This is the start of a joint project between myself and my good friend Hedley.

We shall be creating the "Crazy" Squadron, 88th Imperial Navy Fighter Wing ("Crazy 88s") 40k scale!

This has come about as a direct result of my love of modelling and Hedley's outstanding ability to paint! I will model it all, and he will paint it!

As well as representing the aircraft, our idea is to create either a forward airbase or hangar for them too, complete with all the relevant Imperial Navy ground crew. Because this is a joint project, our idea is to build everything twice so we will both end up with three Thunderbolts each. That means we will be building SIX of them in total!!!! :o

At the moment, we are in the gathering phase. I have so far procured 2 thunderbolts, a pilot and some weaponry. I am also sourcing some bits and pieces towards making the scenery. I will let Hedley tell you what he's up to....

Expect there to be fluff thrown in, including personalities based on a few members of this forum ;). All ground crew will be conversions as will much of their kit. We have yet to decide on their colour schemes and markings too.

This will not be a fast project though, as there is much to acquire, build and paint but I expect us to be able to mount an air raid at next years bash! :D


Edit: I let the cat out the bag at the bash (sorry Hedley! :( ) and as soon as I did, I got a very positive willingness by others to get involved! Old Guard in particular has ideas for linking in AI scenarios in to our Apoc games etc...

and will parts of this squadron be heavily stylised in black and white?

Wow, not at all what any of us had guessed, methinks. This should be fascinating to watch and track. Good luck guys :)

Ah, so this is why you bought a Thunderbolt... and here was me wondering how you'd manage to 'skellify' it...

Looking forward to see what you come up with though!

Absolutely brilliant idea with lots of modeling oportunities accross the whole spectrum of the hobby.
good luck both I'm really looking forward to this.

So I PM'd Digits earlier with this idea since I have been thinking about this since our chat on Saturday and the more I think about it the more I like it and I hope you will too.

The idea in essence is an Apocalypse game based around Dan Abnetts Double Eagle, one of my favourites of his and one which ties in nicely with Digit's and Deadley's project. The game would allow land battle including some COD as well as 40K scale AI air battles, in addition since I know a number of you have started collecting it, we could also have AI battles on an adjacent table linked into and affecting the outcome of the main game.
My initial thoughts are that all those interested contribute towards some of the scenery too notably the COD stuff and the front end of a chaos landship to launch chaos aircraft from :blink: . Obviously we can make use of what WHW have but it would be good to put a real AB mark on this and to once more do something real special.

I have the bones of the scenario in mind and if you will permit me I will present this a little later. If people like the idea and it is accepted by those of you in seats of power i would like for us to put together one of those Bell of lost souls style campaign/scenario booklets way ahead of the event itself.

So what do people think does the idea have merit or should be cast upon the iceflows like the Inuit indians do when you get a bit past or start talking B*****ks? :)

well as you know i plan to build some of the flyers, count me in!

Sounds a really good idea :) Wish i could join in, but no money and no skill dosen't help. :(

DK

Cheers for the comments :)

Well As Digits has started the ball rolling ,I best add my 2 pence worth :D

Well the Idea arose when we were chatting about a joint project ,at first I mention a Titan legion but that was a bit too much :rolleyes: so we we disided on our own squadron ,the idea was for some thing that we could use to suport our armies and that we could write our own missions etc

The name was my idea as id just watched Kill Bill 1 and 2 and i love them both.As for models I need to get my first fighter with my next order ;)

Plus as im poor at writing fluff that will be Digits area with my imput weve not come up with much yet but I do know the call sign for my first pilot "Iron Duke " I feel that its got cool ring to it :)

The bits ive got so far are the FW pilot and some FW missiles that are spare from the ThunderHawk

More to follow

Pictures?

:unsure: at the mo the only pictures are in my head I need to start to collect some images on colour schemes ,nose art etc and to order the parts i need ;)

Ha! Give us a chance! lol

Well Hedley and I just agreed a forward airbase is the way to go as it gives us more flexibility with vehicles etc.

We're off......

Hmmm...

Any chance good 'ol Pancor "the Jackhammer" can get a transfer into the "Crazy 88's"? Good excuse to finish him soon (and make two more!).

Just realized I couldn't make two more of the exact some aircraft, but this sounds like a fun project!

Interesting indeed, I'd love to fit into this excellent idea some how.

-scrubout

Titan legion eh?
I'm thinking you guys need to stop giving me ideas...

Sounds like a great concept though and wait to see this take full flight (Pun not intended...)

Like the sound of this project log, will keep an eye on this.

As for the Double Eagle style apocalypse game, count me in. Been thinking about an air wing for my guard, so this is the perfect excuse I need.

This sounds like a great idea :) I can't wait to see what you guys come up with! I adore the Thunderbolt, its one of the Forgeworld kits I can actually imagine myself buying somewhere down the line!

great idea, but isnt crazy 88 a tv-show?

One of the first obstacles to overcome will be designing a flying stand (clearly I'm open to ideas :) ) but also as these will spend a good deal of their time on the ground, how best to model the landing gear on them.....


As for "Double Eagle", I'm just about to read it, so expect the first fluff in a short while.

Whilst Hedley and I are clearly modelling and painting this for ourselves, we are of course representing only two flights from the squadron. There seems to be a bit of interest to join in, so we will endevour to add step by step tutorials for every bit of the project, both in terms of the aircraft colour scheme and the ground models. That way, if anyone wants to join in, they can. It would be entirely up to you whether you model your part of the airbase or not.

I have to admit, fielding a full squadron next year WOULD be awsome and worthy of a White Dwarf apperance in my opinion!!!

Once you have read Double Eagle ( and I'm going through it myself again as of last night) much will be revealed.

