LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - REDS

Comrade Colonel Professor Winter's County Communist Front has struggled to keep up with the recent accelerated pace of air force expansion. This is possibly due to the limited manufacturing capability available to the far-left within Herefordshire, or to its recent concentration upon increasing the output of "Proley Tanks", or simply Winter's pre-occupation, at the expense of industrial production, with the elimination of his many internal enemies. Be that as it may, the Comrade Colonel has welcomed the Escuadrilla Espana (prop. Andre Malraux) to the recently liberated Shobdon Airfield:

The Escuadrilla Espana fly in to Shobdon Airfield, anxious to lend
"fraternal support" to "fellow anti-fascists". These
aircraft have retained the markings used in Spain.

Winter's 'home grown' squadron of interceptor types (Squadron "Ned Ludd") proudly boast
the red star on their wings, possibly because (it is rumoured) these
aircraft are exclusively piloted by 'Soviet advisers"

The outnumbered (but not undergunned) "Luddites" grimly display Soviet
military precision in aerial maneouvres....

...whereas the enthuiastic but somewhat wild Spanish Republicans straggle into battle as
 best possible. Note tails adorned with Republican markings. The aircraft with the
red marked rear fuselage is a Section leader, indicating the Escadrilla's
notoriously relaxed approach to combat organisation.

Some historians argue that Winter's Reds principally used captured Gloster Gladiators and Vickers Venoms during the Herefordshire VBCW. However, Dr. I. Cataract of the VBCW Historical

 Institute has conclusively opined that these aircraft are, in fact, "export versions" of the

 Polikarpov I-15bis (biplane) and the Polikarpov I-16 (monoplane).  It would take a

 brave man to query the learned Doctor's opinion (or eyesight) - and for 

further evidence, see HERE

LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - RAF

The professionals of the Royal Air Force were not to be left behind in the "2020 Modelling Challenge" ("Aircraft & Anti-Everything"):

"Gloster Gladiators" lined up for inspection. This is the original biplane configuration
of the modelling challenge "piece of cheep Chinese plastic" with a simple paintjob.
In an alternative timeline, interwar silver and colourful heraldry similarly banished,
 this paint scheme would become known as "Munich colours".

A mixed Squadron of 'Gloster Gladiators' and Vickers Venoms. The pressures of the VBCW
often resulted in RAF Squadrons having 'mixed types", much as in early WW1. The Venoms
have the same "cheep Chinese body" as the "Gladiators", with only the second wing
removed. A simple job of finger pressure and a little subsequent cutting/sanding.

A "standing patrol", Venom in the foreground and Gladiator in the rear.
With scientific detection of enemy aircraft still in its infancy, this WW1
tactic for protection of airfields was still much in use during the VBCW.

Vulnerable to attack - Mongrel day-bombers on the ground. The RAF also used
'Blenheims' and 'Battles' as tactical bombers, but were not above adopting the
Mongrel (a favourite of the BUF) when required. More info HERE

An RAF heavy bomber coming into land. Some have tentatively
identified this as a "Lancaster", although in 'other times', this famous
four engined bomber did not enjoy its first flight until January 1941.
Perhaps an example of scientific development being spurred on by Civil War...

A contemporaneous newspaper photograph of the same landing, extracted from
"Our Civil War Illustrated" (pub. Newnes, London 1938). While the headline simply
records "New Bomber Introduced", the article noted "strong local opposition to
engine noise and inconvenience to cattle" with a "vociferous campaign" being
launched by locals "against the planned extension to the airfield's flare path".

Safely down - the Lancaster ("Meng Model Kids") being refuelled by an
RAF Bowser ("Lledo"). A shot to establish relative scale (and how to have
a squadron of heavy bombers in the VBCW without overwhelming the
area of the wargames table)

Light bomber and Heavy bomber - a Mongrel soars over a grounded Lancaster. Another
shot to establish relative scale. Despite their very differing origins (historically and in
terms of plastic and modelling quality), the two types look fine together.

