Eagle Dropship Space1969

The Space 1969 Eagle Dropship

The only realistic Dropship ever built.

During the 1969 campaign to drive the aliens off the moon, the Eagle dropships were used to land the assault troops.

An Eagle Gunship covers the drop into the hot LZ.

World Cup 1914 - at the Front

First Christmas World Cup match 1914

During the first Christmas of WW1 German and English soldiers played football between the lines.

Considering the circumstances, it was not surprising there was the occasional foul.

Anyway, I made this to use all those left over models from the Airfix German and British WW1 sets that otherwise just hang around.

The German soldiers are putting up their hands in that well known football response to any opposing player falling to the ground.

The British official on the sideline sees the foul and raises his flag.

The British soldiers enjoy the game from the sideline.

The British soldiers protest to the German officer who is refereeing the game while the German soldiers protest their innocence.

Other British soldiers rush to their comrade's aid or to take the free kick if given.

Die Rebel Scum

Star Wars Inspired Diorama

 In the attack on the Ice Planet to crush the rebellion (literally for some poor rebels), the rebels tried to ambush an AT-AT. Unfortunately they were not aware of the new weapon pod.

The Rebels try to get the AT-AT from the side. But the AT-AT is ready for them.

40K Space Rangers

Space Rangers

In the dark mists of time, when the Emperor was challenged he always sent for his most trusted troops, the elite of the elite, the SPACE RANGERS!

Space Rangers had the usual Marine equipment plus two unique features. First collapsible wings allowing them to drop from orbit, and second, a high powered close combat laser in the right arm of their armour.

They were the only one of all the Emperor's space marine chapters to be chosen as an action figure!

Here are a few of the remaining images showing the Space Rangers during operation “Trademark Infringement” in the war against the False Emperor Zurg.

The Space Rangers secure a communal food preparation store. Their motto - “we come in peace”

A close up of Commander Buzz and his blue utility belt.

A Zurg propaganda poster is defaced.

Space Rangers move into contact.

Another piece of Zurg's empire heads for the scrap heap.

Recon Unit "RC" gets some new orders for the next action.

A land speeder in the colours of the Space Rangers takes off.

Space Ranger rocket troops, motto “falling with style” take off to fight the enemy.

da Vinci Industries Automatons

da Vinci Industries

Introducing our newest product line of Automatons!

Eight feet high, covered in bronze armour, powered by the latest compressed air engineering, firing Girandoni Repeating Air Rifles and all controlled by the latest Babbage Analytical Engines.

These weapons will cause mass death on the battlefield and consternation in all the embassies in your capital. Don’t be the last to get some!

Automaton Features Front

1. Venetian Murano Ruby glass eyes.
2. Compressed air repeating rifle from Girandoni of Austria
3. Knees and legs – fully functional able to cross all terrain.
4. Arms – fully dynamic
5. Armoured in Bronze for soldiers and brushed Aluminium for squad leaders

Automaton Features Back

1. Dual compressed air tanks to last the entire battle.*
2. Quick release and swap
3. Neck, spine and other internal structures in steel
4. Babbage Analytical Engines – latest model and fully programmable.
5. Programmed by The Countess of Lovelace.

* depends on battle length

Automatons in action

Used for crowd control in your capital cities. At eight feet high, these automatons can over awe any uninformed protesters and bring them back to seeing the truth.

On the battlefield, a line of Automatons makes a lasting impression on your enemy’s morale. Don’t be the last to get them on your continent.

G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. Statistics

Leader

Shoot 10

Scuffle 9

Save 10

Weapon Repeating Rifle

Squad Members – Extras

Shoot 9

Scuffle 9

Save N/A

Weapon Repeating Rifle

 Battlefield Assistance Programme.

Talk to our representative about our battlefield assistance programme. This means any damage or warranty repairs can be made in the field by two factory trained mechanics.

Here an automaton gets a quick re-programme plus a tank swap and adjustment.

