Commemorative Air Force Expo 2014-Dallas Exec. Airport

We are very fortunate to have the Commemorative Air Force (late name...Confederate Air Force....politically correct strikes again....) national museum and headquarters relocating about 12 minutes from my home in the southern part of Dallas, Texas.  My Dad and I went out to the Expo today. It was a great day with some superb examples of aircraft and of the BEST GENERATION represented.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the complete collection relocated here in the near future. I found a post teaching-retirement "spot"....I want to be a docent when the headquarters opens!
Here's a gallery of the show today. I know this isn't my usual wargaming stuff but hey...it's MY blog right?  LOL  Enjoy

A20 Invader

B17

B17s are cool and my Father in Law was a crew
chief on one in England!

Classic Lines...classic bird!

What the last thing a German
fighter pilot would see....

B24-pre Ploesti (no nose turret yet)

Great Nose Art

B25 with ghost girl nose art

Wasp!!!!

Flight line view

Twin stingers of a Helldiver. These guys had
brass ones to do this!

Beechcraft Expediter in British D-Day colors 

Expediter's Radial Close up

Hell Diver's landing gear. It is massive!

Marine B25J-Check out the SHIPS sunk by this
Devil Dog!

Piper Cub Cockpit...barebones flying at its best!

My Dad and a P51D

Expensive Hobby!

Fairchild PT-19

Replica Zero used in Black Sheep Squadron TV Show

Fifi1-B29 was awesome!

B29-2

B29-3

B29-4.  I'da taken a ride but the $475.00/30min ride
was a bit steep for my teacher's salary.

Flight Line of Fame

Check out dem' toofs

Helldiver hydraulic wing folding mechanism

Helldiver2-this is the only flying example of this
aircraft left

check out the bomb rack...it hung a 500lb
bomb out in the air while the
plane was at a 40degree dive at over 300mph
We have no clue today....

The BEST of the BEST GENERATION

 U.S. Marine Air-B25J Nose art

Norden bombsight position...yes I did ask
permission to take this pic 

My Dad and P51B Red Tail

split dive brakes

B25 front view

Tuskegee 1

Tuskegee 2

Tuskegee 3

Dad and the B25J

Helldiver once in a lifetime shot

Two generations of airmen

B24 Liberator-this plane was originally
designed as a seaplane

Bombadier's spot on a B25

54mm Napoleonic Project Still Goin' Strong! ATKM French Infantry

Just finished some All the King's Men 54mm French Napoleonic infantry.  Great figures from Ken Cliffe.  Fun to paint. A definite challenge to get a balance to all the whites on the uniform.  Thanks Ken for yet more fun figs to paint!  Got to order more!!!

Poor Photos. Taken at night on my painting table with
my painting light as light source.

Poor Photo #2. These were fun to paint and hopefully will be
fun to play as well!

Westfalians March Out and Shoulda' Marched Back on the Shelf!

Greg Horner and I played a great Napoleon at War game on Sunday, 17 August.  Greg played my Brits. I proudly marched out my new VIII Corps.  Greg kicked my butt soundly!  Great game Greg!  I played the VIII Corps as "conscripts".  That was a lesson well learned.  Quality has a quantity all it's own. Greg brought the Brunswickers. I made a huge error and played timid. Don't know why. Usually it's pedal to the metal, get across the field and see how the dice tumble.  Greg took great advantage of my weirdness and subsequently gave the "Eaters of Ham" a British boot in the arse! 

What did I learn from this game?  Greg's damn good at Napoleon at War.  I'd better play more and see if I can catch up.  It's pretty cool to have both sides ready so folks can just pop in and play without having to deal with painting, dice, rulers, terrain and all those things that modern gamers whine about. (Rant button off now).

Here's a gallery of the game....it definitely was fun. I need to play more Napoleon at War. I've moved somewhat to the bad habit of "game of the week". It showed in my lack of tactics in this game.  There's always next time right?

Order Mixte looks pretty...

Left Flank Brigade with Heavy Cavalry

British Right Flank Brigade

British Cavalry Arrive!

Napoleon at War British Horse Artillery

Some of my Brits

Brunswicker Arty (New Line Miniatures)

Brunswick Infantry (New Line infantry)

Heavy artillery in central position

Order Mixte...almost...LOL

Heavy and Light Cavalry Bdes.
(Napoleon at War Heavies, New Line Lights-they mix just fine!)

Carabiners and Cuirassiers prepare for their Death Ride!

Cavalry is prepared. Combined arms time...yeah right! HA

Light Cavalry order Mince

Napoleon at War Cuirassiers stop before leaving the field without
taking a casualty....wussies!

Napoleon at War Brits navigate the Crack in the World!

British column...

No one's goin' to Mass today!

Pre-Game at the Rat Palace Redux. 

Three Rat Palace Redux "guards"

Napoleon at War Scots Greys

Scots Greys slicing Ham...eaters! 

Lots of Ham Eaters!

Order Mixte is pretty...but can they fight?  Jury's still out!

The Thin Red Line bows but does not break

Westfalian Chevau Leger Lanciers
(New Line Miniatures)

Heavy guns in central position

54mm French Cuirassiers

I just finished a unit of 54mm French Cuirassiers.  They're from All the King's Men Miniatures  Fun to paint and will look GREAT on the table!