Ravenfeast Mid-Saxon Army List

I've been tinkering with the army lists in the Ravenfeast rules to put together a variant for the mid-Saxon period, specifically for the West Second and Mercians. This is actually pretty straightforward,  the old Warhammer Historical Age of Arthur contains a lot of useful and relevant information. I've had a go at a crossover based on both the Viking list and the late Saxon list but will probably mash them together to make up the variant, with some additional rules tweaks to cover period specifics e.g. no shield wall rule. I should have something workable later this week.

1/600th DFW C.V conversion

The next conversion job is a DFW C.V observation machine, based on the Tumbling Dice Albatros C.II model with a little bit of sanding and shaping on the fuselage, wings and tail. It's not very accurate but it will have to do. I may well go back and have another go at the upper wing as I'm not sure it's quite right. Next in the production line will be the Albatros D.III / D.V scouts with added twin radiators for tropical conditions.

Aussie Brisfits

Wrapping up the Australian Flying Corps contingent of the Algy Flies Down Under project, here are the four F2B Bristol Fighters that I'll need for the later scenarios. These are all Tumbling Dice models with added twin Lewis gun armament, minus the ammunition drums as I couldn't get them to fit without looking over scale. The twin Lewis gun load out was the standard for the Aussie Brisfits, giving them some additional punch and also the ability to strafe more effectively. No wonder they were able to gain air superiority in the latter half of the campaign!

1/600th AEG C.IV Conversion

 

I needed a couple of C Type observation aircraft for the Algy Flies Down Under project, but Tumbling Dice only make an Albatross C.II, so I've had to have a go at some model bashing instead. Here's my attempt at an AEG C.IV using the fuselage of a Hannover CL.III with top wing and tail from the aforementioned Albatross. It's not exactly accurate to say the least, but it's also not too far off to be ridiculous, so I'm happy with the end result. 

Ravenfeast Pointy Sticks

 

I'm thinking of picking up my mid-Saxon Ravenfeast project next month, as a little painting project on the side, using the Wiglaf Miniatures 18mm range of figures. I was planning on doing this at the start of the year but was side tracked on to other things. One obstacle I bumped into that slowed it down was the lack of wire spears and javelins to glue on to the figures but I've found some on the Eureka Miniatures UK web shop, so have ordered a couple of packs of 40mm spears to cut down to size. These things are like hens teeth these days, so you may want to check them out, as they're comparatively good value at £4.95 for 50. 

Algy Flies Down Under - Scenario A

 

The first historical scenario for the Algy Flies Down Under project is set in early November 1916. A bombing raid by five BE2c and a single Martinsyde G100 on the airfield and military targets at Beersheba has just taken place and the Australian aircraft are making their getaway. 

Two Fokker Eindeckers of Flieger Abteilung 300 take off to chase the retreating raiders, only to be taken on by one of the BE2c's which has been field modified with a Lewis mounting for the observer to act as an escort. The 'Tinsyde' joins in to give the Eindeckers a nasty surprise, forcing both of the German pilots to abandon the pursuit. 

As such, it's a simple dogfight scenario but made more interesting by the unusual armament of the Australian aircraft and by the relatively limited performance of the BE2c and the Fokker EIII. The pilots were all experienced flyers and so skill ratings will be veteran, making it a fairly even match in terms of ability. 

...more details to follow!

Aussie Aircraft Adaptations

An addition to the research material I've accumulated for the Algy Flies Down Under project, after finding a reference to it in another source. I'm hoping the book will help fill in some details on the early phase of the Palestine campaign, during which the AFC deployed a variety of obsolete or obsolescent aircraft, primarily for photography, observation, bombing and escort duties. I'm particularly interested in field adaptations to the BE2c in an attempt to turn it into an effective escort machine...not without some success, as well as retro fitting rearwards firing Lewis guns to Martynside G100 scouts. You've got to admire their enthusiasm!

https://3sqnraafasn.net/subpages/WackettFirstCombat.htm

Aussie Aircraft for Algy Flies Down Under

 

Be2 / Be12a

Be2c

RE8

Martynside G100

HP O/400

For the Algy Flies Down Under scenario play testing I'm using the tried and tested option of 1/600th scale models from Tumbling Dice. I did think about using some very nice Oddzial Osmy 3mm models that I have in the lead pile but the earlier aircraft are missing, so Tumbling Dice it is again. There are most of the types that I need in the range but I'm going to have to do some adaptation and conversion work to cover the line up required, especially for the Germans.

Here we have the two seater observation machines, with the single seater escorts and a single but very big bomber. The Be2e and Be12a models use the top wing from the RE8 on the fuselage of the Be2c, otherwise being interchangable as they looked very similar. The Be2c is straight out of the pack but on its own as there were only four of them in the squadron line up. The RE8 is also a standard model but the two Martynside G100 single seaters were adapted from an Airco DH4 model by  the simple addition of a wing mounted Lewis gun.

I added rear guns to the RE8 and exhaust stacks to all of the BE2 type aircraft, which was a fiddle but worth it for aesthetic reasons, even if they are a bit too tall. I tried shorter brass wire stacks but they weren't very visible, so the longer ones are visually better. The HP O/400 is a bit over the top but may actually feature in one ahistorical scenario that I'm thinking of including, just for kicks.

Next up will be the Brisfits...

Small Footprint Solo Skirmish Down Mexico Way

The Warbases free postage offer at the weekend got me thinking about a small scale solo skirmish project again. The last iteration of this was the Ravenfeast Viking era rules bounced back to the eighth century, using the exceptional Wiglaf Miniatures 18mm figures for West Saxon and Mercian raiding forces. I really love the scale and scope of the rules, while the figures are packed full of character, some of Mark Copplestone's best work I think. 

This is very much still on the cards but I'm also tinkering with a Wild West alternative, again using free rules , a small figure count and a minimal footprint. The rules are Ruthless from Little Wars TV and are just two sides of A4, so definitely concise and fast play enough. The figures would be from Peter Pig, of which I have a small stash, or from Check Point Miniatures, which have a small but very characterful range...

...as always, it's just an idea at the moment but there's an order in with Warbases for some Wild West buildings, so watch this space. The idea is to fit everything into a single 4 or 5 litre RUB for portability and storage, terrain, figures, rules, the lot. I have a whole stack of Wild West terrain in 28mm but it takes up the boot of the car when I use it at the club, not to mention the figures and rules. In 15mm and with some careful organisation, it should all fit in one box that I can easily carry under one arm. Result!

Over The Front Back Issue Bargain

The back issues of the Over the Front journal are available as Amazon print on demand or in pdf digital format, the latter costing only $9.99 for four issues. This is an absolute bargain and gives you access to some invaluable information for air wargaming projects, including my Algernon Pulls It Off! article, where Volume XIII includes an issue on The Forgotten Fronts. This should help to fill in the details I need for the German units on the Palestine Front, which would otherwise be very difficult to track down. Talky Ho!