F-100 Super Sabre - Turkish Air Force

The ancient F-100 is now complete and sports Turkish markings over some rather 'pre-owned' paintwork.  Why Turkish?  Well let's just say that a few weeks ago Bertrand and I had a chat about the 1974 invasion of Cyprus....

The sweet Shmel of success? 2P26

This 2P26 Shmel - that’s a GAZ-69 with Sagger AT missiles - began life as a 1/43 scale fire tender, as seen in this earlier post. Feeling that my Warpact anti-tank forces needed some (but clearly not much) help, I set to work.

Having ‘cut and shut’ the plastic tilt, I built up the missile mount from scrap plastic. The rails were adapted from the rocket rails left over from a Matchbox Swordfish kit. The missiles are cut-down Sparrow missiles.

 A couple of bits of sprue were used to make the folded down frame which on the real one supports a canvas cover.

Pointy plastic plane perpetuation - part 1

It will come as no surprise to learn that I have a box of broken bits of 1/72 aircraft models. Ten weeks of lockdown finally forced me into lifting the lid to confront the horrors therein. The pair in this post are by no means the worst!
The Cold War warriors among you will have instantly identified an F-104 Starfighter and an F-100 Super Sabre[1]. Various loose bits were duly reattached and a black undercoat slapped on.

I opted for a ‘bare metal’ finish so the black was topped with a coat of Revell silver. The finish is intentionally rough as (a) it’s all these models deserve, and (b) for the role I have in mind they need to have a decidedly ‘pre-owned’ appearance. 

I’m not sure what make the Starfighter is but the Sabre is an ancient Revell kit - the evidence is embossed on the tail!

[1] although more than one correspondent incorrectly identified it as a MiG-19. Splash another friendly...

Don't Cry For Me - the truth at last! Falklands War Matrix Game - part 2

Here is the narrative of events from the game.

Turn 1

UK Task Force 1 sets sail for South Atlantic.  US agrees to provide satellite imaging of MEZ.  Argentina agrees to abide by Resolution 502 if UK ceases military preparations.  Chile declares neutrality and sends submarines to sea…

Turn 2

HMS Conqueror patrols with orders to sink Argentine warships breaching the MEZ.  TF1 arrives in S Atlantic.  Perez De Quela engages in intense but unsuccessful shuttle diplomacy.  US Sixth Fleet exercises in Med distract Soviets.  Chile stays neutral.

Turn 3

US releases UK-based stores to UK military.  UK TF2 sails.  Galtieri declares his own ‘Zona de Exclusion Maritima’ around Las Malvinas.  Haig emerges from his private jacuzzi and visits Argentina to urge restraint.  Chile stays neutral.

Turn 4

US offers financial aid to Chile which is spent on extended manouevres on the Argentine border.  UK TF1 & TF2 rendevous in S Atlantic and move to NE of MEZ.  PDQ proposes a UN-sponsored Colonial Evaluation Process to investigate other small islands.  A small detachment of Royal Marines re-captures South Georgia.  “Rejoice” says Mrs T.

Turn 5

Haig holds a press conference (in his jacuzzi) to urge peace and gain publicity!  His rubber duck becomes a global media sensation.  PDQ supports call for peace.  Chile continues military exercises and invites in the worlds’ press.  Reagan offers UK the loan of USS Guam if the RN loses a carrier.  While carriers and escort linger in NE of MEZ, 3 Cdo Bde and 5 Inf Bde are landed at Goose Green under Sea Harrier cover.  RAF Vulcans (‘one’ according to UK ministry of defence, ‘thousands’ according to Galtieri) bomb the runway at Port Stanley.

Turn 6

British troops encounter Argentine defences in E Falkland and are hampered by poor weather.  Massive Argentine air raids sink an RFA a frigate and a Type 42 destroyer in Falkland Sound, while Exocets fired from Etendards badly damage the Atlantic Conveyor.  Chile requests helicopters from US in order to be ready for air sea rescue missions.  Pinochet especially requests AH-1 Cobra gunships as they are apparently especially suitable for the role…

Turn 7

3 Cdo Bde (“the best troops in the world”) defeats Argentine forces in E Falkland.  5 Bde advances on Port Stanley.  Haig licences rubber duck production and arrives, at Pinochet’s invitation, in Chile to meet the press and sample another jacuzzi.  Galtieri holds a press conference – Argentine destroyers are dispatched to Southern Ocean and border defences against Chile are strengthened.  Chile remains neutral.

Turn 8

Argentine morale on Falklands starts to collapse and while fighting continues in remote areas, Scots Guards enter Port Stanley and haul down the Argentine flag.  The Junta withholds the truth from the populace and a mass rally in Buenos Aries supports Galtieri.  Pinochet is awarded the Chilean Humanitarian Star.  He and Haig appear on the cover of Time magazine, hailed as men of peace and restraint.

So a broadly historical outcome which remained far from a forgone conclusion right to the end.  In turn eight, there were three arguments which basically said the Brits got to Port Stanley.  Two of them failed....