Mustang P51D

  Completed another Mustang P-51D, built out of the box. Added Airfix pilot. I used AK real colour aluminum and steel  mix, panel lined, hand painted invasion stripes, then decals. I nice simple Revell kit. 

Syrian MIG -17

  Another Syrian aircraft off the desk. The MIG 17 is marked with pre 1962 Roundels, painted with AK interactive Real Colour aluminum and gun metal. 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - signage and bits

 A bit of ww2 terrain fillers this week, signage from the italeri box sets 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - Napoleonic Casualty markers

 Napoleonic Casualty markers 

Touched up some old metal casualty markers sculpted by my old mate Mike Broadbent, 20 odd years ago. Sadly Mike passed away last year in August after sculpting for a number of miniature companies, Eureka Miniaturs, Lead Boiler Suit company and a few others. Three French and two Anhalt german states 

Cheers

Matt

Katanga Airforce Fouga Magister FM 92

 Katanga Airforce Fouga Magister FM 92

Completed the Heller 1/72 kit, painted with AK real colours and added aftermarket MAV decals for the Katangan markings. Quite happy with the results 

KATANGAN  92 Fouga Magister 

Without a doubt, the most infamous of the Katangan Fouga Magisters, KAT 92 seen the most service and caused the most controversy. Kat 92 operated from September 14 to 19, 1961, against UN forces. Damaged by ground fire on the 18th but grounded while peace talks commenced and then came into effect on the 20th. 

On the 3rd December 1961 it was damaged during an air attack, Indian UN Canberra bombers permanently grounded it at Kolwezi. Damaged, it was evacuated by rail on December 5, 1961, to Kisenge where it awaited replacement parts.

Thanks to this single training aircraft, based in Kolwezi, the Katangese "hunt" caused panic among the United Nations. The KAT 92 carried out rapid overflights of UN positions, dropping a few 50kg improvised bombs here and there. These interventions boosted the morale of the Katangese Gendarmerie and mercenary troops and sowed consternation among the ranks of the ONUC troops. The Fouga were an excellent means of psychological warfare against the ONUC soldiers and forced them to deploy air support. This Fouga also played a vital role in the attack on UN Kamina Airbase on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of September destroying one DC4 on the ground and killing two UN pilots. Then the strafing and bombing of the Irish at Jadotville between the 13th and 17th. During at ground attack on the Kamina Airbase on the 18th it received damage. 

José Magain “the lone Prowler”

The pilot of the Fouga 92 was the Belgian José Magain who had flown with the Belgian Air Force. Joseph Delin the commander of Kolwezi airbase accompanied him as co-pilot on several missions including the staffing of Jadotville But when the journalists and photographers showed up in Kolwezi, José Magain disappeared… because no one could know that he had piloted the Fouga Magister. In reality he should no longer have been in Katanga and should have returned to Belgium on August 28, 1961, just like the other members of Avikat expelled by the UN (Operation “Rumpunch 27th August - October 1961”).
 

Armament for KAT 92, originally armed with 7.50 mm guns and ammunition, it was re-chambered for 7.62 caliber as ammunition was readily available. for bombing ground attack missions required manufacture of 50 kg bombs from mortar rounds and a primitive dropping and aiming system organized with the means at hand. The Fouga KAT 92 flew about 50 missions, claiming a UN DC-6, a DC-4, a DC-3, a dozen trucks, strafing the positions Jadotville, and a UN radio installations was destroyed at Kamina. The end of each of these missions was punctuated by a message to the control tower manned by the UN: "See you soon, gentlemen; I will be happy to come and see you again!" 

 

Katanga Airforce Fouga Cm-170 Magister

The Fouga Cm-170 Magister is a first generation two seater jet trainer. Its distinctive V-shaped tail makes it easily recognisable to most aviation lovers. While primarily operated as a trainer aircraft, the Magister was also  used in combat as a close air support platform by 22 air forces. It saw action during the Six-Day War, the Salvadoran Civil War, the Western Sahara War, and the Congo Crisis. The Magister was also chosen by many aerobatics display teams, including the Patrouille de France, the Belgian Red Devils, Brazils Smoke Squadron, Austrian Silver Birds, the Luftwaffe flying school FlugzeugFuhrerSchule and the Irish Silver Swallows. The Fouga Magister was nicknamed "the whistling turtle" by the Belgian Air Force and the “whistling Rooster” by the Finns due to the motor whistling while in idle. 

The aircraft could be equipped with two 7.5 mm or 7.62 mm nose machine guns and had two hard points for bombs or missiles. 

