Patchworld type WIF

[Dork the kit slayer]

                                                                    
 An alliance with Cheshire???........................................your havin a larf.                                                                  
                                                                   
                                           
During the short but bitter unpleasantness known as the great cat fight. ( The conflict over the Isle of Mann between Cheshire and Lancashire)

This "Liver" mercenary squadron was based at Squiresgate airbase (Blackpool) and carried the emblem of the Lodging house cats the resident Lancashire Air Infantry squadron  (a recognition of Blackpools boarding house history).The usual inscription of "use of cruet extra" being removed and the more aggressive humour of individual mercenary pilots being substituted.

( on this airframe 5Fred.."real cats ave tails"  Other aircraft used "wot you grinnin at?" and  "anytime la"and "don't start"

As a mercenary air power the markings on each Liver airframe were changed according to whom was paying the bill.
In this case the red rose of Lancashire being taken from the centre of the roundels and the crest of the Livers being substituted. This was the well known liver bird with the inscriptions  in scouse "you'll never leave your hubcaps alone. and allright allright kaarm down.(Taken from the national anthem) The Kelly green spinner and cockpit framing was replaced soon after deployment, this being a left over from previous service as a ferry escort between the Twin cities(Liverpool and Birkenhead)and friendly trading county partners in Ireland.






The black and white tail markings were used on all "Liver" mercenary aircraft as a recognition aid. Being mercenaries they were sometimes hired out to more than one side in a conflict. Their terms and conditions and code of ethics did not allow for conflict between two mercenary aircraft,so if they met each would withdraw and fight/attack non marked aircraft.

[Tophe]

Corsair of the (great!) Lancashire Air Force? Glory to what-if smiles...

[NARSES2]

Brilliant 

[ChernayaAkula]

So cool!  The camo scheme rocks BIG TIME! And that spinner looks great on the Corsair!

[Weaver]

Ha! Brilliant!  The cammo is excellent.

I like the idea of Liverpool-based mercs hiring out to the surrounding counties in time of war: the Free State would give them a ready haven to retreat to if the deal went pear-shaped, it's another way for MFS "Families" to earn money and it allows the counties to reinforce in time of war without having to pay the upkeep costs in time of peace.

The current, early 21st century status quo is that the Isle of Mann is independent, but part of the four-nation alliance that keeps the northern end of the Irish Sea relatively civilised. It's navy is subsidised by Cheshire since it's not practical for Cheshire to maintain one of it's own, unlike the other partners Lancashire and Ulster. the ties between Cheshire and Lancashire are dynastic in origin, their rulers coming from the same group of intermarried noble families, and practical in application since they need to co-operate in the Irish Sea situation, the (rare) long-distance rail line through the Warrington Gap, and in containing the Mersey Free State andthe People's Republic of Greater Manchester. Close co-operation really started over the rail line in the 19th century and was firmed up by the need for a (belated) co-ordinated response to the Manchester Revolution of 1918.

However, no alliance is ever entirely smooth, so you could imagine a brief spat over the IOM. Maybe it was actually over the terms of the latter's entry to the Irish Sea arrangement, or perhaps (now here's a thought!) the IOM went "Soft-Fascist" during the 1930s trend for such things, and during the Germanic wars (right time frame for the prop-job) Lancashire caught them co-operating with other Fascist states and Cheshire refused to believe it. If a large percentage of both side's militaries was off in Germany, that would explain the use of mercs rather nicely.

BTW, Cheshire's premier 1FI (1st Fighter Interceptor) squadron is called the "Cheshire Cats" ("Pouting/Preening/Posing Pussies" behind their backs... ) so lots of potential for residual aggro there.....

[Taiidantomcat]

Excellent work! Great concept and a superb looking model! 

[buzzbomb]

great finish and interesting camo scheme.

[Dork the kit slayer]

Thank you all.  How about someone doing something I can "fight" or have all those Cheshire cats turned to cheese making. LOL

[Weaver]

I have quite a few Cheshire aircraft planned (even started in one case) but they're all "modern era" jets I'm afraid. To get any of them started finished I need to find more hours in the day, find more days in the weekend and stop getting distracted by GBs.

[tigercat]

Maybe you could combine the 2 . Pirates GB  plus Mersey Free State = Hand in glove

[Weaver]

Nice idea, but I've already decided on something non-PW for Pirates GB which I really want to do.

[GTX]

 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

One of your best ever back-stories, bud, and I've heard so many of them.....  model is great - really like that 'Ghost' grey look, would have looked even better in Irish markings. Can't think why you didn't go with that idea 

Ian

[Dork the kit slayer]

would have looked even better in Irish markings. Can't think why you didn't go with that idea 

Ian

Bah humbug............................Im orf on me 'ols.  Bloody post office,Irish bloody decals mumble mumble