Imperial 109

[Trencher]

While searching for a miniature in my attic, I stumbled across this book:



The main storyline is a $ 2.000.000 gold transport from Durban to New York in  March 1939.
Some of the subplots are:
-an emergency landing on a swampy river in southern Sudan with a successful Crocodile attack...
-a car race in the Egyptian desert with an attempted assasination on a villainous Italian baron...
-the dramatical escape of a Jewish professor and his daughter via Italy (and into the flying boat) with Nazi thugs hot on their heels...
-a thunderstorm over the Northern Atlantic with a dramatic fight between the professor and the SS-villain...
-an angry American WWI-veteran who tries to rob the gold with an armed Supermarine race-plane, resulting in a final showdown over the Hudson River with two Devastators involved...
Wel, IMHO this book offers some very nice pulp scenarios. I highly recommend this book, if you could grab a copy.
Admittedly, a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat in 28mm would be freaking huge, and for the final showdown in that scale you'll need a gym...

[fastolfrus]

Maybe you could use two different scales for it like the Crimson Skies figure game - large sacle for anything with figures, much smaller scale for air combat ?

[Mogimbu]

That was a fun book!  I read a used copy several years ago, and had forgotten about it till now.  I like the cover art on yours better.

Hmm, the American Great War ace with his armed Spitfire reminds me of the air duel fought in the Miyazaki classic, "Porco Rosso" Between a custom Curtiss R1 and an Italian monoplane.  Air Pirates, Kooky inventions, hidden bases, it's got it all!!

Check out a clip (With non-original music) at:
http://www.truveo.com/Porco-Rosso-AMV-BT/id/1036425963

[Rhoderic]

Did someone say Porco Rosso?

Porco Rosso is a true classic and demands to be seen by anyone even remotely interested in the interwar period. Don't be scared away by the fact that the main character is an antropomorphic pig. This is more of a surrealistic undercurrent than any kind of indication that the movie was made for children (though it is quite family-friendly, nothing wrong with that!).

By the way, I also think it's a great idea to game multi-scale pulp. 28mm skirmishes and micro-scale dogfights would complement each other rather nicely, in my opinion.

[Mogimbu]

Rhoderic's right!  
Porco is good, but I think Laputa is also great for interesting VSF/ Steampunk adventures.  More air-pirates, armed airships, floating treasure-cities, giant robots, armoured trains, Webley pistols, Enfields, and mines full of Caborite! (Well, it's caborite-ish...)

Back on topic..  I think flying boats are great pulp vehicles, allowing for quick intercontinental travel, as well as flying/floating bases for adventurers.

[Operator5]

By the way, I also think it's a great idea to game multi-scale pulp. 28mm skirmishes and micro-scale dogfights would complement each other rather nicely, in my opinion.

One of my long term goals is to introduce flight rules to .45 Adventure just for this. Just don't go asking for it yet. Lots to do before then.  :wink:

[Rhoderic]

By the way, I also think it's a great idea to game multi-scale pulp. 28mm skirmishes and micro-scale dogfights would complement each other rather nicely, in my opinion.

One of my long term goals is to introduce flight rules to .45 Adventure just for this. Just don't go asking for it yet. Lots to do before then.  :wink:

Try to work in micro-scale pirate ships for Gloire while you're at it :twisted:

[twrchtrwyth]

By the way, I also think it's a great idea to game multi-scale pulp. 28mm skirmishes and micro-scale dogfights would complement each other rather nicely, in my opinion.

One of my long term goals is to introduce flight rules to .45 Adventure just for this. Just don't go asking for it yet. Lots to do before then.  :wink:

You absolute tease! ::

[Trencher]

By the way, I also think it's a great idea to game multi-scale pulp. 28mm skirmishes and micro-scale dogfights would complement each other rather nicely, in my opinion.

Yep. Some of the Warhammer40k folks do it, too. They "prepare" a planetary assault with Battlefleet Gothic, and go on with their standard (28mm) stuff.

So, a micro-scale Sunderland could be easily converted into a S.23, whereas a venture in a larger scale could be a tricky thing...

[Westfalia Chris]

O ye of little faith! ::

Surely this calls for a quarter scale replica with interior and removable roof so one can move figures around inside!

And even better, I could use those German Fallschirmjägers with jet packs to board it in midflight! ::

Hmmm, gonna pick up that Biggles comic "The Yellow Swan" for reading tonight. It contains some nice interior scenes inside an S.23, IIRC...

[Trencher]

Finemolds is doing that Porco Rosso seaplane stuff in 1/48, but it is not cheap with a price tag of about 30 Euros.
Testors does also a nice Curtis Racer and a Supermarine S6B as well. They should be dirt cheap (around 7-10 Euros).
Furthermore, I've heard that French F.M. is planning to do a Short Sunderland in 1/48. Maybe this could be a base to start from. Alternatively, there are 1/48 plans of a S.23 C Empire flying boat out there.

[DiggerPete]

I am waiting for a copy of the book and then going to try it with Crimson Skies for the air warfare sections.
I have also just watched all the Indiana Jones movies, High Road to China and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, with my wife and Duaghters. Now they want me to do up games for each of these movies to play on family game night.

Pete :love:

[TadPortly]

Checkout the news in this link:

http://www.sangereng.fsnet.co.uk/

1/48 Short Sunderland almost available.

[Plynkes]

1/48th Sunderland? Blimey. I should get one of those and pit it against one of those modular subs from the other topic.

Trouble is, I'd need to use a carpark to game the Battle of the Atlantic at that scale.

[PeteMurray]

Try to work in micro-scale pirate ships for Gloire while you're at it :twisted:

I fully endorse "Pirates of the Spanish Main" as an excellent way to handle ship combat as a prelude to the stuff of Gloire Scenarios.