Winans Cigar Ships

A move to more nautical contraptions today...


Cigar ships were designed and built by the Winans family. Their radical marine design concept included an ultra-streamlined spindle-shaped hull with minimum superstructure.

The Winans constructed at least four ships between 1858 and 1866. Two of these attracted considerable public attention as well as skepticism and outright criticism from the technical establishment. The innovative technology would certainly have attracted Jules Verne's attention. He may well have seen two of the boats sailing or berthed in England.

You can read more about them here:
http://home.att.net/~karen.crisafulli/CigarBoats.html

Pigeon Pie

This has to be one of my favourite field dinners while on Campaign. I recommend the use of a shotgun with light shot rather than one's trusty Martini-Henry or revolver, otherwise you wont have much left of the bird for the pot!

I like my batman to serve it with a full bodied claret...Bon Appetite.

Pigeon Pie
Ingredients:
1.5 pounds rump steak
2 or 3 cleaned pigeons
1.5 ounces butter
2 or 3 thick ham slices
4 egg yolks
stock
puff pastry
pigeon feet
salt and pepper

Cut the rump steak into pieces and use it to line the bottom of a baking dish. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lay the pigeons on top of the steak and pour about .5 ounce of butter into each. Lay a slice of ham on top of each pigeon. Beat the egg yolks and pour over the pigeons, then add stock until the dish is half full. Place puff pastry around the sides then cover the dish with it. Brush the pastry with egg yolk and stick the pigeon feet into the top to decorate. Bake for 1.5 hours in a hot oven.

Exploding Dirigibles

Ever wondered what a Dig would look like when it is shot down?
Here are some real stereoscopic photographs of such an event...

Cloudships of Mars

If you havent seen these amazing large scale Cloudships you are in for a treat!



Used as demo games at SALUTE 05 and 06, you can see more amazing pics of them in action here:
http://www.salute.co.uk/salutegames/cloudships/main.htm

Nikola Cottoner joins Knights of Malta

The mysterous Knights of Malta have revealed their latest acquisition- the Land Ironclad Nikola Cottoner. No doubt fuelled by the recent aggression in Arabia by their mortal enemies, the Turks, this beast greatly increases the land power of the Knights.


Specialist Engineer and designer John says "Nikola Cottoner will be my 2nd largest tank. A big forward-firing gun, and a couple of gun ports to either side - an easy dodge for adding cannon! "

Good job V! (Actually he made the Nikola quite awhile ago, but it hadnt been published here before....)

Turkish Juggernought pics revealed!

Pics this week have been published in Constantinople showing Turkish Land Ironclads and Contraptions deployed in the Arabian Theatre.

"Crazy Fez Illustrated", a rag well known for being the mouthpiece of Government propaganda, said: "See here out glorious iron war machines in action against the villanous Arab foes. With the industrial help of our German friends we will sweep the continent clean of the Rebels and defend our Glorious country against Imperialist aggression. Come, British Lion - we are ready for you!"

Modelling Notes - all models painted by Ogrefencer. In his own words "by Irregular Miniatres and comprise the WW1 A7V German tank for the Contraptions and the Sci FiLand Dreadnought for the Ironclads. Funnels are from plastic rod andhave been added to all the models; the Land Ironclads also gained a military mast from some Battlefleet Gothic spares and additional gunbattries from Brigade Models Aeronef range. They also suppied the flags. The bases are from Essex Miniatures as I am far too lazy to cut my own!"

SECRET OPERATIONS IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA!!

IMPERIAL AGENTS TO COORDINATE BEDOUIN EFFORTS ON HER MAJESTIES SECRET SERVICE!!

TURKISH ‘BLOCKADE’ BREACHED WITH IMPUNITY!!

In the weeks following the outbreak of hostilities between Her Majesties Government and Dominion Forces and those of the Ottoman Empire the Bedouin Arabs have suffered a seemingly never-ending series of reverses. Casualties have been heavy and the fragile unity of the tribes, striving to throw off the yoke of oppression, has been under immense pressure. Petty squabbling amongst the various tribal chieftains has aided the Turkish cause immeasurably. A divided Arabia is a far easier prospect to police than one united against a common enemy.