"Instrument check, is it? Engine check, sir!" - a pair of Mongrels joyride
over the airfield. As the VBCW wore on and parts and aviation fuel became
scarcities, such early RAF practices of youthful enthusiasm became
 frowned upon. These two light bombers have to get back soon, anyway..

...ready for that afternoon's full parade. Clockwise from the Lancasters - Gladiators,
Venoms at the fore, Mongrels. The overworked RAF Bowser sits in the middle.

Next up - Red Air Force!

LIFTING OFF OUT OF LOCKDOWN - BUF AIRFORCE

Well, at some point we all (in the real world) will get out of lockdown - hopefully in time for a (slightly delayed) Spring Big Game 2021! Back in the world of the Hereford1938 Very British Civil War, the British Union of Fascists have been first to take advantage of the "2020 Modelling Challenge" ("Aircraft and Anti-Everything") with a display of airpower lifting off "at a strategic site out of County", thought to be the Gloster Aircraft Works at Hucclecote, Gloucestershire:

A flight of BUF Vickers Venom interceptor aircraft. The timing and demands of the Civil War 

caused the Venom to be favoured over the more complicated and expensive Spitfire, and 

even the rugged Hurricane. See HERE for an explanation and brief history of this

 iconic - if scarcely remembered - VBCW type.

A full BUF Squadron of Venoms line up for inspection. Vickers turned out hundreds of these 
aircraft over the course of the Civil War. The BUF's pilots were recruited either from
the civil aviation sector, or via the BUF's many "gliding clubs", with a relatively few
senior officers being directly transferred from the RAF (often, but not always, under protest).

A half Squadron of BUF ground attack aircraft - the Mongrel day bomber. Developed by Sir Reginald B'Stard, the
 famous (in his day) aircraft designer, these have been identified as characteristically "square tailed" Mk.II(G) types,
of course indicating manufacture by Messrs. Woolworths & Woolworths of Enfield.
 A potted history of their design can be found HERE

Lift off! Mongrel Day Bombers fly out of Hucclecote Landing Strip.
(Wargamers Note - bases from tops of Tesco coffee jars (small) weighted
with cheap WH Smith modelling clay, stands from bamboo barbecue skewers.
Even these 'cheapskate' bases plus costs of paint came close to being more
expensive than the aircraft models themselves....)

The complete BUF airforce in late afternoon flight (or forest of bamboo skewers).The Mongrel day bombers
take the lead, with 'top cover' being provided by the Vickers Venoms. The two 'weavers' or 'tail end Charlies'
bring up the rear at a slightly higher altitude, as per best RAF early war practice. It is thought that this was
a training flight rather than a battlefield mission.

Next up - the "Red" Air Force and Royal Air Force.....

AIRCRAFT (6) VBCW "MONGREL DAY BOMBER"

Our piece of "cheep Chinese plastic", as used in the Modelling Challenge 2020, may be many things (check back on this thread using the label "Aircraft & Anti Everything"), but it is clearly more of an "air superiority fighter/ground attack fighter" than a "bomber". For the purpose of VBCW "air fleets", this posed a significant problem that could only be solved by - well, doubling down with another piece of "cheep Chinese plastic", as purchased from Ebay:

As long as you don't look at the underside of the fuselage, it's, er.....ok. What do you want for 80p inclusive of P&P?

This particularly fine example of the Chinese plastics industry is made of rather softer plastic than our Vickers Venom job, but it is still workable and takes paint kindly enough (over a plastic primer). And it actually "scales" rather nicely with the Vickers Venoms, so all is not at all lost.

But what kind of 1930s plane is it? Originally, it was purchased in the hope that - with its long canopy, elongated nose and single propellor, it would bear a passing resemblance to that wonder of 1930s British Aircraft Industry, the Fairey Battle "day bomber":

Introduced to service in 1936, by 1940 the Fairey Battle was fulfilling its grim role of being shot up by marauding Me 109's (when not being shot down by ground AA fire).

