2014 Group Build discussion

[aston]

They still used signal flags in WWII. When my Dad was in the Habbaniya siege they had a small force of Rolls-Royce armoured cars to patrol the desert areas near the airfield and they had their signal flags clipped to the top of the turret. When the enemy was spotted they signalled back to base, often over quite a distance, to let them know wh what was happening. Apparently the vehicles never were fitted woth radio as there wasn't enough room on board!

Habbaniya .... that's fascinating - a pretty what-if real-life episode My father was guarding oil wells in northern Iraq around then.

(It has always seemed imo the American Civil War was an indication of what the First World War would then be like. Industrial warfare creating open-cast factories of slaughter.)

On possibilities of what might have been in WW1 ....... among the discussions of how much a danger to Europe Germany truly was, there was a detail about the Kaiser having a stone, perhaps marble seat or throne set up on a high place in Eastern Turkey looking toward central Asia. I don't know if he actually sat in it but with the personal instability of himself/German commanders, it's possible to imagine him having fantasies about following in the steps of Alexander and heading for India, entering the Great Game in Afghanistan .... an Asia Korps ? ..... Lawrence of Kandahar ? Biplanes at Bhagram ? Desert-colour lozenge camouflage? Zeppelins over the Swat Valley ?

[Geoff]

They still used signal flags in WWII. When my Dad was in the Habbaniya siege they had a small force of Rolls-Royce armoured cars to patrol the desert areas near the airfield and they had their signal flags clipped to the top of the turret. When the enemy was spotted they signalled back to base, often over quite a distance, to let them know wh what was happening. Apparently the vehicles never were fitted woth radio as there wasn't enough room on board!

Habbaniya .... that's fascinating - a pretty what-if real-life episode My father was guarding oil wells in northern Iraq around then.

(It has always seemed imo the American Civil War was an indication of what the First World War would then be like. Industrial warfare creating open-cast factories of slaughter.)

On possibilities of what might have been in WW1 ....... among the discussions of how much a danger to Europe Germany truly was, there was a detail about the Kaiser having a stone, perhaps marble seat or throne set up on a high place in Eastern Turkey looking toward central Asia. I don't know if he actually sat in it but with the personal instability of himself/German commanders, it's possible to imagine him having fantasies about following in the steps of Alexander and heading for India, entering the Great Game in Afghanistan .... an Asia Korps ? ..... Lawrence of Kandahar ? Biplanes at Bhagram ? Desert-colour lozenge camouflage? Zeppelins over the Swat Valley ?

This I am liking!!!!!!!!!!

[aston]

I'm bidding for pre-WW1 vehicles on ebay, doodling Ned Kelly-styled armoured cars and looking at Strelets cavalry (is this a good idea??). 

[Thorvic]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flyhawk-1-700-1300-German-Battlecruiser-Derfflinger-1916-/171214401306?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item27dd2c6f1a

New 1/700 plastic kit of the Imperial German Battlecruiser Deffflinger has just been released, that might be handy for WWI naval builds or the post 1919 imperial Navies, basis for an Imperial German Aircraft Carrier along the lines of the UK, Japan or US conversions perhaps ?

[NARSES2]

I'm bidding for pre-WW1 vehicles on ebay, doodling Ned Kelly-styled armoured cars and looking at Strelets cavalry (is this a good idea??). 

Yes 

[aston]

  ..... it was the Strelets cavalry I was wondering about - how useable they are. They look a bit trollish .... but I suppose it's what you do with them. Figures seem a very tricky area and rarely look entirely successful imo .... ??

Ebay - got one, lost four 

[Mossie]

There's a review of both sets on Plastic Soldier Review.  They get good overall reviews, but it seems to agree with you that the poses and moulding could be better.

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1566
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1884

[aston]

Thanks .... starting points + a fine file I guess .......

[NARSES2]

Thanks .... starting points + a fine file I guess .......

If they are soft plastic then a sharp knife rather then a file. Not sure if the old trick of putting them in a freezer would work anymore. Worked in the 60's with the old Airfix stuff until my mum found them in our tiny little freezer compartment on top of the fridge 

[NARSES2]

My first project is at the painting stage

[Dizzyfugu]

Just as a general info - for those who take part in the GB, there's the option for (more) fame & glory at starshipmodelers.com with the current model/diorama contest:

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/contest/contest.htm

[piko1]

looks like Balkans will become United States of Bulgaria to me  so well i can take a part with something  we will see

[NARSES2]

Ah Greater Bulgaria ? A return to the Dark Ages and the Bulgar/Byzantine Wars

[piko1]

well no  i mean something like first air force in Europe total dominance over the Balkans etc

[NARSES2]

Right