TECHNICALS - ANOTHER ENTRY !

Just behind Major-General Everard's "Technical Achievements" rolls in yet another entry for the Modelling Challenge 2023 : a spectacular "Combat Car" with multi-machineguns from LAF Moriarty (aka John):

Undoubtedly a "snazzy 1930s three colour camouflage scheme", ensuring favour from the Judges.
And how many machine-guns did you say ?

2 heavy machine guns and an LMG, fully crewed, looking good....BUT WAIT....
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG !

There is something wrong ! Spectacular as the camouflage on the "Combat Car" might be, even it can't disguise the fact that the "donor vehicle" is NOT the "cheap cruddy plastic out of scale toy jeep" given away for free at the Spring Big Game 2023 (see HERE). Fleet Street's motoring correspondents suspect it is a Chinese manufactured late period Lledo, possibly with a 20mm crew....HORROR.....

While the Umpires of the Autumn Big Game 2023 ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford") have already given special dispensation for the "Combat Car" to be playable on Saturday 7th October, it is nevertheless wholly unclear how the distinguished panel of internationally renowned Judges will deal with this vehicle for the purposes of the Modelling Challenge 2023.....will it even get over the start line?

Add Edit:

(1). LAF Moriarty unfortunately couldn't make the Spring Big Game 2023, and was therefore unable to collect the "cheap cruddy out of scale Jeep" for the Modelling Challenge - hence the clever improvisation. The Judges Panel's hand has only been stayed by a strong Fleet Street rumour that yet another "non conforming vehicle" is on its way to the concourse of the Modelling Challenge 2023.....

SPIES and INTELLIGENCE MEN (5) - MONKS

While the Nuns of St. Mary Magdalene may aim to "dominate the battlespace" at the Autumn Big Game 2023 ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford"), their male counterparts make an appearance in a rather more subtle and unobtrusive manner - as a monkish "Intelligence Section" available to one of the players:

Obeying the general rule of "Intelligence Sections", here we have five monks "in monopose"
together with a separately posed "Leader" (or "Priest"). Although "monks" may be most
useful to Anglican inclined factions, these black robed chaps could equally be used
for those who are BUF inclined, or simply be declared "schismatic and rogue"
 and therefore useable by all.

The five monks "in monopose" are plastic figures from Eagle Gryphon Games, a US boardgame company. Eagle-Gryphon sell the miniatures used for their boardgames separately, and some time ago were selling "A Big Bag of Monks" from their Age of Empires III boardgame at spectacularly cheap prices - so cheap that the cost of shipping from the US to the UK was greater than the cost of the figures themselves (and that was before the spectacular postal price rises of late). See HERE. Needless to say, the Eagle Gryphon monks are spot on for 28mm scale (in fact, rather 'bulky" 28mm).

Eagle Gryphon Games plastic miniatures for "Age of Empires III"

The "Leader" of this monkish "Intelligence Section" is again plastic and comes from an equally unlikely source : the Pegasus 1/72 set of "California Mission Indians":

An excellent number of monks from the Pegasus "California Mission Indians" set.
Photo from the ever useful Plastic Soldier Review website

Although the Pegasus monks are supposed to be 1/72 scale (and the figures in this set recorded by PSR as "23mm" in height), they are in fact rather larger - almost 30mm ! It may be that the PSR height was a reference to the smaller California Indians in the same set - and given the poses of the monk figures, there is no problem "adjusting their height" (whether with a sharp knife or built up groundwork). Not as cheap as the Eagle Games monks, but still a spectacular saving on the cost of nine metal 28mm figures..

The black robed monks of Little Hereford - who will use them as their
"Spies and Intelligence Men" at the Autumn Big Game 2023 ?

28MM BATTLE NUNS (4) - SELF IMMOLATING NUNS

We told you that the Nuns of St. Mary Magdalene were psycho, didn't we ? In a time of ideological warfare and extreme irrationality, the Convent happily developed their own "ultimate weapons" - self immolating Nuns with huge spherical buns bombs...