And to a certain extent, it does. But closer examination reveals the horrible truth - the front end and wings appear to be an oversized (and mangled by constant copying over the years) species of Spitfire, while the canopy and tail appear to come from an (equally mangled early variant) Stuka! If this was to be a Fairey Battle, it would be a fairly "bastardized" version! 

Camouflage painting may hide many "problems", but this was time for a more significant intervention : the ever helpful VBCW 'backstory'. Hence can be presented - the Elstree Industries "Mongrel" day bomber (although actual manufacture may have been sub-contracted to Messrs. Woolworths & Woolworths of Enfield) as designed by Elstree's most famous aircraft engineer, Sir Reginald B'stard (knighted in the 1938 Honours List for services to the VBCW aircraft industry). For those unfamiliar with his technical work (quite why he is ignored in almost all the 'history' books, in favour of Camm and Mitchell, remains a mystery), he is probably now best known for being the grandfather of that public spirited Member of Parliament of the 80s and 90s, Alan B'stard:

Alan B'stard MP, grand-son of the VBCW aircraft designer responsible for the Elstree "Mongrel"

The Elstree Mongrel, once introduced into VBCW service, will complement the RAF's existing "heavy transport/bomber" fleet:

This well armed transport was recently seen in action at The Second Battle of Shobdon

A squadron of RAF Heavy Bombers at an airfield "somewhere in the West Midlands".
(The model is a "snaptite egg scale" Lancaster by Meng Kids)

AIRCRAFT(5) THE KING'S VENOM

From "British Aviation : Ominous Skies" by Harald Penrose (p.92):

"The full panopoly of the [aircraft] industry's latest designs was on view at the A&AEE Martlesham Heath on 8th July [1936] when the King [Edward VIII], in RAF uniform, accompanied by Air Chief Marshall the Duke of York, make a tour of four stations of his Air Force. In his Royal Rapide, piloted by Flt. Lt. "Mouse" Fielden, he flew first to Northolt to inspect the Fury and Gauntlet Fighter Squadrons, then visited No.11 Flying Training School at Wittering, afterwards to Mildenhall to inspect Hind and Heyford Bomber Squadrons, and so to the A&AEE ["Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment"] where he was received by Air Commodore R.H.Verney and the Station Commander, Grp. Capt. A.C. "Cissie" Maund. On the tarmac, backed by the original World War 1 hangars, were the Spitfire, Hurricane and Venom, all with gun muzzles aggressively protruding, the hitherto unrevealed Bristol Blenheim medium bomber, Westland Lysander, Fairey Battle, Vickers Wellesley, Vickers Wellington, Handley Page HP52 Hampden (nicknamed the 'flying panhandle') and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. The King went aboard the Wellington and received a dissertation on gun turrets, spending five minutes personally operating the nose turret. Thereafter, Sqn Ldr "Ted" Hilton, Officer commanding the bomber Test Flight, demonstrated the Blenheim, and Sqn Ldr D.F. Anderson, Officer commanding the fighter Test Flight, flew the Spitfire. Reported Flight [magazine]:

'The Spitfire roared past the Royal Standard at well over 300mph, followed by the Blenheim, the speed of which was a revelation of what a modern monoplane bomber can do. We certainly have a bomber which can outfly any fighter in service in the world today....'"[note1]

The only Blenheim prototype, K-7033, which had made its first flight only in June 1936, just weeks before
Edward VIII's inspection tour.

Blenheim Mk.1 and Spitfire in company. A view Edward VIII may well have had on 8th July 1936.

British Pathe, as ever, was on hand to film Edward VIII's inspection of the Fury and Gauntlet fighter squadrons at Northolt - see HERE - but it appears (perhaps for security reasons) that they were not invited along to Martlesham Heath to film the new generation of fighters "all with gun muzzles aggressively protruding" - Spitfire, check; Hurricane, of course; Venom.....Venom? What on earth was a Venom?

