On Patrol Over The Danube

NARSES2 · February 11, 2014, 06:45:51 AM

Right firstly here's the general background.

This not an alternative history , indeed there are more holes in it then in Madame Zara's tights, but simply a scenario to allow me, and anyone else who wishes to, to build some models.

June 28th 1914 and the Archduke Ferdinand's driver was just about to turn right when the irate A.D.C. sitting next to him pointed out the error of his ways and a rather chastened and bruised driver resumed the correct route. Latter that day Bosnian police arrested a certain Gabriel Princep initially on a vagrancy charge but who was later to be found guilty of association with known terrorist groups and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He was released early in 1920 during a general amnesty to mark the coronation of Karl I. Thus on such small events can history be changed.

Franz Ferdinand eventually came to the throne in November 1916 in an event that was not widely celebrated and his death 3 years latter in great Flu pandemic was not greatly mourned.

This event would prove to be a pivotal moment in Austro Hungarian history as it allowed the succession to the throne of the young, well liked and liberal (at least from a A.H. perspective) Karl to succeed to the throne far earlier then expected.

One of the historical problems for the Empire had been language, with a huge proportion of officers speaking a language, German, which their men didn't understand. This was corrected to some extent by two measures introduced by Karl in the early years of his reign. He had spent some time in India as a young man and admired the system used in the then Indian Army. Thus any Austrian officer who wished for rapid promotion was expected to learn one other of the Empire's many languages in order to better communicate with the men under his command. The second of Karl's key reforms was to introduce free and compulsory schooling up to the age of 13, latter 14. Here all children would learn basic German as a second language to their own native tongue thus enabling people from different parts of the Empire to communicate.

These reforms caused some consternation among the Old Guard but this was solved by the simple expedient of promoting then to positions with grandiose titles but which in reality proved to have no real power other then to be able to appoint your own ADC or secretary, and in some cases even that was denied.

The other major reform which was far more fundamental had in fact had been started by his predessor Ferdinand,and Karl simply speeded the process up. This was the federalisation of the Empire. Hungary had been given it's own parliament and internal independence in the 19th Century and this system was slowly rolled out through the rest of the Empire. Bohemia-Moravia received Federal status in the mid 1920's, with Poland getting it during the 1940's. This meant that to all intents and purposes the federal provinces ruled themselves internally whilst the central Imperial government dealt mainly with Foreign and Military matters. The Provinces had a right to be consulted on these matters and sent delegates to a National Parliament.

On it's formation the Empires Air Force was considered a professional force from the beginning. As such German was to be the language of the air and it was expected that all aircrew would be fluent in the tongue. National and regional languages were permitted on base but all prospective aircrew had to pass a German proficiency test. This procedure was soon adopted by all of the more technical arms. The fear of another Austerlitz misunderstanding still pervaded the AH armed forces.

NARSES2 · February 11, 2014, 06:53:16 AM

Now the model

Phoenix Ph 63 Rabe (Raven) patrol bomber of the 6th Sqd, 3rd Division Imperial Austro Hungarian A.F. on the southern border during the 4th Balkan War, 1943.

Whilst not directly involved in the seemingly endless series of Balkan Wars Austro Hungarian forces maintained constant vigilance along the southern border with Serbia. Indeed given the political situation and ever changing pattern of alliances in the area A.H. Forces in the area remained on constant readiness.

Developed in the late 1930's the Rabe had been developed into an effective light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft and was to remain in A.H. service until 1946 when it was replaced by more powerful aircraft.

Like most A.H. aircraft it wears a simple scheme of black green over sky blue with national markings in the usual places. The fact that this aircraft has a green tail band indicates that she belongs to a Hungarian squadron. (Red for Austrian, blue for Czech and yellow for Polish squadrons)

Kit is the old Heller one which went together fairly well despite its age. Paints are my usual mixture of Xtracrylic, Lifecolour and Humbrol. The markings were either hand painted in the case of the wing markings, from the spares box for the numbers etc , whilst the Hungarian coat of arms used for the fuselage marking by A.H. forces came from a Pegasus sheet for A.H. aircraft of W.W.I.

