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Like this, looking forward to this.
Between darkness and defeat, hope survives.
Watch the new teaser trailer for #ObiWanKenobi, and start streaming the limited series May 25 on @DisneyPlusUK pic.twitter.com/eUiKvFybGT— Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) March 9, 2022
I enjoyed both the Book of Boba Fett and the Mandalorian on Disney+.
This replica Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2b was at RAF London.
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine tractor two-seat biplane designed and developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. Most of the roughly 3,500 built were constructed under contract by private companies, including established aircraft manufacturers and firms new to aircraft construction.
Early versions entered squadron service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 and the type served throughout the First World War. Initially used as a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber, some examples modified as single-seat night fighters destroyed German airships.
The B.E.2b was a very stable aircraft. On 26 April 1915, 2nd Lt William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse attacked Courtrai Railway Station, Cambrai, Northern France flying B.E.2b No 687. Dropping a 100lb bomb he was fatally wounded by ground fire but managed to fly home, being awarded the first Victoria Cross awarded for an aerial action.
The detailed replica at RAF London was mostly built under contract at the former RAF Museum facility at Cardington in 1983-88. It incorporates a few original B.E.2a fittings and the correct original propeller, and carries the markings of the aircraft in which 2nd Lt Rhodes-Moorhouse won his VC.
I have been working on my Grot Bommers for Aeronautica Imperialis.
The Grot Bommers are one of my favourite planes from Aeronautica Imperialis.
The diminutive Gretchin have long been enthusiastic supporters of Ork aviation, whether gleefully pushing bombs out of open bays, crawling into tight spots to fix engines, or acting as spotters and even gunners on ork planes. It doesn’t take long before they become obsessed with flying just like their bigger kin, begging for their own turn on the control stick. Some enterprising Ork meks decided this arrangement could be mutually beneficial, and created guided missiles that could be flown like a tiny, gretchin-sized airplane. Fitted with a short-burn rocket engine and stuffed with unstable explosives, some rabid grots are happy to climb aboard just for the (short-lived) thrill of speed and freedom. They’re loaded into the wings of specially-fitted Grot Bommers, and launched in support of the Air Waaagh!
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.
I am liking progress so far.
The first 504 arrived in 1913. They were the basis for five night-fighter squadrons.
The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in any military capacity during the First World War. More than 10,000 were built from 1913 until production ended in 1932.
The 504 was the first British aeroplane to strafe troops on the ground as well as the first British aircraft to make a bombing raid over Germany.It was also the first Allied aeroplane to be downed by enemy anti-aircraft fire.
This 504K was at RAF London and is restored from two other planes, the wings came a Avro 548A.
The 504K was a training version of the 504 produced in 1918.
I did some more painting of my Asuryani Flyers.
These are the Asuryani Flyers (though I think of them as Eldar Flyers) that came with the Wrath of Angels boxed game.
You get three Nightwing fighters, in the Wrath of Angels boxed game, you also get three Phoenix Bombers.
I had given the models a base coat of Ork Flesh contrast paint. After touching up bits of the model that I had missed, I then gave the models a drybrush of a green dry paint to bring out the highlights.
When I visited the RAF London Museum I nearly bypassed the Great War hangar, I didn’t have a huge amount of time and didn’t think I could see everything. In the end I did go into the hangar and I am glad I did. There was a great selection of aircraft on display and I really enjoyed walking around and looking at the planes.
The first of the planes was the Blériot XXVII, built for speed, this streamlined single-seat racing monoplane had a rotary engine and shared many features of other Blériot monoplanes.
The Blériot XXVII on display at RAF London was built in 1911 and later in 1914 it was put into storage.
It was flown again in 1936 and underwent further restoration in 1963 and 1974.
In the most recent copy of Wargames Illustrated the advert for figures for The Silver Bayonet caught my eye, specifically the goblins.
The term goblin is loosely applied to a large group of wingless, ‘trickster’ fairies, and each nation has their own varieties and terms. While these creatures are small, and physically weak, they are also tough, hard-to-kill, and capable of huge amounts of mischief. One of the worst features of goblins is that their existence seems completely at-odds with technology, and their mere presence causes technology to fail. This, unfortunately, includes firearms.
These figures remind me of the goblins from Harry Potter, I think they could be used as proxies for them as well.
The Silver Bayonet is a gothic horror Napoleonic era game.
As the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better…
I like the cover of the rules, very nicely done.
The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, co-operatively, or competitively, with players progressing through a series of interlinked adventures with their soldiers gaining experience and suffering grievous wounds, and their units triumphing… or falling in the face of the shadows. It is a game of action and adventure, where musket and sabre meet tooth and claw.
I always liked Flintloque, which was a fantasy Napoleonic game, so can see why this appeals to me as well. Might see if I can get a copy of The Silver Bayonet rules.
I have a few unpainted human Napoleonic figures, so thinking that this might make for a good scenario for a few games.
This Sunderland was on display at RAF London.
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
It entered service in June 1938 and was the first British flying boat to have power-operated gun turrets as part of its defensive armament. This strong protective armament resulted in the Germans giving it the nickname ‘Flying Porcupine’.
I enjoyed walking through the Sunderland and it is an impressive plane.
By the start of World War Two in September 1939 three squadrons had been equipped with the Sunderlands. Seven hundred and forty-nine Sunderlands were built, and they served throughout the war. The final Coastal Command Sunderland operational mission was in June 1945 over four weeks after the German surrender. Long-range Sunderland operations also took place overseas from bases in Africa and the Far East.
Post-war the type took part in the Berlin Airlift carrying 4920 tonnes (4847 tons) of freight. During the Korean War Sunderlands based in Japan undertook nearly 900 operational sorties totally over 13350 hours of flying. The Sunderland finally retired from RAF service in 1959 when the last aircraft were scrapped at RAF Seletar, Singapore.
The Sunderland’s design was so good that it remained in front line service for over twenty years. It was also the last flying-boat operated by the Royal Air Force.
Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
There is also a Short Sunderland at Duxford.
This David-Brown Aircraft Tractor was on display in RAF London.
This tractor was in general use throughout the Royal Air Force for moving small to medium-sized aircraft during the 1940s and 1950s. It could move an aircraft up to around 30 tons on a level concrete or macadamed surface.
Announced on Warhammer Community today, Cursed City Returns this March. Warhammer Quest: Cursed City is the an instalment in the smash-hit adventure game franchise.
Join with up to three other players to fight back against the undead scourge infesting the Cursed City, an ancient settlement gripped by a terrible curse thanks to a foolhardy deal struck with vampire lord Radukar the Wolf. Play as one of 8 beleaguered heroes trapped within the ancient city’s walls. Each adventure is a race against time, as when the sun sets the dead grow in power and fall upon anyone unlucky enough to remain in Ulfenkarn’s streets.
A year ago the original boxed game sold out in what felt like minutes when originally released.
I did think about buying it, even though impossible to get through my usual discounted suppliers, another of my FLGS had a copy at full price for a while, so I had a chance. In the end I said no.
This time, hmmm. There is a lot in the box with sixty miniatures and lots of boards and cards.
The thing is I don’t even need to panic worry so much.
Don’t think you’ll be able to grab a copy this March? There’s no need to worry – Cursed City will be receiving a full relaunch later this year, along with some juicy new expansions.
I am still tempted though.
I am also tempted by the re-release of Blackstone Fortress as well.
Decisions, decisions.
