Kampfgeschwader 200 Crew

The Luftwaffe contingent are now ready for the big game in November. These chaps are under the command of Vagabond.

L-R: Leutnant Ernst Sabartovski, Fahnenjunker Günter Koch, Feldwebel Jürgen Zimmermann, Oberst Kurt Steiner, Staffelkapitän Peter Wilhelm Stahl, Stabsfeldwebel Wolfgang Wagner, Oberfeldwebel Dieter Müller, Oberleutnant Manfred Schimmel, Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch, Stabsfeldwebel Raimund Weiser, Oberfähnrich Franz Lizst.

Much-Piddling Home Guard

A better photo of the Much-Piddling Home Guard.

Crew of Unterseeboot U-47

Finally finished painting the Kriegsmarine contingent for "On The Day, Went The Eagle's Landing Well?". This will be Doug em4's crew during the raid on Much-Piddling!

L-R: Matrose Friedrich Engelmann, Obergrefreiter Albert Zöller, Oberleutnant Hans Bothmann, Oberbootsmann August Ronshausen, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, Stabsmaschinist Gustav Böhm, Obersteuermann Hans Sammann, Obermaschinist Gustav Werder, Matrose Heinrich Heinz, Fähnrich z. See Iwan Oldekop.

Needless to say, these are not painted with historical accuracy in mind, these are Hollywood style, playing fast and loose with history!

The Forgotten Navy

I knew about the 'Forgotten Army' in the Far-East after VE Day but this book about the British Pacific Fleet is a revelation to me, a great read too.

In May 1945, with victory in Europe established, the war was all but over. But on the other side of the world, the Allies were still engaged in a bitter struggle to control the Pacific. And it was then that the Japanese unleashed a terrible new form of warfare: the suicide pilots, or Kamikaze.

Drawing on meticulous research and unique personal access to the remaining survivors, Will Iredale follows a group of young men from the moment they joined up through their initial training to the terrifying reality of fighting against pilots who, in the cruel last summer of the war, chose death rather than risk their country’s dishonourable defeat and deliberately flew their planes into Allied aircraft carriers. A story of courage, valour and dogged determination, The Kamikaze Hunters is a gripping account of how a few brave young men helped to ensure lasting peace.

German Commanders

The two commanders of the German forces involved in the November game "On The Day, Went The Eagle's Landing Well?" are now ready for action. These two represent my very good friends and fellow gamers Vagabond and Doug em4 (aka Sir Douglas D'Emfore).

L-R: Staffelkapitän Peter Wilhelm Stahl (Vagabond) KG200, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien (Doug em4) U-47.

The Women's Land Army

Five WLA girls have been assigned to work at Cold Comfort Farm, near Much-Piddling. Madeline Bassett thinks she has seen a Jerry parachutist (disguised as a nun) land behind the pig sty. Boldly, she leads the other girls out to investigate, armed with their shotguns.

L-R: Lady Florence Craye, Stephanie 'Stiffy' Pinker, Honoria Glossop, Roberta 'Bobbie' Wickham, Madeline Bassett.

Villagers of Much-Piddling

Some of the villagers from Much-Piddling preparing for the big Dad's Army game in November.

L-R: Dame Edith FitzPilchard, Claude "Catsmeat" Potter-Pirbright, Warden G. D'Arcy "Stilton" Cheesewright, Chief Warden William Hodges, Verity ‘Peaches’ Snapcase.

The Black Shorts

Down at the Old Mill on the outskirts of Much-Piddling, Spode's Black Shorts are having a clandestine meeting. Well about as clandestine as you can get with red armbands and footer-bags! Spode's latest policy is to ensure that every citizen at birth be given a British–made bicycle and umbrella.

L-R:  Lord Haw-Haw (awaiting flag), Unity Valkyrie Mitford, Sir Roderick Spode (Lord Sidcup), Diana Mitford, Sir Osbert Molesworth.

Spode has chosen black shorts (or skirts) for his followers because, as Gussie Finknottle says, "by the time Spode formed his association, there were no shirts left".

Bertie Wooster has some choice words to say about Spode and his Black Shorts "It is about time, that some public-spirited person came along and told you where you got off. The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you're someone. You hear them shouting 'Heil, Spode!' and you imagine it is the Voice of the People. That is where you make your bloomer. What the Voice of the People is saying is: 'Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags! Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?'"

Much-Piddling Naval Visitors

The Royal Navy contingent for DevLAM '18. Without giving too much away, "On The Day, Went The Eagle's Landing Well?" has a sub-plot involving a VIP Naval Officer. Here he is with his Royal Marine bodyguard and naval escort.

L-R: Able Seaman Sid Staines, Chief Petty Officer Horatio Pertwee, a VIP, Colour Sergeant Tudor Bryn 'Shut Up' Williams, Colonel Hercules Grytpype-Thynne.

Much-Piddling Home Guard

So, after a very busy August (with no painting) I have finally finished my Home Guard platoon for Much-Piddling. These figures are for the big game at DevLAM '18 in November, "On The Day, Went The Eagle's Landing Well?"

On the left, No. 1 Section, L-R: Sergeant Arthur Wilson, Private Scrotum, Captain Lord Bertram Wilberforce Snapcase, Private Sponge, Volunteer Sam Stewart.

On the right, No. 2 Section, L-R: Private Frank Pike, Private Joe Walker, Reverend Lieutenant Harold 'Stinker' Pinker, Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, Private Charles Godfrey.

The villagers of Much-Piddling can sleep easy in their beds now, Captain Snapcase is sure he and his men have the measure of these Jerry parachutists. They will be checking all nuns to see if they are wearing jack-boots!