28MM VBCW NAVAL (PART TEN) - BATTLEFLEET TOYS IDENTIFIED

It didn't take too long to identify the large scale plastic toy ships that the VBCW's original naval architect, Mr Tim Rose, used for his VBCW Home Fleet. Below is a toy aircraft carrier produced by REDBOX during the 1990s, still widely available on Ebay (usually in a bashed up state and usually for very cheap prices): 

A 31 inch long Redbox USS Enterprise. TR seems to have added a wooden flightdeck on top of this
carrier's hull, and dispensed with the control tower (which may, in the way of car boot sale finds, have been missing in the first place).

TR's accompanying battleships were based on another large plastic toy, a USS New Jersey produced by NEW RAY during the 1990s. At 28 inches long, it is pleasingly compatible with the Redbox Aircraft Carrier, and again occasionally available on Ebay at a cheap price:

Looks right - aircraft and battleship together.
The playworn battleship is missing its bridge and other
superstructure details. The background gives an idea of size.

The NEW RAY battleship in pristine condition. The accompanying
planes, trucks and soldiers are all too crude and too small a scale to
be of any use to the 28mm VBCW gamer
(or pretty much anyone else).

Interestingly enough (if you're interested at all, that is) a variant of the NEW RAY battleship has recently been re-issued (confusingly enough, by MOTORMAX), but with a different superstructure arrangement. Unfortunately, this new variant does not seem to have "crossed the pond" just as yet, but it is worth watching out for the "BattleZone Electronic Battleship":

BattleZone packaging for a revamped battleship!

The unboxed "battleship variant". The bridge is much better than the original variant,
but at the cost of two out of scale "multi-mortars" instead of turrets. Still, the mortars
can easily become "shore installations" and new turrets scratch built..

HOW CLOSE WAS CIVIL WAR ? (2)

Following THIS POST ("How Close was Civil War?") on the Bishop of Ludlow's blog, an extract from "War of the Windsors - A Century of Unconstitutional Monarchy" by Picknett, Prince & Prior, (pps 122 - 123) concentrating on Edward VIII's infamous "night of soul searching" on 5th/6th December 1936:

"The only account of what went on in the King's mind that night ....is Edward's own, published in his memoirs in 1951. Of course, allowances must be made for his desire to justify himself after the event, but at least it reveals what was important to him at the time:

'Even though I might have been able to recruit a commanding majority, I could not have persuaded the entire nation and all the Dominions...By making a stand for myself, I should have left the scars of a civil war. A civil war is the worst of all wars. Its passions soar highest, its hatreds last longest. And a civil war is not less a war when it is fought in words and not in blood. The price of my marriage under such circumstances would have been the infliction of a grievous wound on the social unity of my native land and on that wider unity of the Empire.'

Although he acknowledged that he would emerge from the crisis still as King, he would have been the ruler of a 'riven and divided' nation ......... Edward spoke of a 'civil war', although one of words and not blood. But was this a real possibility? Just over a week later - three days after he departed from Britain - the newly created Duke of Windsor received a letter from a friend, Colin Davidson, an official in the House of Lords, which included the words:

'I must humbly express my intense admiration for your obvious and inflexible determination not to encourage a 'King's Party'. It was within your power to create Civil War and chaos. You had only to lift a finger or even to come to London and show yourself, to arouse millions of subjects to your support.'

The fact that Edward chose to quote this letter in his memoirs suggests that he had thought in terms of a more literally bloody civil war ... But was civil war a real possibility? From today's viewpoint it seems hardly credible, but it must be considered that at that time, in such an unprecedented situation, nobody could be sure what the consequences would be, and violent civil strife had to be considered a very real possibility. To many the core issue would not have been Mrs Simpson or the King's right to choose his own bride; for a good many Britons it would have been - "who rules Britain?"

As it was, crowds of demonstrators gathered outside Buckingham Palace (presumably because they assumed the King was inside) carrying placards reading "God Save the King - from Baldwin" "Down with the Government" and - most alarming of all - "Abdication means Revolution". Whatever might have happened if Edward had chosen to challenge the Government and bring about its fall, the weekend of 4 - 5 December 1936 was one of the rare occasions when the ceremonial guards outside the Palace were issued with live ammunition [1]."

"Most alarming of all....." A demonstrator outside Parliament. Whitehall in the background.

