Taranto.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Doncaster 2024 will host a reprise of the Battle of Taranto in full 3D.

Neil's original game is being revamped to produce an all singing all dancing version. He will masterfully manipulate the Italian Fleet, AA fire, searchlights, anti torpedo netting and anything else he can come up with.
As his accomplice, I have started gathering together some of the stage props which I will reveal as they arrive from the suppliers.
Just to whet your appetite you may see here the WW1 Italian Battleship Conti de Cavour undergoing her 1938 extension and rebuild prior to her appearance at the battle in 1940.




Watch this thread for even more revealing pictures in the future.
All ships portrayed will be in 1:1200 scale.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Here are the main books with which I am supporting my on line research.

[Guntruck]

Rumour has it you are doing some of your superb scenery to go with it.

[Jager]

That should be a really great game.
Karl

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Rumour has it you are doing some of your superb scenery to go with it.

Rumour may well "have it" Squadron Leader. As we know the walls have ears. You will just have to wait for a future briefing to find out.

Kyte.

[Guntruck]

So that's a 'yes' then

[Hedeby]

I can’t wait.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I coul not possibly comment.
Kyte.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Progress over the last two days.


Yesterday Undercoating,

Today starting to add major details prior to placing maim guns and sea boats.



Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Another useful book which I had forgotten about just popped up.
Great for pictures of the lesser sized Italian ships and obtainable on amazon for a reasonable price even though used.



Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Also a bit more progress on the Conti de Cavour.



Should get it finished tomorrow with luck.

Rob.

[Hedeby]

I am getting an itchy trigger finger... can’t wait to let my tin fish have a crack at those beauties

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Supplies have also started rolling in today.




Rob.

[Jager]

Also a bit more progress on the Conti de Cavour.



Should get it finished tomorrow with luck.

Rob.

Target...target...target...oh darn. I won't be there
Someone will have to put a fish into it for me, yes

Karl

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Well here she is Karl. I am now moving onto the Bolzano.

[Hu Rhu]

Looking good.

[Jager]

Yes, looking very good. What scale is she?
Karl

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Hi Karl.
All the ships are 1:1200

They look about right in photos when attacked from above.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Reinforcements of a different kind arrived today.
Just waiting for the Cruiser Book to arrive and I will have the full set. Pity Osprey don't do the Italian Submarines.



Rob.

[Baxter]

Amazing work. Any sailing ships?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Only the ones on the anchorage Gary, and they are mainly only alterations to existing models or kit built ones.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Just spotted your Rep for this Gary. Thank you very much.

Rob.

[tikkifriend]

Are those ships scratch built Rob ?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Are those ships scratch built Rob ?

This one is cut and shunt. All the white bits and creamy parts plus masts are by me, the light grey are robbed from my bits box and altered to fit. The rest is as was with some parts cut away or filed to the correct shape.
When I post the others Two are just kits made up by me and the rest are second hand re-painted and with added missing parts.
The real fun comes when I get onto the Destroyers as I only have one genuine kit so far on the way. The ones in the photo are bought in German ones which the Italian Navy had quite a few, but that still leaves about7 short for the scenario.

Rob.

[Vagabond]

That looks very good Air Vice Marshall, looking forward to see how this all comes together.

From the size of the book I get an impression of the size of the destroyers but if you get chance sometime, could you show a picture of the battleship with a WofW plane for scale.

I've played a couple of games using Neil's rules, although I think there were 2 sets with differing ancillary files and I got a bit confused as to which went with which. Even so they gave an enjoyable game so I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with this project.
Cheers

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Hi John.
All will become clear as I get bits and pieces together. At the moment I am awaiting my book on Italian Cruisers from Osprey and some buildings from Brigade.
As for the ships I will take a shot as soon as I get some room on my table.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Reinforcements arrived yesterday for the other side. Three more Stringbags from Shapeways.
That will now complete the second wave attackers.



Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Another Italian arrival.



Rob.

[Teaticket]

Molto bene! Looking like this will be quite the mission.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Bit of a downer today because Navco have most of the remaining ships I need but Pete there can't say when or if they will be reproduced during this year.
Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

On the upside, Yesterday I got my remaining three Stringbags mounted and pilot cards done. They are now ready for undercoating as soon as it warms up a bit.

[RJG173]

On the upside, Yesterday I got my remaining three Stringbags mounted and pilot cards done. They are now ready for undercoating as soon as it warms up a bit.

They are in their winter camouflage.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Good one Robert.

Rob.

[Angiolillo]

What do you mean Taranto? I don't even know where Taranto is! Nobody knows where Taranto is!



Jokes apart, I'd really like to join!
By the way, I am just reading this one in these hours!

[David Manley]

Bit of a downer today because Navco have most of the remaining ships I need but Pete there can't say when or if they will be reproduced during this year.
Rob.

If you mean Navwar then (a) they probably will have them as he is looking to resume casting, and (b) Davco do them as well - they used to be sold by Skytrex and are now sold by Navy Books (I had an order from them recently)

[David Manley]

I spent some time in Taranto with NATO a while back. I stayed in a hotel overlooking the harbour and had a nice little PnP solo game of the raid that made up and played there. Our hosts pit on an excelent dinner for us at a gorgeous family run restaurant nearby - main course chosen by our hosts was swordfish steaks

[Flying Helmut]

restaurant nearby - main course chosen by our hosts was swordfish steaks

Sounds Awesome!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

[QUOTE=Angiolillo;595124]What do you mean Taranto? I don't even know where Taranto is! Nobody knows where Taranto is!



Jokes apart, I'd really like to join!

Andrea,
It would be an honour to have you flying for the FAA Sir. Could you stand to watch the pride of the Italian Navy attacked in such an un gentlemanly way.
No offence Dave!

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

If you mean Navwar then (a) they probably will have them as he is looking to resume casting, and (b) Davco do them as well - they used to be sold by Skytrex and are now sold by Navy Books (I had an order from them recently)

Thanks for the SP Dave. Unfortunately all my ships are in 1: 1200 scale and I have been searching for weeks for Italian ships other than the Big Battleships in that scale.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

The painting moves on.



Undercoat achieved.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I also picked up the last of the Ospreys to complete my set on the Italian Navy.
They will now print some of their work to order. This one only took four weeks from ordering. the quality is almost indistinguishable from their old style ones.



Rob.

[David Manley]

Thanks for the SP Dave. Unfortunately all my ships are in 1: 1200 scale and I have been searching for weeks for Italian ships other than the Big Battleships in that scale.

Rob.

In that case can I suggest getting in touch with Dave Willcocks in Gosport? He is a 1/1200 specialist who trades as Dreadnought Models and I'm sure he has oodles of Italian cruisers and destroyers available. He doesn't charge stupid prices like some dealers either as he understands wargamers as well as collectors. Quite a lot of my 1/1200 WW2 collection has come from him.

dreadnought9[at]hotmail.co.uk

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks Dave I will do that.
Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yesterdays progress.



A bit of cammo going on.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Got most of the cammo and underbody work done. Next the exciting bits. The aircraft on the left is being used for reference.



Rob.

[flash]

They'll look grand, Rob

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Here is today's work Dave.
All painting complete props fitted and ready for a bit of decalling.
Just the aircrew to paint and add then.


Rob.

[Teaticket]

Looking good Rob!

[Flying Helmut]

I'm going to enjoy flying one of those!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Depending on the number of players Tim, you should actually end up flying a pair of those.
Rob.