Satisfied Customers

The Papal States ordered a squad of nine automatons and one squad leader. Here is what Monsignor Peppi had to say: “On Saturday the Automatons marched through the market. On Sunday the Church was packed and the donation plates over flowing!”

20C Part 1 - Background

Background

In the early years of the 20^th Century in a parallel universe (two to the left, four back and three clockwise) the German Kaiser took a fateful decision that would change the course of history. After a meeting with his navy chiefs, when he heard of the new British dreadnoughts that completely outclassed his navy and how much money it would cost to rebuild his navy to match the British, he was depressed, but still decided to go out to lunch with Count Zeppelin (The Count was paying).

At lunch the Count expanded on his new idea that ships and navies where soooo 19^th Century and that the future belonged to the country who controlled the skies. The Kaiser went back to his palace reinvigorated, with his head held high, a smile on his face, a full stomach and the satisfaction of leaving the Count to settle a substantial bill.

The next day the Berlin Times carried the following headline “GERMAN NAVY FOR SALE!” and then below it: “Kaiser Announces New Zeppelin Force To Control the Skies  - Deutsche Luft Korp”.

It went on with a quote from the Kaiser “The British can keep the oceans – Germany will own the skies! We don't need to go through them, we can just fly straight over.” The Kaiser was praised across the world for his peacemaking efforts in stopping the naval arms race.

The French Ambassador immediately cabled Paris and the French Military high command heaved a sigh of relief. Now they would have the time to re-build the army they had dreamed of. Based on the lessons of 1870 and on their observations of the 1905 Japanese Russian war and with the technology of today – it would be an army designed as pure offensive "guerre à outrance" and they would show the world and Germany how to wage war. They announced their new doctrine - “La Guerre éclair” – lighting war. They chuckled to themselves and called in the engineers and designers.

That day when the news reached London, the Admiralty cheered and went for dinner early and the champagne and port flowed freely into the night. The admirals' laughter filled the Navy Club's dining room. How could a German Zeppelin match a destroyer let alone a battleship of the Dreadnought Class , and they laughed at how one of those new fangled air planes would just bounce off the armour and leave a nasty oil stain for the sailors to clean. “Put in an order for extra detergent!” yelled an Admiral to much laughter.

But in the following week, after the hangovers and laughter were gone, during a discussion on budgets for the next few years the enormity of the Kaiser's decision suddenly hit home – no German Navy meant a much, MUCH smaller British navy. NO new Battleships! A naval building program that required a navy that was larger than the next two largest fleets combined was no good when those two fleets only had one old battleship each. Something would have to be done, and done soon, before the parliament worked out the implications – careers were at stake!

Luckily, the fertile mind of First Sealord Churchill sprang into action and, with a little help from Mr. HG Wells and a few ingenious engineers, produced Landships. Ships of the Line that would track across the land carrying all before them just like battleships at sea. Finally the British Navy would really control the world. Code named “Tanks” to hide the program from the army until they were well underway, the Navy took to the land.
                                                         

With the end of the battleship arms race, each country had plenty of money to spend on their favourite weapons and in just a decade's time after the factories had worked overtime, they were all ready and willing to test them out.

Thus the arms race was changed forever and history branched off in a new direction, but it still was marching to war.

The question was never “if” there would be a war but only where and when.

Unfortunately for the Belgians, one of the many “Where’s” was Belgium, the when was 1917. Belgium shared borders with both France and Germany, plus offered easy access to the British army across the Channel. No one knows how it really began. After the war was over, each country swore that it was defending Belgium's neutrality against the other Empires. While in 100 years, Brussels would be the capital of an empire that stretched from Ireland to Poland and from Norway to Italy, this would be no comfort in 1917.

The Battle for Belgium began!

In the sepia tones of the early 20^th Century, there was only WAR!

Space 1969 - Part 4

Space 1969

Eagle Dropships

The first and only realistic dropship ever modeled.