A contemporary cigarette card gives a good view of the Vickers Venom prototype
"painted in cream for exhibition purposes...with RAF roundels". The marking
PVO-10 was a "Private Venture" registration, and the Venom would subsequently
be marked with a large "3" on the fuselage (although there was only ever "1" prototype).
The "3" designation was used at the 1936 Hendon Air Display as the aircraft's "new types
number", enabling the public to identify it from the list of aircraft

within their display programmes.

The 1937 popular "part work" magazine, "Aero Engineering" carried a data sheet on the Vickers
Venom and the (now, not then) better known Vickers Wellington 1....

....and here is that 'Data Sheet', with the prototype Venom photographed with its fuselage "3".
 For the 1937 readers of "Aero Engineering", the Venom was just
 one of the RAF's new eight gunned interceptor fighters...

An earlier colour scheme for the Venom, which was unveiled in 1936 "in natural polished metal
and silver dope on the fabric control surfaces" at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors display.
This display took place at De Havilland's airfield at Hatfield.

Regular readers of the blog will recall the mystery aircraft captured on film ("just after the prototype Spitfire") at the 1937 Hendon Air Display - see this earlier BLOGPOST. Whilst there has been some (VBCW) speculation that the mystery aircraft was an "Elstree Aeronautics prototype", in fact it has now been positively identified as the Vickers Venom in flight.

Which takes us back to the VBCW, and the 2020 Modelling Challenge. Once our piece of "cheep Chinese plastic" - with its prominent radial engine - is converted into a monoplane (a matter of seconds), it makes for a pretty fair (well, at least with a fair wind) wargamers' resemblance to the "Vickers Venom". The Venom was, after all, the ultimate British development of a radial engined fighter (powered by the Bristol Aquila as opposed to the Spitfire's inline Rolls Royce Merlin), and the model competition field is threadbare - there has only ever been one 1/72 kit of the plane, the now very OOP Magna Models metal and resin version:

The Magna Models 1/72 kit assembled and painted by
Peter Burstow. See:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/preww2/gb/burstven.htm

In any event, why did the Venom remain only a prototype and not go into production? Why was it Spitfires and Hurricanes defending our shores in 1940 - and, given the hopes and illustrations of 1936/1937, not fleets of nimble Venoms? [note2]. Some of the factors that seem to have told against the Venom were:

(1). Supermarine, the manufacturers of the Spitfire, was a subsidiary of Vickers, the proposed manufacturer of the Venom. The same congolomerate producing two different designs for the same role, i.e. fighter interceptor, would have been somewhat problematic; particularly as Supermarine had well known issues with Spitfire production that required urgent resolution by management;

(2). apart from Spitfire manufacture via its Supermarine subsidiary, Vickers was also producing the Wellington bomber. It's production was at full capacity, which would have meant the Venom either being produced under licence, or by a sub-contractor, or an entirely new 'shadow factory' being constructed. None of these were straightforward prospects;

(3). there were significant "cut out and fade out" problems with the powerplant around which the Venom had been designed, the Aquila AE-3S radial engine, which problems were never really resolved;

(4). the Venom lacked all armour protection. While "the possibility of fitting 600 pounds of armour to the Venom was...briefly investigated" it was "swiftly dismissed as the airframe would have to be completely redesigned to take the additional weight".

These problems saw the Venom relegated swiftly from its once prominent position as part of the 'new generation' of British fighters. However, there was a flurry of "fresh interest" in the Venom programme in mid-1937, apparently based on its relative cheapness, prospective ease of manufacture and maintenance, and the possibility of sub-contracting manufacture to enable potential sales to friendly foreign countries. This "last flurry" died out soon enough, however, and the British aircraft industry instead concentrated entirely on the Spitfire and Hurricane.....

But as for the VBCW......all these same factors - cheapness, ease of manufacture and maintenance, sub-contract manufacture - combined to make the Vickers Venom highly attractive as a fighter plane for the contending factions, and 1938 soon saw a number of 'shadow factories' set up by both the RAF and the BUF, the latter particularly designed to supply "Air Wings" for use on newly acquired carriers such as the Charles A. Lindbergh....