The Fouga Magister in AVIKAT service 

In 1960, after the independence of Congo, the province of Katanga separated and became an independent republic. The President of Katanga, Moïse Tshombé, ordered 9 planes from Potez Air Fouga. Only three aircraft were delivered to Katanga at Luano (Elisabethville airfield). 

On February 15, 1961, the arrival of the three Katangese Fouga was announced by the "Daily Mail" of February 6, 61. 

The six Fouga Cm-170 Magisters that were still to be delivered to the Katangese government were in Pointe Noire (Congo Brazaville) in October 1961. But following the UN embargo, the ship brought them back to Antwerp where they were taken care of by customs. These were later sold to the Irish Airforce. 

AVIKAT Markings 

Katangan Fouga KAT 91. 

It crashed on June 23, 1961, during a maneuver over the old Eville runway. 
Very few photographic documents exist of it.

 

Katangan Fouga KAT 93

Its engine was being repaired when the UN launched Operation "Rhum Punch" on August 28, 1961, which aimed to expel foreign personnel from the Gendarmerie and the Avikat. KAT 93 flew a few missions but was seized by the UN at the end of August 1961. 

The most common depicted AVIKAT Fouga

KAT 93 in front of the Luano control tower.

KAT 93 on the tarmac at Luano. 

President Moïse Tshombe sits in the passenger seat

  

  

Standing next to KAT 93 the Swedish Air Force Colonel Sven Lampell, head of ONUC air operations and head of the UN fighter wing which included the "F22" Saab J-29 squadron, the Iranian Sabre jet squadron and the Ethiopian Sabre jet squadron. 

Katangan Fouga KAT 92

Markings for AVIKAT aircraft 

Without a doubt, the most infamous of the Katangan Fouga Magisters, KAT 92 seen the most service and caused the most controversy. Kat 92 operated from September 14 to 19, 1961, against UN forces. Damaged by ground fire on the 18th but grounded while peace talks commenced and then came into effect on the 20th. 

On the 3rd December 1961 it was damaged during an air attack, Indian UN Canberra bombers permanently grounded it at Kolwezi. Damaged, it was evacuated by rail on December 5, 1961, to Kisenge where it awaited replacement parts.

Thanks to this single training aircraft, based in Kolwezi, the Katangese "hunt" caused panic among the United Nations. The KAT 92 carried out rapid overflights of UN positions, dropping a few 50kg improvised bombs here and there. These interventions boosted the morale of the Katangese Gendarmerie and mercenary troops and sowed consternation among the ranks of the ONUC troops. The Fouga were an excellent means of psychological warfare against the ONUC soldiers and forced them to deploy air support. This Fouga also played a vital role in the attack on UN Kamina Airbase on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of September destroying one DC4 on the ground and killing two UN pilots. Then the strafing and bombing of the Irish at Jadotville between the 13th and 17th. During at ground attack on the Kamina Airbase on the 18th it received damage. 

José Magain “the lone Prowler”

The pilot of the Fouga 92 was the Belgian José Magain who had flown with the Belgian Air Force. Joseph Delin the commander of Kolwezi airbase accompanied him as co-pilot on several missions including the staffing of Jadotville But when the journalists and photographers showed up in Kolwezi, José Magain disappeared… because no one could know that he had piloted the Fouga Magister. In reality he should no longer have been in Katanga and should have returned to Belgium on August 28, 1961, just like the other members of Avikat expelled by the UN (Operation “Rumpunch 27th August - October 1961”).
 

Armament for KAT 92, originally armed with 7.50 mm guns and ammunition, it was re-chambered for 7.62 caliber as ammunition was readily available. for bombing ground attack missions required manufacture of 50 kg bombs from mortar rounds and a primitive dropping and aiming system organized with the means at hand. The Fouga KAT 92 flew about 50 missions, claiming a UN DC-6, a DC-4, a DC-3, a dozen trucks, strafing the positions Jadotville, and a UN radio installations was destroyed at Kamina. The end of each of these missions was punctuated by a message to the control tower manned by the UN: "See you soon, gentlemen; I will be happy to come and see you again!" 

“The Ghost Sqaudron” a dummy aircraft on Kolwezi runway

 Hammarksjöld “affair”

.  

