Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Interwar => Topic started by: Vintage Wargaming on 26 July 2015, 10:55:37 PM
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At the same time as my current interest in interwar research I've made significant further progress on my interwar wargames force. This has included raiding my Blitzkrieg British for usable pieces, buying odds and ends of new stuff, a fair bit of painting and repainting, and also some marking uop of vehicles with decals. I have also thought a little bit more about some of the components. I would like to be able to field it in either 1920s Mechanised Force/early and late 1930s versions, by swapping out a few vehicles.
First of all - I have boosted the mediums that form the basis of the tank force. This involved finding a couple of Medium Mk II**s I had forgotten about (unknown manufacturer) and ordering three more mediums from Frontline. These last were a small disappointment as they came without the alternative cupola with command figure - apparently they had changed these a while ago without changing the picture on the web site. I will just have to continue to aspire to Milicast without a chance of (a) affording them or (b) competently assembling them.
Anyway, i now can boast three companiea each of three medium tanks, led by the Giesbers Medium Mk III and thetwo Mk II**s, with assorted Frontline making up the numbers
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Mediums%201_zpsmsinxzfc.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Mediums%201_zpsmsinxzfc.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Mediums%202_zps0oi2ezp5.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Mediums%202_zps0oi2ezp5.jpg.html)
Next up two companies of Light Tanks - each of a Wespe/Retrokit Vickers Command tank (poetic licence) plus two Raventhorpe Mk IIs
There is a third company (front of picture) of two Frontline Vickers Command and a Matadoe MK I AA tank
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Light%20tanks_zpsiattgtmk.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Light%20tanks_zpsiattgtmk.jpg.html)
Heavy tanks are the Giesbers Independent and an SHQ Infantry Tank MK I
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Heavy%20tanks_zpso7divwzw.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Heavy%20tanks_zpso7divwzw.jpg.html)
A later option are these four Airfix/JB Models MK VI bs
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Light%20tanks%20Mk%20VI_zpswajkylae.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Light%20tanks%20Mk%20VI_zpswajkylae.jpg.html)
Armoured car section - two Ready to Roll Rolls Royce 1920 pattern plus a Frontline Crossley
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/armoured%20cars_zpsfw6gnuck.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/armoured%20cars_zpsfw6gnuck.jpg.html)
SP artillery - Giesbers Birch Guns
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Birch%20guns_zpsojpwptbn.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Birch%20guns_zpsojpwptbn.jpg.html)
Heavy AA artillery - Raventhorpe 3" gun, Skybirds heavy gun, repainted Oxford Diecast Scammell Pioneer
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Heavy%20AA%201_zps3imxdxss.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Heavy%20AA%201_zps3imxdxss.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Heavy%20AA%202_zpskhxlkd6p.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Heavy%20AA%202_zpskhxlkd6p.jpg.html)
Towed artillery - SHQ 18 pdrs and Light Dragon Mk !!s, Cirtroen Kegreese battery staff cars From EWM and possibly S and S Morris Battery Staff Car
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/artillery%20command_zps9g3dzoi7.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/artillery%20command_zps9g3dzoi7.jpg.html)
Truck mounted 18 pdr and tender (KeiKCraft Thorneycroft Parcel Van and coversion with Reviresco naval gun)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/gun%20truck%20and%20tender5_zpsggysew1h.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/gun%20truck%20and%20tender5_zpsggysew1h.jpg.html)
Lorried Transport
R to L KeilKraft parcel van as ambulance, Matador Morris Commercial D, Peco/Merit Thorneycoft Lorry
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/lorrped%20transport_zpswobleawa.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/lorrped%20transport_zpswobleawa.jpg.html)
Cars
big selection here of resin, metal and diecast, including Trux, Oxford, Scalelink
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/car%20park_zpstxtfwbh8.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/car%20park_zpstxtfwbh8.jpg.html)
Radio and Specialist Trucks - all Skytrex I think
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/radio%20trucks_zpsfswfthop.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/radio%20trucks_zpsfswfthop.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/radio%20trucks%20front_zpsm1ppi9c4.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/radio%20trucks%20front_zpsm1ppi9c4.jpg.html)
Platoon trucks - SHQ and resin
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/platoon%20trucks_zpsm2h8pwgv.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/platoon%20trucks_zpsm2h8pwgv.jpg.html)