Notes:

[1]. The maximum speed of the Blenheim was, in fact, 266mph (at 11,800ft). See HERE. Flight magazine's opinion was therefore mere puff - the Blenheim could not outfly the Spitfire, nor even the Hurricane Mk.1 (316mph at 16,200ft). In fairness, however, the Messerschmitt 109 was only introduced to the Luftwaffe some eight months later, in February 1937, and even then could not reach the Hurricane's speed until the introduction of the "E" series in late 1938/early 1939.

[2]. The Venom had a top speed of 312mph at 16,500ft, a service ceiling of 32,000ft and a rate of climb of 3,000ft a minute. It was therefore in the same class as the Hurricane Mk.1 in all respects, and quite as capable of dealing with a Blenheim. By way of contrast, it clearly outmatched the Gloster Gladiator (still in service during the Battle of France 1940 and, at least as to one squadron, the Battle of Britain, thereafter in Greece, the Middle East and Malta), which had a top speed of 253mph at 14,500ft and a rate of climb of 2,300ft a minute.

Additional Notes:

[1]. Edward "Mouse" Fielden's biography can be found HERE. For the Dragon Rapide of the King's Flight, see note 5 to this EARLIER BLOGPOST.

[2]. Air Commodore R.H.Verney's biography can be found HERE, and Group Captain "Cissie" Maund's HERE.

[3]. This page is particularly useful on the Vickers Venom, specifically on its potential use as a navalised fighter. This YouTube video demonstrates the Venom's undoubted ease of maintenance.

BAE Systems brief history of interwar Vickers experimental designs can be found HERE

AIRCRAFT (4) : PATHE NEWS AND ELSTREE AERONAUTICS

A link to the Pathe newsreel recording of the 1937 RAF Airshow at Hendon - but what aircraft appears so briefly at about 3.44, just after the prototype Spitfire [note1]? Could it perhaps be our own Elstree Aeronautics prototype, caught on contemporary camera?

See HERE

[Note 1] The first flight of the Spitfire was on 5th March 1936, but it was not introduced into service until 4th August 1938. The 1937 Hendon Airshow took place in May 1937.

AIRCRAFT (3) MORE COLOURFUL INTERWAR TYPES

Continuing our look at interwar types (and colourful camouflage schemes) to inspire conversion and painting of our "piece of cheep Chinese plastic":

The Amerikanskis must not be allowed to have all the
best camouflage schemes! A Polikarpov I-15bis in the
service of Comrade Colonel Professor Winters taxis
into the wind at Shobdon Airfield....

...while this Polikarpov I-16 Rata is preparing to land, fresh from combat in the skies of Spain.
A retractable undercarriage (the first in operational service) solves any undercarriage
problems for the modeller!

The Henschel 123B is the German effort, retaining a biplane configuration but
with a 'big radial engine'

while the Gloucester Gauntlet might be the choice for the Royalist faction looking
for a top "Interceptor Fighter". The Gauntlet was the fastest aircraft in the RAF
from 1935 to 1937 (top speed 229 mph - compared to the slightly later Spitfire Mk.1's
top speed of 355mph!!) and the chequerboard patterns are an open invitation
to a courageous modeller with too much time on his hands...

whatever the choice of type and camouflage, completion of the 2020 Modelling Challenge ("Aircraft and Anti-Everything") by Ebay purchase of our piece of "cheep Chinese plastic" should give the VBCW
modeller enough planes for "full Squadron manoeuvres" over the battlefield!

AIRCRAFT (2) "COLOURFUL INTERWAR TYPES"

A brief pictorial of a few interwar aeroplanes that the "Elstree Aeronautics" (piece of cheep Chinese plastic) plane, the subject of the Modelling Challenge 2020, might be slightly converted or simply painted to represent (before you visit Specsavers, of course):

An Elstree Aeronautics Biplane lands on the deck of HMS Argos somewhere in the Irish Sea, in 1938.
. Or a Blackburn Shark lands on the deck of HMS Illustrious sometime in the late 1920s. Only
careful photo analysis can tell the difference...... 

