The Martians have invaded, time to return the favor!

The Martians have invaded, time to return the favor!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Mongol Red Horseman



I guess I can do these with PP Russians with a head swap....)

Ukraine - Historical Rank Flags (1918)



Something more for you Robin.....)

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ua_18rnk.html

Cossacks


The expansion of Russian Empire led to the expansion of slavery in acquired territories. For certain parts of the country there was however made an exception. For example, several Cossack regions in Southern Russia and the Ural Mountains developed as isolated enclaves of relative freedom. The first Cossack regions formed between the 14th and 18th centuries on lonely borderlands settled by runaway serfs, organized brigands and other warlike adventurers mainly from Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian Blue Regiment



As luck would have it a few months ago I bought some Bulgarians in fur hats, as it turns out they look remarkably similar to the Ukrainian Blue Regiment depicted here. So I'll be painting up a unit for Russian Civil War battles.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Medium Mk.A - The "Whippet"



Designed as a 'fast' tank capable of exploiting any breakthroughs, the Whippet was used to great effect during the battle of Amiens in 1918.

1st Quarter Aircraft Profiles (1900-1925)



The first 25 years of flight saw many advances in the design and construction of aircraft. Beginning with the frail pre-war contraptions of crackpot inventors, the science of aeronautics had progressed to unheard of heights. As is usual with mankind, war provided the impetus to this progression. We show many of these advancements in the following pages.

http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/index.html

Monday, October 20, 2008

Hanriot HD.1 in Italian Service



The Hanriot HD.1 fighter was a comparative rarity in aviation history: a highly successful, high-performance aircraft that was never adopted by the country that developed it. The HD.1 came along at an awkward moment for a French fighter. It was just too late to compete with the Nieuports that formed the backbone of French fighter aviation in the first years of the war. By the time it appeared, it was eclipsed by the SPAD 7. The SPAD became the standard fighter of the French air force. The French did, however, allow Hanriot to market its new airplane to France’s allies. Belgium bought a modest number, as did the U.S. Navy. But the major user of the HD was Italy.

Arcana from the Great War



The First World War gave innovators and entrepreneurs tremendous scope for realizing their ambitions. The pace of wartime technical development was such that many visionary projects received funding from hidebound military and naval establishments that would never have considered such things in peacetime. Heavy industrial concerns, particularly those that had sold weapons pre-war, had endless opportunities for developing and cornering new markets and emerging military technologies.

The White Falcons: the White Air Forces 1918-1920



The collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 and the near simultaneous collapses of the Prussian and Austrian Empires in 1918 produced a sudden outpouring of nationalist sentiment among nations and peoples that had lived more or less peacefully (if not always happily) under foreign rule for a century or more. One product of this great, war's-end movement was, as we have seen, Poland. But Poland was not alone. Bolshevism, remnants of the Junkers—the old Prusso-Baltic nobility—and Germany's terroristic freikorps threatened smaller, less internationally recognized, less thoroughly militarized states even more than they threatened Poland. To the myriad smaller nationalities that had once been part of the great, multiethnic empires, moreover, Poland was at least as great a threat as Prussian militarism or Russian Bolshevism. The imperial systems of Central and Eastern Europe had often favored minorities. At the very least, they had kept more numerous (and thus more politically unreliable) ethnic rivals from gaining any overwhelming dominance in public life. Now, those restraints were gone, and no equivalent, Western European restraints, such as the embryonic League of Nations, were yet in place. The Poles were, moreover, after rather more than independence and self-determination. They wanted an empire of their own, with all territories that had ever been ruled by Poland, including Lithuania and the Ukraine, again under Polish control. The Poles seemed bent on restoring all the old inequalities but, this time, with themselves the main beneficiaries.

The White Eagles: Polish Aviation 1918-1920



In 1914, Poland was a dream, not a geopolitical reality. The disastrous War of the Polish Succession issued in the partition of the ancient, Catholic kingdom. Austria took Galicia in the southwest. Protestant Germany annexed Silesia and parts of the Polish Baltic. Reactionary, Orthodox Russia siezed the rest and ruled it harshly. From time to time, inspired by enthusiasm for Chopin or the polka, romantics, idealists, and eccentrics of various stripes championed Polish independence, particularly during the effusion of nationalist sentiment that swept Europe in the nineteenth century. For a time, under Napoleon, the nation even enjoyed a nominal independence and a considerable vogue in fashionable circles. But, in practical diplomatic or military matters, Polish patriots were invariably on their own and at the mercy of foreign guns. In simple terms, Poland had ceased to exist for the Great Powers. They had long since decided her fate and had no desire to reopen an issue that might lead to considerable bother and expense.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Plan 1919



The end of the fighting on the Western Front in November 1917 came as something of a surprise to both sides. Germany's plight was, of course, desperate.

