DIPPING MY TOE - BOLT ACTION

not pictured: a box of IJA Bamboo Spear Fighter Squad

I decided to do it.

Many years ago after a visiting my mum and hometown I was later surprised by a parcel from a friend. He had inquired into the "what's and wherefore's" of Wargaming, "dipped his toe", decided it wasn't for him, and then sent me his few initial purchases as a gift. A single IJA Type 95 Ha-Go tank accompanied by a Japanese Daihatsu-class Landing Craft, both were 28mm, which immediately told me my description of scales had failed, but I was quite touched by the gesture and these have sat proudly inside one of my collection cabinets ever since.

I have also Dived (and travelled) across the Pacific and thus swum (and trod) many of the battlefields for that theatre, and while I did start to raise forces for the Fall of Singapore in 20mm (painted but not based) I have never really fully embraced the Pacific and the Far East. 

And with too many options on the Allied side to narrow down without some long thinking, but only one for the Axis, I resolved to start there and raise a small IJA force. After all the Japanese are needed everywhere in this theatre so are somewhat essential.

So I then did what all "real" Wargamers do, I rushed out and spent a pile of money without a clear plan or any idea what I really needed. And when I say "rushed out" I mean I spammed an online store with my credit card and had the parcels delivered.

And thus, faced with a boxes of figures and a new "lead-pile" I have retroactively decided on a plan to start with a small 3rd Ed.* 500 pt. force, a (hopefully) manageable chunk to try and paint and ONLY when it is done slowly expand this effort 250 pts. at a time. Ideally I should not have to purchase anything beyond my initial "splurge" apart from the usual consumables that a new project usually demands. (any paints, glue, decals and basing materials, etc...) But I am sure this will change as no "army" is ever really complete, and I already know I need an extra tank or two...

So my first "paint of attack"

So 40 figures to paint up, with a rough plan for the next 250 points to include some tanks, but first things first, and for the start of the new financial year, I now have the start of a plan. (maybe even a cunning one)

* I will most probably need to buy the 3rd Ed. Rules and the new Armies of Japan book as well.