Corona Virus Project #2: Battle Sisters - USS Yorktown [CV5], USS Enterprise [CV6] and USS Hornet [CV8]

Next comes the Midway carriers, that magic combination of capabilities that made them the perfect modern carriers for the USN to fight the Pacific War against Japan, just at the right time (see below, primed in their basic colours):

CV5 the USS Enterprise is first up on the painting stocks. By the time of painting the USS Enterprise I decided that the flight deck deserved some more "effects" such as arrester-wires and elevator markings (see below, seen here after taking a coat of Humbrol 'satin varnish' for the sea and wet sheen effect):

I liked the look so much I decided to go back and work through CV2 to CV4 (Lexington, Saratoga and Ranger) and fill in the details and change solid lines to dashes (see below, the revised USN CV fleet to date with my hand scribed deck-markings):

Another fly-by (see below, Enterprise [CV6], Wasp [CV7, a smaller type of Yorktown - due to treaty tonnage restrictions] and Hornet [CV8] at the end of the line, still in their base colours):

A furious night of painting ensued and USS Yorktown [CV5] is joined by the USS Enterprise [CV6] in a battle ready state (see below, I am starting to enjoy this crazy adventure):

USS Hornet [CV8] was next up for the deck marking treatment (see below, I think the "number 8" marking is particularly funky):

USS Hornet again (see below, I am so liking this!):

Now the sisters are ready for battle (see below, bring on Midway):

That just leaves the USS Wasp [CV7] to do for the complete US early war carrier fleet.

PS4: AIR CONFLICTS - Pacific Carriers

If you cannot beat them then join them!

The 'family' (ahem, eldest son with his elbows to the fore, but the others make sure he does not get it all his own way as we all have 'our own' games) got a PS4 as the big Xmas present. The sounds of action packed "Lego" fights (Marvel Super Heroes and Lego Dimensions) along with the mandatory shuffling sounds of heaps of small Lego pieces (quite evocative) echo through the house for most of the weekend! When the tired kids are off to bed and the wife thinks she'll get a bit of piece and quiet I slip away into WWII Carrier Combat (see below, WWII PS4 game and a custard tart, does it get any better?)

So far I have made it to Midway on Rookie setting with the easier Arcade control settings (call it a need for easy gratification) but the Cap and AA keep shooting me down as I try and take out the Kaga and Akagi.

Expanding Science Fiction Fleet (Star Trek IV)

Star Ships of Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country

The "Good Guys", the Federation Excelsior (Sulu) and Enterprise (Kirk) need to avert another Klingon v Federation war (see above). The wannabe "Good Guys", Klingon's in a rather scary Battle-Cruiser (see below):

Meanwhile the real "Bad Guys" (including a Vulcan) are using a Klingon 'Bird of Prey' to try and start another war between the Klingons and Federation (see below):

All courtesy of the current Star Trek magazine series running fortnightly in the Newsagents (it is so great feeling like a kid again).

All I need now is a simple set of "space star ship battle rules" ;)

"To Boldly Go" for £1.99

Oh, how I laughed at the sheer lack of will power that some other wargamers have. Just because a magazine in their first issue offers a throwaway bargain doesn't mean to say "you have to buy it"! Have some "will power" and don't succumb to those adolescent style fantasies, naming no names of course (cf David Crook).

Yes of course I got one too!

I'd buy a three legged hairy troll for £1.99 if it looked good enough so I snapped up Pecard's Enterprise, much to the interest of my three children who were loitering with me in the Co-Op sweetie isle when I spied 'The Enterprise" in the magazine section.  

Note: The price I paid for the "sweeties" was more than what the Enterprise cost me! Those kids sure know how to take advantage of a distracted daddy ...

However I now have the "Next Generation Enterprise" (See below):

For the record, I am no hard core Trekky but it is a nice looking spaceship for as yet an unspecified Sci-Fi 'Federation' adventure (the old middle-aged RPG'er friends of mine be warned, take note of this for a planned Xmas special coming to an area near you, start making your excuses now).

Head on she is mightily impressive (see below):

The typical Klingon Bird-Of-Prey 'attack view' of her (see below):

Note: Although 'die-cast' there are plastic pieces attached, as my 'Klingon' three year old son soon found out, detaching the starboard-side warp engine in a fierce 'space' battle (he has a strong grip for such a small child). Luckily daddy had some 'super glue' and 'plastic glue' to hand so I didn't cry that much. Hmm, I don't think I remember seeing this particular TV episode.

;)

While the Romulan could always 'de-cloak' and get underneath for their attacks (see below):

Still no matter which angle you attack from there is always the 'business end' of the USS Enterprise to deal with (see below):

"Fire photon torpedoes Number One". I think more Sci-Fi is to come as I saw 'the second in the series' is out in the shops.

Ah those adolescent years, oh I also had a crush on Kate Bush too ;)