I blame Gunbird! (Crimson Skies 1:72)

[Modhail]

Thanks!

Hmmm, never saw the Raging Cajun's scheme before (Didn't play the Xbox version, as it's kinda hard to do without an Xbox...).
It does look rather nice.  Another option to consider it seems...

Well, had a few nervous moments yesterday attacking my lovingly crafted conversions with a big brutish Dremel. 
(The Devastator actually had a wing fall of during my "tender ministrations"...)
But the basing plugs are now in place!
You're right Johan, much more secure.

Here are the results:

Yup, found time to add the under-wing ordnance as well.

The Brigand is carrying HE rockets on the outer wing pylons, AP rockets on the inner wing pylons and a 100Lb bomb on the centreline mount.
The Devastator is loaded with a pair of Flash or Sonics on the outer pylons (because of their small size,they can be mounted two to a pylon), and AP on the middle and inner pylons.
I just need to do the payload of the second Brigand. She'll have a similar load as the first, but with a 3rd AP missile instead of the light bomb that the other one has on the centreline hardpoint.
Yes, I know that according to the rules the planes only have hardpoints on the wings....

 I've decided to base the number of hardpoints for a plane on the information in Behind the Crimson Veil (p. 53 and 60).  This will lead to planes having odd numbers of hardpoints. It would seem only logical that one hardpoint is on the centreline in that case.

[Gunbird]

Scheme depends a bit on where we want to go, dunnit? Faction, gang, mercs, what not. I liked your red scheme a lot.

Just confirmed the order for 2 Sea Furies, 2 Hurricanes and 2 Mig-3's so 2 Desert Foxes and 2 Devastators should not be a problem in the near future. I've been eyeing a few P-40C kits to make a triple engine one like the Warhawk, but the jury isn't out on that one (nor the cost) but I'm still very keen to do some designing of my own. Haven't found the P-51's yet so the little Frenchie won't be done yet. Not that I have any idea who I will paint it for......

Nice.....VERY nice work on the various rockets. Creative use of bits, I can see you have been bitten by the inspiration bug

[Modhail]

Hehe, get a Zep, go anywhere....   
Besides, squadrons are crossing the world anyway...
Seeing how neither the Brigand or the Devastator are cutting edge planes anymore in 1937, that rules out a "national" or corporate squadron. From the start I tagged this squadron as a "generic" one. With a bold colourscheme not already in use by one of the canon squadrons, I can use them as either a 2nd line/local militia or a pirate gang.
Besides, militia, pirate, mercenary... All a matter of perspective. 
I'm not doing the red scheme, it's the Fortune Hunters' colours, I want to create my own posse.

Once I get to work on the Balmorals and DH Comets, I'll have a state owned flight group (British) as well. According to the known background the British were allies with Dixie, Ontario and Australia, so you could find exchange flights of Brits there, as well as their clandestine dealings in Hawaiï....
The Industrial States of America are buddies with Germany. Both the Brits and the ISA aren't friendly with the Empire state.
I.S.A., Empire State, Ontario: That puts us in the Eastern half of the U.S., around the Great Lakes.
This could be a field of operations for us?
I.S.A. borders the People's Collective, so there could be some Russian/Communist interference too?

Those Foxes and Devs you are planning are U.S.-made planes anyway... (Foxes are Native American planes I believe. Not sure because they're an Xbox specific design... Those states are found in the western half of the U.S.)

Thanks!
Well, actually, I had those bits ziplocked with the planes back when I first started on them... That plan has been long in the making. Don't even know what those tan bits originally were anymore.
Sadly, after the second Brigand, I'll be all out of those green PaK shells. 

[Gunbird]

The tans are easy: 1/35 Nebelwerfer rocket bodies Tamiya I assume, older kit, you can get it rather cheap and sell the rest off to an 40K Ork player if ones insist.

I'll be here all day, dear Holmes....

[Modhail]

Ah, thanks Johan!

Well, the third plane has been outfitted with underwing payload:

That's right, I decided that I just couldn't let the airplanes have all the fun by themselves!
Last night I built a little AA Guntruck....

