getting there. The terrain you have is another reason I love watching your games. You are inspirational, I think a good looking table makes the whole game better.

[@tabletopcp]

@@rickfryer2934 thanks Rick. Appreciate it. If you like WW2 history I think you will like CoC.

[@DanishArtist]

Warlord Games do have some Sikh heads for sale on their own, wasn't the Sikhs lead by British officers most of the time, this could give you some spare heads to use.

[@DanishArtist]

@Tabletop CP, I just looked up the officers of the British Sihk Regiments of ww2 just out of curiosity, and it seems the officers was primarily British officers or non Sihks until around 1946, might be some before 1946 but I couldn't find them on/in the list.

[@nelsonrumley2618]

sikh and ye shall receive

[@rioploon]

Dare to be different. Go Sikh or go home and any other changed slogan you can think of. :)