Boeing's Museum of Flight - WWI

Albatross DVa

Having been a supporting member of the Museum of Flight for more than a dozen years, I finally paid my first visit to this wonderful aviation museum while stationed in Seattle this past week.  I regularly travel to the Puget Sound for work and a recent office relocation took me only a few blocks from the Museum of Flight.  With time on my hand, I stopped in for a three hour visit on a Sunday afternoon.

While the museum has aircraft from all eras, on this visit, most of my time was spent in the WWI wing of the museum.  With my resurgent interest in WWI aerial combat, why not take this opportunity to examine some of these famous aircraft up close?  I could not resist.

Below are a selection of photos from the WWI wing of the museum.  The display is dark thus some of the photos are not as photogenic as expected.  A wonderful display, nevertheless.      

Aviatik DI

Caproni Ca 20

Fokker DRI Triplane

Fokker DRI Triplane

Fokker DVII

Fokker DVII Lozenge pattern

Fokker DVIII

Fokker Eindecker

Nieuport 24bis

Nieuport 24bis

Nieuport 27

SE5

Sopwith Camel

Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Triplane

Sopwith Triplane

Sopwith Triplane

SPAD XIII

SPAD XIII

Four Russian Guns for Suvorov

 Four Russian guns for Suvorov.  Two foot batteries and two horse batteries.  

The foot batteries are composed of Eureka Saxon Napoleonics pressed into service as Russian gunners.  To me, they work well.  Besides fitting the need for early Russian gunners, these Eureka Saxon gunners are splendid sculpts.  Great looking figures with crisp detailing.  I have used Eureka Saxons as Russian gunners, Piedmontese infantry, and French cavalry.  A very versatile group!

The horse gunners and all four guns are from AB Miniatures.  Fine sculpts as expected AB with easy, pre-painting clean-up.  Comparing the two groups of gunners in this display, I prefer the Eureka gunners over AB.  I know, heresy in many places.

Montcalm & Wolfe - The July Offensive

Braddock attacks le Boeuf
Grid Based Wargaming

Peter resolved the battle of Fort Le Boeuf and Bougainville could not hold off Braddock.  The fort falls and Bougainville marches out to Fort Presque Isle.  See Peter's account of the battle at Battle of Le Beouf.

May 1757 sees a large number of British troops arrive from England.  Reinforcements from England include six regiments of Regulars and one regiment of militia is raised.  Two regiments of Regulars go to Fort Cumberland, two Regiments of Regulars go to Fort Edward, two regiments of Regulars travel to Fort Oswego, and the militia marches to Albany.

British Reinforcements

The French receive reinforcements too but not in the quantity that their opponents called up.  The French muster two regiments of Regulars and one regiment of Irregulars.  One Regular travels to Fort Presque Isle to bolster Bougainville's garrison and discourage Braddock.  The second regiment of Regulars and the Irregulars travel to Isle aux Noix.  Dieskau, seeing the build up at Fort Edward, abandons William-Henry and retires to Fort Carillon.

French Reinforcements

June 1757
With Fort William-Henry abandoned by Dieskau, Monckton marches his large force to garrison the fort.  Only one regiment of militia is left behind to garrison Fort Edward.  Johnson successfully recruits the Cayuga to the British cause.  The Cayuga warband immediately sets off toward Lake Ontario.  For the early summer maneuvers, the French are content to ferry one regiment of Regulars from Isle aux Noix to Fort Carillon. 

June 1757

July 1757
With a fresh batch of reinforcements in the right place at the right time, the British go on a July offensive.  In an attempt to hit strength with strength, Loudoun attacks Fort Stanwix while Monckton attacks Fort Carillon.  A reinforcing regiment of Regulars marches out from Fort Cumberland. 

