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Miniatures Adventure => Railway Wargaming => Topic started by: Plynkes on January 31, 2008, 09:46:18 AM

Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Plynkes on January 31, 2008, 09:46:18 AM
You know, all this talk of armoured trains lately has done nothing for me. I've always felt a bit left out when everybody gets all excited about them, as the Russian Civil War holds absolutely no interest for me. The railways I'm interested in gaming (the Uganda railway and the Hejaz) seem to just have boring old regular trains, and what thought I had given to 28mm railways was directed towards finding something along those lines to use on the tabletop.

But leafing through Haythorntwaite's 'World War One Sourcebook' this morning I spot H.M.A.T. (His Majesty's Armoured Train, of course) Simba!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/simba.jpg)

This beastie ran on the Uganda railway, and was designed to protect it from those troublesome Schutztruppen guerillas and all their naughty vandalism. How can I have missed this before?

So now I finally joined the 'I want an armoured train club'. I want one THIS MINUTE!
Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Poliorketes on January 31, 2008, 10:08:20 AM
reminds me of a japanese aircraft carrier on wheels. Much smaller, of course!
Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on January 31, 2008, 10:31:20 AM
great find  :love: always wanted to play with trains in Africa. And actually that one looks easy to build.
Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Helen on January 31, 2008, 08:06:43 PM
Nice one Poly :)
Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: CompanyB on January 31, 2008, 09:13:45 PM
Don't forget this little bugger for a what if invasion of England scenario!


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/5-1945/med_war_toyland.jpg


Though of course it's in danger of being knocked over with a well thrown stone!
Title: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: PeteMurray on February 01, 2008, 12:42:29 AM
Quote from: "CompanyB"
Don't forget this little bugger for a what if invasion of England scenario!


It was a dangerous time on the island of Sodor. U-boats had cut off the island from England. Bombers had destroyed Brendham docks and Tidmouth sheds. But Thomas and his friends were keeping a stiff upper lip and doing their part.
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 09, 2009, 12:05:30 AM
uups threadomancy...
seems I missed this one too
I kne that the railwas was imprtant in the great war, and that there must have been armoured trains, but this one doesn't look very improvised
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Mancha on September 09, 2009, 12:24:54 AM
Looks like a river boat on rails.  Cool.
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: OSHIROmodels on September 09, 2009, 07:37:24 AM
reminds me of a japanese aircraft carrier on wheels. Much smaller, of course!

Now there's an insane ides that might be worth making  lol

cheers

James
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Hammers on September 09, 2009, 07:44:57 AM

So now I finally joined the 'I want an armoured train club'. I want one THIS MINUTE!

That one should not be too hard to scratch build since it all straight angles
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Geudens on September 09, 2009, 07:48:54 AM
Now there's an insane ides that might be worth making  lol
cheers
James

Not so insane...  Looking at the picture of the train, the (armoured?) roof might be equipped with a catapult not unlike a carrier one.  At full speed, the train might launch a plane, whereby the speed of the train combined with the power of the plane's engine would get it airborne.  After its mission, it would have to land on a suitable flat strip of terrain and hoisted back onto the catapult.

Rudi
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on September 09, 2009, 07:52:56 AM
HMAT Trafalgar :)

"South West Africa. c. 1915. A large gun mounted on a special armoured railway truck. HMAT Trafalgar is painted on the side of the truck. The gun is a QF 4.7 inch naval gun"

and next one:
Armoured train at Bloemfontein, South Africa, circa 1914. It was built by the South African Engineer Corps and used against rebels during World War I
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on September 09, 2009, 08:02:39 AM
And another Africa armoured train. Took part in the Boer War Campaign.
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 09, 2009, 09:56:46 AM
man, where do you dig up that pictures?
the last drawing is good
that's what the armoured trains must have looked in the sudan campaign
nou sure, but aren't the pith helmets a little "old style" for boer war?

railway aircraft carrier:
now thats a weird idea
anyway for steampunk a very good one
I actually learned that the early doubledeckers were perfectly suited for landing on decks because of their slow flying capabilities (and when I think of these movies where the hero changes from aircraft to running train...)
provided the train has enough speed and the track is straight (and no tunnels ;)), it might be very well feasable to land on a flat car, like on an early aircraft carrier
low flight speed+train speed = enough lift for the plane to be stationary relative to the running train, as for early aircraft carriers (as I read)
I wouldn't have the slightest idea if catapulting is feasable though

any pilot around to clarify for such fantastic ideas?
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Plynkes on September 09, 2009, 10:11:47 AM
There's nothing wrong with the helmets in that picture (as far as I can tell - they are rather small). Here's some Boer War helmets to compare (though most photos have the helmet inside a khaki cover):

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/BoerWarMarchingOnPretoria.jpg)


The familiar Wolseley pattern helmet of WWI was introduced in 1900 (I think) but I have never seen it being worn in any pictures from the Boer War.


