Author: Felix

Percival Provost T.1

The Percival P.56 Provost is a basic trainer aircraft that was designed and manufactured by British aviation company Percival.

The Provost entered service with the RAF during 1953 and quickly proved to be more capable than the preceding Prentice. It was a relatively successful aircraft, being exported for multiple overseas operators. Various models were developed, both armed and unarmed, to meet with customer demands. The Provost later adapted to make use of a turbojet engine, producing the BAC Jet Provost. During the 1960s, the type was withdrawn from RAF service in favour of its jet-powered successor. It continued to be used for decades after with various export customers.

 

Constructing the Ruined Factorum smaller corner

Last week I bought the  latest issue of the part work series Warhammer 40000 Imperium. I usually see the first few issues of part works in the newsagents or at WHSmith, so was interested to see they had issue #31 in stock. I haven’t really been paying attention to this series, however I thought I would see what was “free” with his issue and I was quite intrigued to see they had a Ruined Factorum sprue. So I bought it.

The model has two pieces, a larger ruined building and a smaller ruined corner. The smaller corner piece has two parts and they fit together easily.

The other side.

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

 

Drybrushing the Grot Bommers for Aeronautica Imperialis

I have been working on my Grot Bommers for Aeronautica Imperialis. The Grot Bommers are one of my favourite planes from Aeronautica Imperialis.

Having constructed the models I gave them a white undercoat. This was then followed by a base coat of Blood Angels Red contrast paint.

I did quite a thick coat, though reading round the use of contrast paints, two or more thinner coats would have been better. Something to do in the future with future models and contrast paints. I am even tempted to repaint my Adeptus Astartes flyers.

After touching up bits of the model that I had missed, I then gave the models a drybrush of Astorath Red dry paint to bring out the highlights and this actually toned down some of the dark patches I had by using the contrast paint.

The second of the two Grot Bommers.

Next stage will be adding the detailing before washing the model.

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 is a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. It was one of the fastest aircraft of the war, while being both stable and relatively manoeuvrable. 

A formidable fighter, second only to the Sopwith Camel in reputation, the S.E.A was the most successful Royal Aircraft Factory design.

Wartime urgency meant five companies produced 5,125 S.E.5 aircraft in less than 18 months.

The S.E.5a at RAF London was one of a fleet of Hendon-based S.E.5a aircraft operated by the Savage Skywriting company from 1924 to 1930. It was built in Birmingham In 1918 and flew with the RAF Occupation Forces In Germany In 1919.

Adeptus Titanicus Manufactorum Imperialis

I have had the Manufactorum Imperialis box on my wishlist for a while now.   When I visit a gaming store I always promise myself that I will buy it if there isn’t something else I want or what I want isn’t in stock. Alas even when it has been at the top of my shopping list I have found it was either not stocked or unavailable. So was pleased to receive the box recently as a present.

The Manufactorum Imperialis box allows you build terrain and scenery for your Adeptus Titanicus battle.

Across the war-torn worlds of the Age of Darkness, Titans battle amongst ruined cities. Some of the most hotly contested battlefields are industrial sectors, their resources greatly desired to repair and refuel the mighty god-machines and their allies.

The Manufactorum Imperialis box has 234 parts to build 26 pieces of terrain.

I do think that the box does show that GW has both the potential and the technical capability to deliver an Adeptus Titanicus version of Epic 40000 or (Epic) Space Marine in this new(ish) scale. Technically they can do it, however I suspect the reason they wouldn’t is that they don’t have the capacity to stock and sell the range of models required (and would be demanded), and I also think there is a real risk it would (at the larger scale compared to Epic) it could cannibalise sales of the full size Warhammer 40K. There is also the pricing issue, I would expect the prices of any Adeptus Titanicus scale tanks to be quite high.

For example original metal 1997 Epic 40000 Thunderhawk was £7.00, whereas the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderhawk plastic kit has a list price of £28 four times as expensive. Yes it has been over twenty years, but even so this means we would be paying over £6 for an Ork vehicle and £12 for a Land Raider if GW ever did go down a path of making vehicles and infantry for Adeptus Titanicus.

Ah well, one can dream.

There are four sprues in the box, two of the larger sprues with the cranes on.

There are two smaller sprues for the containers and other smaller pieces of terrain.