These self immolating Nuns may explode themselves as anti tank weapons against armour or as area weapons against personnel (see the Autumn Big Game 2023 Scenario HERE):

The Nun Self Immolating Section - figures from RAFM, Conquest Games and Westwind.
Bombs - plastic spheres with wire fuses from "the bitzbox".

Note: this is not the first occasion that "self immolating bombers" have appeared in the Hereford VBCW. Long term followers of the blog may recall with a certain fondness the "Non-Aligned Self Exploding Faction" of Anti-War Protestors (the Misses Cholmondley Warner and their dog, Scamp) who appeared at the Spring Big Game 2019 - and equally promptly disappeared in extremely large and noisy explosions...

The explosive end of Primula Cholmondley Warner, Suffragette and Anti-War Protestor,
 at the Second Battle of Shobdon (Spring Big Game 2019). That'll teach those warmongers !

28MM BATTLE NUNS (3) - LINE INFANTRY SECTION

The Nuns of St. Mary Magdalene are capable of "turning out in some numbers" should their Convent be threatened (or their time at prayer otherwise disturbed). Here is a typical "infantry section" of "psycho-shotgunners" with Light Machine Gun (to the left):

Nun Infantry Section - all figures from Troublemaker Games

28MM BATTLE NUNS (2) - SUPPORT WEAPONS

The Nuns of St. Mary Magdalene have a fully crewed mortar in the grounds of their Convent, a particular pleasure for these followers of "The Blessed Alfred Nobel" and regularly tested at Matins with some live firing exercises (live targets optional) :

Three crew nuns and a nun "Spotter" with binoculars, all from Troublemaker Games.
The mortar is OOP plastic from Atlantic, supposedly 1/72 in scale but actually much
larger, spot on for 28mm figures.

An alternative Heavy Weapon Section, this time a crewed MMG.
The MMG is another non 1/72 scale OOP plastic item from Atlantic.

28MM BATTLE NUNS (1) - HQ SECTION

The schismatic (and psycho) Nuns of St. Mary Magdalene, formerly the Parish Church of Little Hereford, but now converted to a convent and shrine to "the Blessed Alfred Nobel", feature heavily in the scenario for the Autumn Big Game 2023 ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford"). Here is their HQ Section, lead by Mother Superior Firepower:

Mother Superior Firepower leads an HQ Section with a No.2, a Medic, and 2 "Runners"

Mother Superior Firepower's second in command uses a modern looking field telephone, otherwise known as "The Hotline to Gawd". The medic carries an equally modern looking medical case, together with a wicked amputating saw. Two shot-gunners constitute the back-up "runners".

Mother Superior Firepower is a Reaper "Bones" figure, while all the rest are from Troublemaker Games. For more info on these Nun figures, see HERE

TECHNICALS - FIRST ENTRIES !

And the first entries for the Modelling Challenge 2023 ("Technicals") are IN ! Major-General Everard, County Commander of the Forces of HMG (aka Alan), has provided this carefully preserved and beautifully illustrated extract from the "Hereford Times" of 1938:

"At yesterday’s annual Open Day and Gala at the Wye Valley Reclamation depot in Rotherwas, Managing Director Frank Richardson unveiled the company’s new range of ‘Enhanced Utility Vehicles’ for the discerning enthusiast wishing to work or travel safely in Herefordshire in these troubled times.

Rebuilt from scrap vehicles and parts at the Rotherwas depot, these vehicles certainly pack a punch, belying their unobtrusive livery, and will no doubt find a variety of uses.

The Mule is a tracked towing vehicle capable of hauling a combine harvester or heavy artillery piece with equal facility, and with an LMG for self-defence against poachers:

"The Mule"

The Stinger carries a light anti-tank weapon for clearing any vehicle blocking farm gateways, while the Widowmaker has a quadruple-barrelled HMG for heavy pest control:

"The Stinger"

"The Widowmaker"

The Cloudburst has a medium mortar for delivering items to remote sites, and the Tempest mounts a mini rocket launcher for scaring off those unwanted flocks of pigeons:

"The Cloudburst"

"The Tempest"

Unsubstantiated rumours that these vehicles incorporated parts from vehicles missing after a recent outbreak of vehicle theft were dismissed by Mr. Richardson, nicknamed ‘Blowtorch’ by his friends, as malicious gossip spread by jealous rivals.