MG carriers Den Bels Autocar, scratchbuilt Burford Kegresses (still awaiting their rivets)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/MG%20Carriers_zpsxwssxvmw.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/MG%20Carriers_zpsxwssxvmw.jpg.html)
Carden Loyds - EWM at front, including a Belgian 47mm armed one, on second row SHQ at back, lovely Moonlite Modelworks at front with trailers
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Carden%20Loyds_zpsksmtxbze.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Carden%20Loyds_zpsksmtxbze.jpg.html)
Bren Carriers (which can also stand in as MG Carriers MK 1) - unknown resin manufacturer
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/bren%20carriers_zpsrkefhx6b.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/bren%20carriers_zpsrkefhx6b.jpg.html)
Vickers Utility Tractors (two EWM abd two resin - possibly FAA)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/utility%20tractors_zpsmi1s4gll.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/utility%20tractors_zpsmi1s4gll.jpg.html)
MG Battalion (Skybirds Vickers and crews in gasmasks)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/mg%20battalion_zpsmwztvvtm.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/mg%20battalion_zpsmwztvvtm.jpg.html)
LDV/Militia from RH Models Irish Civil War Range, with a coupe of characters from Dark Dream Studio's plastic set Pilots of WW1
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/militia%20ldv%202_zps7uwgrdk8.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/militia%20ldv%202_zps7uwgrdk8.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/militia%20ldv%201_zpsage6mj5y.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/militia%20ldv%201_zpsage6mj5y.jpg.html)
Scots and English battalions, from RH Models with Britannia and IT Figures officers
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Scots_zpsu93s2be4.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Scots_zpsu93s2be4.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/British%20greatcoats_zpsynrwpihr.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/British%20greatcoats_zpsynrwpihr.jpg.html)
EWM 1908 pattern webbing infantry
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/EWM%20infantry_zpssvr8o9hl.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/EWM%20infantry_zpssvr8o9hl.jpg.html)
The bren carriers, Vickers utility tractors, and platoon trucks will equip the later version of the MG battalion, the Carden Loyds and Burford Kegresses the earlier. I have some Zvezda 2 pdrs for a/t dutues but also am hoping to put together some tracked 20mm Oerlikon a/t guns with tracks from David Reasoner and gun barrels from Bandera. The 1934-36 MG Battalion will be based on the 1st Battalion DLI at that period.
Things still to do: I am waiting for the 20mm Oerlikons from Rolf Hedges, plus a large order for vehicle drivers and crews from SHQ. i have a Vickers Utility artillery tractor (Dutch) to serve in the a/t company of the MG battalion. Some of the Mk VI bs need markings. I'm also waiting for a Matador Crossley BGV - when this arrives it will get converted with EWM tracks to a Crossley Kegresse, its back wheels will replace those donated by a Matador Morris Commercial D type to the scratch built Burford Kegresses.
so waiting for some stuff, some of which may take a while, but feeling I am on the last leg now and looking to get them into action soon.
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What an interesting collection. :)
Who are you planning on as opponents?
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What an interesting collection. :)
Who are you planning on as opponents?
Could be: themselves - VBCW or interwar exercises
France, Nationalist Spain, France, Russia, Italy etc etc
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Love it.
It is something I had planned to do on a slightly smaller scale.
Tim
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Love it.
It is something I had planned to do on a slightly smaller scale.
Tim
I've been up in the loft today to retrieve two FAA battalions of BEF, some SDD Home Guard, FAA LDV, Auxiliary Units, and of course nuns, so I think that covers the infantry now
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Could be: themselves - VBCW or interwar exercises
France, Nationalist Spain, France, Russia, Italy etc etc
I'm biased as I tend to favour the French as the logical Interwar enemy. Not that I don't like the French, far from it in fact, but it just seems right somehow. Plus they are somewhat the model for most European armies after the Great War. As opposed to those whose tank development stemmed from Vickers designs, they are also suitably different.
'Last and First Men' by Olaf Stapledon (in the same vein as H.G. Wells's 'Shape of things) briefly covers an Anglo-French War after the Great War in chapter 2: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0601101h.html
It's worth a read if you like getting inside 1930s minds.
As an aside, I recall reading somewhere that there had been an initiative to make the Hotchkiss H-35 the 'standard tank' of the UK and France. Combined with Churchill's expressed desire for political union with France (yes I spat my coffee out when I read about that too) in the '30s, my interest is piqued... can anyone expand on this?