One consideration is how to use the terrain, as individual pieces or to base them, or to add them to a terrain board. So how do you use your Adeptus Titanicus Manufactorum Imperialis terrain?

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E. 2b

The F.E. 2b was originally introduced as a two-seat fighter on the Western Front in late 1915, escorting unarmed reconnaissance aircraft in patrols over enemy lines.

German fighter aircraft could outperform F.E.2s by late 1916. Later F.E.2s were adapted for night bombing.

The fuselage frame of this composite reconstruction at RAF London is the largest original F.E.2b component known. It survived unfinished in the maker’s factory near Lowestoft. It is marked as F.E.2b A6526, which served in three squadrons until being written off by a forced landing on a night bombing sortie on 8 October 1918.

Haemotrope Reactor

After picking up a copy of Warhammer Imperium with a Ruined Factorum I did start thinking about whether to get some future issues. I was less interested the figures, but was curious about what scenery models were in the series.

I did review previous issues and there were three issues with containers! I have a box of the Munitorum Armoured Containers so was less interested in these.

Looking over the previous issues, issue 27 had a Haemotrope Reactor.

Designed and deployed to provide additional power on the battlefield, the Haemotrope Reactor is an indispensable tool for armies wishing to unleash ever-more destructive waves of plasma upon their enemies. An imposing structure, understood fully by few, it is used to bolster the defensive capabilities of the Void Shield Generator – or amplify the already intimidating destructive capacity of the Plasma Obliterator. In a pinch, the Haemotrope Reactor can be used as cover; this can be a terrible decision however, as the cowering warrior opens himself up to the potential of horrific injuries resulting from power leaks…

I managed to pick up a back issue of this from Forbidden Planet. As well as the magazine there is the single sprue with the parts for the Haemotrope Reactor.

Looks like a simple kit to put together.

I see though from the Games Workshop site that the Warhammer 40K version of the kit is being withdrawn from sale on the 24th April.

Sopwith F.1 Camel

This Sopwith F.1 Camel was on display at RAF London.

The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the best known fighter aircraft of the Great War.

The Camel was powered by a single rotary engine and was armed with twin synchronized Vickers machine guns. The Camel was the highest scoring British fighter of the First World War. It took its name from the hump over the breeches of the two machine guns.

It was challenging to fly well, it could kill an unwary pilot. Though difficult to handle, it was highly manoeuvrable in the hands of an experienced pilot. Camel pilots have been credited with downing 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the conflict.  It was ideal for daylight combat but versatile enough to allow it to be used for night fighting and ground attack, especially towards the end of the war when newer aircraft had better dogfighting capabilities.

This aeroplane was probably built by Boulton & Paul at Norwich. Sold as war-surplus, it briefly flew re-engined with a 45hp Anzani engine in 1923 and was part of the renowned Nash Collection from 1936. Restored at Heathrow airport 1958-1962.

Revealed – The Cargo-8 Ridgehauler

Look what we’re getting…

Back in January we were given a glimpse of a vehicle used in the Ash Wastes of Necromunda, though we had no idea what it was. It looked interesting though, I did like the concept of a land train running though the ash wastes and getting attacked by raiders. There were echoes of Mad Max and Car Wars in all this. However at this stage this was a concept, and we got some idea about the vehicle from the drawings in the animation.

We now know from the recent announcement on the Warhammer Community that this vehicle is a Cargo-8 Ridgehauler.

Goods from the hive manufactories are ferried across the poisoned wastes on great land trains. There’s money to be made from protecting the Guild of Coin’s Cargo-8 Ridgehaulers, which are juicy targets both for the nomadic denizens of the Ash Wastes and for gangs of underhive bandits.

In March we were saw that the Ash Wastes were revealed in full at AdeptiCon. There was though no vehicle included in the game and I was a little disappointed by the look of the game, even with the quad bikes and buggies. There was also no sign of the Ridgehauler.

However the recent announcement of the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler gives us a much clearer view of the forthcoming model. You can certainly build a land train with the models.

My immediate reaction was a little muted. It wasn’t quite what I was thinking it might be. It seems to have been built around the Munitorum Armoured Container and I am not sure if this works. Well I get that the background is about moving goods across the ash wastes, so need containers to move it.

I guess we will get one model released, though I know I would like to see future expansions with additional trailers. 

So still a bit on the fence on this one.