Project Landship Incipit!

This year is the 20th Blogiversary of Yours in a White Wine Sauce. Admitedly enthusiasm has waxed and waned over the years but... we're still here! 

To mark the 20 year milestone I'm getting after two long deferred projects. And so the first begins:

Long have I hankered to have my own steam powered Landship.  Affectionados might remember my contributions at 1/1200 scale in co-authoring the "Land Ironclads" rules (published 2008 by Wessex Games) but I want one at 28mm scale to fit our Space 1889 projects, amongst others. 

Well the time is nigh. At least it feels like it might be.

Good enough anyway.

Rather than build entirely from scratch, I'm using a plastic toy as a solid basis and converting it. I got this Hasbro 1988 GI Joe "Cobra Imp" for US$8 off ebay as it was missing the rockets, which I didn't want anyway. 

Side view of the excellent tracks

Front view: A very Warship like armoured prow

Rather than turn it into a turreted, heavily armed monster (which would kinds be embarrassing, and early steam landships should be a bit rubbish really), I'm thinking that a protected cruiser feel to move troops in relative safety would be more useful on the plains of Mars (and jungles of Venus) and for trade caravan protection. Some thoughts at project start (for comparison at the end) include:

• modestly sized main weapon (like 4inch) forward, probably mounted internally so the gun crew are protected 
• a number of smaller anti-personnel weapons (maybe with mealie bags around them?) to cover different angles
• Smoke stacks are a must, obviously (vertical, probably two)
• If space permits, masts fore and aft with a wireless aerial strung between them (and guy wires to keep them aloft). Double use on one for the Flag/Ensign (maybe a semaphore signal?)
• The two small platforms at the back could be reshaped for disembarking troops (like the back ramp on an APC). maybe I can build those up so they look like proper access hatches. Or perhaps make one an access way and turn the other into a gatling (or similar) mount so it has an asymmetric look
• The tracks are big areas, need to make the most of those, even if its just putting some mesh on them to keep native fauna out of the delicat egearing mechanism.
• a porthole/scuttle or two to break up the big, slab sides and give it a 'ship feel'
• to reinforce the ship theme, a searchlight
• and rivets of course! Lots of rivets!

And all that said, I'm know I've well overestimated how much space on the there is to execute all of these changes!

PS Is it just me or would this also work well being built in reverse, with this end as the front, a gun platform on top of the 'engine bay' and the Bridge being built at the back? Maybe I need a second one to try this...

Rear View: These are the steps that may become embarked troop exits

After so many years of procrastination, I'm going to employ the "don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough" principle (which I am quite prone to) and see how we go. This type of project is a first for me: I'm not a novice hobbyist but this is a step change, and to up the degree of difficulty my bitz box currently resides in another hemisphere. Anyway, its a start and posting here will keep me focused on providing periodic updates.

Top view - great moulded detail in the engine bay to turn into a boiler

Suggestions always welcome! Maybe I should do a competition, and the best advice gets to name her! (derivatives of Boaty McBoatface are inadmissible!)

Inspiration

Got my idea for the initil model from Gisby's Gaming Blog here:

https://gisby.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/space-1889-a-german-landship/

and then also found it here at the long lamented Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial-era Wargames Page, where he wrote:

An ideal  candidate  for a future  heavy landship. This plastic toy tank David picked up at a second-hand shop is from the GI Joe action figure line. It is purple with an image of a cobra on the front, so presumably it belongs to Pvt. Joe's enemies. Originally it carried a missile launcher. The top view shows the interior detail. A large stack projecting through a roof grating made from needlepoint canvas, would turn it into a very convincing boiler room. A foamcore floor would convert the front opening to a capacious machine-gun station. A few gunports in the front of the shield, a bit of paint, and a big Imperial German War Ensign fluttering from a staff would complete the project. It's a landship builder's dream.

