An AAR of my first game of 2021, using BKC, can be found on my Blog:
https://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.com/2021/01/bust-up-in-bristol-bocage.html (https://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.com/2021/01/bust-up-in-bristol-bocage.html)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrmvdVDoq-M/X_bgpbzZI6I/AAAAAAAAKcc/7u0lU0PgzbEYovHLnISURsMWDV76tHfVQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/P1120819.JPG)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UKavqV4TZs/X_bgr-KPSqI/AAAAAAAAKdI/asRGhTV8QbsCvjOg24ezrsC5pwMF3KJXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/P1120830.JPG)
Love the report, great scenery too.
Thanks Will :).
Excellent figures and lovely terrain on a small, practical sized tabletop. What's not to like?
VBCW 10mm is very tempting.
Geoff
Thanks Geoff!
:-bd =D> :-bd
Thanks Paul :).
Excellent, Steve ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Nice work.
Am I alone in thinking that Bristol Bocage would be a great aircraft for between the wars colonial settings.
"Biggles and the gang dashed across the darkening runway, making for the dilapidated looking Bristol Bocage at the far end.
Keeping low to evade observation by the Khedive's guards, they reached the aircraft.
The side door was unlocked, Biggles climbed into the pilot's seat while Algy removed the chocks and Ginger gripped the starting handle."
"Come on, chaps, group cuddle first", exclaimed Biggles.
"Not until Ginger says she's sorry for what she called me in the briefing room", Algy muttered petulantly....
Nice looking game Steve.
FK, getting a little weird here!
Thanks Graham :).
Steve, love the idea of a 'Bristol Bocage' inter-plane, so I'd better get converting something to suit :D
Quote from: Steve J on 08 January 2021, 03:28:45 PM
Thanks Graham :).
Steve, love the idea of a 'Bristol Bocage' inter-plane, so I'd better get converting something to suit :D
I think the De Havilland Dragon Rapide might make a good propotype.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide
Carried such dignitaries as Franco and De Gaulle.
Therefore proven rapid transport for the rising political ambition during a 1930's power vacuum.
Odd looking bird with long nose, fixed, but enclosed gear, low engines and tapered wings.
(https://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircraft/DeHavilland-Dragon-Rapide/IMAGES/deHavilland-DH89-Drw1.jpg)
Available in kit form:
(https://www.kingkit.co.uk/uploads/shop/large/67245248320%20DEC%20A%20009.JPG)
Mods for the Bocage might include features like:
* Dorsal gun position
* Forward firing top wing Lewis gun like the SE 5
* Modified fuselage shape (modelling challenge)
* Swap in different props and spinners.
Good idea Steve and could be used as a light or medium bomber too :).
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 08 January 2021, 08:53:42 PM
I think the De Havilland Dragon Rapide might make a good propotype.
Very retro-futuristic (if you know what I mean). Fits in well with the AVBCW vibe, I think.
I seem to remember that the Rapide was used as a light bomber in the 30's. I had visuallised a re-engined Bristol Fighter after all it hung around til thev early 30's
(https://www.flying-tigers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/uh1-Handley-Page-Heyford.-Last-biplane-bomber-of-the-RAF-.jpg)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/LbqFdu1Hy3VVgvwWMWDzoynFekgSw3pjfMtrIfPGRkvTFrcTiZKx6BkgbGrT1ftTNNrj4JPd9aw4TxlOi3LFRDW0MV1TkL4doDuNXG0)
I think the Handley-Page Heyford is a perfect start for the Bristol Bocage. The wings were put on at the wrong place, has a couple of precarious mg stations and generally looks awkward and liable to break at any time.
Wow! What a plane :o :o
Not seen this before, and from a quick wiki visit, discover it is a lot later than I would have have guessed mid to late 1930s, only just being replaced before WWII.
Quote from: fsn on 09 January 2021, 08:41:06 AM
I think the Handley-Page Heyford is a perfect start for the Bristol Bocage. The wings were put on at the wrong place, has a couple of precarious mg stations and generally looks awkward and liable to break at any time.
Yeah, don't think I'd like to be the one manning that under-fuselage MG station.
The Inter-War British bombers are brilliant, but mad! My recently bought old Airfix magazines have a long series of articles on them that are a great read, so I'll will be trawling through them for ideas :).
Quote from: Raider4 on 09 January 2021, 08:56:28 AM
Yeah, don't think I'd like to be the one manning that under-fuselage MG station.
The retractable dustbin - that inspires confidence!
My grandad was the dorsal gunner in a Bristol Bocage. It was originally intended as a counter to the bf110. The 2 375lb bomb points weren't added until 1942.
Quote from: Last Hussar on 09 January 2021, 10:23:56 AM
My grandad was the dorsal gunner in a Bristol Bocage. It was originally intended as a counter to the bf110. The 2 375lb bomb points weren't added until 1942.
I see yet another Blenhiem/Beaufort varation then.
Quote from: Steve J on 08 January 2021, 10:19:32 PM
Good idea Steve and could be used as a light or medium bomber too :).
If the enemy has only rifles, almost anything can serve as a bomber.
Quote from: fred. on 09 January 2021, 08:47:09 AM
Wow! What a plane :o :o
Not seen this before, and from a quick wiki visit, discover it is a lot later than I would have have guessed mid to late 1930s, only just being replaced before WWII.