Red Fighters, 1918-1920



While the Armistice of November 11, 1918 ended World War I in France and Belgium, fighting continued in Eastern Europe and Asian Russia for another two years. France, Britain, and the United States were trying to crush Communism at its outset, while Japan was rushing to expand her foothold in continental Asia.

Italian Combined Operations in the Adriatic, 1915-18


Italian War Aims and the Historical Background of the War in the Adriatic

After Caporetto: William Barker & The Italian Expeditionary Force



In October 1917, the Italian front collapsed at Caporetto, leaving Italy’s continued participation in the war and, possibly, her sovereignty, in doubt. Germany had at last intervened on her southern ally’s behalf.

IMAM Ro 37



The Ro 37 was an all-metal two-seater with fabric-covered wings, tail and fuselage, and an aluminum paneled nose section. A streamlined, articulated, split-axle undercarriage was fitted, with closely spatted wheels. The aircraft weighed 3432 lbs (1560 kg) empty and 5269 lbs (2395 kg) fully loaded. It spanned 36 ft 4 in (11.2 m) and had a wing area of 338 sq ft (32 m²). It was 28-ft 3-in (8.7-m) long.

http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v4/v4n1-2/ro37.html

Rorke's Drift Web Site


This is a great reference on the battles and its
participants and is an excellent general site for
Victorian era British Army information

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/index.html

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Bill's French Fleet!

Last week, Bill unveiled his British Aeronef force: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-britis-aeronef-fleet-commissioned.html

This week, he shows off his new Frenchies, along with close-up pics of both fleets!

I think they are lovely, nicely detailed and crisply finished

Another great find by Tas!


http://billwerks.blogspot.com/2008/10/and-zhe-french.html


War That Time Forgot!

WW1...the Imperial German army faces off against the Allied Armies.
This is a new war, a war of mechanization, new innovation and....dinosaurs!

"Set during the early days of World War 1, the technology of warfare takes a surprising turn as battlefields quake not with the sound of tanks but shudder to the roars of DINOSAURS!"

Thanks to TAS for this one!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/blaxkleric/

Friday, October 17, 2008

Pygmy Wars Figures Page


Why 15mm?
My preferences are to game the southern theatre of the
Russian Civil War, the Baltic campaigns and the 1920
Polish-Soviet War, all of which mainly consisted of battles
of movement. Hence I felt that the smallest scale figures

Eastern Europe's Bloody Wars


The Russian Civil War, Freikorps in Latvia, Soviet-Polish
War, Hungarian Soviet War and the Galician-Polish War


http://pygmy-wars.50megs.com/home.html

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Safari to the Psgheti

A Pleasant Outing Spoiled before Lunch

Far up the Soumbada River lies the turbulent area around Lake Wiyiata. The territory is British on one side of the river, German on the other. Both European states are ostensibly dedicated to wiping out the thriving slave trade, but something is rotten in the German regional capital of Bungalo. The notorious German administrator, Wilhelm Eisenschleim (or 'Bungalo Bill' as he is known up and down the river) makes sure his Schutztruppen are otherwise occupied whenever King Haamo's Wiyiata warriors sweep down on the villages of the inoffensive Mlari and the pygmy Nyuk-Nyuk, selling the captives to hated slaver Mehmet Wuwoob for transport to Wada Maroun and the Arab trading cities on the Anakanipanistan coast. Of the tribes in the area, only the fabled but rarely seen Mshempi have not sent entreaties to the British Governor-General, asking help against the depredations of this unholy trio.

The Sidney Street Siege



"Police Sergeant Bentley knocked at the door. It was opened, Bentley went in. After a few seconds there was a blaze of a revolver, flashes and shots. A whole gang of people [probably only four] raced out except for one man who took cover. There was a furious struggle, with the [unarmed] police going for their men even as they were being hit again and again by bullets. One member of the gang shot another by mistake, and at this they ran for the entrance to the street, dragging their wounded comrade with them, while injured and dying policemen were helped by the first people to come out of the surrounding houses.

"Things were so confused that the gang managed to get away, and it was not until about midnight that Detective Superintendent Ottaway arrived with a group of armed policemen..."

