Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

V1

This V1 was on display at RAF Cosford.

The V1 was the first of the so-called “Vengeance weapons” series deployed for the terror bombing of London. It was developed at Peenemünde Army Research Center in 1939 by the Luftwaffe. Because of its limited range, the thousands of V-1 missiles launched into England were fired from launch facilities along the French (Pas-de-Calais) and Dutch coasts. The Wehrmacht first launched the V-1s against London on 13 June 1944, one week after (and prompted by) the successful Allied landings in France.

The V1 flying bomb was powered by an Argus 109-014 pulse-jet engine, carried a warhead of approximately 850kg, and was guided to its target by an autopilot. The maximum range was typically 149 miles, with a maximum speed of 400mph.

I’ve always thought that either a Dutch or French Resistance or UK Commando raid on a V1 base to stop them launching would make for an interesting game. Why send in ground troops when a bombing raid would work just as well? Then I was thinking about adding in the complication of a chemical or biological armed V1 that would need to be taken care of on the ground. There were some real raids on V1 bases as part of Operation Crossbow., which was the code name in World War II for Anglo-American operations against the German long range reprisal weapons (V-weapons) programme. In 1965 a film Operation Crossbow, based on these raids, was released.

Battlefront released a 15mm version in their Hit the Beach Boxed set.

For 20mm gamers there is a 1/72nd model kit of the V1 and launch ramp available.

If you are playing Bolt Action, then Charlie Foxtrot Models do a MDF kit of the ramp for 28mm gamers, but you probably need to buy the Tamiya 1/48th scale plastic kit for the V1 itself. That kit does come with a trolley as well.

There was a V1 at the Imperial War Museum in London.

There was a V1 flying bomb and ramp on display at The Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Typhon Sponson Weapons

My latest model for my Imperial Fists Horus Heresy force is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

The Typhon Heavy Siege Tank was released as a plastic kit for The Horus Heresy. I’ve always liked the Forge World resin model and so was pleased to get one of the new plastic kits for my Imperial Fists force.

Having started constructing the model, I finished putting it together. The next stage was a white undercoat. I then gave the model a partial base coat of Army Painter Desert Yellow. I then gave the model a base coat of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow and then painted the bolter and the exhausts.

Having constructed the sponson weapons I gave them an undercoat of white spray paint.

I was intending to give the sponson weapons a base coat of Citadel Leadbelcher but my spray had run out when I had base coated the main weapon.

However I did give the shields of the weapons a spray of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

I will then use a pot of Citadel Leadbelcher to paint the weapons.

See the workbench feature on the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

Replica Mark IV Tank from Warhorse

This realistic replica was built for the movie ‘War Horse’ and is now maintained in running condition to save wear and tear on the museums original WW1 tanks at events, including Tankfest.

The Tank Museum obtained the tank as it was used in Steven Spielberg’s World War One blockbuster Warhorse.

Though it looks like an authentic Mark IV tank, it was in fact constructed for the film.

Here is a video about the “tank” at the Tank Museum .

Another photograph of the replica Mark IV taken in 2016.

Detailing the Typhon

My latest model for my Imperial Fists Horus Heresy force is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

The next step was to paint the bolter and the exhausts using Citadel Leadbelcher.

The next step will be shading the model.

Unlike some of my other models there is no iconography on the Typhon, so this stage was quicker than some of my Grey Knights models.

See the workbench feature on the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

“Real” Ultramarines Rhino

I recently visited Warhammer World, my last visit was in January 2020.

The life sized Rhino was still there guarding the entrance.

THQ, who had commissioned the Rhino for their Dawn of War video game “gave” the Rhino to Games Workshop who then gave it a repaint in Ultramarines colours.

More photographs of the life sized Rhino.

Missing in Action

On my most recent visit to Warhammer World I noticed that the airfield, airport or Space Marine spaceport was no longer part of the exhibition.

This massive diorama was filled with Forge World Space Marine aircraft and other models.

Back then I did take some photographs of the diorama.

Though not entirely sure, I think the space now contains a Space Marine battle between the Imperial Fists and the Sons of Horus.

Painting the Typhon Yellow

My latest model for my Imperial Fists Horus Heresy force is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

Having started constructing the model, I finished putting it together. The next stage was a white undercoat. I then gave the model a partial base coat of Army Painter Desert Yellow.

I then gave the model a base coat of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

I also gave the main weapon shield the same basecoat of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

This is the Typhon with the dreadnought siege weapon.

See the workbench feature on the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

V2 Ballistic Missile

The V2 was the world’s first long range guided ballistic missile. he missile, powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, was developed during the Second World War in Germany as a “vengeance weapon”, assigned to attack Allied cities as retaliation for the Allied bombings against German cities.

This V2 missile was on display at RAF Cosford.

It is one of several rockets prepared by the British with support from German troops during Operation Backfire. It so happened that this rocket was not launched during the Backfire tests. Operation Backfire was a military scientific operation during and after the Second World War that was performed mainly by British staff. The operation was designed to completely evaluate the entire V-2 rocket assembly, interrogate German personnel specialised in all phases of it and then to test and launch missiles across the North Sea.

More photographs of the V2 at RAF Cosford.

Underneath the Typhon

My latest model for my Imperial Fists Horus Heresy force is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

Having started constructing the model, I finished putting it together. The next stage was a white undercoat.

I had planned to base coat the underneath of the model with with Citadel Zandri Dust in preparation for painting the the whole model yellow. However when visiting my FLGS, they had sold out of Zandri Dust spray. So I bought some Army Painter Desert Yellow Spray, along with can of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

I sprayed the model first with Desert Yellow spray.

This is designed to add shadow.

As well as the underneath of the model, I also sprayed the wheels and suspension.

I base coated the dreadnought siege weapon with Citadel Leadbelcher.

For the tracks, still on the sprue, I gave them a spray of Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.

See the workbench feature on the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

Mark V** Female Tank

When the Germans realised what a threat tanks could be they made their trenches wider to trap them; one answer to this was to build longer tanks and the Mark V was stretched by six feet to create the Mark V*. As an interim solution this was adequate but a further improved version, the Mark V** was designed for 1919.

This Mark V** Female Tank was on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

The “Female” tank was a variation of the British heavy tank deployed during the First World War. It carried multiple machine guns instead of the mix of machine guns and cannons mounted on the “male” tank.

More photographs of the Mark V** Female Tank.