Since buying my Imp for conversion, I found this on Bill's GASLIGHT page:

I have just done my first conversion of the GI Joe Cobra Imp into a Prussian Landship for GASLIGHT or any other Victorian Sci Fi game. Lots of work that is unseen but its still a very nice conversion that looks fantastic. I did not alter the basic shape much but there is a wealth of details added to give the proper affect. See if you can spot the differences between the Stock model and my finished "Landship" 

https://historicalhobbies.com/DOGS/main/Gaslight/Prussian%20Landship.htm

The "engine bay" looks like it has been converted into a "fighting compartment" with a removable sun shade

You can see where Bill has also added some edging along the hull with rivets 

And of course the many wonderful insanities projects by Colonel O'Truth that I have followed have inspired over the years (I blame you too good Sir!)

https://colonelotruth.blogspot.com/

Royal Navy Airship scratch build

Found this fabulous scratchbuild by Mr Edward Garcia on Facebook, from a post some 10 years ago. I wanted to post here for reference (such things tend to disappear and be sadly lost):

Again this is NOT my work, but that of highly talented Edward Garvcia, who writes:

"Scaled at about 1/64 this model of a Mars based British aerial gunboat is based on those mentioned in the old roll playing game Space: 1889. I extrapolated considerably on the small tree view drawings available online at the time (over ten years ago) and created a scale models that fit the story line but also reflected actual elements of Victorian naval architecture. The model measures about 32 inches (81cm) long and is crewed by about 15 hand painted 28mm crewmen. For the most part the model is made from scratch with the main exceptions being small parts such as ship’s guns, fittings and crew figures."

Again, this is not my work, and the original post here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18RhWK1FmB/

This is first of a few "internet rescue" posts. Having gone through a bunch of my VSF links I was sad to see so many sites have dissappeared and their contents gone. I will ensure that such posts are very clearly and appropriately credited, and only done to ensure that great material isn't lost.

French Gunboats

Thinking of adding some maritime firepower to my Colonial French force with a gunboat, which would add some serious ability to dominate trade on the canals of Mars.

Wanting to use historical designs where possible, I came across the Revolver class gunboat:

Revolver gunboat in Tonkin

Hull schematic (no cockpit) - the real version show greater cutdown at the bow

Typical of the period, and also the experimental nature of smaller craft, armament varied but was broadly one large cannon up front and a few smaller weapons for close in defence. 

Earlier designs had larger calibre forward guns, but these were later reduced to a 140mm gun, with two 37mm Hothkiss revolver guns fore and aft on the superstructure.

Conveniently, this model is available from Gringo 40s and looks great:

I also quite like this turreted ironclad gunboat style: The Acheron Class

Four of the class were built between 1882 and 1890, and they continued to serve until 1912

Acheron was armed with a single 274 mm gun (!) in a conical turret as the primary armament, plus two 100 mm, two 47 mm and twenty 37 mm guns. Probably more a harbour defence cruiser than a gunboat, but definitions of the era were rather flexible.

Very cool, but a bit too high end for Mars though? Would make a nice option for a scratch build. 

Slightly different track but equally cool is the Cerbère class Ironclad Rams - 4 of which were built in the 1870s

In the limited confines of Martian canal networks with limited manoeuvre room, her ability to take out enemy ships by ramming (and thus preserving valuable main battery ammunition) would be valuable.

French ironclad ram ships Cerbère and Bélier, 1866-90

Deliberations continue. The Italians probably need a gunboat for Venus too...

Avanti Italia - to Venus!

The Italian Army on Venus? Who saw that coming? Not me either. 

But someone has to fight my Russians if I deploy them to Venus, so a good opportunity to branch out. Hmmm...maybe some of the Afrikan German colonial troops also...

Here follows some a notes for a potential project as the mood strikes me, given there isn't much out there for the Italians on Venus. Indeed, in the Space 1889 niche, Venus is seemingly rare for tabletop gaming. On the topic, GDW's Soldier's Companion (1990) states only that:

Separately, the later Ubiquity edition of the Venus Sourcebook (2014) states:

Rather than seeing that as a restriction, I see it as opportunity to mix and match! After all, the Bersaglieri and their flank guard/recon roles would be right at home in the jungle protecting vulnerable convoys and working with native (lizardmen) guides.