Overall an enjoyable project and now I have these Balkan Wars established in my alternative timeline it's an area of modelling I will be returning to.

McGreig · February 13, 2014, 04:51:03 AM

I like this - the colour scheme really suits the ~~Karas~~ sorry, Rabe. And I've always liked the Karas - it's not ugly, it's purposeful and rugged

Makes me feel that I should dig my long projected Soviet version out of the stash

The Rat · February 13, 2014, 05:47:16 AM

Sweet little bit o' work there!

Librarian · February 13, 2014, 07:05:27 AM

That's a very nice model of an aircraft I've always wanted to build

. Was the dark green a mix or an established colour? Looks a bit like IJN Green (Nakajima). I feel tempted now to have a go at the Mirage 1/48 Karas, scared by the multi-media aspect tho.

NARSES2 · February 13, 2014, 07:37:25 AM

Quote from: Librarian on February 13, 2014, 07:05:27 AM
That's a very nice model of an aircraft I've always wanted to build . Was the dark green a mix or an established colour?

The dark green is Lifecolor RLM 70 straight from the pot.

NARSES2 · February 13, 2014, 07:40:03 AM

Quote from: McGreig on February 13, 2014, 04:51:03 AM
And I've always liked the Karas - it's not ugly, it's purposeful and rugged Makes me feel that I should dig my long projected Soviet version out of the stash

Yup, I've a soft spot for mid/late 30's types. They do look as though they were sculpted from the solid sometimes.

I've another 2 Heller kits in the stash and one is going to be a A.H. naval torpedo bomber. Land based in Dalmatia but without the underneath gondola. Might give her a 3 bladed prop as well.

kitbasher · February 13, 2014, 08:39:46 AM

Delightful

Never struck me before when looking at pics of the Karas how much like a low-wing Lysander it looks (ventral fairing excepted). Lizzie+Hurricane wings+Stuka spats = nearly a Karas.

NARSES2 · February 14, 2014, 07:08:52 AM

Now you have me thinking of a Lysander with gondola ? I'll have a gondola spare when I make my naval Rabe (Karas)

kitbasher · February 14, 2014, 07:46:36 AM

I've an Airfix Lizzie in the stash and some really old Revell Hurricane wings in the spares box.....mmmm, just need some Ju87 spats.

What to do with the Aeroclub resin Mercury engine, though? Aha! Fit it to an Airfix Devastator.

Need an Airfix Devastator.

You see, there's always a catch!

NARSES2 · February 15, 2014, 12:15:16 AM

I'm going to try and get a Lizzie at Hudders. The plan is that she lost out to "whatever" for the RAF role and Westland's marketed her as a general purpose type on the continent. The Bulgarian's ask for a gondola and get one

kitbasher · February 15, 2014, 07:06:32 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on February 14, 2014, 07:46:36 AM
I've an Airfix Lizzie in the stash and some really old Revell Hurricane wings in the spares box.....mmmm, just need some Ju87 spats.

D'oh! No I don't I just modify the Lizzie spats! (slaps head).

Weaver · February 15, 2014, 05:11:13 PM

That looks great - I've always liked the Karas too.

aston · February 16, 2014, 08:34:58 AM

Quote from: Weaver on February 15, 2014, 05:11:13 PM
That looks great - I've always liked the Karas too.

Me too .... a funky plane and that layout has a cosy, comradely feeling ...... as did the Avenger?

Sort of saying, " I got your back! (and your bottom too) ..... very reassuring!

aston · February 16, 2014, 08:48:13 AM

"June 28th 1914 and the Archduke Ferdinand's driver was just about to turn right when the irate A.D.C. sitting next to him pointed out the error of his ways and a rather chastened and bruised driver resumed the correct route."

The Top Gear team should do a series of sketches - How simple alternative motoring What If decisions could have changed History ..... Next week - Dallas 1963