1938 British Civil War (Sheffield)

[keeper]

OK - these are my first squads for my 1938 British Civil War forces.

I have created two militias, one fascist and one socialist that identify themselves with their local professional football teams in their (and my) home city of Sheffield.  That is not to say that all fans from these teams would have the same views as those represented below - the fans of each team would represent the views of society as a whole at the time, some socialist, some fasicst, some anglican, some anarcist, some outright criminal: in fact, some of every kind of view found in the civil war.  It is just that the colours of these teams worked best for these two particular militas

I chose to base them on the local teams as it was a quick and easy way to give them an identity without too much effort on my part   Sheffield has a big culture of football, with its involvement in the foundations of the game and in this period with Wednesday having won the FA Cup in 1935 and United having lost in the final to Arsenal in 1936.  The teams themselves have both declared an absolute neutrality in "The Crisis" (because when games start up again, they want to be playing, whoever 'wins') and have asked local militias not to wear replicas of their teams shirts as a uniform, which (suprisingly) has been largely agreed to.

The Fascist Owls - A BUF militia from the north of Sheffield

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The Socialist Blades - One of the (in)famous socialist militias of Sheffield

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The minis themselves are from a 1/72 plastic job-lot on ebay.  The socialists are Airfix 8th Army - but really badly moulded ones, which I had to carve into the semblence of men - but given the quality of the casts, I'm really pretty pleased with the way they've come out.  The fascists are either Germans or Japanese (I'm not sure which to be honest.  All based on 20mm cicular plywood bases from Fenris Games.

I'm also hoping to paint up other forces in the near future, including some criminal gangs (Sheffield had a serious gangwar problem in the 1920s), police units, regular army units, anglicans and mercenaries as well as more socialist and fascist militias.  Some of which might even be in 20mm white metal rather than cheap and bendy fantastic plastic like these chaps!

Your comments and criticisms are most welcome   As are any football fact corrections. I'm not really a big soccer fan IRL!

[keeper]

Played by first 1938 encounter with these chaps last night, and the write-up is: here

I guess that there just aren't many of us that like 1938BCW AND 1/72 plastics around here!   Or is it football that is a sensitive subject?

[Svennn]

Not wanting to ruin your own personal thread by replying but I thought you sounded a little lonely

I like what you have done and the use of the football teams is a stroke of genius but I personally just dont like the idea of BCW.

It certainly has grown legs and run with a vengeance in recent months. What amazes me most is how so many dyed in the wool historical gamers have grasped it with both hands as if it is an excuse to play fantasy.

If you want more units I'm sure I have some old Airfix in the loft which you are welcome to.

[Mad Carew Snr]

  Excellent idea!! The Fascist Owls look like Airfix Japanese to me

I used to live in Sheffield (a long time ago). I guess I would have been more of a United supporter so I'll have to be with the Socialists

Nice job

[keeper]

Damn, and I thought I had my own little thread here!

Thanks for the info, J.  I know what to look for on ebay when I eventually paint all of the ones I've got Although I'm not in a desperate rush to paint any more 1/72 hooped socks!  It makes your eyes go funny - worst than painting eyes (which I don't do at this scale!)

@Svennn: Thanks PM sent!  I think it more than just fantasy with WWI/WWII figures.  I think the whole "new period of inter-war history" aspect is driving a lot of people as well as the fantasy part.  Figuring out what artillery pieces and armoured cars might have been available, chosing somewhere to fight and figuring out how big that town was then.  Where the factories and roads and railways were, and learning something new about the people in that area and guessing what their allegencies might have been.

[Mad Carew Snr]

I don't bother with eyes either
Kudos for painting the hoops which look very good - I like your more humourous approach - I'd like to see some more pics when you have them
What are you using for transport? Civilian trucks could be nicely converted - Lledo ones are pretty cheap on Ebay

[keeper]

Right now, they only have shank's pony.  I need to get some vehicles.  On GWP, Bungle mentioned about some appropriate buses of the period which I might look into, but they would fight dismounted (like dragoons ), os it isn't too urgent.

I've got a couple of inter-war planes to build first, for an airfield raid scenario, first!