Recent inquiries into the thefts by Herefordshire Constabulary have failed to make any progress, after several patients recently discharged from the Burns Unit at the Hereford General Hospital declined to be interviewed, claiming their injuries had resulted from industrial accidents with acid-etching or acetylene welding equipment."

[Historical Footnote

In later years Frank Richardson’s sons, Charlie and Eddie, would find fame (and an extended holiday at Her Majesty’s pleasure) for excessively enthusiastic use of industrial equipment (including pliers and electricity generators) during interviews with recalcitrant debtors at their South London business premises.]

Add Edit

Alan takes his applause for being the FIRST to complete the Modelling Challenge 2023, including providing photographs, a full backstory, and a complete text to boot ! I say ! Hurrah !

TYPES OF THE VBCW (12) - ANGLICAN EXORCIST

While "magick", supernatural forces and "the power of the occult" have yet to feature in the Hereford1938 VBCW campaign, the "Types of the VBCW" thread could not pass by a characteristic Anglican "Exorcist" - in campaign clerical garb, army trenchcoat and 28mm :

Artizan Designs PLP 131 "Father Sweeney". Beautifully painted by Steve Dean

Should Aleister Crowley ("the wickedest man in the world") ever take up residence in a remote and abandoned country house in Herefordshire, or the sinister black clad brethren of the "Cult of Arrowsmith" seek to dabble in the "dark arts", the Anglicans will no doubt be well prepared....

In the interim, this figure would make a useful "No.2" to an Anglican army commander, or an easily identifiable forward observer ("Spotter") for a "Big Gun" on a VBCW battlefield!

Notes:

(1). Aleister Crowley's (1875 - 1947) wiki entry is HERE

(2). The Artizan Exorcist would also make a useful officer for a unit of similarly posed OOP Citadel Vicars, of which at least one variant also had a "raised crucifix" in hand. See HERE

(3). For a complete list of Country Houses in Herefordshire, see HERE

WHY WARGAMERS ARE POOR (BUT HAPPY)

 A short article from the London Evening Standard of Friday 15th September :

"GAMES WORKSHOP WORTH £3.7BN AFTER SMASHING SUMMER

Games Workshop's remarkable run of success continues, as the Warhammer 40K maker's sales smashed expectations yet again over the summer.

Revenue in the three months to August 27 rose by 14.5% year on year to £127 million, and profit rocketed by 46 per cent to £57million. Games Workshop said the rise was "driven by healthy growth across all channels."

The shares gained another 845p to 11,235p, more than 70 times their price in 2008 and valuing the Nottingham based business at £3.7 billion.....

The flagship Warhammer 40K game is famed for its pricey figurine sets. Forum posts suggest that buying two very basic armies for beginners, plus a rulebook, directly from Games Workshop would have cost about £175 in 2008.

Spending that on the shares instead would have returned about £26,000, including dividends. That's enough to buy a custom - painted 1997 OOP Metal Thunderhawk, which became the most expensive Warhammer kit ever when it sold for £25,600 on Ebay in 2021."

SPIES AND INTELLIGENCE MEN (4) - COMMUNISTS

The "games of espionage" within Little Hereford would not be complete without an undercover NKVD "Intelligence Section" -

An undercover NKVD section, dedicated to the cause of International Communism.

This "Intelligence Section" breaks the previous rule (see HERE and HERE) of "5 mono-pose Agents and 1 unique Leader", instead painting the figures in a unit "get-up" but having a very obvious Leader. While a brief look suggests that the "Intelligence Agents" consist of only two poses, this is a result of the NKVD's obvious reliance on "false beards" and "camouflage capes". All of the "Intelligence Agents" are, in fact, subtly different.

