LEDBURY BUF (8) - THE SLOANE RANGERS (ARMOURED INFANTRY)

The BUF experimented with tankettes throughout the VBCW, often using foreign built examples, such as this Italian made CV33 (itself modelled on the original Carden Lloyd tankette, built in Italy under licence as the CV29):

However, the BUF "Mailed Fist" battlegroup, recruited principally from London and consisting of some of Mosley's best equipped troops, used tankettes with specially built coachwork: 

A specially built BUF tankette, commanded by Storm Leader "Arnie" Clarkson....

...who orders his driver to perform "a doughnut" to show off his command vehicle to best advantage...

...Storm Leader Clarkson commands the 1st BUF (Kensington & Chelsea) Armoured Infantry,
colloquially known, for obvious reasons, as "The Sloane Rangers"..

...here providing a 'flank guard' for the main body of the Mailed Fist Battlegroup,
proceeding along the A438 Tewkesbury - Ledbury road...

The full section of the "Sloane Rangers", sufficient to deliver ten riflemen to any 
destination in armoured safety. It is said that "Bendor", the Duke of Westminster,
provided the necessary funds to raise and equip the "Sloane Rangers".

[Notes] 

(1). These tankettes are a simple conversion of the "non scale" Majorette "Sonic Flasher" tanks, now OOP but sometimes available in Ebay joblots:

Simply remove turret, paint black, and hurrah !

(2). For more (lots more) Ledbury BUF armour and vehicles, check out the LEDBURY BUF thread

LEDBURY BUF (7) - BRIDGING COLUMN

It is as yet unclear exactly where the BUF "Mailed Fist Battlegroup" is heading within Herefordshire after its initial "laager in Ledbury". But the Battlegroup is clearly equipped for any eventuality - including amphibious operations and riverine crossings - as photographs of its integral "Bridging Column" demonstrate:

Assault Boats/Pontoons in transport. Truck and trailer, vintage Dinky (from Ebay).
Boats/Pontoons from the spares box, originally part of a "Pirate Playset".

Two "prime movers" with Pontoon Bridge and equipment on trailers.
Truck and trailer are from the Corgi 1/50 range ("Scammell Highwayman")
Pontoon Bridge scratchbuilt plasticard with cut to fit Airfix Pontoon Bridge sides.

Transport shortages are endemic in the VBCW, but a single prime mover
can cope with both Pontoon Bridge trailers if necessary.

Note: this post was inspired by Tradgardmastre's discovery of an extract from a pre-war Elastolin catalogue (see below and HERE on the Duchy of Tradgardland blog) of pre-war German production of the same kind of Bridging Column (and pioneers, which now need to be scratchbuilt - sometime - in 28mm!). For the follower of 1930s War Toys, inspirational stuff!

Add edit: a better view of the same products, possibly from the following years catalogue  -

Next up - the BUF "Sloane Rangers".......

LEDBURY BUF (6) - SELF PROPELLED ARTILLERY

After Storm Leader Reckless' Reconnaissance Troop, and Storm Leader Dastardly's "BUF Tank Force" (all as recorded on THIS THREAD), here comes the next element of the "Mailed Fist Battlegroup" - heavy support in the form of a Storm Leader Shellmore's section of Self Propelled "Big Guns" - nicknamed "Bisons" - travelling along the A438:

Chassis - cheap plastic "Shoddy variant" tanks (with moulded in shells/bullets!) from Ebay.
Gun - chopped down 54mm vintage plastic "Army Men" 25pdrs (ish) from ditto.
Crew - variety of 28mm manufacturers. Decals - paper.  

Contrary to legend, these "Bisons" were not manufactured by Elstree Industries, nor by their disastrous Chinese sub-contractor, the Schezuan Ordnance Depot and Delivery Yards (see HERE), but by a sister company of the well-known Birmingham manufacturer, British Small Arms Ltd. ("BSA"). Incorporated around the time of the outbreak of the VBCW, British Really Rather Large Arms Ltd. ("BRRLA") specialised in the design and manufacture of heavy armaments such as "Bisons", selling the same on a promiscuous basis to whichever factions were willing to "stump up the necessary cash" (with order, buyer collects, no refunds).

There is an ongoing historical argument, reflecting a contemporary squabble, as to whether it was the Herefordshire Police or the Ledbury BUF who first placed their orders for this important VBCW artillery piece. There is no argument, however, that the German Heer (closely watching events within the VBCW, as ever) rapidly copied and adapted the BRRLA design:

German 15mm sIG 33 (Sf) on Panzer 1 Ausf B chassis.
The resemblance to BUF "Bisons" is clear from this rare photo.

A later design development. The 15cm gun is now enclosed.
Cheekily, the German Heer even copy the BUF name for this
SP Artillery piece - "Bison"

"Bison" in action. An attempt at advanced Herefordshire VBCW tank tactics.

Next up - BUF Bridging Column!

LEDBURY BUF (5) - PANZER JAGER !

Storm Commander Dastardly's BUF Tank Force has briefly "laagered" somewhere off the A438 Tewkesbury-Ledbury Road, waiting for the rest of his command to catch up with his swiftly moving armoured column:

"Ach, ja, Panzerjager!", Reichsmarshall Goering is reputed to have said
upon being shown a newsreel, in the garden rooms of the Castle Pool 
Hotel, Hereford, of the arrival of these Elstree Industries tracked AT guns.