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

British Cavalry Second Boer War


The real irony for the British cavalry in South Africa was that it could have provided a real theatre of war for the demonstration of a well-trained mounted force. The great expanses of open terrain were ideally suited to wide sweeping raids in which the Boer could have been fought on his own terms from the very start. Not only this, but also the Boer battlefield tactics of digging themselves in and awaiting a frontal assault could have led to their undoing. Here was the chance to use the British cavalry to full effect. A mobile mounted force, together with a light and modern horse artillery could not only have turned the Boers out of every position they occupied but also, given enough strength, could have surrounded them completely and cut them off from any retreat to yet another defensive position.

Mounties


The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or Mounties; French, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, GRC) is both the federal police force and the national police of Canada. The RCMP provides federal (national) police services. It also provides, under contract, provincial and municipal police services to Canada's three territories and eight of its provinces (with the exceptions of Ontario, Quebec, and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador). (Most of Canada's provinces, while constitutionally responsible for law and order, prefer to sub-contract policing to this professional national force that consequently operates under their direction in regard to provincial and municipal law enforcement.) The RCMP is the largest police force in Canada; as of April 2004, the RCMP had an on-strength establishment of 22,239 personnel.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/canadaweb/factfile/Unique-facts-Canada11.htm

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Reminder From The Home Office......He's Still At Large




"I envision a world where the only obligation of the people is to have fun…"

~Dr. Steel

Dr. Steel has dedicated his life to the ideal of uniting the people of this world to form one, symbiotic, fun-loving family.

Dr. Steel's vision of transforming this dreary world into a Utopian Playland spans age, race and gender, unifying all of humanity with a singular goal; happiness.

As World Emperor, Dr. Steel strives to rebuild the world, free from boredom, fear and war. Creating a place where fun is the top priority.

http://worlddominationtoys.com/drsteel/about/emperor.htm

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Diaries Of Cpt Arjun Khan



In case you haven't seen it yet, the Napnuts played a VSF campaign some time back. Here are the battle reports written in the style of a diary of the main character - an Indian Army Medical Services Doctor of the 19th Century:

http://www.napnuts.com/vsf_intro.htm

Steam Gear



This 1: 35 scale steam gear was made from different parts of classic tanks - M1, BT, Tiger plus plane engine )) which were combined in absolutely random way, glued and painted.

Fighting In The Home Counties! London Threatened!



Still reeling from the recent Martian invasion, Great Britain has found herself yet again under attack, this time from the forces of the German Empire. Heavy fighting has been reported within the Home Counties, as the fiendish Hun battles his way towards London.

Orders of Battle:

Forces of the German Empire:
"SMLS Dassen Foot-Boot" - 'Wotan' Class Ironclad - Flagship
Articulated Armored Gun Crawler "SMLS Funf" - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 2)
Land-Crutzer #1 - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 4)
Land-Crutzer #2 - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 4)
Land-Crutzer #3 - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 4)
Land-Crutzer #4 - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 4)
Vickers Duel Maxim Armored Combat Machine - x3 Contraption bases
Chemical Attack Teams - x3 Chemical Infantry Bases
Krupp & Heinenbacker Semi-Automatic Fighting Dress Battalion - x8 Armored Infantry Bases
X3 Supply Bases

Forces of the Crown:

"HMLS Implausible" - 'Sovereign' Class Ironclad - Flagship
"HMLS Nelson" - 'Britannic' Class Ironclad
"HMLS Kelso" - 'Britannic' Class Ironclad
Cheddar Class Land Ram "HMLS Klompton" - Custom Land Ironclad (Type 3)
"A" "B" "C" "D" & "E" Batteries, 5th RA Regiment - x5 Ten Pounder Gun Bases
2nd Bttn Royal East Kent Regiment 'Buffs' - x5 Infantry Bases
1st Bttn, RN Regiment - x5 Infantry Bases
X2 Supply Bases

The Nikolaus August Otto Mars Pattern Luft-Unterseeboot



Technical specs:

The Nikolaus August Otto Mars Pattern Luft-Unterseeboot
Weight:58 tonnes unloaded, 66 tonnes loaded
Range: 220 miles with loaded high performance coal, 460 miles with Martian grey coal
Crew: 1 engineer, 1 driver, 2 able hands, 1 commander
Armament: Classified
Speed: Top speed of 18 Aerial Knots
Armour: Steel plate varying from 12mm to 55mm.

The Luft-Unterseeboot is an unusual design. With very few crewmen the ship can be vulnerable to boarding parties. A problem that has been overcome by having the driver and one of the able hands enclosed in a separate compartment beneath the main body.
Although slow the Luft-Unterseeboot packs a punch. Designed primary to attack ground targets it’s a silent and deadly sight on any battlefield.

Thursday, October 2, 2008