Getting Back Into Flames of War: Building, Painting, and Gaming in Malta

After years away from Flames of War, I’m finally diving back in. My journey with the game started over 25 years ago when I first saw it being playtested at the South Auckland Miniature Wargames Club. Back then, it was just a photocopied rule set. As a teenager, my only foray into WWII wargaming was with Rapid Fire! using 20mm/1:72 figures. Now, decades later, it feels like the perfect time to jump back into the hobby with Flames of War.

From Virginia to Malta

My last Flames of War experience was back in Virginia, playing occasional games at Eagle and Empire and Your Hobby Place. When Covid hit, my hobbying fell off completely, leaving my two Hit the Beach starter sets untouched in my pile of shame. But during a recent trip to New Zealand, I visited the Battlefront Miniatures store, and it reignited my passion for 15mm WWII wargaming.

I came back with:

• Clash of Steel: War of Unification (American vs German)
• Clash of Steel: Operation Unthinkable (American vs Soviet)
• D-Day German Starter Force
• US paratroopers and Sherman tanks

Back in Malta, I expanded further using Chase credit card points to snag:

• USAB13 – USA – 2nd Armoured Division Army Deal
• GEAB27 – German – 21st Panzerdivision Army Deal
• GEAB26 – German – Panzer Lehr Army Deal

I also picked up the Late War Leviathans and Eastern Front Compilation books, giving me plenty of flexibility to build armies for multiple theatres.

Building Forces for Late-War Games

With the variety of boxes I’ve picked up, I have a lot of options for building versatile and thematic forces:

• Americans: Combine the 2nd Armored Division with the infantry and tanks from Hit the Beach to create a balanced force capable of handling both mechanized and infantry-heavy opponents. Adding the paratroopers offers a thematic airborne assault option.

• Germans: The Panzer Lehr’s elite tanks and mechanized infantry pair well with the D-Day German Starter Force for a mobile, hard-hitting list. The 21st Panzerdivision’s unique vehicles, like the repurposed French half-tracks, add a fun flavor to any list.

• Clash of Steel: These sets offer a great introduction to alternate history scenarios, like Operation Unthinkable, where American forces clash with the Soviets.

Hobbying: Painting and Terrain

Getting these armies table-ready is going to be a fun challenge. Here’s the plan:

• Tanks: I’ll be airbrushing the vehicles for smooth base coats and highlights, focusing on crisp, realistic finishes.
• Infantry: For the infantry, I’m using a mix of Army Painter Speedpaints, Citadel Contrast Paints, and Vallejo’s new speed paint range, which features military-specific colors. This method is based on techniques I outlined in my 2019 Wargaming3D article about speed-painting WWII infantry.

I’m also building a variety of terrain to bring my table to life. I’ve been assembling MDF buildings from Sarissa Precision that came in Warlord Games’ Epic Battles starter sets for the English Civil War and Napoleonic Wars. These buildings are perfect for creating a Western European battlefield.

Additionally, I’ve 3D printed a selection of bocage, roads, and other scatter terrain to give my table an immersive, late-war Normandy feel.

Finding Players in Malta

The Flames of War scene in Malta is small, but growing. On Gozo, I’ve connected with one player (Andres), and we’re working on organizing some games. On Malta, I’ve been in touch with Ric, though another potential player, Ben, has yet to respond to my Facebook messages. For anyone interested, we have a WWII gaming WhatsApp group for Gozo players—drop me a message, and I’ll add you!

Battlefront’s New Web Store

If you’re looking to start or expand your Flames of War collection, now is the perfect time. Battlefront Miniatures has just launched their new web store, and they’re running a 30% discount on Flames of War products until February 10th. From starter sets to army deals and terrain, it’s a great opportunity to grab everything you need for the hobby.

Final Thoughts

Getting back into Flames of War has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The mix of historical strategy, painting, and terrain building scratches all the right creative itches. Whether I’m fielding Shermans in Normandy or defending the Eastern Front with Panthers, I’m excited to bring these battles to the table.

If you’re in Malta—or anywhere else—and want to chat Flames of War, share hobby tips, or get a game in, drop a comment below. And if you’re sitting on a pile of unpainted models like I was, consider this your sign to get started.