Mekura Bune

Last week I knocked up a new 1/1200 model for my Imjin War "At The Height of Battle" collection. This one was a Mekura Bune, a Japanese "fast attack craft", oar propelled with broadside mounted light cannon and large bamboo poles providing protection t the sides and overhead. I modelled this as a basic craft, then with banners added to see how that worked out. They came out OK and the banners worked, although they are quite fragile and several broke off. The shape isn't quite right (the roof should probably rise towards the stern) but for wargaming purposes they are quite acceptable

Finally I set the printer scale to 50%  and printed out a load in 1/2400 which I stuck on group bases. These are for use with my "Those Who Seek Death" fleet action rules which will be released this weekend. 

Again I tried these with and without banners. And again they are quite fragile and prone to damage but the 40mm square bases actually give them a bit more protection.  But as with their larger sisters they are quite OK for wargaming purposes.

Pumas at 50

Today there was a flypast around the southern half of the country to celebrate 50 years of the Puma helicopter being in service with the RAF. The formation was passing fairly close by so I popped out this afternoon to watch the flypast fly past. And a very nice sight it was. It was also quite sobering to think some of these aircraft are nearly as old as I am!

It was nice to see that there was a decent turnout just at the spot where I was near the Severn Bridge, nearly all with some connection to the Puma over the years whether on the RAF side or civilian side in supporting them.