The Leader (28mm Empress ?) carries a SMG and waves "The Big Red Book of Bill", being the collected thoughts upon Marxism of Comrade Colonel Professor "Bill" Winter, the Leader of the Presteigne Communist Front. His heavily bearded companions (RAFM/Grenadier ?) are variants of the same pose, one carrying a suitcase and pistol, the other being empty handed. As to the rear rank....

...they each model the 1938 Communist "camouflage cape", two carrying sinister syringes and one being "at ease" (again RAFM/Grenadier/Ral Partha figures?). All of these "Intelligence Agents" are "old but good sculpts" collected over time and now "truffled from the spare figures box". Just goes to prove that most 28mm figures can be used in the VBCW somehow.....

SPIES AND INTELLIGENCE MEN (3) - BUF BOFFINS

An alternative "Intelligence Section" for the BUF Player at the Autumn Big Game 2023 ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford") - the BUF 'Boffins'. We can't know what top secret scientific research projects they're presently engaged upon (valuable mineral extraction ? alternative power sources ? "vengeance weapons" ?), but for the day of the "Big Game" only, they'll turn their genius minds to the gathering of intelligence and subversion of Little Hereford's farm owners:

This "Intelligence Section" is again made up principally of plastic "Heroclix" figures - all five of the "Intelligence Agents" arrived prepainted and were simply rebased and "refreshed" with some washes and detail work. The "Intelligence Leader" is a Bob Murch/Pulp Figures figure. Bob's figures tend towards the larger/more bulky side of 28mm, but (although not noticeable on the tabletop) the Leader is still a little shorter than the 30mm Heroclix figures.

Note: Hereford1938 has a proud history of "odd" technological advances. One instantly thinks, for example, of the Anglican Rocket Batteries and the Malvern Skunkworks "Quadricycle of Doom" as they appeared at the Battle of Bredwardine Bridge, or the Bluecoat School's 6th Form Physics Department's "Sonic Dischargers" at the Battle of Brimfield. There's even a HISTORICAL BASIS for all this scientific flummery.....

Add Edit : And here is the donor figure for the BUF Boffins/Intelligence Agents - the "Weapons Scientist" from the "Deadpool" Heroclix range:

In a non- BUF "Boffin Section", the Heroclix "Bolivar Trask" figure could serve as a compatible but differently posed "leader":

SPIES AND INTELLIGENCE MEN (2) - BUF

A first look at the BUF Field Security Police Detachment stationed in Little Hereford - dark suits, black leather coats and intimidating fedoras. Perfect to serve as the Autumn Big Game 2023 "Intelligence Section" for any BUF or HMG player, five of the section have exactly the same pose ("the Intelligence Agents") while the sixth is clearly the merciless commander ("the Intelligence Leader") - see the Scenario HERE

The Intelligence Leader is a Jim Bowen/Monolith Designs figure (sadly now OOP), while the Intelligence Agents are plastic "Heroclix" figures, rebased and with their paintwork "refreshed".

The Heroclix "donor figure" for BUF Intelligence Agents. Already pre-painted, but easy to
touch up with some detail work.

Another plastic "Heroclix" figure that could have served as the "Intelligence Leader",
but for the availability of the OOP Monolith Designs figure.

Using "Heroclix" figures is rather tricky, for they vary considerably in 'scale', and the more recent releases have been too large to be useable at all. The "Maggia Goon" figures used for the BUF Intelligence Section are all around the "bulky 30mm" range, while the Monolith Design OOP "Intelligence Leader" comes in the "small 40mm" range. "Scale fanatics" should therefore avoid such heresy, but many others argue that BUF "Goons" should be big and bulky bullies.....