The event that has attracted the most attention regarding KAT 92 is the crash of Dag Hammarksjöld's DC-6 on September 17, 1961. Dag Hammarksjöld was the Secretary-General of the United Nations and was dispatched to the Congo to try to resolve the crisis. 
On the evening of September 17, his plane took off from Leopoldville for N'Dola. He was going there with the aim of meeting Moïse Tshombé...… The DC-6, "Albertina", never landed in N'Dola and crashed around midnight on a hill near N'Dola. Initially, the Fouga Magister KAT 92 was accused of having shot down the plane of the Secretary General of the United Nations, later it is thought a De Havilland Dove that did have night flying ability dropped mortar bombs onto the aircraft. 

DC-6 “Albertina” registered SE-BDY which transported UN Secretary General Dag Hammarksjöld on September 17, 1961.

The international commission of inquiry sent to the scene by the UN to analyze the causes of the crash concluded that the reasons were certainly accidental. This same international commission from Rhodesia went to Kolwezi on October 20, 1961 to monitor the activity of the Fouga KAT 92 on the day of Mr. Hammarksjöld's death. On site, Major DELIN proved to them that the aircraft's autonomy was insufficient to reach N'Dola and, what's more, the Kolwezi airfield was not equipped for night flights. This exonerated (officially), at the same time, the Belgian pilot of the Fouga, Joseph Delin... (unofficially) we have since known that it was José MAGAIN who was the jet's assigned pilot! 

Cheers

Matt

Congo Militia

 

 Congo Militia 

Completed a few Congo plastic militia from Caesar Miniatures. A simple paint job, base colors, wash and one highlight. Quite happy with them, I plan on adding some more metal ones so I can have a decent sized battalion of militia for Force on Force.

Cheers

Matt

Book Review - Zimmerit the ultimate modeling guide.

 

 Zimmerit the ultimate modeling guide. 

So still diving down the modeling project if 17th SS vehicles in Pays de Loire and Normandy in June to August 1944. With that in mind I picked up the latest publication of Ammo paints, the tools and zimmerit paste. 

The books is an absolute cracker with the most comprehensive covering of the various patterns used on German vehicles I have ever seen. Each pattern is covered then a guide of how to achieve it with the tools and paste. Color me impressed, now to trial the paste myself in the coming weeks on some StuGs and panzer IVs. 

I will let you know how it performs 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - ohh la Vache

 Ohh la Vache 

Some cows for my modern and ww2 wargaming terrain filler. Based on the Normand cream cow that makes up the majority of soft rind cheeses in the Camembert and Brie valleys around us. 

 French Napoleonic Markers 

Completed some French Napoleonic markers for GDB or GDA. Nice pieces on Warbase markers. 

 British Napoleonic casualty markers 

A few pieces of the desk this week continues, first up some British casualties markers for GDB and GDA and out of ammo morale markers. A mix of perry and 3d printed pieces. 

Wip Wednesday - chevau leger lancier

 Chevau leger lancier WIP

Finally after a very busy 6 months I will get a few weeks to complete some projects on my desk. First two are cavalry projects for my French Napoleonic army. The first project will my last Lancer regiment for 1812-15. I am planing the 8th lanciers using Warlord figures. Commenced the horses this week. Should be done by the weekend hopefully. 

Chasseur Ardennais

 

 Chassuers Ardennais 1st Regiment 

Completed four more rifle companies of FAA and Blitz/Battlefield and Early War miniatures for my First Chassuer Ardennais regiment. These chaps have been awaiting completion since the end of March and as I am going through a completion and clearing of my desk I thought I should get them done 100% including company markings on the rear of the base. Really happy with the results. I still have another battalion to build, however I hope to use FAA for them too, but with the tariffs all over the place. I will need to continue my search online I think for used ones. 

1st company 

Second company 

Third company 

Fourth company 

Light mortar attached to HQ

LMG attached to each company 

Cheers

Matt

Battle of Agincourt - Test of Resolve

 Battle of Agincourt - Test of Resolve

David has been on a Wargame holiday with us again this time for 6 nights. David also brought along the third scenario book for the Hundred Years’ War.  As our opener we played Agincourt as our opening game, then we play-tested a number of scenarios that will be in the fourth Scenario book for the Scottish Wars, which will be released later this year I believe. As normal we also visited a number of chateaux, drank lots of wine and had a great week wondering around Brittany and Pays de Loire. 

French First Battle (second and third off table) 

French right flank

English Line 

English line MAA 

English line 

English archer line right flank 

English Archer line left flank 

Jean de Harcourt 

Just a few hits from the English archers ….

First losses to the English Archery arrow storm

French mounted MAA sprint across the table towards the flank 

The MAA clash 

Things are looking shaky for the English MAA

Two English men at Arms Break

Cheers

Matt