"Fear of civil disturbance was very much in the air. After the Cabinet meeting on 27th November, some of the junior ministers including Duff Cooper [2], Leslie Hore Belisha[3] and others - many of whom went on to higher office - held their own meeting. This group, according to Duff Cooper, considered that 'a coup d'etat was not impossible. The Government might be forced to resign: Churchill might take over and to to the country on a populist platform which might cause great divisions; parliamentary Government might disappear altogether." [4] To add to the inflammatory situation, the head of the British Legion, General Sir Ian Hamilton, told Baldwin that there might be an 'ex-servicemen's revolution' if Edward abdicated [5]. It was also recorded at the time that some army officers had declared that they were willing to take up arms against the Government and for the King [6]....."

A different decision, a different timeline.
A three quarter length Edward VIII in his VBCW "very Fascist" uniform

Notes:

[1] the cited source for this suggestion is "Kelley, p241" i.e. Kitty Kelley "The Royals" Warner Books 1997. In this post, Stephen Dorril, a more reliable historian, states merely "ceremonial guards...were said...to have been issued with live ammunition", suggesting a contemporaneous rumour rather than established fact.

[2] Duff Cooper was, in fact, Secretary of State for War at the time of the abdication. Not a "junior minister" as stated.

[3] Minister for Transport at the time. Replaced Duff Cooper as Secretary of State for War in May 1937.

[4]. Bloch, The Reign and Abdication of Edward VIII pps 189 - 190, quoting from unpublished parts of Duff Cooper's memoirs. Cooper's biographer, John Charmley, adds to the account of this meeting "..Some of the more excitable members of the Cabinet, including Hore Belisha and 'Shakes' Morrison feared that a 'coup d'etat was not impossible' with Churchill being called upon by the King to form a Government and then calling an election on the issue of the 'King's marriage' which might undermine democracy and lead to a Fascist Government...." (Charmley, Duff Cooper The Authorised Biography, 1986 Papermac p.96)

[5]. Inglis, Abdication, Hodder & Stoughton 1966 p315. General Sir Ian Hamilton had been the Commanding General at Gallipoli during the First War; in 1936, he was Scottish President of the British Legion. He was also a Vice President of the Anglo-German Association, working to promote rapprochement between Britain and Germany and describing himself as "an admirer of the great Adolph Hitler", dismissing Mein Kampf merely as a "youthful excess". See HERE

[6]. Anthony Cox, quoted in Zeigler, King Edward VIII, p319. Stephen Dorril confirms both this and General Sir Ian Hamilton's intervention - see HERE

EDWARD VIII VBCW FIGURES

Edward VIII has yet to make a personal appearance in the Hereford VBCW, although he was close to doing so at the Second Battle of Shobdon (Spring Big Game 2019). Unfortunately, there are no 28mm production figures of the King and "Queen" Wallis, only the now hard to obtain Partizan 2012 giveaway freebies -

Partizan 2012 Edward VIII

Partizan 2012 "That Woman"

The Partizan figures occasionally now turn up on Ebay, and are worth keeping an eye out for - or ignoring altogether and converting some other suitable figure. There are lots of 28mm WW1 British officer types that could form a basis for the King's "very Fascist uniform", and a few 28mm generic 1930s female types that could be converted to "a Wallis". All sorts of uniforms could be argued to be appropriate for Edward VIII:

A 1936 Print of Edward VIII in the full dress uniform
of a Field Marshall.

Another possible (unidentified) uniform for Edward VIII.
Obviously, a diplomatic reception in Buckingham Palace at the 
very start of the VBCW...

If you're not absolutely stuck on 28mm scale, Lineol did an interesting 54mm Edward VIII figure way back in 1936 (we're keen on vintage figures, quite as old as the VBCW itself)

Edward VIII in Life Guards uniform (front)

Edward VIII in Life Guards uniform (rear)

The Lineol figure would make a nice companion piece for that other "off stage/occasional presence" in the Hereford VBCW, Hailie Selassie, Emperor of Abyssinia...

Note: all pics from the web over the years. Usual T&Cs apply.........

EDWARD VIII UNIFORM REFERENCES

Following THIS POST providing uniform references for Oswald Mosley, leader of the BUF and "Prime Minister" during the VBCW, some uniform details for his King:

Edward VIII in "civvies", arm in arm with his "Queen", Wallis Simpson.
The King wears a characteristic double breasted suit, but with the
remarkable solecism of a high fronted waistcoat beneath
(or worse, a V-neck jumper).

Same photoshoot, King and "Queen" in demi-profile.
The King's "V neck" is here pronounced. Such is fashion.

Much more interesting - Edward VIII in uniform. VBCW historians
argue that this is a "notably Fascist" uniform of Edward VIII's own design,
high-collared and jet black, often worn when inspecting BUF troops during
the VBCW. Historians of the "alternative timeline" (of sad reality)
claim the uniform to be that of the Scots Guards, while others argue
for the Rifle Brigade.