An Italian Infantry regiment of the period typically consisted of 3 battalions, although some formations had 4 (specifically Bersaglieri). Each battalion comprised 4 companies. A regiment was around 1,500 men at peace footing, expanding to roughly 3,000 men on a war footing.

Thats probably what the 7th Infantry Regiment "Cuneo" / 7º Reggimento fanteria "Cuneo" looks like, though I'm sure a few Bersalgieri and other small units from the Italian military are there also, if not in force.

While it was established in 1891, if there are troops of Venus it makes sense to establish the "Regio corpo truppe coloniali de Venere" and sweep all the troop on Venus into it under the Italian Governor's authority.

Uniforms

Researching late 19th Century Italian Colonial forces, the Italian colonial army (primarily operating in Eritrea) wore a mix of white or khaki tropical uniforms, commonly featuring a white cork helmet with an azure-blue band, or the traditional red tarbush(fez) with a turban for native ascaro troops. Native soldiers often wore white linen tunics and sash combinations, armed with Vetterli-Vitali rifles.

Key Aspects of the 1890s Italian Colonial Uniforms:

• Colonial Units (Askaris/Native Units): Native Eritrean troops commonly wore a red tarbush (fez) with a blue feather/turban, a white or linen-colored tunic with insignia, white trousers, and sandals.
• Italian Officers: Wore white tropical tunics and trousers, often with a white cork helmet ("salacot") decorated with a blue band.
• Note Officers in Italy wore white pants with a Dark Blue jacket with black piping around the collars, cuffs and red edges, and white leather equipment, which might add variety
• Fatigue Uniforms: In barracks, troops wore "dirty brown" canvas fatigues, which were more durable than their white parade dress.
• Distinctions: Light blue distinctions were often used on helmets and uniforms for colonial troops.
• Arms: Soldiers were often armed with the M1870/87 Vetterli carbine, M1874 cavalry sabers, and traditional local knives in their sashes. 

These uniforms were specifically adapted for the climate in East Africa, shifting away from the heavy wool uniforms used in the Italian mainland at the time, which featured dark blue coats and grey-blue trousers. So these would naturally appeal for the steamy jungles of Venus!

Infantry Captain, Truppe d'Africa, 1896 service dress

Bersaglieri were a high mobility light infantry and skirmishing force, originating in Sardinia before being incorporated into the Italian army when th Kingdom of Italy was formed in 1861. In the 1895 period, in tropical climates such as Abyssinia and Eritrea, they tended toward the newer khaki style uniforms with sun helmets and their distinctive plumage of black feathers.

Bersaglieri Lieutenant, marching order

In the 1860 period, Bersaglieri wore a Summer Campaign Dress of white trousers and dark blue jackets (see first picture in this post) with wide brimmed hats.

In Somaliland (and others) the Italian colonial forces made good use of Tribal irregulars, many of which were equipped with their tradition spears and shields, and a limited amount trained to use firearms. I think that tradition would continue with local tribes of lizardmen

Wargames Atlantic plastic Lizardmen from "Gisby's Gaming Blog"
(https://gisby.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/space-1889-lizard-men-of-venus/)

So yes, a new Army and a new planet to contrast to our adventures on Mars.

Would love to hear people's thought on the subject, or Space 1889 on Venus in general.

And while we talking about Venus do remember that on this planet, Germany is the strongest Colonial force...

Schutztruppe militia in the outback of the German protectorate

ANZAC Day 2026

 

Ode to the Fallen 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow, 

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 

They fell with their faces to the foe. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning 

We will remember them.

Russian Fleet reinforcements

A small Cruiser squadron to reinforce my growing Russian Dystopian Wars fleet.  

Disclaimer: I have used AI to generate a more contextural background.
The models themselves are unchanged and are my own work.

Like the rest of my fleet these are an Ebay rescue, and as a bonus they came with nicely magnetised turrets. I've painted them up in more grungy wartime colours to contrast with the rest of my Fleet. I used historical paint schemes again, this time from the Russo-Japanese war. I think of these ships as offensive night patrollers - going out to screen the main force against marauding torpedo boats

This looks good

But this looks better!

The search for more models from the old Spartan Games era continues...