Whilst Her Majesties Forces continue to build up to fighting strength, both in the Red Sea and Egypt, the Government has rightly concluded that some form of supportive action is desperately needed; to ease the pressure on the beleaguered Bedouin tribesmen. Clearly, it would be foolhardy in the extreme to deploy men and material piecemeal; this would be inviting defeat in detail given the local Turkish superiority in most arms of service. With this in mind the joint Chiefs of Staff have issued the following communique:

“For the duration of hostilities in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula areas it has been decided to raise a small, highly trained formation of men, drawn from all arms of service and specialised in a great variety of military techniques. The purpose of this unit is to operate in conjunction with our Bedouin Allies in their struggle against the Turkish enemy. This unit will undergo the most strenuous training that can be provided; both physical and mental, and will have access to the finest equipment devised by the scientists of Her Majesties Empire. Training in many forms of combat and sabotage will provide a firm background of knowledge that will be required by the said operatives when operating behind enemy lines. Volunteers for this coveted unit will be very carefully selected and only serving members of the armed forces with exemplary records will be considered. Further details as to applications for this unit, as well as the terms and conditions applicable, will be made available in due course. This unit will be known as the Special Arabian Service or S.A.S for short.”

Through the efforts of our various sources we have managed to discover that in fact, despite the above official communication, serving officers of Her Majesties Armed Forces are all ready operating in such a capacity. These brave and plucky fellows, risking capture; torture and probably death on a daily basis have made their way by various means into the Arabian heartland, thereby bringing temporary succour to the Bedouin. By land, sea and air these stalwarts of the Empire have cocked a snook at the occupying forces and are, even now, plotting various acts of discomfiture in conjunction with our Bedouin Allies against the Turk and his German ally. By various means these gallant officers have made a mockery of the so-called blockade imposed by the Turkish authorities against any form of access to the Peninsula. Naturally we are unable to describe in any greater detail the operations currently being undertaken but as soon as further details become available we will ensure that these are faithfully reported.

REST ASSURED MR.TURK AND HERR HUN – RETRIBUTION FOR YOUR NEFARIOUS BEHAVIOUR WILL BE BOTH SWIFT AND SEVERE!!

Fleets of the Red Sky

Vynnie has posted some great pics of Game Tech Skyships battling it out of the red planet!
For more details (and pics) see his pages here:
http://www.recon-in-force.com/Queen-and-Country/Barracks/Skyships/index.html

TURKISH WAR MACHINES DRIVE ALL BEFORE THEM!!

ARAB FORCES ROUTED IN THE HEDJAZ

Word has just reached our offices in Khartoum of a crushing defeat inflicted on our gallant Bedouin allies somewhere in the Hedjaz, to the south of Shedia. Astute readers will doubtless recall a similar incident occurring during the earlier insurrection of 1911 when the Turkish Dirigible Maleesh was in action supporting Ottoman forces in this troubled region. This time however, the Ottoman force, rather than consisting of a small mobile column (in the fashion of our own Field Forces; latterly in use in both India and the Sudan) with limited aerial support; comprised the full paraphernalia of a modern and mechanised army. Great armoured vehicles, bristling with gun batteries and capable of levelling entire villages together with smaller, more agile versions used to seek out and find the enemy wherever he may take refuge, mean that no region can be deemed safe from their depredations. The Tribal Arabs, whilst being superb irregular warriors; both fearless and brave; have no answer to the might of these ponderous pachyderms. There are limits beyond which mere flesh is unable to prevail and in the diabolical devices of the Turkish Army the Bedouin have found theirs. A recent attempt by our gallant Bedouin Allies to cut the Medina railroad failed with heavy losses as the Turks deployed patrolling Land Ironclads and their various supporting Contraptions. The massed volleys of heavy artillery and machine gun fire from these mechanical monstrosities was awesome to behold and struck terror into the hearts of all that faced them. Cold steel and rifle fire are but puny irritations to these leviathans; one could as easily attempt to down a Rhinoceros with a peashooter as try conclusions with one of these armoured giants.

The force of some 1,500 Bedouin Tribesmen attempted to ambush the railway in order to prevent reinforcements being despatched to assist the beleaguered garrison in Medina. Unknown to the gallant Bedouin, the Turkish High Command (no doubt persuaded by their dastardly overlords from Berlin!) had also despatched this force of armoured vehicles to escort the troop train and to assist the garrison in its unsavoury oppression in the surrounding hinterland. The fight was brief and bloody as, despite repeated charges into the very teeth of the Turkish fire, the Bedouin were cut to pieces from all side. The bloodied but unbowed survivors; together with such wounded as were able to escape, dispersed into the surrounding wilderness. The Turkish convoy then proceeded on its way, impervious and unsullied.

