Jaste Braune

You may recall last year's greatworkbench article on building the USS Kearsage by panzerdampfwagon. This time he has built three smashing SMS Hamburg-class armoured gunships! Great Stuff - and the Mars terrain comes out great too

http://theminiaturespage.com/workbench/648470/

Military Summit a Great Success!

Notwithstanding the cultural divide that can sometime occur between residents of the Motherland and the denizens of the colonies, the recent conference in London can only be called a resounding success in every respect!

After serious deliberations in the dark corridors of various Ministries, Lord Royston's superb hospitality was most graciously offered and accepted. His personalised tours are highly recommended and only a French-loving bounder who wouldn't lift a finger to save his own Grandmother would decline such an offer!

Lord Royston also made several generous donations including vast quantities of reading material, examples of the bounty of England and other glorious things...many wonderous things that will be fed into the Tas Factorium to produce more war material for the Glory of the Empire!

Detail of this inaugural conference have been provided in other dispatches, but suffice it to say that such was its success that a second summit has already been scheduled. Perhaps a Maltese representative can attend this next occasion? Reason enough for a Grand Gala Ball it would seem.

Long Live the Queen, Damnation to her Enemies, and Huzzah for Lord Royson!!

"COMMANDER Tas I PRESUME?"

With these exact words our very own stalwart of the Empire, Lord Royston of Rayleigh, greeted his opposite number from the Australian Naval Deputation, Commander Tas. Our readers may recall that Lord Royston had graciously offered to provide a welcome distraction fom the affairs of high office that the aforementioned Commander was engaged upon. For reasons of Imperial security few details of these high level discussions are available to the general public but suffice it say it can be guaranteed that closer relations with our Colonial comrades in arms is the happy result.

After the official welcome at Charing Cross and the exchange of gifts (including some hand made Stilton from the estate of Lord Royston as well many valuable building and reference materials whilst his Lordship was delighted to receive some typical Australian apparel as well as an addition to his family collection of stuffed animals in the shape of a Koala bear) - our two Imperial paladins proceeded to spend a most enjoyable day on an unofficial tour of the many book emporiums for which this particular corner of London is renowned. Several titles were acquired for the Australian Navy and the day also included visits to a number of gaming establishments as well as the famous Aeronef constuction yard at high Holborn, the world renowned Modelzone. Whilst en route the two gallant gentlemen paused frequently to take refreshment, especially the famous roast beef of England at the Marquis of Granby public house. Further halts for suitable refreshment were also held at the Princess Louise - where Commander Tas was delighted to make the reacquaintance of an old friend, Samuel Smith and finally at the Museum Tavern. The day ended in the shadow of the British Museum and it was at this point that a further token of goodwill was extended to Lord Royston by the presentation of a ceremonial medal and earnest good wishes for the future. His Lordship was visibly moved by this unexpected gesture although his regal bearing appeared to be as phlegmatic as ever. A resounding toast to the Queen followed amidst much steely eyed resolve and manly bearing.

In short, the brief but very pleasant diversion, enjoyed by those two most deserving pillars of the Empire away from the spotlight of duty, proved, in the most emphatic of ways, that whatever trials may face the subjects of the Queen, whatever foreign power deems it necessary to impose their evil machinations and intent upon this green and pleasant land, so there will be those upon whom the Empire can rely and trust in her hour of need. Be they in the firing line and facing an implacable for or maintaining the economic strength of our glorious Empire.

Huzzah for the officers and men of fair Australia's Navy!! Huzzah for the giants of commerce and finance!!

Australian Envoy Departs

All Sydney turned out to wish the special envoy to London a safe journey and success in formulating grand plans to destroy Her Majesty's enemies!

A period of communications silence is now anticipated until the top level discussions are completed in Whitehall...

HMS Pippistrel

Another stunning production by Vanvlak Industries!

Following the destruction of the Nautilus on Mysterious Island, and the invasion of the Martians in 1898, the British Empire had commissioned its agents to collect what technological remains they could. The Mysterious Island expedition, supported by the RN, was organized by an organization which remains unrecorded, although it was rumoured (wildly) that Nemo himself had once been a member. The Martian remains were more abundant, and were collected under the supervision of the newly formed Torchwood Institution. Investigation of the heat ray lead only to disaster, but an improved method of joining metals and an enhanced steam power plant were successfully derived. A hybrid of these technologies and the brainchild of one of the leading designers and Vosper and Vosper, Jarvis Pennyworth, led to the construction of a high speed launch for reconnaissance and special missions. Four were built in great secrecy, and it is believed that a fifth, armed with torpedoes, was constructed and tested against a decommissioned warship. Believed to have been completed by 1905 (although some records indicate an operational record going back to 1903!), the boats were apparently continuously in high demand. One was lost to the Arctic ice packs; a second suffered engine failure in mid-Atlantic during a mission and was utterly crushed by the liner Majestic. A third blew up on a mine in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1916. Like her sisters the survivor, HMS Pippistrel, saw extensive service, and is believed to have served in the Mediterranean theatre as late as in 1944. A rare photograph was taken by an overflying Junkers Ju88, showing the boat cruising at high speed on what is believed to have been a clandestine mission from Malta to the Balkans. Of the fifth vessel, the torpedo boat, there is no further record.

