Modelling > Falklands War/Guerra de las Malvinas 30yr Tribute GB
1934 Crisis - Part II the British
Brian da Basher:
While the success of the British passenger airships R-100, R-101 & R-102 are legendary, little known was the Royal Navy's combat airship R-99 built in secret until it played a crucial role in the 1934 Falklands Crisis.
A shepherd with a short-wave ham radio was able to get word back to Britian that the Falklands had been taken. Immediately, the Royal Navy ordered the aircraft carrier Ark Royal diverted from exercizes off the coast of Greenland to deal with the invasion. Knowing it would take almost a week to arrive, the Royal Navy also ordered the combat airship R-99 launched.
Fortunately, the R-99 carried a Siskin Mk. X biplane which would prove a huge surprise to the invading Argentines.
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Brian da Basher
Brian da Basher:
After three days' flight, the R-99 hovered 75 miles off Stanley, waiting for dawn. When the sun rose, the R-99 launched its Siskin biplane and swooped in to expel the invaders.
The Siskin strafed all the Argentine "Balboas" until they were burning hulks and the R-99 bombed the Argentine army's camp. Before long, a white flag was seen and Special Air Service paratroops jumped from the R-99.
continued...
Brian da Basher
Brian da Basher:
When the SAS paratroops landed, they were stunned to find all the surrendering Argentine troops almost too ill to stand. As it turns out, the real British secret weapon wasn't the R-99 nor it's Siskin Mk. X, but Bovril. This horrid staple of English cupboards had sickened the invading Argentines to the point of prostration. In fact, to this very day, it is illegal to import Bovril into Argentina and this is one of the few remaining crimes where the death penalty applies.
By the time the Ark Royal showed up, the situation was well in hand, to the great amsement of the Royal Marines who expected to meet fierce resistance and not a green, barfing mass of Argentines.
Brian da Basher
Brian da Basher:
This project began over a week ago when I was looking at two sets of Airfix Trafalgar-class sub upper hull parts that the always generous Jeffry Fontaine sent me:
I added a gondola made from a small 1/72 scale bomb. The fairing connecting it to the envelope is actually a Stuka landing gear strut. Next I cut fins from card stock and added engine nacelles made from bits of sprue. I really liked the look of some sub screws so I decided to use them as propellors.
The gun turrets on top and bottom are actually small wheels and I added a smaller turret under the gondola and another gun in the tail.
Brian da Basher
GTX_Admin:
Brilliant as usual!!
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