1933 A Nation Divided "Kickstarter" goes live

[Doc Twilight]

Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, this idea is very interesting. I'm not sure what scale of forces you have in mind, but clashes between armed longshoremen and company police and the National Guard wouldn't be too far off the mark. Did you know that the Longshoreman's union paint their floors red to remember their fallen brothers during some of these riots? Red is for their spilled blood so that they never forget. I imagine that lots of the prohibition gangsters and police would be useful, as well as the pulp era soldiers, sailors, and marines. I wonder if the National Guard was still using F-17 tanks out here?

The United States officially purchased 144 FT-17s from the French during the First World War, but there are no clear records as to how many were acquired -after-. It looks like at least some of them were purchased, because there are a few National Guard detachments during the era that have one or more in inventory. Then there are the FT-17s used in various monuments, as museum pieces, in parks...

However, do keep in mind that the United States produced more than 950 M1917 Six Tons (the "American Renault"), which makes the M1917 the single most common tank in American service until the Second World War. The only other tank produced in serial after the end of the First World War until the period in which the book begins (1933-1935) was the Mark VIII "Liberty", produced to the tune of one hundred vehicles.
 
Significant differences between the FT-17 and the M1917 (some of these are useful when looking at photographs) -

- Metal front wheels, rather than metal plated wood
- Hexagonal turrets (only 50% of the FT-17s built were constructed with these)
- Distinctive American gunshield/mantlet used with both the "Male" and "Female" Variants
- Exhaust is on the -left- of the hull rather than the right
- Vision slits are approximately 2" higher than in the standard FT-17
- There is a wall separating the engine compartment from the crew compartment
- The M1917 has an internal, electric starter in addition to the external starter

In addition, in the early 1930s, a very small number were upgraded with a more powerful engine, the so-called M1917A1. This expanded the length of the engine compartment by up to a foot, depending upon the source.

A number of M1917s were later "modified" by Hollywood for use in films about the Great War, so many of the "FT-17s" we have in parks and museums today are actually misidentified M1917 tanks. The left exhaust mounting is a dead giveaway, since many conversions involved removing the exhaust but leaving the mounting point there.

-Alex

[commissarmoody]

We have been unlocked   

[Doc Twilight]

We were locked? Why?

[commissarmoody]

It was accident apparently

[Arlequín]

We were locked? Why?

It was accident apparently

Don't look at me... I've no idea who, what, how or even possibly why. 

I can't even imagine anyone with the capability to lock a topic, doing so without sending a PM to the OP and/or myself either.

Anyway... problem solved now, continue... 

[northtroll]

Does anybody have suggestions for figures of loggers, miners and the like? Most of VBCW figures are not rough looking enough. I have pictures of my great grandfather and his logging crew as a guide. Something else to consider. Roads as we know of them in the United States were much cruder, or even non existent. In many places, wealthier folks had lock ups for criminals that the Sheriff's posse collected. Horseback patrols were the only way to get some lawbreakers. Mounted police units are a viable troop choice I think. I'm really tempted by Brigade Games police miniatures as a result! Most of the 20's figures would work fairly well, I think.

[mysteriousbill]

Maybe some of the Pulp Figures trappers range.

[commissarmoody]

Maybe some of the Pulp Figures trappers range.

Most of them only work for Attic or Yukon adventures if you ask me.

[Doc Twilight]

Good news. We've secured the services of Leandro Ventic to sculpt the range, as hoped. Should turn out very nicely.

-Alex

[commissarmoody]

Sweet! thanks for the update.

[commissarmoody]

In the meanwhile, here are the current funding levels, summarized. The initial squads on offer are Minutemen and Militiamen. Note that stretch goals may unlock additional rewards (minis, posters, new books, etc.) as well as different options (say, Silvershirts instead of Minutemen, etc.) Yes, we will be allowing you to do add-ons.

Level 1 - $1+ Basic Donation (Thank you!)
Level 2 - $10+ (PDF Version of the Book)
Level 3 - $35+ (Printed Version of the Book)
Level 4 - $80+ (Book + 2x8 Man Squads of your choice)
Level 5 - $125+ (Book + 4x8 Man Squads of your choice)
Level 6 - $145+ (Book, 4x8 Man Squads, 1xM1917 6 Ton tanks)
Level 7 - $165+ (Book, 4x8 Man Squads, 2xM1917 6 Ton tanks)
Level 8 - $270 (Book, 8x8 Man Squads, 2xM1917 6 Ton tanks)
Level 9 - $340 (All of the above, plus the MKVIII Liberty)
Level 10 (Limited) $345 (All of the above, PLUS a Stanley Steamtank)
Level 11 $500 - (All of the above, plus yourself or a loved one sculpted as part of a "Heroes of the Second American Civil War" personality pack)

-Alex

[Lord of Jerwood]

any update on this could really use inter-war Americans for a WPR game ?

[commissarmoody]

Still in the planning mode. Last I heard they were working  out bugs in the casting processes of some of the vehicles. So I will pop them a message and see if there are any changes. 

[Lord of Jerwood]

Preview of the Kickstarter now up.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1926752146/1613006458?token=c63e2ca1

[commissarmoody]

Beat me to posting that up Jerwood.