Same photoshoot, the King now joined by "Queen Wallis". VBCW historians point to Wallis'
jet black dress, extraordinary jewellery and "faux leather driving gauntlets" as indications of
her BUF favour, complementing the King's own "very fascist uniform". Historians of the
alternative timeline point out that she was, in all probability, simply "fashionably gloved and
ready for cocktails".

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2022 ("NEWQUAY RELOADED") - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

This year's Autumn Big Game 2022 ("Newquay Reloaded") will take place at the Burley Gate Village Hall, Herefordshire on Saturday 1st October 2022 from 10am - 5pm (doors open c. 9.30am).

"Newquay Reloaded", as the name suggests, is the eventual production of the Covid cancelled Spring Big Game 2020 ("Assault on Newquay"). Where have those two and a half years gone? Anyway, this post contains all you need to know about "Newquay Reloaded":

For the geographical background ("The Sleepy Port of Newquay"), SEE HERE

For the scenario and special rules, SEE HERE

For biographies of the "Officers Commanding" the Invasion Fleet, SEE HERE

For your "Platoon Generator", SEE HERE

For news of the 2022 Modelling Challenge, SEE HERE

For the "Shoddy Tanks" playable in "Newquay Reloaded" and the 2019 Modelling Challenge, SEE HERE

And now for some UPDATED practicalities:

"For those who have not previously attended a Hereford 1938 "Big Game", the Burley Gate Village Hall is located on the A465 between Burley Gate Roundabout and the village of Stoke Lacy. The Village Hall is adjacent to the Burley Gate Primary School. Full information and a helpful PDF may may be found here. 

For the Autumn Big Game 2022, the cost for the day is back to the old rate of £10, payable on the BIG DAY itself. We have been able to return to our traditional game rate by reason of the Hall halving their rental (a concession only applicable to the end of the year, unfortunately) as negotiated by Giles, to whom many thanks.

In addition to a crisp £10 note, please remember to bring:

(a). your lunch. We provide coffee, tea and biscuits. If you want something more substantial during the course of the day, pack it with your troops! (Usually, the adjacent Burley Gate Community Shop is open on a Saturday morning, so any emergency food needs can be met - note, however that the Community Shop is still a 'Covid mask zone' so bring one along just in case).

(b). your troops. Goes without saying, really. Your troops as per the VBCW Platoon Generator above. Note that we allocate experience ratings to sections on the morning of the BIG GAME as per the Platoon Generator rules, so it's helpful to have brought along a pencil and piece of paper to note down the results.

(c). your camera. If you intend taking pictures of the inevitable triumph of your troops, and the destruction of the enemy. The Umpires really like photographs of the action to illustrate the After Action Report.

(d). your paraphenalia. Dice, rules, measuring tapes, scatter terrain - all the "small stuff" that you usually use. The Umpires are always grateful for telephone poles, road signs, hedges, gates, bushes, sandbag emplacements etc. etc. - any small items of VBCW scenery that add to the overall effect."

And that's all there is to it ! Any questions to the Umpires via the Email Group, alternatively, in case that fails, via the LAF thread.  

MODELLING CHALLENGE 2022 NEWS

Devotees of the Hereford VBCW will know only too well of our annual "Modelling Challenge" routine, the Umpires distributing some cheap plastic war toy to players at the Spring Big Game with a challenge to convert the same into an imaginative VBCW item for use in the Autumn Big Game.

This year's Modelling Challenge 2022 has the theme of "Armoured Legends" and players at this year's Spring Big Game ("Last Train from Leominster") duly received a fantastically juvenile but entirely FREE 1960's plastic tank toy:

The deadly "Desert Tank". More detailed pictures are available - click on the
Modelling Challenge 2022 label to the right of this post.

So here's the news. This year, subject to any individual appeals, the Umpires are extending "the deadline" for completion of the Modelling Challenge from the Autumn Big Game 2022 to the Spring Big Game 2023. In other words, and again subject to appeal, anybody who creates an "Armoured Legend" in accordance the Modelling Challenge 2022 rules can play their creation in Spring 2023, NOT in the forthcoming Autumn Big Game 2022 ("Newquay Reloaded").

The reason for this is that the "Newquay Reloaded" Big Game is a Covid induced hangover from Spring 2020, when we originally intended to run the same game - but then had to cancel because of the national lockdown. Hence, significant "Modelling Challenge" creations were readied for the Spring 2020 Game which have never been used, and it's only fair to their creators that they should see the "light of the tabletop" before we move on to the 2022 "Armoured Legends" creations.