Earth Date 15 September 1969

By September 1969 all was ready on Earth for the strike back at the Greenies.

Apollo 11 had given them all the reconnaissance they needed. Landing sites, testing of the computerised landing system on the lunar lander from the lunar descent phase, the landing and then the ascent phase to meet the command module.

In three secret locations, a fleet of Saturn V rockets went through their final countdowns to launch.

The President had given his approval to the Pentagon's plans. The strategic nuclear forces went to high alert in case there was any retaliation.

Nevada Area 51B

The countdown headed down to zero in three locations, California, Nevada and Arizona, each with 15 Saturn Vs pointed skywards, ready to be launched in waves of five. At zero the first rockets launched into the sky. 30 minutes later another wave of five launched again, and then again 60 minutes after.

Screens in the control centre showed the inspiring sight as the Colonel hummed Wagner's “Ride of the Valkyries” softly to himself. Something he had picked up in Nam.

“OK Colonel, give me a report” asked the General.

“3 aborts at California and 2 at Nevada. 1 failure to reach orbit from Nevada, the crew are being picked up in the Atlantic. 2 explosions at Arizona. 1 by fratricide, the first flight ignored an abort signal and tried to launch anyway. They exploded and took out one of the other Saturn's still on the launch pad. We have 30 slicks and 7 gunships.”

“Damn! Well, not as good as we hoped but the best we could expect. 37 ships in orbit with 60 troops on the ground. How long until Translunar injection.”

“All ships are coming up nominal so they should start the injection phase within 12 hours once the flights join up.”

“Great – I will go and report to the President.”

Moon Base 2FG5364-1

“Should I sound the alert?” asked a worried 024. “I am pretty sure you should” replied 009.

“Alert Alert Alert, multiple launches detected! Command to the control room”

“What is this now! Another Earthling spacecraft come to pester us? I told you only to use the alert for danger! You will be helping 004 if this is not important!”

“We detected 37 successful launches by the earthlings.” offered 024 politely.

“What – don't be stupid? 37! Where? Let me look. There must be something wrong with the equipment. Have you checked it?”

“Yes 001. All the equipment checks out fine. I have been checking it for the past 12 hours to make sure. We have also got confirmation from 005 at the asteroid base as well.”

“What do you mean 12 hours? Why didn't you call me immediately! Are you all idiots?” screamed 001. “Is there a conspiracy against me? Where is 004?”

“But 001, you said we had to be absolutely sure that the Earthlings had launched before bothering you with their 'meaningless antics'. Remember when you ordered that?” said 024

009 said “004 is in the warehouse stacking boxes. Do you want me to call him in to help?”

“No leave 004 there for the moment. We will use the same procedure as last time. 009 prepare the ships for an emergency exit if required.”

“002 get together a force to hold the base. When the Earthlings land I want to be ready. Anyone who is not a pilot or fixing a ship is a soldier. Do you understand?”

“009 give me status report on the missiles. Please tell me we have a least one!”

“001 we have 10 missiles ready for action!” If we had started building them when 004 suggested it we would have at least 100 thought 009.

“What only, 10 missiles! That is not enough! Well they better ALL hit or you will be facing them yourself. Hopefully when we destroy 10 ships the rest will leave. How soon until launch?”

“We can only fire when the Earthlings get to low moon orbit, when they are descending.”

Lunar Orbit & Nevada Area 51B

 The general call sign for the assault force was Eagles Force. Area 51 Space command had the call sign Red 51.

Captain of Eagle Force “Red 51 we are entering lunar orbit.

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 1. All telemetry shows nominal. We have you all in lunar orbit. Formation looks good Prepare for telemetry loss on far side orbit”

Captain “Copy that Red 51”

The General asked the Colonel. “Its 45 minutes for loss of signal on the far side of the moon, isn't it?” “Yes sir and then it is straight into separation and descent phase.”

