GWP3

I look forward to seeing them when things are better for you.

A word of warning!I only started off intending to do RAF forces but the AVBCW bug got me and I ended up with a whole Royalist force

Another good idea (in addition to the Highway Patrol Group), thanks. I have a bunch of Musketeer RIC that I could put into service and assorted models with forage caps figs too. Given the hypothetical nature of the times, perhaps the RAF would provide appropriate uniforms for their folks in this time frame. Consider Lord Stanley in the modern Richard III wearing such a uniform. A unit in the RAF blue would be very attractive.

What commercial paint would be best for the RAF uniforms?

@DLI, thanks and cheers for the warning.

@Bobandhisdog, I haven't decided on a force just yet....the RAF Auxiliaries and the RHPG are just ideas I have floating around. At the very least others will probably find this information useful, I'm intending to post some more details.

Well I foresee the Officers retaining their proper uniforms, reckon a fair few are tailor made. As for the Other Ranks, since the RAF are stayed largely loyal to the Crown and, to a degree, the Government its possible they could get their hands on a few khaki Battledress uniforms....despite their earlier attempts to distance themselves from the Army in matters of uniform. Foundry's Home Guard models seem the best ones to use, least for the Forage Caps.

In a future post I intend to cover organization, etc. Figured the RAF would try to recruit Great War vets with infantry experience to use, again the Home Guard models come into use here.

As for paints, my knowledge is a bit limited but I reckon Games Workshop's Regal Blue is a good match. I'll be trying the paint on that car/truck model I posted pictures of in my RHPG thread.

NOTE: Renegade's Early WW1 British Officers could be considered for RAF officers as well.

Scarf, blue RAF officer's uniform and a khaki greatcoat.

I do like this idea, but I have been looking around for figures that look like the 1936 new issue servicemans dress - about the only ones that seem to have the right tunic are italians, the americans are close as well, but the tunic is too short. I'm considering doing some of these in 20mm, any ideas?

For 20mm?

'Fraid not, I only know 28mm as its what I'm used to and its fairly common.

I shall me posting some more stuff here anyway.

Found a WW2 picture of the RAF Regiment marching through the streets of London, though it doesn't take much much to picture this in VBCW.



I'll get some details on organization posted up later.

I'm sure I've seen them before.Oh wait I've got some in a box at home

Thanks for the pic,it will go into my research file

is that an anarchist reaching into his pocket for a grenade behind thse two ladies?

I'm guessing that it's a late war picture (post 1943), as they are all wearing late issue battledress?

Interesting to see that all the railings are still in place in the photo.

Just found the full text of the photo; "Marching through the near-deserted streets of London en-route to Buckingham Palace"

Probably more like a review and/or to mount the guard outside the Palace in place of the Coldstem Guards.

And there was me thinking there'd been a hitherto unspoken about mid-war coup attempt!

Ok, next bit as promised.

Background

Originally the RAF has been assured that, by operating its aircraft from abases within the Army's area of responsibility, its airfields would be secure from enemy interference. At the time neither Service took into account whether the Army would be able to fulfill its commitment in defending the RAF's bases whilst fighting a land battle at the same time. Though as the prospect of another conflict in Europe became more and more likely, some members of the Air Staff began to question relying on another Service, which had different roles and priorities, for the defence of its own airfields and vital installations. At the time the threat was viewed to be low-level air attack by enemy aircraft that had avoided the RAF's fighter screen and little thought was given to the possibility of a direct attack by ground based forces.

To guard against a possible low level air attack, which the RAF lacked funding and new weapons for, Supply Depots were raided and revealed a number of surplus, Great War vintage, aircraft machine guns. These were adapted for airfield defence and a number of airmen in the Aircrafthand General Duties (AH/GD) trade were given some training in the usage of these weapons against low-flying aircraft. Though after May 1937 it became increasingly clear that the Army was simply unable to meet its commitments for airfield defence as the county fell into civil war and chaos. The RAF quickly mustered a ground defence force (modelled on the Royal Marines) consisting of airmen remusted under the Ground Gunner trade, Royalist soldiers and Great War veterans under the name 'Royal Air Force Defence Auxiliaries'. Officered by the Defence specialization of the Administrative & Special Duties branch, the Auxiliaries were quickly dispatched to RAF airfields throughout the country as the unrest grew.

Initially there were mixed results as could be expected from such a mixed and hastily mustered force, but as 1937 wore on the training, equipment and organization of the Auxiliaries improved as the combat experience of veterans and former soldiers filtered its way through the force. Attacks against airfield promptly fell as the Defence Auxiliaries got organized and worked out effective defence measures, soon the Auxiliaries were being sent on additional missions in order to help the RAF maintain its flying operations. Convoy duty and scout patrols became a regular task for the Ground Defence flights, raids for supplies and to capture airstrips also increasingly became common for the flights.

Nice background. Are we assuming they took over operating the ww1 armoured cars as airfield defence as well? That's going to give them a bit of punch - trucks and armoured cars!