(And by the way, how come you silly sods weren't interested in my picture of HMAT Simba the first time around, and all of a sudden you are, just because we've now got a board for railway nerds?)  ;D
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: OSHIROmodels on September 09, 2009, 12:18:21 PM
Quote
(And by the way, how come you silly sods weren't interested in my picture of HMAT Simba the first time around, and all of a sudden you are, just because we've now got a board for railway nerds?)  Grin

Because we're being railway nerds  :P

cheers

James
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 09, 2009, 12:26:55 PM
There's nothing wrong with the helmets in that picture (as far as I can tell - they are rather small). Here's some Boer War helmets to compare (though most photos have the helmet inside a khaki cover):
The familiar Wolseley pattern helmet of WWI was introduced in 1900 (I think) but I have never seen it being worn in any pictures from the Boer War.
(And by the way, how come you silly sods weren't interested in my picture of HMAT Simba the first time around, and all of a sudden you are, just because we've now got a board for railway nerds?)  ;D
thank you for completing my knowledge
not surprising at all - I read that Henry martinis were being used up to WWI...
I saw the plates in some osprey book and was wondering
and to answer your question:
maybe sometimes it needs a controversial sick sod like me to raise the awareness for some topic, and be it only for the sake of contradicting said wiseass   ;)
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Plynkes on September 09, 2009, 12:38:44 PM
Yeah, Martini-Henrys were re-chambered to take 303 rounds and renamed Martini-Metfords (black powder version) and Martini-Enfields. In World War One the 'less important' troops had to make do with them, such as some KAR units, Imperial Service Troops, and a whole load were off-loaded on to the Arab Revolt.

I was only fooling around in my last remark. I'm glad the Resurrection Men have been active again, as it prompted the Prof to find some more armoured train piccies.  :)
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 09, 2009, 12:48:28 PM
yes
(here you have to picture a slim german with wild hair and monocle, complete with hugh laurie accent  ;))
and my evil plan is to convert you all to railway modellists where the little lead man are only of secondary importance

uahhhhahhhhaahhhhhaaaa  !!! ;) :D lol (mad laughter of course)
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Bako on September 10, 2009, 06:51:24 AM
That one should not be too hard to scratch build since it all straight angles

Yeah, some pencil boxes and wheels, along with appropriate accessories and you're set for speed.
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: cdr on September 10, 2009, 11:39:07 AM
Does anyone have pictures of HMAT Churchill (active from Antwerp in early 1914) ?
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 10, 2009, 11:55:16 AM
I know of one picture, but saw it in a book
how about that?
http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Belgischer_Panzerzug.jpg&imgrefurl=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Belgischer_Panzerzug.jpg&usg=__flvzuNpgXLISxG2N5To76nrucDI=&h=466&w=800&sz=87&hl=de&start=4&um=1&tbnid=PeE4uCHP8cnUXM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpanzerzug%2Bantwerpen%26hl%3Dde%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:de:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

http://www.firstworldwar.com/photos/graphics/cnp_armoured_train_gun_01.jpg

Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: cdr on September 10, 2009, 02:27:58 PM
Thanks
I think the first one is of HMAT Deguise with a mixed English navy/ Belgian Crew. The other English trains were HMAT Churchill and HMAT Jellicoe).
It could also be one of the purely belgian ones (with the rather boring names of train 1, train 2 or train 3)

The second train looks later in the war and French
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 10, 2009, 02:30:54 PM
well the picture I know shows soldiers with glengarry in an open topped assault car
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: cdr on September 10, 2009, 04:56:33 PM
I 've got a picture but have got no idea how to upload
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 10, 2009, 04:59:49 PM
works only with linking to URL, unless you are admin or supporting member

I made a Photobucket account for this
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on September 10, 2009, 08:12:38 PM
And another Africa armoured train. Took part in the Boer War Campaign.

Somehow I missed this thread first time around.

I always fancied having an armoured train after seeing the sequence in the film "Young Winston" where Winny gets captured by the Boers.

The trouble is, if I had one it would never get used  :(

Sometimes threadomancy can be a good thing  ;)
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: cdr on September 10, 2009, 09:45:49 PM
http://s343.photobucket.com/albums/o480/cdr_2008/?action=view&current=apen305xm3.jpg

If you're interested  = armoured train HMAT Deguise with a mixed Belgian and English navy crew
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 11, 2009, 09:07:12 AM
yep, the picture seems to be from the same context like the other one I know
I think it is shown in Osprey's "armoured trains"
maybe you can see it in the contents sneak peek on their HP
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: Etranger on September 12, 2009, 10:59:06 PM
As an aside, & definitely on the Pulpier side of the story, Triang Trains used to have a whole range of militarised trains in their 'Battle Space' range, including a plane launcher (I have one, albeit missing some compnents).

http://www.triangtrains.co.uk/index.php?cPath=36 This isn't the complete range. There was also a larger missile carrier (which I have) & possibly some others as well. They're quite collectable these days.
Title: Re: Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!
Post by: former user on September 12, 2009, 11:09:05 PM
never heard of that one
interesting

thanks