A corner of a garden somewhere in Eastern England is forever Spain. Bertrand and I played this game in early September as a try-out of some ideas we've been working on. The scenario was loosely based on the Republican attack on Gandesa during the battle of the Ebro in July 1938. See if you can guess which side I led.
Above, the peaceful(?) town of Gandesa.
The game opened with some air activity. Here a Fiat CR.32 escorts a Meridionali Ro.37 on a recce mission, while three I-16 Ratas try to spoil it all.
Meanwhile the rotten Reds launch a terror bombing raid agains the innocent residents of Gandesa...
..and columns of lorries rumble across a pontoon bridge.
Gently burning but still in flight, the Ro.37 turns for home. An yes, I did bodge it from a Swordfish kit.
The Commune De Paris battalion moves up. An assortment of figures sourced from at least six manufacturers' WW2, WW1 and ACW(!) ranges.
Of course being in such a nice line.....
...meant they were a splendid target for this pair of tri-motor bombers....
...which easily avoided this lone Rata
Much damage resulted.
Nationalist reinforcement move up - lorried infantry and the mighty tankettes!
Arriva Espana!
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the way such a variety of figures have been turned into very convincing SCW armies. The tanks and aircraft were also very impressive.
All the best,
Bob
Waiting intently for the next instalment
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff Tim- I loved seeing all the wonderful '30s aircraft.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Bob Cordery
ReplyDeleteBodging the figures for this was a very enjoyable little project. I had some of the aircraft already and rather worryingly there are more still to build!
Geordie
ReplyDeleteIt was a rather gripping game!
Pete
ReplyDeleteIt was an era which gave us some particularly memorable aircraft.
The SCW is one of those wars that would be very tempting to war game. What I've seen so far is compelling!
ReplyDeleteI recall a fine series of articles by one Robin Hunt (hope I haven't misremembered the name) in Military Modelling back in the mid-1980s, I think. I really had to put in a lot of effort to resist the temptation to begin another project...
Archduke Piccolo,
ReplyDeleteThe SCW is an intriguing war, with conflicting ideologies and political viewpoints within and between the two sides. It has long been one of my particular areas of interest, hence the writing of LA ULTIMA CRUZADA. Furthermore, your Italian troops for the North Africa campaign can be used with few changes to their ORBATs.
All the best,
Bob
Looks great Tim, first class bodgeing!
ReplyDeleteA fine outing and new life for the old Airfix Japanese figures, useful for so many things.
ReplyDeleteExcellent looking game, wish I could have been there, what did you make the tankettes in the last picture from?
ReplyDeleteArchduke Piccolo
ReplyDeleteIt’s a very interesting conflict and I remember the Robin Hunt series fondly.
Peter Douglas
ReplyDeleteOne endeavours to give satisfaction!
MIN manoftin
ReplyDeleteThe Airfix Japs are very versatile chaps. I’m currently bodging some into 1970s SWAPO militia.
Brian Carrick
ReplyDeleteNext time Brian? And shall I do a couple of posts next month about the toys and their (often dubious) origins?