Last Wednesday night the Sheffield club was treated to another FLW game. Played on a 12x6 foot table, Lloyd's newly painted Army Black (aided by some Forbodian gunners and staff officers) faced Martin's Vulgarians - with some staff and artillery provided by Steve, who also commanded. Martin and I acted as 'technical advisers' to Steve and Lloyd respectively, and a number of other club members were allocated roles.
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Lloyd's army deployed for action. It consisted of 2 infantry battalions, a cavalry regiment, 3 machine guns and two field guns. |
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Lloyd opted for an early cavalry thrust down the right flank. |
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Steve brought along (and was desperate to use) his newly-repainted 18-inch Howitzer. This was the second most ridiculous toy used in the game... |
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The enemy had two infantry battalions, a cavalry regiment, a field gun and a heavy gun. |
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The game in progress |
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Vulgarian air support soon arrived in the shape of Steve's 1/32 scale Wright Flyer - which had been subjected to some field modifications... |
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The Flyer soon appeared above the front line - it is at the top of this alarmingly tall stand! |
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The Flyer's pilot - generously supplied with grenades - most ungentlemanly! |
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The pilot consults his instruments - and regrets not buying that £99 SatNav |
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After a successful opening barrage from Martin's 4.7 which did great damage to Lloyd's cavalry, the next shot bounced off the base of the aircraft stand and hit the Flyer! |
A short film clip of the 4.7 firing at the cavalry is here: Firing
Love the flyer. Was it ruled shot down? or do richochets not count?
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac
ReplyDeleteIt was shot down. There was a sad inevitability to the whole episode really!
A worthy aviation asset for the Vulgarian cause!
ReplyDeleteWhat year is this all based?
Great post!
Are you making us wait for 'the most ridiculous thing taking part' or are we to assume the flyer trumped the howitzer?!!?
ReplyDeleteHugh
Paul
ReplyDeleteIt's set in the period of the original 'Little Wars' - somewhere between 1900 and 1913 - and just before the 'Big War'....
Maverick Collecting
ReplyDeleteThe Flyer was the most outrageous toy, and the victim of the first of two entertaining 'friendly fire' incidents...
Would love to know more about the flyer, is it a kit or scratchbuilt?
ReplyDeleteshame the pilot didn't get to use his grenades.
I am very proud to be the first person to have shot down a plane with a matchstick firing cannon, even it was on our own side.
ReplyDeleteAs Tim says, there was a certain inevitability about it. Direct hits count, even from a ricochet.
Worse is to come....
Brian Carrick
ReplyDeleteI will ask Steve (the owner of the beast) to comment accordingly.
Martin Rapier
ReplyDeleteI've said it before - this aviation lark will never catch on!
Suggest to Steve that unless his howitzer appears with a team of at least two elephants or four oxen, then it is immobile. Those dainty little horses just don't cut it do they?
ReplyDeleteRegards, Chris
Chris Kemp
ReplyDeleteI undstand the Vulgarians obtained the limbers from an arms dealer of dubious repute. You may have had dealings with me, er I mean him, yourself...
Brian Carrick.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment re the flyer. Please see my post on Game report part 2.
Chris Kemp.
ReplyDeleteYou must understand that this is a Drakonian howitzer and limber team. The horses pull the enormous load because they were ordered to.
Look at the flyer!!!
How on earth does it stay aloft ??? ( yes I used that phrase on purpose )
It Flies because it has been ordered to.
Remember the words of Crown Prince Orlof. " Ask not what can your country do for you, just do as you are told".
If you would like to visit Drakonia, just look on any contemporary map and you will find it somewhere on the far right.