The tracked AT guns join forces with the tanks of the
"Mailed Fist" Battlegroup....

..and Storm Leader Dastardly's armoured column is now
complete. "Move out!" is now the command...

The armoured column resumes its advance towards Ledbury...

Next time: the SP Artillery elements of the "Mailed Fist" Battlegroup make their appearance....

LEDBURY BUF (4) - TANKS

Storm Leader P.R. Mann's propaganda broadcasts are soon drowned out by the squeal and clatter of tracks. Lots of tracks....

The first of the Mailed Fist Battlegroup's tanks clatter down the Tewkesbury-Ledbury road

The leading tank swings left into an open field. It has its orders....

There seems to be no end to the number of "Elstree Industries" Mk.II cruiser tanks on the road.

Engines idling, the tanks await their commander....

Here he is - commanding a Mk.III Elstree Cruiser with 'extra long barrel'. Possibly a 75mm gun, alternatively a standard 2pdr with drainage downpipe welded on for effect...

Whatever the case, Storm Commander Desmond Dastardly is fond of boasting about his "extremely large cannon" (but less about his binoculars, which need a final paint!)

The Storm Commander at the head of his armoured formation. What can they be waiting for?

LEDBURY BUF (3) - PROPAGANDA VAN

Close behind the Reconnaissance Group, a BUF "Propaganda Van" speeds along. This is the personal mount of the marketing genius behind the BUF's "Mailed Fist Battlegroup", Storm Leader P.R.Mann. While some may think that an un-armed vehicle is out of place this close to the battlelines, Storm Leader Mann is convinced of the war winning value of propaganda 'information tailored to the appropriate needs of the yokels local people'.

The BUF's "all round" loudspeakers blare - "Mosley will Win!" 

Storm Leader Mann is fully aware of the temper of the Herefordshire populace - his older brother, Staff Commander A.D. Mann, has been serving for some time "in County" as the public relations staff officer to Lord de Braose, Governor of Hereford and Lord Warden of the Marches. This has not proved an easy job.

"Stay Inside!" Storm Leader Mann's "public communications" loudhailers shriek. "Protect the King! Save Lives!". The grazing sheep in Ledbury's fields raise their heads briefly, but remain uninterested. The Storm Leader is intent on smearing the reputation of Comrade Colonel Professor Winters Communist Front raising the morale of all true patriotic fascists in the County of Herefordshire....

Notes: Van by Lledo. Loudspeaker an odd plastic Lego part. Flags/Signage paper printed.

LEDBURY BUF (2) - RECCE LIGHT TANK

As the armoured cars of Storm Leader Reckless' Reconnaissance Troop cross the "County line" into Herefordshire, he knows he can rely upon some 'heavy support" of his own:

Westward Ho! Storm Leader Reckless leads his armoured cars forward..

A Recce Troop Light Tank brings up the rear of the party.....

..motoring forward into the void...

Although of unknown manufacture, this is a type of light tank previously seen in the Hereford VBCW, a favourite weapon of Spode's Blackshorts:

Spode's Light Tank rumbles forward at the County Golf Challenge (courtesy JP)

Lacking Spode's experience, Storm Leader Reckless' light tank checks and pivots right, alert to hidden AT guns and suspicious of an imagined movement:

Pivot right, traverse right....the tank's mighty 2pdr main armament on alert...

...the pivot revealing the BUF Group insignia of the "Mailed Fist"... 

A hasty riffle through "The Observer Book of BUF Signs & Insignia" reveals (as every schoolboy knows) that Storm Leader Reckless' Reconnaissance Group are merely the advance party of the dreaded "Mailed Fist Battlegroup", recruited largely from Central and East London, reputed to be some of Mosley's best equipped troops. What more is to come down the Tewkesbury to Ledbury road?

Notes:

(1). The Light Tank was bought a long time ago, and used to be manufactured by "PMC" and sold very cheaply on Ebay, just when VBCW gaming was becoming very popular. PMC ceased production some time ago, and the VBCW range of equipment is now produced and distributed by Minifigs/Caliver Books

(2). The fate of the Blackshorts at the County Golf Challenge Cup can be found under the label (to the right) "Spring Big Game 2017".

(3). The Light Tank bears a reasonable resemblance to the historical Vickers 6 ton tank, a private venture by Vickers not purchased by the British Army, but licensed to the Soviets at the T-26 and further developed by the Poles. Here is the (more colourful) exhibit at the Bovington Tank Museum:

LEDBURY BUF (1) - RECCE SECTION

In the early light of morning, a fast-moving BUF Reconnaissance Troop speeds along the A438 Tewkesbury - Ledbury road, heading westward towards the Herefordshire border and one of its most important County towns.

Storm Leader Reckless, commander of the BUF Recce Troop, "takes point" on the A438

"Steady, chaps!" About to cross the county line, the Storm Leader brings the Recce Group to a halt. Herefordshire is well known as one of the most dangerous places in all of England.

Engines idling, the barrels of the Storm Leader's modern armoured cars traverse the countryside in unison. The crews' pre-departure briefing had been ominous in the extreme...

Is this an unsupported reconnaissance mission? Or the armoured spearhead of a more substantial force?

Only time will tell.....

Notes: Scout Car and Armoured Cars by Dinky. Storm Leader Reckless from Empress. His driver (mostly obscured) from Reiver. Flag from Solway. "Recce Group Black & White Flashes" very old GW Space Marine(?) transfers. BUF Pennons printed paper.