Double British Attack

Battle of Fort Stanwix OB:
British: Loudoun (A0D1), 4 x 5-6 Regulars
French: Drucour (A0D1), 2 x 5-6 Regulars

Battle of Fort Carillon OB:
British: Monckton (A2D1), 5 x 5-6 Regulars
French: Dieskau (A2D2), 3 x 5-6 Regulars, 1 x militia 

Two important battles for the summer '57.  The battle at Carillon is a Major Battle which means the Political Track will shift two in the winner's favor.  These twin battles have the possibility of changing the outcome of the war.  I anxiously await the results.

Over to you, Peter!

Austrian IR47 in 1859

Off the painting desk is Austrian IR#47.  All four battalions present and accounted for.  For IR47 is 72 figures strong.  For me, that is a lot of figures to tackle at one bound.  Drudgery during but joy afterward.

More fine infantry for the 1859 project.  These Austrian infantry are from Lancashire Games are are probably my favorite 15mm figures for this project.  I love 'em!  The figures paint easily and the metal is a softer alloy so the figures can be bent into shape.  I put this regiment in a mix of kittel and greatcoat.  I like the contrast and adds some interest, I think.      

I almost want to shove another 72 Austrians into the painting queue!

Montcalm & Wolfe - Out With the Old; In With the New (Year)

Situation Strategic Phase 1756

Following Monckton's defeat at the Third Battle of Fort William-Henry, the British withdraw back to Fort Edward to lick their wounds and prepare for another campaign year.  See Peter's account of the battle at French Indian War Campaign - Game 6.

Winter attrition is again harsh as the French lose a regiment of Regulars in Quebec and a regiment of militia in Fort Stanwix.  The British see the Rangers disband after the defeat at Fort William-Henry and one regiment of militia disbands at Fort Oswego.  With conditions not fit for campaigning, the winter of 17565 comes to a close.  

With a new year comes new reinforcements.  Having experienced success on the battlefield, the French find themselves pegged against the far left of the Political Track at (+2) DRM.  Given that situation, the British find themselves at a (-2) DRM.  Rolling on the Reinforcement Table, the French receive one militia and Bougainville.  Bougainville travels to Fort Le Boeuf while the militia travel to Fort Frontenac.  The British receive one militia and General Loudon.  Both make their way to reinforce Fort Oswego.

If the Political Track remains in this position at the end of 1757, the French can declare an automatic victory and bring the war in New France to a close.  The British will be forced to show some grit and determination in the New Year to keep the British government interested in continuing this losing war.

May 1757
Not wanting to risk either an interruption by the French or no activation at all, the British opt for the automatic one activation.  With that, Braddock marches out from Fort Duquesne to attack Bougainville at Fort Le Boeuf.

Braddock attacks Bougainville

Battle of Fort Le Boeuf OB:
British: Braddock (A0D1), 2 x 5-6 Regular regiments
French: Bougainville (A0D1), 1 x 5-6 Regular regiment

Small forces but a strategic point for both parties.  If the French hold the fort, the line of forts back to Fort Niagara remains intact.  If Braddock succeeds, the British gain a toe-hold out of the wilderness with the ability to threaten French settlements on the Great Lakes.

Peter, over to you!

Swiss/Italian Crossbowmen from Old Glory

A brief return to 28mm figures in general and the Great Italian Wars project in particular.  Even though I committed to focusing more on 15/18mm painting in 2018, it is necessary to punctuate that effort with a few figures in the larger size.   

To that end, one stand of nine crossbowmen depart the painting desk.  These figures are from Old Glory and are drawn up in a variety of garb.  Great looking figures and one of Old Glory's best.

1799 IR#43 Austrian Line

Continued focus on the 1799 project with the completion of the third battalion of IR#43 Thurn.  Figures are AB Miniatures.  Since battalions #1 and #2 both wore helmets when they mustered off the painting desk, I put battalion #3 in helmet too. 

If Rivoli is to see the table in late 2018, I ought to consider the task of developing an Order of Battle.  While I created an OB years ago when I fielded Rivoli, more recent scholarly work may require some modifications.  If nothing else, the gathering and reconciliation will be an interesting exercise.  Units already mustered out could be checked off.  Those needing recruitment could be tracked with their progress monitored.  By my count, 25 Austrian battalions are ready for action.