“Radar here, we are picking up some changes in the greenies' base. “There seems to be hatches opening”

“Well no surprise there. They must know we are coming.”

Space Command “5 minutes until telemetry reconnected”

Space Command “Eagle 6 do you read? Eagle 6 do you read?”

“Copy that Red 51. We read you.”

Space Command “Alert, Alert, we have missile firing from the greenies' base. One missile heading to orbit.”

“Copy that Red 51. Trying to get a visual”

Space Command “Eagle 6, we have a second missile firing. First missile has closed to 50 klicks.”

“Copy that Red 51. We are on target for separation and lunar descent. Separation in 11 seconds and counting. ……5 seconds, 2 seconds. We have separated. Initiating descent program.”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 6. We have 37 separations with all telemetry nominal at this stage. Missile has closed to 20 klicks. Second missile at 50 clicks. Third and fourth missiles have been launched.”

“Copy that Red 51. I have visual sighting of the missile.”

Space Command “Eagle 6 missiles at close range, 5^th missile has launched.”

“Copy that Red 51. We have visual on missile one. Lieutenant be prepared to take over command. Missile is closing”

Space Command “All Eagles Telemetry lost on Eagle 6. Telemetry lost on Blackhawk 1, Missile3 closing on Blackhawk 3, missile closing on Cowboy 4, I have 8 missiles in flight or contacted.”

Lieutenant “Red 51 we copy three hits so far. We have missiles on visual”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. Telemetry lost on Cowboy 4 and Minuteman 3. Maintain radio discipline. We have you on fast descent be prepared for immediate lander exit.”

Lieutenant “Copy that Red 51. Immediate shut down and exit. I have lost visual of the missile”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle Force. Saber 4 lost telemetry. Comanche 2 has lost telemetry. Command Module Blackhawk 3 telemetry indicates significant damage. I think that was missile 4.” “Rattler 4 telemetry lost.”

Space Command “Eagle Force. One missile in flight. 20 seconds out.

Lieutenant “Red 51 we are at 9,200 feet and descending at 129 feet per second.

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. Everything looks good from here. You are go for landing.”

Space Command “Eagle Force. 60 seconds to landing. Minuteman 1 telemetry lost. No missiles in flight”

Lieutenant “Copy that Red 51 – we are go for landing.”

Lieutenant “Red 51 we are at 200 feet, descending at 22 feet, forward at 10. 130 feet down at 16,  forward 6, 100 feet, 90 feet, down at 8, 3 forward, 40 feet, 30 feet, down at 4, 20 ,down 2, contact light, engines off. Red 51, the Screaming Eagles have landed!”

Tranquility Forward Operating Base

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. We have 24 landers down on target. Blackhawk 2 and Comanche 1 are attacking the target. The Apache 2 and 3 are on their way. Estimated time on target is 22 minutes.”

Space Command “Eagle Force we have you located. Enemy position is 300 meters 95 degrees from Eagle 2.”

Lieutenant “All Eagle Force, lock and load, deploy and take up firing position. Wait for the Gunships and follow them in.”

“General we have 48 men on the moon. Permission to start the assault?” said the Colonel.

“Colonel. You have my permission to begin the assault. Destroy the green menace!”

Space Command “Eagle 2 you are ordered to begin the assault. Please confirm!”

The 101st Space & Airborne Division dropped on the Moon at Tranquility Base in September 1969.

A force of 24 Eagle Dropships delivered a Screaming Eagles force of 48 men to the moon.

As Eagle force organised themselves and took up firing positions, Eagle gunships hovered above providing close fire support for the hot LZ.

A close up of the Eagle Gunship showing its air to air and air to ground missiles plus its two mini guns.

Models

Dropships from Revell 1/100 scale.
Gunship from Action Toys with added guns
Screaming Eagle Astronauts from Khurasan Miniatures - 15mm Federal Defence Force Exterminator Squad in Extreme Environment Suits.