Monday 1 October 2012

Blackshort Legion




Well, it's finished, two battalions of Spode's Blackshort Legion. I have posted some of these before but I thought I would put out the whole army as with 1:72 models it is the look of the total force that matters. The individual wee men are just too small to be impressive.

First up is the Infantry Battalion. From front to back: command company including der fuhrermobile and two companies of Stormtroops, then three companies of riflemen/LMGs, and finally two MG companies and a mortar company.

PS: Do you like the fascist salute.





“Roderick Spode is the founder of the Saviours of Britain, a fascist organisation better know as the 'Black Shorts'...
When you say 'shorts' mean 'shirts', of course.
No. By the time Spode formed his association, there were no shirts left. He and his adherents wear black shorts.
Footer bags, you mean?
Yes.
How perfectly foul.”
Jeeves & Wooster

Herr Schnicklegruber


The Armoured Battalion has a command company equipped with Whippets, six companies of FT-17s (two with cannon), a field gun battery with mover, a motorcycle scout section and a flight of Heinkel HE-51 fighter-bombers.


Roderick Spode: [his electoral platform] At birth, every citizen, as of right, will be issued with a British bicycle and an honest British-made umbrella. Thus assured of a mobile workforce adequately protected against the elements, this great country can go forward once more to glory!
Crowd: Hurray!
Barmy: I say. That's a jolly good idea.
Roderick Spode: Nothing stands between us and our victory except defeat! Tomorrow is a new day! The future lies ahead!
Barmy: D'you know, I never thought of that.






The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you're someone. You hear them shouting "Heil, Spode!" and you imagine it is the Voice of the People. That is where you make your bloomer. What the Voice of the People is saying is: "Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags! Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?"
—P. G. Wodehouse, Bertie Wooster in The Code of the Woosters (1938)



Sir Roderick Spode.

'The British knee is strong! The British knee is muscular!"

And now to finish my Bluebell battalions.

13 comments:

  1. Really made me chuckle. Great background! I might have to look this game up myself. I find with 'alternate' histories its always pretty disconcerting how a only a few (seemingly minor) historical changes could completely alter a nation and the world... have you read any of harry turtledoves American empire / worldwar / colonisation books?

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  2. I'm glad they waited until Monday to put in their appearance - Would have quite ruined my weekend otherwise...what what!

    Lovely, in a hope-they-get-soundly-roundly-beaten sort of way!!

    Hugh

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  3. Great looking force and background. You're making a strong case for using 20mm for VBCW. I'm going to pick up the books first,do some research/planning and then decide on what miniatures to buy. Looking forward to more battle reports and units.

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  4. Dear Phil
    Yes, there are many alt history books. I suspect that history is more difficult to alter than they suggest. Good stories though!
    John

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  5. Dear Pagumb
    I think the choice of scale depends on the angle taken by the game. 28 mil is great for skirmish/small unit level where one model equals one man but looks a bit silly where 8 large models represent a company. Also there is the question of armour. The same applies only in spades. Think how silly 40K has become with artillery guns that fire only four times the distance of a thrown grenade.
    J

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  6. Dear Maverick
    I think one can rely on Spode screwing up big time. Imagine if jeeves is on the other side.
    J

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  7. The leader saluting,what fig did you use? is that a head-swap? anyways i love the alternate use for the figs. some aar`s will be a nice read.

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  8. What a great army overall, and you're right, size doesn't really matter when they're assembled for the parade grounds. Solid looking force you've got, nice work all around.

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  9. Dear Tsold
    I think it's an HaT WWI British artillery officer. I need to get a set of rules together as the commercial one available don't work or aren't to my taste.
    John

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  10. Dear Mik
    20mm are great at giving an army feel and I think you have to paint them with that in mind. Pointless to try to emulate 28mm detailed painting.
    J

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  11. Dear John,

    An excellent parody, well executed too!

    Kind regards,

    Chris

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  12. Im doing a wargames with the blackshorts and I need more of them what company areyour figures?

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  13. I use 8th army figures from the Perry twins (28mm) or airfix (1/72) but there are plenty of others.

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