Africa GB Gallery

[Tim R-T-C]

 

One of the last colonialisations of the Scramble for African was the Spanish move in the early 1920s to conquer their protectorate region of modern-day Morroco, although far less known today than the Italian moves in modern day Lybia and East Africa, it was more consequential - bringing on the political crisis that led to the Spanish Civil War.

 

Brought on by attacks on Spanish possessions by the Berbers of the Rif Mountain region, the Spanish went in with the same colonial mindset of superiority over native forces that had doomed so many other colonial armies down the years. Poorly trained Spanish conscripts were massacred, culminating in the Battle of Annual which saw over 13,000 Spanish soldiers killed or wounded and the forces in the country retreated to the small Spanish coastal exclaves.

 

With French support, including the provision of FT-17 tanks, a giant amphibious landing led to strong pushes inland and the eventual defeat of Riffian forces. Like the Italians in Lybia, the Spanish used severe tactics including aerial bombing and chemical attacks against the civilian population.

This scene shows a Bristol F.2b on reconnaissance patrol landing near an advancing Spanish column to update them on Berber positions.

 

The plane is the Valom F.2b with decals from LF Decals. I couldn't find specific images of the planes in operation in Morroco at this time but this is correct for 1925 and the type was definitely in service there.

 

The kit went together quite well. The brass struts were solid and easy to place, but the tiny bits of styrene holding up the lower wing were never going to hold, so I fitted hidden supports. Some AK pencil weathering added dust effects.

 

The tank is the Brengun all resin FT-17 painted to a profile from a Polish FT-17 book with a whitewash scheme presumably for use in the mountains. This went together very nicely.

 

The figures are a Kallistra Belgian WWI cavalry set, with some suitable adaptation to their hats to represent the Spanish uniforms of the period.

 

 

 

 

 

Come and discuss the legacy of late colonial expansion in the thread

 

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Tim R-T-C

[Tim R-T-C]

 

Mecheria Airfield, Algeria, November 1963. During the Sand War against Morocco a MiG mechanic tries to scrounge spare parts from a supply truck without much success...

The first military act of a newly independent Algeria in September and October 1963 was to defend itself from incursion by Morocco over disputed border territories - like so many post-colonial regions, once purely administrative and so vaguely defined boundaries became matters of national pride and identity.

 

Algeria's nascent air force included MiG-15bis donated by Egypt (probably of 1955 Czech origin) and Mi-4 helicopters, some from Egypt, others delivered in crates from the USSR.

The Tom Cooper book Showdown in Western Sahara on warfare in this region has a photo during this conflict of MiGs and Mils based at Mecheria Airfield, so that is what this scene is based on.
 
At the southern edge of the inhabited coastal region of Algeria, the airfield was built and used by French colonial forces and I have found some photos of a well established airfield in the 1950s, but from the accounts in the book it was largely abadoned at the time of the conflict with minimal facilities.

 

The MiG is the excellent Eduard kit with AK aluminium paint and decals lifted from a pair of MikroMir Yak kits.

 

The Mi-4 is from the Eastern Express kit - the military boxing but with the cheat line decal from the civilian boxing. Not the easiest kit with a lack of locating points and a lot of buttress joints.

 

The figures and former French military truck are from Arrowhead Minatures.

 

 

 

 

 

Come discuss post-colonial conflicts with me in the thread

 

So completing four vignettes for this GB. Thanks to all involved.

Edited June 26, 2021 by Tim R-T-C

[Grandboof]

Here is my contribution to this GB . Not the best but thanks to the extension it has made it to the gallery . Firstly thanks to our esteemed hosts for an enjoyable and educational journey to Africa . 

1/48 Percival Vega Gull by Dora Wings 

Mistakes and short comings by me 

Paints used Tamiya Acrylics XF-16 Flat Aluminium XF-1 Flat Black Mr Color 391 Semi Gloss Soviet Interior Turquoise Green 

 VP-KCC Cn K.34 was one of four registered in Kenya  was loaned to Mrs Beryl Markham for her flight from Abingdon England to Canada 4-5 September 1936 on condition that it was returned to England in time for the Schlesinger Air Race . The aircraft was damaged on arrival at Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia . It was sold to Dar Es Salaam Airways and written off in Tanganyika in August 1937 .

[PhantomBigStu]

Italeri P-51A, with the wing leading edge corrected. RAF 225sqn based somewhere in North Africa reports conflict in rare hybrid scheme, with RAF Middlestone over US Olive Drab and Neutral Grey. Painted with Xtracrylix, Humbrol 155 and Xtracrylix with Vallejo Gory Red for the spinner. Decals were Xtradecal codes roundels/flashes were Airfix. Finished with Winsor and Newton Matt. 

 

 

 

 

[Touvdal]

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Jes

[exdraken]

Mirage F1AZ

Italeri 1:48

Scaleworx conversion

Master pitot

L'Arsenal 400kg bombs+ Y-pylon

 

South African Airforce SAAF

The~ last and most atractive/sinister camo scheme the AZ ground attack variant had

 

Wip;

 

 

 

Sorry for the photos.. more was not possible today!

It was great gun!

Thanks everybody!