See the relevant "war toys" HERE (of particular interest to admirers of the "Shoddy Tank" concept).

Note : as to the mention of "subject to any individual appeals", the Umpires have in mind making allowance for any player who emails in arguing something along the lines of "I've spent the last 6 months sculpting two unique figures for this blasted 2022 Modelling Challenge, plus super detailing that rubbish plastic tank, and I WANT TO USE IT NOW...." Contrary to persistent rumours, the Umpires are, if not generous, at least human. Particular weight will be given to anyone wishing to place their 2022 Modelling Challenge creation at the disposal of the Newquay defending forces, as it looks as if HMG already have more than enough armour in the "Newquay Reloaded" scenario....

28MM VBCW NAVAL (PART NINE) - TIM ROSE'S VBCW FLEETS

As was noted early on in this 28mm VBCW Naval thread, "...the invariable rule of all wargames projects....is that someone, somewhere has done it before you...." And for "28mm semi-scale" VBCW fleets, that man is undoubtedly Mr Tim Rose (storms of applause).

Here is the Aircraft Carrier Battlegroup assembled by Tim (and other members of the VBCF, Ewan and Tadportly) for a display game ("Damn the Torpedoes!") at Salute 2017:

The "Home Fleet" at anchor, subject to attack by torpedo boats.
The aircraft are 1/72 scale (I think, but possibly 1/48) -
 the 28mm sailor figures definitely First Corps.

The "Captains Courageous" manoeuvre. Note variety of 1/72 landing craft bobbing 
about between the capital ships.

The flight deck of the carrier, HMS Eagle, with battleships in the background.

A close up of the flightdeck. Chaos developing in the background!

Battleships, landing craft, aircraft carrier, miniature submarine -
with a larger submarine "just about to surface".

The carrier and battleships at anchor - their respective lengths are "about right".
As with the Rapid Fire blogposts (passim), nitpickers will still complain about the
 relationship between the realistic 1/72 scale aircraft and the "cartoon scale" aircraft
 carrier upon which they sit (and may take off or land)!

A closer view of the battleships. Old hands will spot bits from the vintage 1/72 Airfix "Gun Emplacement" and "Coastal Defence Force" sets (e.g. big guns & radar/range finders).  The funnels and masts look scratchbuilt.

A birds eye view of the battleships. Each is a unique design - some have "closed" command bridges,
others "open" command bridges allowing placement of senior command staff. The 28mm
figures in the photo above show the comparative size of the ships..

According to a forum post by Tim Rose, all of these ships were "old toys picked up at car boot sales" at a remarkably low price (up to £3!) and then converted in various ways. The hull of the carrier was another plastic toy, with the flightdeck (presumably wood of some type) added on top. For those averse to scratchbuilding entire VBCW fleets, this 2017 Salute display game has to count as a solid pointer towards quick progress - and a welcome relief!

Note: for those interested in researching further, there is a good thread on LAF about this wargame, with links to other forums hosting further pictures. See HERE. All the above pictures from Tim Rose, Ewan and/or Tadportly.

28MM VBCW NAVAL (PART EIGHT) - BOB DUNCAN'S COLONIAL FLEETS

As the Major General's naval advice demonstrates, inspiration for 28mm naval gaming can come from any wargames period, with the 'colonial era' - everything from river gunboats to "cartoon scale" pre- dreadnoughts - being a particular favourite. In the early 1990s, the late Bob Duncan web published a fun set of simple rules for colonial naval actions entitled "Gunboat Diplomacy":

As the illustration suggests, these rules were at one time available from
Patrick R. Wilson's The Virtual Armchair General ("TVAG") webstore,
but since seem to have been replaced by another rules set, titled
"Boilers and Breechloaders"

The present day ruleset, available from TVAG. Quite whether these
are a development of the original "Gunboat Diplomacy" rules or an
entirely original ruleset is something for Colonial Gamers to tell us...

The virtue of the "Gunboat Diplomacy" ruleset was that it was expressly designed for 25/28mm colonial ships, all of which had to be scratchbuilt. Bob Duncan and his friends duly modelled a lot of delightful "colonial period" ships (and some that were, ummm, just a little ahistorical) and then showcased "big games" of naval action at a variety of U.S. conventions. The "pre dreadnoughts" appear to have varied between 24 - 36 inches in length, with crews sourced from a variety of 28mm manufacturers, including Foundry and Old Glory:

An early scratchbuilt gunboat, "The Dolphin" Plenty of room onboard for bridge crew
- and a full "storming party" of colonial marines.