That Heyford is a keeper - perhaps a little large, but scope to upgrade with underwing rockets or a gun position on the low wing centre-section.
For a proper Heath-Robinson look, convert the engines to pusher propellors, or double up push-pull drive.
We (British) deployed an awful lot of outdated crap to defend the colonies.
Maybe less apparent with the army where rifled didn't change a lot and several battalions of native infantry would be a lot more effective than a platoon in trucks.
It really started to show when a modern enemy (The Japanese in this case) show up with a modern airforce and navy.
QuoteFor a proper Heath-Robinson look, convert the engines to pusher propellors, or double up push-pull drive.
Stop it! Far too many good ideas for a poor weak soul such as myself to resist ;) :D
The DeHavilland Rapide was used as a bomber by the Iraqi air force:
http://www.morvalearth.co.uk/Inch_High_Club/Inch_High_Iraq41/Iraq41_Iraqi_Air_Force.htm
armed with "2 fixed forward firing .303" machine guns and another in a dorsal position and bomb racks for 8 x 20 lb bombs"
Mark
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 09 January 2021, 11:53:56 AM
That Heyford is a keeper - perhaps a little large, but scope to upgrade with underwing rockets or a gun position on the low wing centre-section.
Underwing rockets! That would not end well. Though with those and pusher engines, it may be able to go in reverse. :-\
Also it's cloth covered QED
For a slightly more modern look you could go for the Handley Page Harrow, awesome bomber being capable of carrying a single huge 2000lb bomb in 1937:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_H.P.54_Harrow
although I allus prefered the Bristol Bombay, as it could also be used as a troop transport, a truly modern dual-purpose plane: :P
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Bombay
Mark
Pah! Neither of those have enough wings!
Quote from: fsn on 09 January 2021, 05:19:33 PM
Pah! Neither of those have enough wings!
Ah ha! The Royal Naval Air Service has something especially suited for your needs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.4#/media/File:Caproni_Ca.42-Royal_Naval_Air_Service.jpg :)
That's more like it!
Wouldn't it be brilliant to play an air combat game with these planes ;D?
Shhh! Shhh! SHHHHHH! You know you'll set me off!
Especially with some French offerings ...
Amiot 143
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/05/c6/d305c69bf796693816f64a402285719c.jpg)
Farman F220
(https://i.redd.it/ji54ogxbfwp31.jpg)
Leo 451 (AKA Hampden with the tail on upside down)
(https://www.theworldwars.net/weapons/pictures/air/fr/photos/photo_fr_leo451_1.jpg)
The first two look as through the French tempted their Predreadnought designers out of retirement for some Aviation giggles.
Quote from: fsn on 09 January 2021, 10:29:20 PM
Shhh! Shhh! SHHHHHH! You know you'll set me off!
Especially with some French offerings ...
Amiot 143
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/05/c6/d305c69bf796693816f64a402285719c.jpg)
Farman F220
(https://i.redd.it/ji54ogxbfwp31.jpg)
Don't let looks decieve you TOO much ;)
Both the Amiot 143 and Farman F220 were still in front line service in 1940....The F223 version of the Farman bomber was the first allied aircraft to bomb Berlin :o
Quote from: sultanbev on 09 January 2021, 05:29:55 PM
Ah ha! The Royal Naval Air Service has something especially suited for your needs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.4#/media/File:Caproni_Ca.42-Royal_Naval_Air_Service.jpg :)
What he says - but the Ca.60 - come on now - it is actually a flying hotel!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.60
Or the Soviet TB-3 - with it's own integral fighter support - a flying aircraft carrier
https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/328919-gigantic-aircraft-of-russia
A worthy chgallenge for you Steve ;D
Blimey Mark, both of those are completely bonkers! Certainly very tempting though, with the former making for a great airborne/sea borne invasion scenario :D.
They would both make a defending fiter pilot's day ! If you further into the TB3 you should find piccies of Soviet Paras climbing onto the wing to jump.
Quote from: Raider4 on 09 January 2021, 06:39:55 PM
I prefer '
Spot the pigeon' by Genesis. :P ;)
Cheers - A sad git. X_X
Quote from: Techno II on 10 January 2021, 11:31:58 AM
A sad git. X_X
You didn't need to tell us Phil - we knew :D
Quote from: Techno II on 10 January 2021, 11:31:58 AM
I prefer 'Spot the pigeon' by Genesis. :P ;)
I would have sworn that it was "Catch the pigeon" (cartoon, not Genesis). Obviously not though.
Quote from: ianrs54 on 10 January 2021, 11:49:50 AM
You didn't need to tell us Phil - we knew....
You think I don't know that ?
Cheers - Phil. :)
Anyway, Zepplin, Deep Purple (and clones) Yes, Flloyd, Meatloaf, etc all far better than Genisis. ;)
I like all of those. :) :-bd
Depends on what I fancy from day to day, Ian.
Some days I like the early Genesis....with Peter Gabriel....Other times I like the Phil Collins 'stuff'....
I also enjoy ELP, Marillion, (with, or without Fish).....and others far too numerous to mention. ;)
I also like some 'poppy' stuff that you'd be very surprised at. ;).......and a number of awesome classical bits of music. ;)
Cheers - Phil