Powered by steam impulse engines, the boats were rumoured to be capable of cruising at 55knots. The louvres over the engine bays had to be opened to permit effective cooling, and closing of the gills in bad weather conditions forced a reduction in power, and consequently speed. The Martian-derived joining technology took its toll of the hull armour as relatively rapid corrosion was induced in the otherwise outstanding armour plate based on the Nautilus design.


Plot hooks to boot:

• The Nautilus was scuttled inside Mysterious Island by Captain Nemo of course.
• The War of the Worlds is well known, and the heat ray disasters are mentioned by Welles at the close of his book.
• Torchwood refers to the Dr Who institution founded by HM Queen Victoria to counter alien threats.
• Vosper and Vosper is derived from Vosper and Thornycroft, who were already in business back then.
• Mr. Jarvis Pennyworth (the designer) has a name and surname derived from Alfred's assumed surname and an ancestor's name - Alfred Pennyworth being Bruce Wayne's butler.
• The organization which recovered the Nautilus plates is of course the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, reorganized after Nemo himself had left.

This, and HMS Pippistrel link the boat to its model origins - a 1:24 scale Revell kit of the Bat Boat. I have faired over the cockpit to reduce the scale to 1:28; added the 3 funnels, and a few other odds and ends, including a bit of windscreen wiper over the cockpit.

She obviously (HMS is a dead giveaway) belongs to the Royal Navy, although, like her Aeronef counterpart HMAS Platypus has also seen service under the Torchwood flag.

Jungle Tutorial

A neat article on how to make simple but effective jungle features on old CDs:

http://www.rattrapproductions.com/speakeasy/viewtopic.php?p=4787

Ogrefencer's VSF Madness, Part 2

More pics of the Grand Spectacle that was the South East Essex Military Society's Land Ironclad free-for-all!

STATE VISIT OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVAL ATTACHE

FURTHER DETAILS RELEASED BY HM GOVERNMENT

With the impending visit to our shores of a senior member of the Australian Navy it has been revealed that our very own bon vivant, raconteur, socialite and all round sportsman Lord Royston of Rayleigh has graciously offered to provide a day of entertainment for our esteemed guest, away from the rigours of high office. When interviewed for the local marconiphone Lord Royston, as befitting a man of such sporting prowess, had very kindly offered a day of shooting, hounds, fly fishing, bare knuckle fighting, fencing and boxing but, after consultation with the admiralty settled for more cerebral matters such as assembling the appropriate titles for the Australian Navy library and discussing the finer points of international gunboat diplomay and whether or not the liquid refreshment known as Boddingtons is in fact better than Shepherd Neame. Aeronef construction techniques and the future role of our gallant chaps when operating alongside such mechanical marvels as the Landship will also feature; albeit in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. This, and many other topics of equal import will provide a welcome relief from the serious duties that bring our cousin from across the sea to these shores.

Lord Royston, as was his wont, went on to say "All work and no play makes Jack a dull dingo or some such nonsense. The poor fellow will need some sport what?We will have a roistering session around some very genteel and cultured parts of this great metropolis (Lord Royston was winking furiously at this point, probably due to some old and tiresome eye injury gained whilst hunting on Veldt) and damnation to the Queens enemies!"

Well said in our opinion and if there is a man in the empire to provide a suitable days diversion than it must surely be that epitome of manly virtue, that paragon of fair play and victor across many a sports field and bar: Lord Royston of Rayleigh, KBC, VC, Order of the Golden Camel with crossed Palm Leaves, Croix de Guerre, Iron Coss, YIAWWS.

Ogrefencer's VSF Madness, Part 1

Ogrefencer has used his wiley skills to convince his local gaming group to indulge in a little 28mm landironclad battle royale - excellent! Good work matey!

Here are some pics from the first encounter, though he notes that it was a trial run and for that reason they used a white table cloth with squares marked off for movement.

More pics to follow...

More Blackhawks Down!

My mate Owen, who came up for CANCON, has posted more pics of the Blackhawk Down demo game we played in. You'll find them at his new blog; the Predator's Lair...

http://predatorlair.blogspot.com/

Karsten's Aeronef Fleet

A gentleman is as good as his word, and have no doubt that Karsten is that.

