Tony's Update Part 2

German steam powered land-ironclad squad – Chapter Two

The construction and testing of the Holt caterpillar mechanism has gone well and although there is some disagreement as to whether the steam engine has enough horse power, the general agreement is that the project is progressing well. Further up the chain of command the situation is not so good. The American Government has lodged a complaint against ‘under-hand business practices’ and the American Patent office have started proceeding against the German Special Projects division for breach of Patent AS 12867/1887 ‘Chain Track’ Held by The Holts Tractor Company of Ohio.

One point of interest to the reader is that the Holt patent track laying system is the basis of both the German A7V, and the French Renault tanks.

This is not the only issues affecting the project as the German Navy is still refusing to release any armour platting and now Krupps have written to Herr Dr. Lacher to suggest that they are being put under pressure to refuse to supply the naval designed guns! The political intrigue surrounding this project is growing by the day and it will take all of Dr. Lacker’s skills to negotiate a suitable outcome.

We have a compromise – The German Navy have agreed to allow the steel plate and naval guns to be used, provided that the project is now a joint venture and the Land Ironclads are now referred to as Land Ships! Herr Lacher is said to be ‘delighted at the combined expertise of the Imperial German Army and Navy working together. It is hoped that this amalgamation will speed up both development and construction times.’

The Fenian Airship (Toucan) – Chapter Two

The airships envelope has been successfully test filled and although the event went without a hitch, there is concern that the existing envelope may need to be increased in size, or at the very least altered to include one extra gas bag – a similar experience has been encountered in a number of dirigible builds, and the usual way around this is to extend the envelope in the centre section. O’Driscall is against such actions and it might be that the gondola will have to be reduced in size and/or the maximum load reduced.

The high pressure steam engine has also been delivered and is undergoing trials, to confirm its maximum pressure out-put and to investigate ways that the whole assembly can have its weight reduced. On this point a new member and specialist engineer has been brought in to the project to oversee the mechanical specifications and build, Robert Lock, a Welshman, who has worked in Italy and been involved in many similar project’s will also help with the building of the gondola. ‘Bob’ Lock has also expressed an interest in piloting the airship, a position that has already had a number of candidates and should prove a ‘delightful aside’ to the more serious project of construction!

The ‘Fenian Ram’ and ‘Irish Folly’ are both engaged in testing the new Shillelagh stick bombs. The bomb is shaped like the British Congreve Rocket, but intended to be dropped rather than rocket propelled. Many civilised nations have reportedly tested such devices, few will admit to owning any!

The comments above were copied from; http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/Tony

New Martian Empires figs released

Black Hat Miniatures' latest offerings in 18mm VSF are out:

EMP304 - Martian Ghost Archers
EMP376 - Imperial Martian Thought Projector

http://www.blackhat.co.uk/

Tony's Update

German steam powered land-ironclad squad – Chapter One
Progress has been very slow, following the surprising dismissal of the German project leader, Herr Trotter caused by a blazing argument between the Special Projects Commissioner, Chancellor Sachs and Herr Trotter over the best way forward and who should be chosen as the lead designer.

The mild mannered Austrian, the good Herr Dr. Lacher – a proven manager and visionary was given the job of ‘pulling the project back on track’. He has employed the very special talents of the gifted Italian designer A. Angellon to design the land-tanks and Krupp’s the German engineering company to supply the weapons and specialised equipment. The Initial designs have been supplemented by some additional design blueprints that were ‘acquired’* from the American tractor company Holts! While a Scottish engineer called Professor Souter has been working with Angellon on the mechanical problems associated with the steam walker.

Mechanically all is moving forward and although slightly behind plan the 80 day deadline is still very achievable.

One issue that is beyond the control of the project team is the lack of steel plating that will be needed for the armoured compartments of each of the fighting turrets, the German Navy has placed a ban on all non-essential requests for armour platting and something will have to be done soon to make sure that this project is ready on time and up-holds the fine reputation of the German Army.

* ‘acquired’ is a euphemism for the black arts of international espionage!

The Fenian Airship (Toucan) – Chapter One
Fenian revolutionary forces on Mars have through the very generous contributions of American sympathisers been able to buy and re-equip two Martian Hullcutter; ‘The Fenian Ram’ and ‘The Irish Folly’. However the inability to procure any other ‘liftwood’ vessels has led the leaders to look elsewhere.