A Severesky P35 in American service. A classic "silver wing". It is possible that some of these made
 their way to the Herefordshire VBCW - or that Elstree Aeronautics had the design "in mind"
when producing their own monoplane air superiority fighter. A simple colour
scheme, nonetheless.

The venerable Airfix kit of the Brewster Buffalo. First released in 1972 (retailing at 19p!),
this was not one of Airfix's better efforts. Indeed, working on a modern piece of
cheep Chinese plastic may very well be preferable, and could even produce a
 result somewhat closer to the historic "Buffalo". A classic WW2 RAF camouflage scheme.

The same monoplane in US Navy service - a classic "yellow wing".
The Hereford Automobile Association might be fond of these...

US Army interwar "camouflage scheme"(??) on a Boeing P-26 Peashooter.
With the big radial engine and a minimum of "upper fuselage work", a reasonable
representation of this could be made from your "cheep Chinese plastic" order.
As previously noted, it is very easy to convert it from biplane configuration
to monoplane configuration, and the "bubbletop cockpit canopy" could
be easily cut and/or filed down. The only problem might be the fixed
landing gear (in spats) on the Peashooter........ 

....so you could keep the biplane configuration and go for an early Curtiss Helldiver instead
 (wheels retracting into the fuselage, requiring only to be painted on the model)

or, still with the biplane, one of these colourful Boeing F4Bs...

AIRCRAFT (1) - REACH FOR THE VBCW SKY

A consequence of (1). the cancellation of the Spring Big Game 2020 by reason of Covid-19 and (2). the substitution of the Autumn Big Game 2020 by our "Away Team" support for Tym and Tom's "Evesham Remembered"October VBCW extravaganza in Shrewsbury is that there will (we now realise) be no opportunity for distribution of this year's piece of "cheep Chinese plastic" as part of the 2020 Modelling Challenge - "Aircraft and Anti-Everything"

So, in the best VBCW manner, private initative and self help will have to suffice! Here is the latest Chinese plastic find, still available very cheeply on Ebay:

A vaguely 1930s looking bi-plane, one of a pack of six (yes, six), this
one having the most military colour (a truly puce green)

Same style of plane, different angle and colour scheme.
Clearly one of the "aircraft of the aces". 

Same style of plane again, but this one has to be turned
over as the luminescent yellow is just so ghastly. Still,
a decent shot of the underside. Note the too thick "sub-
Matchbox" wheels that will have to be removed (at least
IMHO) and substituted with something from the Bitzbox.
Ideally, the whole plane should be disassembled to remove
the clockwork-like gubbins within that drive the
same wheels (and incidentally makes a useful basis for
an Anti Tank Gun chassis or similar, but that's a different
modelling challenge). Starting dis-assembly requires
removing the small "nosecone", taking off the
propellor, and then prising the fuselage halves apart -
pretty simple stuff.. The plane is made of 'hard' plastic
rather than the soft 'rubbery' stuff which is the death
of so many 'cheep' projects.

The full squadron of six in all their multi-coloured glory.
Dimensions are as given, which scales the plane nicely
with various 1/72 "historical" types.

Such cheep plastic biplanes are all over Ebay right now (and have been for at least a year) - just search against "plastic toy plane" and seek out your preferred supplier of a squadron (the Chinese suppliers are markedly the cheapest, but delivery is not always guaranteed via the postal service; UK suppliers will be more expensive, sometimes markedly so. Make sure you're buying six and not just one, at least for the best deal per unit).

The really good news is that it is really easy to convert the biplane into a monoplane - the top wing simply lifts off, and the locating pegs on the lower wing are easy enough to cut/grind/sand down. With a bit of sanding and cutting, suitable camouflage painting and, well, squinting, your modelling result should resemble something that could have been used in the VBCW, say a Blackburn Shark (if in biplane configuration), or a cross between a Boeing P26A Peashooter/Severesky P-35/Brewster Buffalo (if in monoplane configuration). Anything with a big radial engine at the front, really. Order and enjoy!