As promised on the weekend, he has sent me some pics of his German Aeronef fleet (figs by Brigade) click for larger images

Thanks Karsten, they look great. I especially like the Digs and the WW1-esque cam scheme.

International Conference scheduled

Envoys from the Home Office and the Colonies will convene a seminar next week in London to discuss a coordinated strategy to simulatenoeusly defeat the Russian menace in Asia, pacify the Turks, insult the Swiss, ignore the French, titter at girls and sneer at the Prussians.


Indications are that these discussions will be followed in quick succession by the inaugural inter-Regimental drinking competition with the winner awarded large estates in Africa and a gunboat flotilla armed with Nordendfelts and crewed by local lovlies- it should be a cracking good time!

The Officers of the 3rd Saxon-Wantabees Dragoons Regiment are anticipated to come dead last in the forthcoming Guiness boat-races competition and be forced to endure the humilating de-bagging ceremony in the Mess

No doubt the envoys will also discuss matters of little lead men and exchanges of goodies will be done - Who know what else else can happen when Tas finally makes the personal acquaintance of Ogrefencer!

CANCON 2008

A quiet weekend from me with no posts from me for two good reasons:

1. Jan 26 is Australia Day, our National Birthday and great cause for BBQ, Beers and celebration; and

2. This weekend was the premier Australian Wargaming convention, CANCON, organised by the Canberra Games Society and held just a few Kms from my house http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl7cnm/Flyer.pdf


Long time subscribers may recall that I went last year and had a ball with the kids http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/01/cancon-splendid-day-out.html). I was just reading that post and saw my comments "Sadly my mate Owen, who had planned to come up for the weekend and the Con, had to cancel at the last minute. There is always next year though right?". Well this indeed this year was the year and he did made it up for a cracking great time.



There wasnt much in the way of VSF, though I did spy a nice Boxer Rebellion style game. Owen and I played in a great demo scenario of Mogadishu in 1994, as famously portrayed in the movie "Blackhawk Down!". The terrain, figs and vehicles were fantastic, and the rules were fast and quick playing. We did even worse than the movie writers thought the Americans did and had a ball doing it. And yes, more than one Blackhawk crashed, as unlikely as the odds were for that!



Over the weekend I also met up with friends old and new, including Nic of Eureka Miniatures (http://www.eurekamin.com.au/), Mike of Battlefield Accessories (http://members.optusnet.com.au/carolynparker/mmmain.htm), Mick from Mick's Metal Models (http://www.micksmetalmodels.com/), who among other ranges is the Australian distributor for Peter Pig, and Greg of Cannon Fodder miniatures (http://www.canfodmins.com/) who made all the Somali gunmen for the demogame (and they were good shots too!). Needless to say, money was spent and goodies were brought home...

I also was reacquainted with Karsten whom I met last year and who has promised me pics of his and his mates' newly finished Aeronef fleets!

So a great weekend of gaming, gaming shopping and seeing my mate - thanks for coming up buddy!

Cheapsiders...

I've been pondering thrift in wargaming of late and have these notions to offer:

For smoke stacks and piping, consider black drinking straws. They come in three basic sizes — sipping, standard, and jumbo. The precise diameter of the latter depends largely on the manufacturer.

Sipping:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/pty-01-stir-black-2000?
2000 for $6.95.

Standard:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/PTY-04-STRAW-BLACK-700?
700 for $6.95 US.

Super, Jumbo, Mega...
http://www.westernplastics.net/index.php

And, while on the subject of "drinking accessories," prehistoric terrain can be supplemented with palm tree stirrers.

http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=20830&cat=314&page=1
Pillars in temples and government buildings can be represented by wedding cake decorations. The resin bits that some companies offer are more or less the same design but usually quite a bit more expensive.

http://www.bakedeco.com/dept.asp?id=242

I have long thought that land mines can easily be simulated by spent hearing aid batteries. Of course, unless you have a device that uses them, collecting a good number of them may require a bit of resourceful thinking.

Simiarly, the flint wheel in disposable lighters is — in essence — a gear. Both the battery and gear can also be used to add detail to vehicles and robots.

And this last idea isn't mine (and, to be honest, I forget to whom it belongs) — but I have heard of someone using dried fruit and beans to add "nodules" and mounts to spacecraft models.

Scratchbuilt Aeronef Fleet

Eli has posted pics of his home designed aeronef fleet which he scratch built predominantly from balsa. I think he has done a cracking job!

Actually, now I think of it they remind me a lot of GZG's New Swabian League ships from their Full Thrust Sci-Fi range.

Great job Eli!
http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2007/12/fleets-gather.html