It's one of those old Airfix kits. None too great on detail, but cheap and quick to build, perfect for my needs. (But God, do I hate those rubber tracks!)
I traced the base of the flight stand Gunbird loaned me onto some foamed PVC and cut out a hex base for the truck.
By using an identical base as the planes, things like facing of the turret and shooting between the truck and airplanes should be that much easier to manage rules wise. I'll use the hexes only for ground objects (AA-gun, searchlights, etc.) that have some sort of offensive capability. Non-combat vehicles/objects will get smaller rectangular/shapefitting bases.

The truck is still rather Germanic looking at the moment, but I have plans to change that. Or at least, make it less obvious. 
I want to keep away from the stereotypical German army colours and use the paintjob to give a whole other impression:
 I figure that, after the collapse of the U.S.  many local airfields popped up, with certain aspects of their operation being subcontracted to local businesses. So, I want to paint my guntruck up as a 30s company or service truck. I'm still looking at exact colours. And I'd need a company name as well....
Any suggestions?

[Bergil]

Well hollywood knights/militia featured in the first game, I'd probably go with something like that.

Awesome project by the way, I've attempted this sort of things myself but it always ends up in tears 

[Verderer]

Very nice work! Sorry but can you mention again who makes the telescopic flight stands? AIM something, but my google-fu is weak this time.

[Gunbird]

Just follow the link given in my Blog > http://20mmandthensome.blogspot.com/2011/10/flight-stands.html

[Verderer]

Great, thanks WW!

[Parriah]

The main structure of the second Brigand is done.  
Here they are together:


All that's left to do now is add their underwing ordnance and figure out a colour scheme (any suggestions?). I'm thinking about doing something bold and colourful, befitting Crimson Skies.

Oh, and Johan: What magnets did you use inside your plugs?
(At the moment I haven't started drilling the holes for those plugs yet. Out of curiosity I just glued one of my 6x1.5mm rare earth magnets to the bottom of the oldest Brigand and it seems to hold everything in place rather solidly on its own.)

I'd go with a Red Skulls BRIGHT red paint job just like on the cover of the FASA box set! Uber Cool! (Sorry, no umlaut there meine Deutschen freunden)

[Gunbird]

Quoting the entire post? Really?

Erik, I didn't find any rockets in my stash. Did find them on Ebay but those are tuned brass so thats a nono. Did you remember btw what the Brigand was made of....a Airfix one or someone elses?

Caught myself staring at a Boomerang kit. Small, maybe nice to change into an Autogiro. Maybe.

[Modhail]

And yes, made from a Corsair, an old Revell one. (raised panel lines and all....)

The boomerang is a nice little plane. Could be a fine autogiro indeed, just clip the wings a fair bit, maybe mess around with the tail...

As a total aside: I wish this kit was cheaper: http://www.hlj.com/product/HSGCW-02

Oh, and I'm painting the AA truck at this moment... In a two tone green livery. Looks nice, and very civillian. 

[Gunbird]

Hmm, He-100 with a Bf-110 tail and the nose cut off and inverted or replaced with something else?

[Modhail]

(Googles planes mentioned...) Hmm, that could work. It would leave behind a lot of "kit scrapheap" though.
Oh, well, plenty of other planes in stock to build/convert first.... (Still need to start the 2nd Devastator for instance.)

A quick update on where I got tonight with the AA truck:
 
And a better view of the two-tone livery:

What I've done so far:
-Painted, shaded and highlighted both green tones of the bodywork and wheels.
-Painted and shaded the grey of the chassis and AA gun (I'm still debating wether to highlight the turret or leave it as is.
-Repainted the fenders in good old-fashioned black.
-Painted the front tyres, roadwheel rubber rims and gunbarrels
-Basecoated and shaded  the leather seats on both truck and turret.

What I still need to do:
-Paint the dashboard.
-Do all the metals on the gun and truck.
-Paint the headlights, license plates and such details.
-Paint the crew.
-Paint and finish the base.
-Decide if, and where, I'd want a company logo. Not enough room on the side of the car, sadly.... Maybe put something on the turret shield? I'd need a name and design though. Currently I'm thinking about calling the company Bigg's Anti Aircraft Service, turning the logo/name into "Bigg A.A.S." :-P

So far, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. The company livery really makes the truck look less military.
The half painted zombies don't seem too pleased though. 

[commissarmoody]

I agree, I think you need a logo