The Start of Strategic Air Warfare

96 years ago today, the first strategic air attack occurred when Zepplins raided Gt Yarmouth in East Anglia.

I seem to be stuck on airships recently.

Aeronef at SELWG 2011

This was my favourite demonstration game at SELWG 2011 today. An aeronef battle over the Pacific Islands between American and Japanese forces.

First Clash over the North Sea, 1890.

It's the Anglo-Russian War of 1890. Prussia attempts to relieve the Royal Navy's blockade of the North Sea by an aeronef attack on the British Fleet. The raiders include two battleships, one battlecruiser, one armoured cruiser, one light cruiser and six escorts. The raiders are spotted by a Naval Intelligence Department spy and a warning sent top London by telegram over the undersea cables.

The Royal Navy's fast aeronef flotilla sails from Aberdeen to intercept with two battlecruisers and escorts.

Two fast battleships and a heavy cruiser with escorts are scrambled from their base in the Firth of Forth.

The British fast flotilla spots the German fleet through a gap in the clouds and an exchange of fire commences.

The German fire was ineffectual but the British destroy four of the German escorts (yes, I was astonished as well).

The Royal Navy battle force enters the fight. The British cruiser is smashed by overwhelming fire but one of the German battleships is crippled.

The German fleet abandons its mission and escapes into a cloudbank. The two German battleships are destroyed gallantly while trying to defend the lighter vessels. The sea is littered with burning wreckage and the British escorts alight onto the water to rescue survivors.

The models are from Brigade Miniatures. I used my own rules, which are optimised for fleet play and so do not require written records or orders.

Pulp Sci Fi

Prussian Marines


Prussian Aeronef


Natives


Dropped around to my friend Shaun's last night to cadge a beer. He had his new pulp figures from Ironclad Miniatures out - see above. I like them.

He also showed me something else - see below. Apparently, we lurk around the same toyshops looking for bargains.

Blood Pact Aeronef

This is my Blood Pact Aeronef. The basic light aeronef model is made by Ironclad Miniatures. I have added Citadel plastic models and Forge World iconsfrom Warhammer and Warhammer 40K.

It is not totally finished. I will probably add some decoration in the fullness of time.

Sorry about the photos, incidentally. We have no light here so I have to use a flasgun.

Aeronef - Ironclad Miniatures

I have put together the main hull and assessory sections for undercoating of my Ironclad Miniatures Aeronef.

The kit went together easily, I think it had been pre-sanded, and the resin was only lightly greased. Nothing was warped.

The cannon is the WFB dwarf cannon in the starter set.

Next step is to get the airbrush out.

Ironclad Miniatures Scout Aeronef

The resin kit from Ironclad of a Scout Aeronef has arrived.

My first impressions are favourable. The kit is mostly resin apart from the prop and ventilators, which are in white metal.

It is a proper kit. Everything fits together well and the quality of moulding is good. It is not airbubble ridden and the resin sprues have been smoothed off. Nothing is warped. The finish is excellent.

The main hull is a single block of resin. The upside is that it provides a solid support for the rest of the model. The downside is that it adds considerable to the weight.

The base of the model is predrilled for a stand. This level of attention to detail reminds me of Old Crow.

The model is good value for money for £25. I am pleased with my purchase.

John