It is the considered opinion of many on the Imperial Staff that the struggle of the Bedouin tribesman needs the support and succour of all reasonable and decent civilised nations and it is their earnest desire to fulfil this moral obligation as soon as is prudent to do so. In the meantime the struggle will go on and the hastily assembled forces of the Empire, still rallying around the clarion call of the mother country, will make all speed to provide such assistance as is necessary.

GOD SPEED TO OUR GALLANT FORCES ON LAND, SEA AND IN THE AIR!!

GOD BLESSES OUR GALLANT AND PLUCKY BEDOUIN FRIENDS IN THIS, THEIR DARKEST HOUR!!

THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF THE FREE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE WITH YOU!!

Closeups of the Martian Invaders!

That hardy survivor of the recent invasion, Leutenant Blease, has submitted some still pictures he took of the Martian machines to the Illustrasted Londown News. One can clearly see the immense size of these beasts, which incited great panic. The closeups he took of both Tripods and catcher machines show the foreign intelligence and technology which lies behind thir alien minds. The best engineers in London have studied the wrecks in the aftermath but have yet to make sense of a locomotion system which has neither boiler nor furnace!



Modelling notes: The miniatures are from Second City and are technically 1/300th, painted and photographed by Steve Blease.

UUUUULLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAA!

Venetian Fleet Expands

John Vanvlak has been busy this week!:

This is the former USS Tuscaloosa, now La Fiamma (the flame) of Venice. Any Venetian would recognise the 'CX' emblem on the hull - it refers to the 'Consiglio dei Dieci' (Council of Ten) which were originally a legislative body but ended up effectively ruling Venice.


Well Done Mr V, but the increase in naval power in the Med can be destablising and I already hear a nashing of teeth from the Turks, amongst others. Another arms race is upon us!

Pride of the Venetian Fleet

John aka Vanvlak has revealed his latest Creation - the Venetian Monitor San Teodoro !

John says:

My holidays tend to start off new trends in my wargames. Remember Hammerin' Iron II? This is a historical ACW game I'd bought the rules and several ships (1:650 scale Peter Pig) for. I'd built one shi so far, and had painted up the Monitor when I realised these ships are a bit dull without flags. Now for some reason I couldn't print a decent Union flag, and I'm not a big fan of commercial flags (too glossy). So I'd gotten stuck. And the solution is - turn VSF and make a Venetian fleet! They fit in the theme quite well - the Venice lagoon instead of riverine warfare - and these will hopefully stop the Tripods from getting to Piazza San Marco. Here's no.1 - a Monitor-class ship, the San Teodoro. Now my problem is whether to split the ships in Venetian and opponent (e.g. Austrian) ships or just make for one large fleet.

And here's the lion of San Marco on the banner of 'La Serenissima' (the most serene state of Venice).There are twoversions of the banner - in one, the lion has the bible open; in the other, it is closed, and a sword is drawn for war. This is the latter flag.

Up to your usual standard of Great Work John - watch out for those lurking Turkish Aquanefs and their steam torpedoes...!

WAR WITH TURKEY!

FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY AS DEADLINE EXPIRES!

"THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT OVER THE MIDDLE EAST" SAYS FOREIGN SECRETARY SIR GORDON BENNET

HM FORCES ARE FULLY PREPARED FOR ACTION

DOMINION TROOPS FLOCK TO THE AID OF THE MOTHER COUNTRY

AN APOLOGY FROM THE EDITOR

In a day of far reaching consequence our correspondants have been hard pressed to assimilate and distribute the news concerning the Red Sea crisis. With the overwhelming amount of telegraphic communication being passed to the newsdesks of the world from a myriad of sources it has been a gargantuan task to present a fair, clear and not misleading overview of events. For this apparent lapse in our usually impeccable standard of reporting I can only offer our sincerest apologies and can say, without fear of contradiction, that we shall endeavour to resolve these technological issues to the upmost of our ability to ensure that the standard of communicaton from this journal will be of the highest order.