SPIES AND INTELLIGENCE MEN (1) - CITADEL "GUMSHOES" and MORE

"Vienna 1930, Madrid 1940, East Berlin 1950, Little Hereford at any time during the VBCW - these places are all known to have been hotbeds of espionage and counter-intelligence." (Autumn 2023 Big Game Briefing HERE)

Every player in the Autumn 2023 Big Game ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford") will have a section of six Intelligence Agents for use in addition to their normal "WTDW" Platoon. Players have been invited to bring along their own "Intelligence Section" if they wish, although the Umpires will provide if such is not possible. So what 28mm figures would be useful to represent a 1930s "Intelligence Agent"? James Bond didn't make an appearance until 1953, remember (on the first publication of "Casino Royale", with the first film, "Dr. No" appearing in 1962), so perhaps we're looking more for a Bogart or a Cagney.....

Citadel LE3 "Gumshoes", modelled on Humphrey Bogart and Jimmy Cagney.
Sculpted by Bob Naismith, painted by Jim Bowen. Source HERE
These were advertised in the Citadel July 1986 Flyer - difficult to think of these nice
clean sculpts as being nearly 40 years old !

 

A different colour scheme for the same figures, with a touch of Cthulhu added to the bases.
Painter "Curis", sources HERE and HERE

The trenchcoat can truly be considered Very British, with the trilby not far behind, and the  "Bogart" combination seems to represent a type of tired and worldly wise "Intelligence Agent" who might have been found "playing the great game" in Little Hereford during the VBCW. 

An Intelligence Agent emerges from the shadows in Little Hereford.
A contemporary VBCW illustration.

This being Citadel, of course, and this being the 1980s, the company produced "new figures" by doing a bit of clever converting (see HERE for such treatment to the Citadel "Vicar" figure), so there are variants of the LE 3 "Bogart" figure:

CC1 Gothic Horror "Detective" Source HERE. Change of head
position, remodelled right arm.

The same figure appeared as the character "Marlow Hammett" in the 
GW Boxed Game, "Curse of the Mummy's Tomb"

Off with his head ! A third variant of the original LE3 figure, retaining the remodelled
right arm but going for a complete head swap - the Citadel CC1 "Private Eye".

All of these figures pop up on Ebay from time to time, and are well worth getting hold of for the VBCW (if you can find one not listed at a silly price.....)

1930s FEMALE BEAUTY (2) - MALVERN TERRITORIAL COMPANY

Following our daring aviatrix, another photo of a VBCW beauty from the archives, sadly as yet to be "colourised", but a rare example of the campaign uniform of the Malvern Territorial Company:

Determination in lipstick - a female officer of the Malvern Territorial Company ("MTC")

The history of Malvern in the VBCW is somewhat complicated, and further research needs to be carried before any conclusions can be drawn as to the role of the MTC in the conflict. For the moment, therefore, let this photograph of one of its officers stand as a suitable memorial.....

(1). Lesser historians and the wilder type of conspiracy theorists attribute this photograph to the Mechanised Transport Corps, aka the Motor Transport Corps, c. 1942, but such WIKI ravings can safely be ignored in Herefordshire.

ADD EDIT : And finally we do have a colourised example ! Here it is:

HEREFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL

During the course of the VBCW, Hereford General Hospital was usually overwhelmed with casualties. A variety of Country Houses throughout the County were converted in to "battlefield clearing stations" and "convalescent centres", but the General Hospital, situated in Nelson Street right in the centre of Hereford, bore the brunt of medical care. 

Hereford General Hospital from the River Wye.

A colorised postcard, again from the right bank of the Wye

Another colourised postcard, from slightly downriver.

The Hereford General Hospital served the City and Country from 1783 to 2002, when services were transferred to the new Hereford County Hospital. The General Hospital buildings were then converted into residential flats. For this reason, it is not open to VBCW researchers, but tourists can still "soak up the authentic VBCW historical feel" when traversing the grounds. See the General Hospital's WIKI entry HERE

A modern day view of the main General Hospital Building, now flats, from the non-river viewpoint.

Notes:

(1). The General Hospital is located close to the Victoria Bridge, and often appears in the same photographs and illustrations. See the Victoria Bridge blogpost HERE