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Well the French had lots of interesting interwar kit
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I'd thought of setting mine in the late twenties and using the experimental mechanised brigade in Canada defending her against the American hordes...
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I'm not sure four men and a rifle counts as a horde. ;)
Joking apart 'War Plan Red' (I think it was called that anyway) is indeed an interesting scenario. The train of thought was that throughout history a rising empire always clashes with a declining one... which when you think about it is pretty much on the mark. In American eyes then, a clash with Britain was very much on the cards back then.
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Wonderful collection you have there. What rules are you planning to use?
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Wonderful collection you have there. What rules are you planning to use?
People keep asking awkward quaestioms.
For smaller scale mostly infantry stuff I am currently thinking of Chain of Command Espana.
With more armour possibly Rapid Fire or maybe even Operation Warboard.
I think armour actually might be quite easy to deal with as there are no uberpanzerrs so little need for tables with all sort of differnet armour values.W
I also have A world Aflame which I have never used and of which I have had mixed reports.
Ideally I'd like to get a lot of kit on a table soon, then try out different rule sets with the same action to try and get a preferred set. Something simpe though.
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I look forward to seeing a game on the tabletop and reading about it.
Will you be raising mounted/dismounted cavalry as well?
Alan
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Lovely stuff. Now to battle the perfidious Yanks in Canada.
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To get in the mood:
https://youtu.be/9Z53MT5TGYs (https://youtu.be/9Z53MT5TGYs)
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Cheers for that! :D
There's a lot packed into such a small video... 18pdrs without pneumatic tires, brand new 18/25pdrs with split trails. Light Dragons... excellent!
I also liked the comment that 'manpower wasn't an issue any more' - at a time when there was a scandal about the army's declining manpower. When an army struggles to recruit in the midst of a depression, you know there's something wrong.
:)
As a comparison, compare it with this one from 1935: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufhu9nMXHyY
It blanks partway through, but keep watching... it gets even better. ;)
here's the 'edited' version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHO69BdjNUE
... there's also this one all about artillery and mortars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd_pOvgHnEQ
and 'Dorset invaded': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYjbfB6O8I
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Thanks Arlequin. The autogiro was a surprise and I liked the Carden Loyds towing 3.7" howitzers on trailers.
Alan - sorry, I missed your question about cavalry. They are on the way but may take some time.
I hadn't realised before this morning that if you track the clips down on the Pathe site rather than YouTube you can view them as stills, which helps a lot when identifying kit etc
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(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/IMG_5304_zpsraxwmwtw.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/IMG_5304_zpsraxwmwtw.jpg.html)
I am pressing on with my version of !st Battalion Durham Light Infantry in theur role as an experimental MG battalion from 1934-6.
They had a headquarters company, three MG companies and an anti tank company. In addition to Tractors GS Light MK1s they had the first MG Carrier Mk1s - the close ancestor of the Bren carrier.
In the picture above, B Company (Tractors Light GS on left front), second MG Coy with MG Carriers MK 1 (actually Bren Carriers) front right, third MG coy truck borne at rear. A/T company front extreme left. HQ coy vehicles - radio truck, car, m/c combination at right rear.
First up in detail:
B Company
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Image1_zpsdg3kc5kw.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Image1_zpsdg3kc5kw.jpg.html)
These are Tractors GS Light Mk 1s. I've made them from Giesber's KNIL Vickers Utility Tractors from Early War Miniatures, with various extra parts from the spares box and MGs from Sgts Mess
Next up the anti tank coy:
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/IMG_5298_zpsuejfwelm.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/IMG_5298_zpsuejfwelm.jpg.html)
Giesbers Vickers tractor again. The 20mm Oerlikon a/t gun has tracks from David Reasoner, and gun barrel from Rolf Hedges. i have enough of these to make up to another 5. The gun mounting is made form an Airfix pak 40 gun cradle reversed, which makes a reasonably credible match to the mounting of the real thing. However I don't have any more of these in the spares box so will need to come up with an alternative. SHQ drivers and vehicle crews have just arrived today to decorate this unit further.