The Fenian engineer O’Driscall has managed to produce the envelope and gas bags for his first dirigible ‘Ireland One’, based on the French ‘Clement-Bayard airship No1,’ and is now looking to American fund raising to supply additional money to allow O’Driscall to continue with his ground breaking attempts to produce the first ever home-grown Irish airship, a bomber!

Some critics are dismayed that O’Driscall has stooped to the level he has in accepting a form of sponsorship from a well know producer of alcoholic beverages and produced the envelope in the company colours of black and cream, a quick witted worker at the factory has volunteer to paint a golden harp motif on each side of the gas-bag! And the airship has acquired the nick-name ‘Toucan’ in reference to an advertising logo used by the brewery.

The construction is proceeding to plans and should, provided that the funding is forthcoming, be proven and flying for the planned celebrations in 80 days time.

Tony

The comments above were copied from;http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

Khedive commits to Arms Race!

Mssr Hooper (of the lovely Aeronef site http://web.mac.com/phooper/Aeronef/Aeronef_Menu.html) sent me an ethergram today:

His most Royal Highness the Khedive of Egypt has commanded me to inform you that he has commissioned a new fleet of Digs and Aeronefs to be built at the shipyards of Broome and Co of Great Yarmouth in the county of Norfolk UK. These ships will be built and launched within the next 75 days as the Khedive has determined that the small Turkish fleet can no longer be relied upon to defend Egypt and all her treasures. Interim reports will be issued every seven days.

My Goodness - another threat unleashed upon the unsuspecting Med...renewed pressure upon Malta is certain. We shall look forward to the weekly updates with great interest!

New releases from Brigade

Hungary's contribution to the Imperial war effort - a new battleship class

based on the hull of the Ferdinand Max but with heavier main armament.

Brigade have announced their latest releases:

It's been a while ... but we have one or two new items for you.

There are two new Aeronef models. First is the Hungarian Szent Istvan battleship - this is based on the same hull as the Ferdinand Max but with a new, more heavily armed superstructure. The other new model is the Chilean Esmerelda class destroyer which means that the Santiago finally has something to escort it.

The arrival of the Szent Istvan has allowed us to produce a second Austro-Hungarian fleet pack featuring the SI plus a Budapest and supporting vessels, as well as an Austro-Hungarian Grand Fleet pack which is excellent value at around 20% off when compared to buying the models seperately. Finally, there's an A-H Escort Flotilla pack

We've released a Argentinian-Brazilian starter pack - we've been selling this off the stand at shows for a while and have decided to make it available off the website. There's also a new British Merchant Convoy pack with six assorted merchant vessels plus escorts.

We're continuing to add seperate turrets as an aid to scratchbuilding and conversions - this time we have the twin-gun barbette from the Russian Petrapavlovsk and Archangelsk Nef, and there's also a brand-new single barrelled version of the same barbette.

Finally, we have one of those products that seems rather dull but in fact turns out to be very useful. We've made a metal weight that fits inside the base of our standard plastic flying stands and makes larger models much more stable and less prone to tipping over. Available in packs of five from the Accessories page.

Our primary focus for Salute will be on the release of Land Ironclads - more news on this shortly, plus some details on a demo' game we're helping to put on at the show.

Cheers
Tony

Esmeralda class Destroyer

LORD ROYSTON TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE!

A NEW SQUADRON FOR THE EAST INDIA COMPANY!

YET MORE 'JEWELS IN THE CROWN'

A spokesman for the Rayleigh Reform Club issued the following communique:

"In response to the challenge issued to complete a construction project within the 80 day timespan I am instructed to inform all persons present and their associates that Lord Royston of Rayleigh has kindly agreed to place the construction and design facility of the Rayleigh Factorium at the disposal of the Honorable East India Company of Leadenhall Street, London for the avowed intention of constructing a new squadron of merchant vessels suitable for use in time of strife and unrest by the addition of defensive apparatus. This new squadron will be sent, post haste, to the Indian Sub Continent where they will be deployed on the Calcutta station. Full details will be made available in due course as to the composition and types of the vessels in question as well as full technical specifications.

Lord Royston has long been a champion of scientific and technological endeavour and this gesture, so nobly and unstintingly given, further adds gravitas to his avowed intention of ensuring that this great Empire remains at the forefront of such undertakings".

