Sadly, I’ve become a bit bogged down in my Cold War Leopard project but I thought I’d fill the gap for the moment with this little model, produced by Weird Armies Reign, who produce, or produced a series of fictional extended WW1 and post apocalyptic models. I seem to recall that they’re no longer in production due to extensive pirating. It took some time to track down what I wanted but eventually I obtained the monocycle motorbike from a seller in Russia.
As an alternative to the 1919 scenario I thought I’d depict it as a prototype undergoing trials in the British Army c.1925. I planned on visiting Staff Officers giving the new motorcycle the once over, having travelled down from the then War Office to somewhere like Aldershot or Chobham; I therefore obtained (at quite a hefty price) the ancient and rare Airfix 1:32 Morris Cowley to use as a Staff Car. Whilst it’s 1:32 it seems to fit in OK. The WAR model was very well cast and detailed and these vehicles certainly existed in the 1920s and there’s some entertaining footage on YouTube. The Lewis MG is a bit of a fantasy as I’m sure it would unbalance the machine but it looks the part I feel; I also added a few minor mods such as cabling, rear light and number plates. The figures come from a variety of sources including Tank, Masterbox and Resicast; I replaced 2 of the heads with those by Hornet. The scenario is that the visitors have just turned up after flogging down from London, where they are met by the Project Officer running the trials; the Sgt in the saddle has been hard at it all morning but is quite cheerfully explaining to the Major General the virtues and vices of the machine. The General’s Military Assistant (MA) is busy taking notes. I should have modelled him as a Lieutenant Colonel but forgot so he’s shown as a Major.
The Royal Army Service Corps Corporal driver is staying in his vehicle looking on with interest; next to him on the front seat is an umbrella for use by his illustrious passengers if required and his road map. On the rear seat is a briefcase, Thermos flask and a Secret file - concerning the project - which can just be seen. The Home Forces marking on the vehicle is really a fiction as it wasn’t used as far as I’m aware until the late 40s.
