Test games:- 

We played a short test game with my new home grown FLAMES OF WAR Modified Rules. It was entertaining and a quite a giggle, despite my appalling rolling of 1's and 2's damn near constantly (god blessed me in many ways but not with the ability to roll dice with anything resembling a proper  statistical distribution). 

We decided to boost the AT ratings of many of the Weapons after re-balancing many of the vehicles several times, and also looking at the TANK ASSAULT values of things such as LAW's. 

We are still debating the "Hen and Chicks" rule as this is massively debilitating when taking 3 Tank Platoons in the modern era, so I am considering dropping this rule from the Russians. Especially when I make IFV equivalent of Tank Teams it affects BMP's and BTR's too. I also need to address certain IFV's as Transports rather than IFV's (M113 or FV432 spring to mind).

Anyway here are some pictures, because you all prefer them anyway!  (ignore the unpainted mini's they are objective markers!). 

So this is a "Dust Up" meeting engagement so, reserves will arrive after turn 3. The Chieftains were in a good conceal position.

The Motor Rifle Scouts approach with a T-72 Tank Platoon in support. The Chieftains are spotted and the T-72's fire whilst racing forward and the Chieftain's front armour bounces those shots that hit.

The sited and static Chieftains fire back with full rate of fire and neutralise the Platoon after two turns of firing at each other. The second T-72 Platoon managed to flank the Chieftains and fire at the side armour, but were hamstrung by the "Hen and chicks" rule so need 6's to hit *BAH!!!! ill considered implication*

The Chieftains begin a fighting withdrawal as the Soviet surge forward, presenting their ridiculous front armour to all the threats. The Second T-72 Platoon is wiped out by lucky Chieftain firing as they reverse and my bloody dice rolling near constant 1's.  

 The MILAN Platoon arrives and is taken under fire by the BTR's HMG's and MG's. The return fire is focused on the sole surviving T-72 in the 1st Platoon which shrugs off the MILAN hits.

 A British Mechanised Platoon sees an Opportunity to neutralise the Soviet Recce section.

Equally a BMP Platoon races in and it's infantry move forward to Capture the objective. The BMP's fire SPIGOT's at point blank range but against miss as they need 6's due to "Hen and Chicks".

The Soviet second BMP Platoon arrives and blocks the FV432 Mech Platoon, and stays out of range of the MILAN team. Taking the FV432 platoon under-effective fire, but not before the soviet Recce platoon is destroyed. The Mechanised FV432 Platoon, suffers one destroyed and other 3 vehicles Bailed, British Soldiers spill out in all directions and an entire section is killed, as their vehicle cooks off.

The first BMP Platoon comes under murderous MG fire from the Chieftains working as a team. Neutralising the BMP's and pinning the troops. At this point I hold 2 objectives, contesting one the British positions. But my Platoon breaks, and it triggers a Company Morale check * I fail and my company quits the field.

The bottomline, is that I need to tweak the "Hen and Chicks" rule and up the AT value. There was a random element where I rolled ridiculously low dice through sheer chance. More work is required.

Also one for all the UK Ex-Service types out there:-

2013 and the painting table

UPDATE 

I finally got the TL-Model Bau decals. I'm quite pleased with them, a few minor issues (some of them have white edges for some reason, I will touch them up with a paint brush).

The British Decals are a bit smaller, and you get a lot more so it represents better value. With the USSR ones I'm struggling to find where to place them, and also the Numerics seem far too large (though I am no expert on WARPAC armour markings). Overall I'm going the less is more route on my decals and after these I will be highlighting again and weathering again.

As you can see they aren't bad, I will varnish over the top and then dullcote with some weathering powders and they should look great. I still need to decide on the Callsign marks and will wait of the Armour Book I've ordered to finish this.

ON THE PAINTING TABLE

SOVIET HQ'S / REAR ECHELON

I've got these spare models, so I decided to convert them up a bit and they can be used for various props or even for less well equipped WARPAC Partners (like Hungary). These will also be good in scenario's acting as rear echelon vehicles like Soviet HQ's or other formations. They were freebies and are just all round useful. 

NATO SPECIAL FORCES

My 1st Unit for SF is the 8-man SAS Stay behind Party. 

Essentially they will break into 2 - 4 man patrols. Each 4 man patrol has 

1 x STINGER + M16

2 x LAW + M16

1 x MILAN + M16

So they pack a fair bit of punch in such a tiny squad. These will be used in special scenario's (like raids, or neutralising HQ's) and not be used on the Battlefield with conventional forces.

Appeal for help! 

I have been searching books and the internet trying to find a definitive reference for British Tank Markings in the mid 1980's specifically 1986. 

Thus far I have got OSPREY ELITE 026 - TANK WAR - Central Front NATO vs WARPAC

It's a Great book, and I can recommend this to any Cold War Era Wargamer, most of it is Black and White but the central 12 pages have colour prints of Vehicles in various Camouflage and colour schemes.

ARMOURED ACORN Website http://www.armouredacorn.com/as reference Sites.

I would like to know the Squadron and Platoon marking systems for the Royal Tank Regiment at this time. It's essential so I can use the TL-MODELBAU Decals I've got effectively on the British Vehicles and finish them properly. 

Any help would be appreciated!!!