His Lordship hopes to be at the controls of the first vessel to be completed as he has a long planned visit to the company offices in Bengal for the Tiger shooting season in June of this year.

Three cheers for Lord Royston of Rayleigh and for Fair India, truly the Jewel in the Crown!! HUZZAH!! HUZZAH!! HUZZAH!!

Competitor Pegboard

At the top of the left-hand side, esteemed Guests shall notice the "Around the World in 80 Models" pegboard, displaying the entrants, their chosen VSF madness and their declared progress (if any)

But to keep everyone in suspense, no pictographs will be displayed until the allocated 80 Days are up!

Good luck Chaps!

Tas enters the Fray...

The Declaration of the Competition sates:

Entrants should record their preferred contribution within this august journal in order that an indication of what delights will await in 80 days time.

In order to comply with this statement, I Grand Duke Tas the Mad of Menzies on the Mingesm do hereby declare that my entry in the Competition will be an aerial Fleet of the White Russians!

And for those naysaysers who might suggets that theRussian Revolution comes around 1917 and is therefore not even of the Victorian era I say Nay! The erudite gentlemen schooled in alterative history knows that the Russian Revolution has its origins in the Russo-German war of 1899 which led to the invasion of England. Thus shall be coined my White Russian Fleet, scourage of the Bolshevik curse, which as I understand it shall also be the first one in Aeronef terms!

79 days and counting by my chronoscope...

Around the World in 80 Models!

ROLL UP! ROLL UP! A GRAND ADVENTURE COMMENCES!

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 MODELS!

A CELEBRATION OF MODELLING PROWESS AND IMAGINATIVE ENDEAVOUR!

My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen!

In celebration of a glorious two years of this august journal - Huzzah! - a meritorious and magnificent test of modelling mastery is hereby announced.

"To all sportsmen and personages of rank and title, notice is hereby given of the grand Yours In a White Wine Sauce Eighty Day Modelling Challenge!"

Simply put, in Eighty days from today (May 19th 2008) those gentlemen that wish to partake must undertake to complete a VSF themed model or models. The choice of model can be anything VSF related but certain conditions are of course appropriate. For example, an Aeronef fleet should consist of a minimum of 12 models - 6 escort, 4 cruiser and 2 capital. Other forces should be of a similar size.

There is no hard and fast rules per se (other than the restiction referred to) and neither is a deposit of £20,000 at Barings Bank available to the winner. This is merely an excuse to ensure that those projects that never seem to get off the ground will have an opportunity of seeing the light of day in the spirit of friendly and gentlemanly competition.

Entrants should record their preferred contribution within this august journal in order that an indication of what delights will await in 80 days time.

That doyen of the modellers craft - Vanvlak - first suggested this flight of whimsy and it has been heartily endorsed by both Commander Tas and Lord Royston of Rayleigh.

His Lordship was quoted as saying, " Dashed good wheeze and all that! That Vanvlak chappie has really thrown down the gauntlet and only a complete cad or boundah would refuse to take it up! Jolly good show I say, now where is my Madeira.....?"

Commander Tas was oveheard in the corner on his club mumbling over a ridiculously large Cognac:"....of course I shall pariticipate, the Honour of the Colonies is at stake.......but I freely admit, I was very, very drunk!"

Smoke has already been observed coming from the stacks inside Vanvlak Industries secret factorium.

So there you have it, Around the World in 80 models........
Gentlemen, the chronometer is ticking!

White Wine Sauce's 2nd Anniversary!

Indeed it was on this day two years ago that Yours in A White Wine sauce was created. Initially just a place for me to post pics of my VSF creations and be a bit silly, it has grown to be so much more than that - now other post their creations and we are all a little silly together! In that time we have made new friends, battled the vile Boche, sneered at the French and canoodled with Ladies of dubious virtue (not necessarily in that order actually)

Furthermore, this week saw White Wine Sauce reach 25,000 hits since last August - a remarkable number which continues to astound me. Thanks for all the valued support, it is most appreciated.

To commemorate this double celebration, a great competition will soon start here. While the details of this super secret activity cannot yet be revealed, it will be cause for great excitment for VSF fans...

Evidently this excitment has already begun as the telegraph company employees are off the job - I was expecting a summons to Buckingham Palace to receive my Knighthood after all...

Huzzah!

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.