Recently I took part in a game based on the Battle of the Somme organised by Funny Little Wars author Mr PW. It took place in a garden somewhere in Eastern England and featured upwards of 200 54mm toy soldiers. I took quite a few photos so I'll spread them over three or four posts.. This post will cover the initial air phase.
Above - the British airfield. The aircraft are 1/32ish scale. Also featured is my Hucks starter truck which you may recall from this
earlier post.
British divisional HQ and aid post. The ambulances are die casts while the command bus is the
ghastly Airfix kit.
The field of battle. The total playing area was about 4 metres by 10.
Part of the German front line. I built the dodgy trench sections myself while the (Atlantic Wall) bunker is an Italeri 1/72 plastic kit.
The Royal Flying Corps took to the skies to give the German positions a looking at. This Sopwith Camel is masquerading as a recce flight.
The Brits also had a pair of observation balloons. Any resemblance to a plastic bottle covered in hastily-painted paper is entirely coincidental...
The wicked Germans were also aloft. This delightful two-seater Albatross had been bodged by PW.
The sinister German observation balloon...
...complete with sinister observer (a 28mm figure).
A load of Fokkers over the lines. At least I think that's what my observer said.
More RFC recce. This one is a 1/72
Oxford Diecast DH4 standing in for something rather less sophisticated.
As it crossed the German lines the DH was assailed by a pair of Fokkers...
...and while it was hit, the observer had a go with his gun...
...and hit a Fokker!
Meanwhile the other British recce plane had been hit by AA fire - known as 'Archie' in this era - as it crossed the lines. As you'll by now have guessed, the ground to air fire was replicated by party poppers. It works!
Down it goes! This is another lovely Oxford Diecast model, this time a Bristol Fighter.
Happily the pilot survived and is seen here being led off for drinks in the German mess.
12 comments:
Looks like great fun- party poppers fom AAA is inspired.
Cheers,
Pete.
I thought a genuine opportunity was missed when you decided to ignore "The Puns of August".
Deadly stuff that Archie!
A great game, and the nice surroundings
But what about players,
maybe they can go mess too, after the game...
Pete
Just another 'weird but it works' game mechanism.
Conrad Kinch
Ah yes, but I knew you could be relied on to intervene...
Brian Carrick
The casualty rate among flyers was certainly quite high!
Maximex
Fear not - tea and buns were enjoyed by the players!
Will it be over by Christmas ? , Tony
The Good Soldier Svjek
I hope so - I can see that garden being a bit chilly come December.
very cool, nice variety of stuff on display Tim
I loved your use of party poppers- great idea.
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