I have just gone through 1.48 scale aircraft and ground support accessories on one of the sites and there is much available to help.

just a note for the apocalipse scenario for those who are concerned on costs and conversion ability.
1- for this to work we would also need THE FORCES OF CHAOS! ironically the Hell blade is FW's cheapest flyer at £40. the book also refers to the hell razor which is not availble as a model but I shall try and come up with a concept so that the likes of Rictus and Tinners may come up with something half decent.
2- the Enothis Commonwealth ( the imperial forces of the planet in the book)have a range of aircraft which could easely be created by mild to advanced conversion of 1.48 scale aircraft. Probably the easiest is the KT4 Wolfcub which, having read the book is essentialy a Heinkel 162.
3- this is a long term project, no time lines have been set so at the moment there is plenty of time.


Digits for some of the ground stuff (i've been thinking about something like this for ages for myself) can I recommend that you look at
1-Hesco Bastion- for the aircraft revetment (i do have a way of recreating that so if you want info let me know)
2-take a look at Harrier aircraft disposals for the FSB.

I have currently 1 lightning which will be finished in the colours of the 1267th Navy (recon) squadron. but I will state here and now that I am commiting to 2 thunderbolts which will be turned out in Phantine XX colours (there will also be a vulture and a valkirie in the colours of the 160th Special Air operations Wing)

Tally Ho!!

sheet steel ground to a disk, 6 mm bar, brazed together with a locating nub turned on each end. Sort of like a plastic stand but scaled up and over-engineered. Coat the thing in hammerite and then pick a colour of choice! i use them for my barracuda and piranha so they 24 inches above the table.

I do like Old Guard's idea for the Apoc game. I know no timelines are in place, but probably best after Planetfall so we can see what they bring out in plastic (please let there be cheaper Valkyries).

Obviously interested in seeing what's being done and especially ideas for basing as I have a fully painted Vulture I need to get mounted on a base so I can use it.

As you know I have the plans set out for the cyclone, I've just pm'd someone to join up with me, so we can get a squadron of them on the launch rails

Do you have pictures and are you in a position to supply them?

I think this is looking seriously promising, something all members can add to for next years Open Bash.

Please be aware, even tho it will be Apocalypse, after lessons learn't we will be putting restrictions on Battlefield Assets, some hindered the flow of the game to a point it stopped!

If you want to go truly mad have a look at this from WiP, the Harbinger Bomber

http://z11.invisionfree.com/Work_In_Progre...?showtopic=9772

:o Oh wow thats excellent!

I have spoken with Digits and so as not to steal his and Deadleys thunder (bolt :D Tehe!) I think it best to start another thread that deals with the proposed Double Eagle apocalypse scenario where we can put all these ideas and chart our progress.

Keravin as far as target dates are concerned I tend to aggree, once we know when that is likely to be a firmer date can be established.

for now, ideas plans suggestions etc.. will move away from here.
I will try and sort this later this evening.

Chocks away ..... yes I know I'm going into cliche mode :rolleyes:

Is the base going to be more like an established base with concrete and proper runways and control towers, fixed defenses etx - or a recent one more like a WWII base set up on a field, tin huts, machine guns surrounded by sandbags and trenches

More the latter. A temporary affair as it is likely to keep the cost signigicantly down.

Being toying with this since I made my crew member for the 669th


I intend to model by Navy ground crew along the lines of this fellow, without the tankers hat of course! I will attempt to gs either a cap in the style of WW2 RAF or have it folded over his shoulder. The tanker's torso painted blue should look quite in keeping.

Love that figure, a great running pose. Now you see for mine I WILL be using those heads as my ground crew will be based on US navy carrier deck crew with all the diferent colour shirts to represent their job I've got a set of the metal tank crew figures put to one side waiting for reasignment.

RAF blue ground crew will look great. reminds me of my old Airfix groundcrew sets :)

Will be modelling my first test models this week I think.

Just been going through my FW wants list!!!

Now obviously I need to check with Hedley which ones he would want too, but so far I need:-

3 Thunderbolts (have 2)
2 Sentinel Power Lifters (have 1)
1 Pilot (have)
3 lots of underwing weaponry + some for ground crew / trolleys
Trojan
Atlas
Trailers / Generators.
Hydra Flak (2?)
2 Chimeras for conversion to mobile command / control. (have)
1 Chimera for conversion to mobile radar.


+ can anyone confirm if there are surface to air rules for the manticore?

No wonder I need a year for this, !!!!

Already have a few ideas for fuel storage, weapons trolleys, camoflaged covering, temporary "hangars", hard standing etc.

1 box catachans for conversion.

How Temporary are the hangers your looking for? I know that the metal Bunker/U shaped hangers really quick to setup of air operations.

Although probably may not help but I am willing to lend (by lend I mean in spirit) my destroyer to this if ya want it in the squad

in the AI section of the FW catalogue it does show manticores so i would say thats a yes. the is also the imperial heavy AA gun so a 'airshaker' gun!?

My super heavy with the Earthshaker barrels has just gone up in my priorities!

This would be my part of the operation. Hopefully I can make it to next years bash to have a go with them.

The AA Earthshaker would probably be fairly easy to convert, just base it on something like the Flak 88s, which is what it looks like FW done anyway.

And yeh the Manticores can become AA vehicles, same with the static ones.

How about some of the VTOL lifters and crates from DOW?

I think I'll leave that lot for discussion over on "Double Eagle" as mine and Hedley's project is simply to create a forward airbase for the thunderbolts.

First model then, a powelifter. I'm leaving the pilot out as this can then be used as scenery for my skellies.

Nice!! what colour scheme are you going for on the vehicles?

I'm thinking grey / green in a similar paint style to my skellies but to be fair, I need to chat with Hedley first as this has all gone a bit haywire! :huh:

Whoops! :( Sorry...