Boeing P-26 Peashooter’ - part 3

Of course, with a plane as small as a P-26 you can’t have just one!  For the second I opted for an overall green (Vallejo US Green, if it’s of interest) which in combination with the Chinese markings I think is rather striking. 
 

Island Life: Guadalcanal 1942 - part 1

This was a WW2 played last month in Sheffield.  Five of us gathered to push toys around.  I  had very loosely based the scenario on bits of the Guadalcanal campaign but disguised this in the payer briefings.

Thanks are due to all the players (Russell, Pete, Diego & John) for making it such a great game and to the first three for the use of their photos.

Doug wasn't here but I have the figure so it seemed only reasonable to have him striding ashore. 

Japanese briefing

Following Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor last December, our glorious forces have rapidly

extended the area under Imperial control. Recently the Imperial Navy has constructed an

airfield on the obscure island of East Pitkerro – part of the Mearns group. This will threaten

the supply route between the USA and Australia.

The American landing on the island a few days ago has seized the airfield approaches.

Retain or re-capture the airfield and expand the perimeter in order to make it useable for

Japanese forces.

The Jap forces amounted to a reinforced infantry regiment.

US briefing

Following Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor last December, Japanese forces have rapidly extended the area under their control. Intelligence has been received that the Japanese Navy has constructed an airstrip on the island of East Pitkerro (part of the Mearns group). This would threaten the supply route between the USA and Australia. It has therefore been decided to carry out a landing in reinforced division strength on the island. The landing will be facilitated by a large US fleet and a flotilla of specialized landing craft. The Japanese will be defeated by overwhelming force, using a combination of courage and technology.

Capture the airfield and expand the perimeter in order to make it useable for US forces.

US forces comprised a 2-battalion Marine regiment plus some supports.

Me taking photos while John lurks in the background

Japanese aviation gathers

A US battalion: 3 companies, 2 MG platoons, mortar plt, Assault detachment, HQ.

The action opened with a Japanese air raid

Initially all units were represented by cards and only revealed as they became visible.  Further cards were used to determine the order of play.

Boeing P-26 ‘Peashooter’ - part 1

I bought this kit recently as I have a game in mind. You’ll notice I haven’t claimed to ‘need’ this but I do at least have a vague justification for its acquisition.  

I remember this being launched as a Matchbox kit but mine came in Revell boxing. 

It was a pretty straightforward build with a pleasingly modest number of parts. 

I’ve also seen it in this style of Revell box. The US colour schemes are pretty wild but mine is destined for a different employer. 

Crumbling Corsair

 A welcome find in JB's box of treats was this old Airfix Corsair.  It was actually pretty solid and needed only paintwork and decals.

I went for an overall mid-blue finish.  Basic but effective.

Vindicator vindicated?

Here’s another recovery from July’s box of tricks. The Vindicator served from 1937 and was entertainingly referred to by crews as ‘vibrator’. I’m not sure what make the kit is - I don’t think Airfix made one. 

It’s had a full repaint and new decals and now looks - from several feet away - OK. 

How it was on arrival!

 

A double measure of Bells

 Hot on the heels of the US Spitfire come another two USAAF fighters - this time home-grown P-39 Aircobras.  These are again from the Partizan plane purchase so I neither built nor painted them.  As usual my role has been to effect a few repairs and apply a coat of varnish.  Amazingly both still have intact undercarriage - but I can’t see it lasting!  No idea what make the kits are, though I’m sure Airfix offered a P-39.  

USAF F-4 Phantom

The latest escapee from the now notorious Partizan Plane Purchase Pile is this rather nice F-4.  It was in good shape and aside from some minor repairs all I've done is slap on a top coat of varnish.  I particularly like the USAF Vietnam-era 3-colour camouflage - I'm just glad I didn't have to paint it myself!

I'm not sure what make the kit is - moulded in white plastic so Airfix or Revell perhaps?

F-4D Skyray

Remember the Partizan plane purchase?  Thought you'd seen it all?  Alas, there is plenty still to come!
Introduced in 1956, this unusual looking beast served the USN and USMC until only 1964.

I think this is the old Airfix kit.  It's clean design means that there was very little to break - even the undercart is still intact!

USS Intrepid & USS Growler

While in NYC in December we visited the USS Intrepid - a carrier - and it's smaller chum the submarine USS Growler.  You may also want to look again at Martin Rapier's post from November 2019 here.  I have more photos somewhere - I'll post 'em when they show up.

Luckily the Intrepid is decommissioned - as the bloke in charge looks like a bungling oaf!

On the hangar deck there is a nice model of the Intrepid - on closer inspection it turned out to be Lego!

Unusually (for a US carrier) the flight deck hosts a pair of MIGs  A 15 (above) and 21.

You can't go wrong with a Skyhawk.

Neatly folded Corsair

H-25 Army Mule helicopter

F-4J Fury, the navalised version of the F-86 Sabre

After a canter round the Intrepid it was off next door to the entertainingly named Growler.  Launched in 1958, this was the US Navy's first missile sub.  Think of it as basically a WW2 boat with a deck hangar holding four missiles.

Ah, the missiles.  Think V-1 with an ego.  I pity the poor buggers who had to fool around on deck preparing the things to launch.

Tamiya US gun & mortar set

I've had this venerable Tamiya set knocking about for a while now, so recently I released the parts into the wild and began assembly.  It's a useful 'top-up' to soft plastic figure sets which are fine for blokes with rifles, SMG and LMG but tend to be lacking anything heavier.  This set contains a .30 cal MG, a Bazooka, a 0.50 cal AAMG and a mortar, along with eight crew figures.

Like all of these Tamiya kits it all went together easily enough.  The paintwork is intended to help them fit in with my 54mm Airborne figures.