I am, respectfully, your obediant servant,

G. McArdle - Editor

From the Press Secretary of the Prime Ministers Office (Sir Giles Villiers - Roehampton, M.P. for Rye):

"Despite the very best and sincerest efforts on the part of Her Majesties Government to abate both the geographic areas of contention and the very obvious humanitarian issues in the Red Sea area it is with the greatest regret that the Government of Turkey has deemed it fit to ignore such proposals as would serve to alleviate the numerous tensions that exist at this time within this sensitive region. Despite many efforts on the part of this Government it is now obvious that no further dialogue will serve to dissuade the Turkish authorities from their desired course of action. These actions are to be viewed by this Government in the most detrimental of terms; so much so, that the only course of action that can be pursued is to reluctantly, and with the very greatest of regrets, deem a state of war to exist between the Her Britannic Majesties Dominions and those of the Imperial Ottoman Empire. With effect from midnight tonight, the 17th of May 1912, a state of war exists between those two aforementioned parties. A further announcement will be made in due course."

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN AND GODSPEED TO OUR GALLANT FORCES AND THEIR NOBLE ALLIES, THE BEDOUIN ARABS!

Nihilists, Revolutionaries and Anarchists take note!

Some useful information to help develop those nefarious and uncivilised ways:

http://www.expage.com/trueanarchy

www.eviloverlord.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_genius

http://www.trygve.com/evilonabudget.html

http://www.cafepress.com/officialalias/1241479

http://www.darksites.com/souls/horror/evilguide/index.html

TOWARDS THE PRECIPICE!

DISBELIEF AT TURKISH DEMANDS!

AMBASSODOR RECALLED!

Following on from our previous edition it is with extreme regret and heartfelt sorrow that it is our duty to report that the Turkish Government has failed to respond in a constructive fashion to our observations concerning the uncertain situation in the Red Sea. Despite numerous attempts to engage in a meaningful dialogue it is apparent that time for mere words has long passed and that action, however abhorrent it is deemed to be may now be the only course of action available in the resolution of the many issues outstanding in this region. It is obvious that the time for reasoning has passed and that the time for action is upon us. The expectation that Her Majesties forces will meekly retire to their bases and sit by idly whilst a rapacious predator makes light of all that is just and righteous is simply too outrageous to contemplate. The extraordinary demand that Imperial forces should withdraw to Egypt and the Mediterranean, thereby isolating our noble Arab Allies in their hour of greatest need and leaving them defenceless at the hands of their merciless oppressors is not an option that Her Majesties Government would consider. Similarly, the plight of the humble fishermen of the Gulf of Aqaba; risking life and limb daily, running the gauntlet of Turkish gunboats and minefields is a very unpalatable dish for Her Majesties Government to feast upon.

The Arabian Peninsula belongs to the Arabs who, although separated by tribal boundaries, are the legitimate ruling authorities and are recognised as such by Her Majesties Government. It is the avowed intention of the same Government to ensure that any such authorities are allowed free reign to administer their territories free from any would be oppressor.

The Turkish Government has maintained that the insurrection of the Bedouin tribes is not the struggle for independence as portrayed in the (British) press – rather it is rebellion against the lawful authority as decreed by right of conquest centuries ago. They further maintain that the mining of what are therefore, their own territorial waters, is a preventative measure to ensure that the various subversive elements (i.e. the revolting Bedouin Tribesmen) are unable to receive unwarranted foreign aid and is therefore not the business of any other sovereign power. They then go on to point out that the said minefields are within the 3-mile limit, which is internationally recognised. Her Majesties Government has information to the contrary in this case but has decided in any event to recall the ambassador from Damascus, Sir Reginald Arquette-Smythe.

A special edition of this journal will be published at midday tomorrow.

TURKISH COMMUNIQUE CAUSES UPROAR!

EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE CABINET HELD – PARLIAMENT RECALLED!