A more powerful vessel, the "Rufiji". The hull appears to have been made from wood,
with scratchbuilt main armament. The "tub like" gun emplacements seem ahistorical,
but no doubt kept the 28mm gun crews neatly in place during the game...

A heavily armed gunboat, "The Hussar". A simple but powerful scratchbuilt design.

"The Cyclopes", the pride of the French colonial Navy. This ship looks as if it is at least
3 feet long, with heavy armament in historical armoured turrets

A close up of "The Cyclopes" secondary armament and bridge crew

"The Argos" - a somewhat ahistorical naval design!
The rules must have given an advantage for sloped armour...

Previous blogposts in this 'naval thread' have mused about the design compromises that have to be made for 28mm VBCW naval wargaming, including the inter-relationship between practicality, ship size, figure size and aircraft scale. Absent aircraft altogether, and with his emphasis on 28mm figures and 2/3 foot pre-dreadnought battleships, Bob Duncan appears to have found his own colonial era gaming compromise in a ruthless way - by abolishing the concept of "land" altogether (very unlike the Major-General's approach, and save for a few "placeholder" islands) - and then playing purely ship to ship actions, either on a gymnasium floor or very, very large tabletops at conventions.

"The Cyclopes" navigates a boundless gymnasium floor. The "naval captains"
in the background give an idea of the size of the ship and playing area.

A powerful Russian pre-dreadnought - its name now lost but clearly of great size and power -
navigates the same "Gymnasium Sea" in a Russo-Japanese War action. In the background,
a presumably exhausted "Japanese admiral" gets closer to the action - helpfully providing
a size comparison.

The "Japanese Main Fleet" in the same action, drawn up in line of battle.
Approximate size this time from the "wargamers training shoe".

Long range fire between "lines of battle". The grey battleship in the foreground is named
"Derflinger", so presumably this is the German colonial fleet...

"The Cyclopes" again - returning long range fire "over the horizon" at an unknown enemy.

"The Hussar" again, courageously chasing down an enemy vessel...

The ahistorical "Argos" again, in action against an unknown enemy...

"We Happy Few" - 28mm naval captains at the Russo - Japanese War game.
Ships and islands in foreground. Clearly, the playing area was larger than
a basketball court...

In memoriam the late Bob Duncan,
 here standing beside his co-captain,
 David Raybin, with "The Cyclopes"
and other vessels in the foreground. 

       Note: all photographs from the net, principally (I think) by David Raybin from TMP.

28MM VBCW NAVAL (PART SEVEN) - 1938 ROYAL NAVY

A contemporary illustration of the 1938 Royal Navy:

This illustration is particularly useful for establishing the approximate size and visible characteristics of each type of available warship, essential to building a visually harmonious "cartooned 28mm" carrier battle group. While historical debate still rages as to the role of the Royal Navy during the VBCW, the pride of 1930s Britain in its fleet is undoubted:

Additional Note:

This 1936 graphic from the 1936 Illustrated London News may also be helpful, particularly if downloaded and studied and higher resolution:

28MM VBCW NAVAL (PART SIX) - RAPID FIRE FLEET ACTION

Following the last post on 1/72 naval conversions and scratchbuilding for Rapid Fire! games, simply some eye candy of single vessels - and whole fleets:

RM's "Hunt Class destroyer", apparently bombarding a "D Day beach"

the same destroyer, but this time possibly off the shore of Crete.
There weren't many Ju87s around on D-Day....

A German Fleet for a Seelowe game. All but one of ships these appear scratchbuilt.

Another view of the German invasion fleet. A wonderful Z class destroyer
accompanies lots of invasion barges. An idea of the size can be gained
from the file boxes in the background.

The German fleet leaving harbour - "wir fahren gegen Engeland!"

Close up of the Z Class destroyer.

Bow and bridge of the Z class destroyer.

Stern of the Z class destroyer

German Air Assets ready in support!

The plucky Royal Navy. A scratchbuilt cruiser with MTBs in support.
The sailing vessels suggest that this is either off Crete, or a truly desperate
British defence of the Channel in 1940.

Close up of the RN cruiser. Scratchbuilt.

Another view of the same vessel.

The German destroyer hoves into view - Action Stations!

Fleet action! Its seems that Napoleonic broadsides are to determine the issue....

The inevitable result....wreckage, oil slicks and a losing crew in life rafts...

Useful for something at last....German air power serves as Air/Sea rescue.

Note: none of the above photos are ours, but simply collected from the internet over the years for inspiration. Anybody who can identify them, please leave a comment and due acknowledgment will be given - with many thanks!