MODELLING CHALLENGE 2020 (Part 2)

The Bishop's Broadcasting Service has published an article that may prove useful for intending 1938 aircraft modellers (and perhaps nostalgic cigarette smokers) : Cigarette Card RAF.

MODELLING CHALLENGE 2020 - AIRCRAFT AND ANTI EVERYTHING !

With the results of the 2019 Modelling Challenge having been announced and planning for the Spring Big Game 2020 well advanced, it's time to introduce the Modelling Challenge 2020....

This time, the Modelling Challenge falls into two parts.

Keeping up our tradition (well, we did it this time last year) of being wholly non-exclusive and not-at-all-proud purveyors of "cheep Chinese plastic stuff", the Umpires will have ten VBCW(ish) semi-scale aircraft models (produced by Elstree Aeronautics, a newly discovered division of the famous VBCW tank manufacturer) to provide FREE to players at the Spring BIG GAME 2020! That's right, FREE and first come, first served - judging by the 2019 Modelling Challenge, if you don't claim your aircraft model, then Roo and Alan will start factory production of the remaining excess, resulting in fleets of fighter bombers appearing over your head at the BIG GAME thereafter....

That's right. It's part of the Modelling Challenge tradition (well, we've done it for the last two years) that "whatever is produced can be played" as an addition to your usual Platoon assets. Judging from Alan and Roo's tank production (see the previous blog post), it looks like they will have a serious amount of armour to "put in play" at the Spring BIG GAME 2020. Such tank "brigades" might even overwhelm the Umpires' abilities to make up rules to keep everything balanced and within VBCW bounds.....

And there's more. Intelligence suggests that His Majesty's Government have diverted a serious amount of air power to the Spring BIG GAME 2020 (which may or may not be early production runs from Elstree Aeronautics). It looks like this time Mosley and the King really mean business. What can possibly stop them?

So the second part of the Modelling Challenge 2020 is the independent model manufacture of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry: in fact, any kind of "anti" weaponry that a player can make up from odd figures and his (or her) "bits box" (or, for those who prefer shopping, wallet and paintbrush). If you make and paint an entry for the 2020 Modelling Challenge, you can play it (subject to consultation with the Umpires on rules, etc.) and (obviously) the more VBCW-ish the idea (and back story), the better.

Not that any "anti-weaponry" need be anything too elaborate or expensive:

Comrade Professor Winters' notorious Anti Tank Team take out an Automobile Association tank.
Simply two figures slightly converted (with crowbars) and painted with identifiable headgear. 

"Mad Wullie" McSpaniel, Sir Gilbert Hill's tank hunter. An odd figure from the bits box.
His thoroughly entertaining back story can be found on Sir Gilbert's Blog, HERE 

"Mad Wullie" in (explosive) action. The defenders are likely to need lots of "Mad Wullies" (or his like)
 at the Spring BIG GAME 2020.

Not that even a figure is needed. Here the Government defenders at the "Bridge over Trebbbled Water" game
use a fuel truck to spread oil on troubled waters (and then set light to it)....

...although you can be elaborate (and 1930s pulpy) if you wish. These are experimental "sonic dischargers"
produced by the Cathedral School 6th Form (and Physics Department). They have clearly set out their
campaign motto in front of them......

In contrast, the motto of the 2020 Modelling Challenge.
The only limit on entries is your imagination and
sense of "the VBCW". Although not everything
explosive may be a good idea....

An American inspired "crotch mortar" undergoes preliminary field testing.
Back to the drawing board...

Thus, the 2020 Modelling Challenge, "Aircraft and Anti-Everything". It's about ten weeks to the Spring BIG GAME 2020 (see blogposts to come) and thus the "Anti-Everything" items come first (don't worry if you're traditionally a BUF or HMG player, and likely to be "an attacker" the 2020 Game: there will be lots of subsequent opportunities to deploy your "Anti-" creations). At the Spring BIG GAME 2020, please take away an aircraft model (or more if there are any left) to complete the Challenge......