Black 13

 For a long time now I have wanted to add more interesting scatter terrain to my tables and a downed aircraft has been on the list for a couple of years since diving into WWII. I looked around for quite a time for a cheap 1/72 plastic kit to destroy but eventually settled on a proper, but more expensive 1/48 kit as these reputedly look better on the ground while 1/72 is fine for a quick run across a crowded battlefield. I have always had a soft spot for the BF109 but instead decided to go for something different, so I ended up with a FW190A3, yes, that guy, will be able to point and say that Mark didn't come out until 1400 hrs, August 12th '43 so your whole set up is wrong, well I don't care.

The kit arrived pretty quick and it is the first aircraft kit I have built in easily 50+ years, it was fairly straightforward with a surprisingly small number of pieces compared to say Rubicon tanks etc. At this point I had to make my mind up just how badly the aircraft had hit the deck, not being a proper modeller I decided the pilot had got it down without too much of a problem. There is a BF109 in the IWM Duxford which crashed in 1940 without even a bullet hole in it, this was my inspiration. I made a small raised platform of earth from some tissue soaked in plaster, then some ridges leading to the crash site which no doubt the propellers had gouged out. I soaked the props in hot water and bent two of them. The base was then painted a dark brown and drybrushed with a lighter shade, tufts and flowers were added along with static grass, it was now ready for the plane.

I do not have a problem with portraying things as historically accurate as possible, having a swastika flag on an early war tank as an air recognition symbol or the same design on the tail of any Luftwaffe aircraft does not make the owner a card carrying member of the NSDAP in my book. I was quite surprised therefore to find the swastika on the decal sheet, but this saved me buying a sheet or painting it myself. I do have a couple of things which are beyond the pale for me as a wargamer but that's my business.

 Moving swiftly on I chose a generic mid war colour scheme, the decals were for three different pilots so I attempted a nice set with a large black eagle along the front fuselage, I quickly ruined that so moved on to a less difficult one, if you want to know it is an aircraft from JG2. I added a bit of dirt, grass and smoke stains to the whole thing and then some bullet holes, not a lot, just enough to suggest either the engine gave up or the pilot was wounded. And there you go, a nice addition to my scatter terrain and a warning not to get into building model aircraft and to stick to tanks.

Club again last night and my alter ego once again commanding HMS Achilles with two new small ships, HMS Juno and HMS Jupiter (both the names of Leander frigates I had hoped to get as my first ship back in 1970 but did not). Simon was in command of the second squadron, again one frigate and two brigs, a large Spanish merchantman had run aground on a small island near a Spanish coastal fort, the ship contained important cargo and an unspecified amount of silver. A small Spanish squadron was anchored near the fort and a powerful French force of two frigates and a brig had just arrived in the area as the British bore down on their objective. I made straight for the grounded vessel and had a rude awakening as several very large broadsides erupted from the 'lame duck', Jupiter took the burnt of it losing a gun and most of her command cut down on the quarterdeck, I decided to keep the ship back from the main action and proceeded with Achilles and Juno.

 I took more damage as I closed with the Esmerelda but was now in a position to pass her stern and rake the whole ship with both of mine, just as I was congratulating myself I had inadvertently got too close to the fort and again Juno suffered a couple of hits. No matter, as I tacked to come back around the Spanish merchant suffered more raking fire and burst into flames striking her flag as the crew leapt off for shelter on the small island. Simon meanwhile had engaged the Frenchies and was giving as good as he got, the pendulum shifted as the Spanish squadron now joined the action and one of his brigs went to Davy Jones' locker. The Sea Wolf meanwhile now began to close and added the fire of Achilles and Juno to the battle, signals also brought Jupiter back into the fight and a desperate battle ebbed and flowed. One French frigate struck but was then boarded by one of their brigs to put backbone back into the crew but all it did was put these ships out of action as they argued on the ruined deck. Broadsides from my ships now forced a Spanish brig to strike, just as they were pulling their flag down Simon's flagship blew up as flames reached her magazine, on the nearby island the merchant also erupted and the force of these explosions sent the surrendering brig to the bottom. The upshot was that the French were left with one almost fully functioning frigate and a brig while the Spaniards were left with two badly damaged ships and were intent on running with the wind. 

 If we had had time I think we would have taken or sunk both the remaining Spaniards and then either made our escape or taken on the Frenchie, but I think we would have lost Jupiter and Simon's remaining brig was in no state to stay in the battle. So a win of sorts for the Royal Navy, despite the odds being against us we had destroyed the Esmerelda so that no one was going to benefit from her cargo. It would seem the hope of a dukedom for the Sea Wolf will have to wait for another day.

I have to head south to the big Smoke or nearby for the weekend and although I hate driving south I am not wearing a mask on public transport for anyone so will simply get on with it, I am now looking forward to the three day break and will eat, drink and be merry despite my natural inclination to be dour.

Because I am heading south I had to cancel the game I had lined up for Sunday, but I have managed to salvage this and will fight it tonight as Fran has agreed to come round this evening. The scenario is a 'what if' based on the battle of Chickamauga in 1863. Breckinridge's division at the southern end of the battlefield was ready to attack an unprepared Union line but was subsequently drawn out of the line and sent north. Could Breckinridge have crushed the Union flank and then turned and rolled up the main line, who knows, but we should know tonight. I visited Chickamauga nearly 30 years ago, a well looked after battlefield and hardly touched by modern times.

Typical terrain at Chickamauga