AIR AND NAVAL ASSETS TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE RED SEA

Following the receipt of an official Turkish Government communiqué yesterday evening, the cabinet has met in an emergency session to discuss the contents therein. A further development was the recall of parliament to debate the matter further. Clearly this is an ominous turn of events and the contents of the communiqué (as yet not released to the public) can be assumed to be provocative in the extreme. Whilst the contents are being debated upon, the Cabinet Press Secretary, The Right Honourable Sir Giles Villiers – Roehampton, MP for Rye, has issued this very brief statement:

"Her Majesties Government; upon receipt of an official communique from the Government of Turkey, is meeting to discuss and consider the contents therein. The gravity and seriousness of what has been communicated requires that we very carefully, and with all due diligence, consider the full implications of both the Turkish and our own responses. The protection of the sovereign territory of this empire and its friends and allies is a responsibility that this Government takes very seriously. With this in mind, although with very great reluctance and sadness, additional elements of Her Majesties Air and Naval Forces are to be despatched immediately to the Red Sea. This should not be construed as an act of aggression on the part of the British Empire – it is merely to safeguard our interests, and those of our friends and allies in the region during this time of uncertainty. An appropriate response will be sent to the Turkish Government in due course but as a preliminary measure Her Majesties Government has formally requested that any efforts towards mining the Gulf of Aqaba should cease forthwith, pending discussions to be held at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum. That is the end of this statement – further details will be announced in due course."

Seldom has a Government statement been delivered in such a restrained fashion and it was apparent that Sir Giles was maintaining his composure with the greatest of difficulty in the face of such blatant provocation and disregard for the protocol of international diplomacy.

GOD SPEED TO OUR GALLANT FORCES EN ROUTE TO THE RED SEA!

TURKISH PERFIDY EXPOSED!!

RUMOURS ABOUND OF THE LATEST TURKISH MACHINATIONS IN THE GULF REGION

Whilst the tension in the Gulf of Aqaba continues to rise rumours have reached our Khartoum office of the deployment of large numbers of Turkish Armoured Conveyances and Contraptions within this sensitive region. These vehicles (believed to be of German design and construction) are more powerful than any weapons our noble Bedouin Allies can field and if utilised will spell certain doom for those gallant freedom fighters. At the time of writing no images are available of these monstrous and diabolical constructions - however, our sources within the peninsula are endeavouring to obtain some thereby exposing to the world the vile machinations of the Turk and his devious ally, the dastardly Hun.

More to follow, as soon as it is available.

Pulp Film On Its Way To a Theatre NEAR YOU!

Hi and good morning from the sunny shores of Hollywood!

Ace reporter, Maksim-Smelchak, sharing hints of a new pulp film coming to a theatre NEAR YOU!

http://www.monarchofthemoon.com/

Enjoy your Saturday!

Smelchak signing out...

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Kaiser Bill wants YOU!

In light of their recent personnel losses, the Germans have started a new recruiting campaign for the Zeppelin Force.

Pic by me of my German Dig Fleet by Brigade Models modified using Corel Photo-Paint. Copyright 2006.

Battle of Fairlight Cove

I came across this historical battle while studying for my forthcoming Command and Tactics exam. For sheer size of combatants, its hard to beat this massive battle between the European Powers (German, France, Autro-Hungary and Benelux Allies) against the defending Royal Navy Fleets and their American and Brazillian friends.


If you havent read of this tremendous battle, do yourself a favour and take a look:
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/MWS/ClubGames/Fairlight/index.html

Credits: This game was run by Maidstone Wargames Society, and many of the boys from Brigade Models were a part of it.

THE GUNS OF N'AH FAROUN

THE GUNS OF N'AH FAROUN - TURKISH PERFIDY IN THE GULF OF AQABA!!

Reports are just coming in of the latest outrage committed by the Turks in collusion with their German allies. Vessels of the Turkish navy - no doubt under the supervision of the so called advisors from Berlin - have been extensively mining the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba as well as increasing patrols by both sea and air over that sensitive region. It has also been reported that several large calibre gun batteries have been set up in the region of N'Ah Faroun to protect the aforementioned minefields. Further details will be made available as soon as we have them.

Our readers however, can rest assured that the gallant forces of Her Majesty will not remain idle in the face of this blatant provocation in fact, at this very moment, plans are being made at the very highest level to alleviate this situation and to provide succour to our noble Bedouin Allies.

Evil Scientists subscribe here

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The International Society of Mad Scientists
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The Ernest Glitch Chronicles
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http://loms.comicgenesis.com/

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Dr Vulture's Laboratory of Evil Science:
http://www.evilscience.net/main.htm

Dirigible Arms Race

Shocked from their apathy by the recent formation of the 7th Zeppelin Flotilla, the Imperial Russian AeroFlotte has commenced commenced construction of their own reinforcements. What exact composition this may be is a matter of conjecture so far as the digs are being built in great secrecy in hangars (shown opposite). Our stealthy correspondants are on the job!