The Never Were Ships catalogue

Found this brilliant collection of old B&W drawings of Italian ship designs which has some great ideas and inspiration for one's Aquanef fleets.
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/bk/NWS/Regia_Marina/Piani_Ferrati_et_altri/index.html

This submersible Battleship is one of my favourites!

More from other countries at the main index here: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/bk/NWS/index.html

WW1 Described In Terms As A Bar Fight

Sent to MAC by Mal Wright and as he said quite a good laugh.

Germany, Austria and Italy are standing together in the middle of
the bar-room, when Serbia bumps into Austria, and spills Austria's
pint.Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit, because
there are splashes on its trouser leg. Germany expresses its
support for Austria's point of view.Britain recommends that
everyone calm down a bit.Serbia points out that it can't afford a
whole suit, but offers to pay for cleaning Austria's trousers.Russia
and Serbia look at Austria. Austria asks Serbia who it's looking at.
Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone.
Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling
it to do so.Germany appeals to Britain that France has been
looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain
should not intervene.Britain replies that France can look at who it
wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is
Germany going to do about it? Germany tells Russia to stop
looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of
such action.Britain and France ask Germany whether it's looking
at Belgium. Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper.
When they come back,Turkey makes a show of not looking at
anyone.Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and
punches Belgium.France and Britain punch Germany. Austria
punches Russia.Germany punches Britain and France with one
hand and Russia with the other. Russia throws a punch at
Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from
the other side of the room that it's on Britain's side, but stays there.
Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria.Australia punches
Turkey,and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings,
because Britain made Australia do it.France gets thrown through
a plate glass window,but gets back up and carries on fighting.
Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers
brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change.
Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over
anyway.Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room
chanting.America waits till Germany is about to fall over, then walks
over,waves a fist at Germany while Britain knocks it out, then
pretends it won the fight all by itself. By now all the chairs are
broken, and the big mirror over the bar is shattered.Britain, France
and America agree that Germany threw the first punch,so the
whole thing is Germany's fault.While Germany is still unconscious,
they go through its pockets,steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all
their friends.

Nobody comes out of it looking particularly good.

Shiny Italians!

Ruarigh has posted pics of his Italian Aerofleet, bolstered by some newly purchased and British built Stingray class torpedo nefs. You can see them on his "Ooh, Shiny Complex' blog here:

http://ooh-shiny-complex.blogspot.com/2009/08/italians-buy-british-boats-shocker.html

Nice one Ruarigh, looking forward to seeing more!

Italian Interlude

While Tas is sorting himself out and smoking a thin pantella, I thought I'd chime in with a photo of my recently painted Italians (exclusive to Y.I.A.W.W.S.).

Got to exercise them on Mars this weekend. In the finest tradition of the hobby, I finished painting them at 1am the night before the game. They accomplished little, but at least did not die in droves like my Russians.

I have started a battle report over in the shed, until then, cherrio!

Italian Monitor unveiled!

Peter Fulgoney has posted pic of the wonderful 1:700 scale Regia Marina monior 'Faa di Bruno' in its WW1 configuration.
A concrete reinforced sunken buildng, it sports a whopping 15inch gun turret! Designed by drunken Italian naval architects, it sprints at a bone jarring 3 kts and it likely to be swept away in any king tide!

http://www.steelnavy.com/RFaaDiBrunoPF.htm

The Steel Navy site is a great place to spend an hour or two, particulalry with G&T in hand!