Then the collected Ack Ack assets:
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/IMG_5291_zpsqsoh3e3s.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/IMG_5291_zpsqsoh3e3s.jpg.html)
I thought I'd try sticking all these together. Starting at rear, left hand side, then anti clockwise:
Matador Models GS Searchlight body on a Matchbox Retriever chassis I think (from Monty's caravan)
Unknown Morris CD 6x4 Battery Staff Car
Oxford Diecast Scammell Pioneer
Raventhorpe 3" AA gun
Raventhorpe Thorneycroft Hathi
Sound Detector on Dyson Trailer (Early War Miniatures)
Heavy AA gun (Skybirds)
Searchlight is by Matador Models
2 pdr QF Mk !11 pom poms -now out of production, from David Reasoner
And the detection equipment together
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/IMG_5292_zpsldfrnngd.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/IMG_5292_zpsldfrnngd.jpg.html)
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More glorious models and figures! Fantastic modelling again.
But who will they fight :) !
Alan
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More glorious models and figures! Fantastic modelling again.
But who will they fight :) !
Alan
I think the photography must be better than I thought as my modelling skills are minimal.
Most likely opponents are still themselves - I quite fancy "fighting" some of the big army exercises of the 1930s. Other than that - maybe French - hordes of FT17s early on and all that cool kit in the second half of the 1930s - or Franco's Spain. Difficult to come up with an historically convincing European scenario so it might have to be a colonial adventure instead.
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The French try to annex Belgium, to protect itself from Germany?
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... or Flemish & Dutch nationalists try to create 'Dietsland' and the French move to protect the Walloons? A British force could be sent to Antwerp to keep it secure for trade, or something like that.
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Some recent odds and ends
Crossley Kegresse half tracks:
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Crossley%20Kegresses%201_zpszgqj8c7i.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Crossley%20Kegresses%201_zpszgqj8c7i.jpg.html)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Crossley%20Kegresses%202_zpsshhm3s10.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Crossley%20Kegresses%202_zpsshhm3s10.jpg.html)
These are Matador Models Crossley BGVs with EWM Kegresse units. It took a very long time waiting for Scale Link to have the models in stock (I have pretty much given up on seeing my order from Matador) but they went together very quickly once they arrived. I've just finished 40+ SHQ BEF vehicle crew (they are single figures, doubles and triples). As usual I have plastidipped them so they should stand up to swapping around between vehicles as required - only a few are/will be glued in.
The half tracks are important for the 1925-30 ish version of my interwar force - the idea is that by swapping some vehicles around it can stretch between about 1925 and up to 1940. The earlier version has Burford Kegresse and Crossley Kegresse half tracks, and Austin 7s, for example, while the later has Vickers Utility Tractors and Morris 8s.
Second up (showing some of the passenger triplets) Raventhorpe Hathi
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Hathi%202_zpsfzrsm4il.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Hathi%202_zpsfzrsm4il.jpg.html)
Then Wespe Morris Commercial Reconnaissance Car
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Morris%20CDSW%201_zpswsesl1dy.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Morris%20CDSW%201_zpswsesl1dy.jpg.html)
and finally the Early War Miniatures light sound detector. This had disappeared so as soon as it resurfaced I got it finished. (In the meantime I have also done the heavy version on Dyson trailer)
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Sound%20locator%203_zpsbthdzeg4.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Sound%20locator%203_zpsbthdzeg4.jpg.html)
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Enviable collection, certainly :-*
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Here are the uber panzers
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Morris%20Martels%202_zpspz1u5a8k.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Morris%20Martels%202_zpspz1u5a8k.jpg.html)
Morris-Martel tankettes. The first and third are two man versions, two and four the one man ones. Only about 8 in total bought by the WD, I believe, so insignificant in numbers compared to the Carden Loyd. But cool. Lovely Giesbers resin models which took an awful lot of tracking down, thanks to Paul at EWM for these. Each set contains one of each type (so two sets here)..
I also bought some Vickers 6 tonners from First to Fight. Never expected to see these in a fast build; incredibly useful vehicles
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/clivies/Vickers%206%20tonners%202_zpspidtuso9.jpg) (http://s290.photobucket.com/user/clivies/media/Vickers%206%20tonners%202_zpspidtuso9.jpg.html)
I think this just about completes my interwar British kit. I have a 60 pounder gun on its way and am struggling with a very poor limited run Cierva autogiro kit. I may manage to cobble something usable out of it but I am not holding my breath.