Airfix Cavalry

I did one each of the riders from the Airfix American Civil War Cavalry set as Interwar US Army Cavalry.

The US Army used horse cavalry until 1943 and all during World War Two they improvised ad hoc units of cavalry as theater commanders asked for horse mounted troops.

Troops like this patrolled the border between the US and Mexico well in the 1940s.

Naturally, someone has to care for the horses, so I converted a few other figures to work in the stables.

The unit also needed a couple Military Police officers and a bugler.  Bugler is from the Imex Korean War Chinese Peoples Liberation Army set.  The MPs are from Airfix USAAF set.

Here is everyone together.  I will likely do more cavalry as it was an easy conversion.

Return Flight

The fragile plane returns to base, it's one bomb expended.

Will it be enough?

It's the only bomb in the Signal Corp.

And it only hit one war machine.

A safe landing after the first bombing mission in history.

The two remaining Martians help their ruined partner off the field of battle.

The town is saved!

Bombing Run

The plane sees the Martian War Machines!

The pilot lines up the targets...

And it's bombs away!

The war machines stop and look up, unsure about what is happening.

The bomb, however, falls straight and true and destroys one of the machines!

Flying

All the while the Martians have been moving closer to the town.

It did not take long for the plane to get to the Martian War Machines.

The Martians are astonied at the sight of a flying machine.

With the thin atmosphere on Mars, nothing flies.

The plane not only flies, but it's dangerous.

Launch Aircraft!

The plane starts to move along the rails.

The plane is moving.

Almost airborne!

Nearly there!

 We're aloft!

Take Off

The men prepare the plane.

It's ready to take off.

Everyone get back.

Engines rev up!

The ground crewmen take up rifles to fight the ground war.

Aircraft Ready

The ground crews get ready.

Clear and ready for take off.

 The ground crews open fire!

Contact!

Get ready for take off.

Aircraft Prep

Some of the ground crew grab their guns and head out to fight the war machines.

The other ground crewmen work to get the plane aloft.

Adjust the propeller.

Tighten up the engine bolts.

Check the fuel.

Check the oil.

Clear the area.

Ford Trimotor Airplane

The Trimotor is an easy build.

I used this big clamp to hold together the nose end while it dried.

This is a durable model, the support for the rear horizontal stabilizers is one piece that goes all the way through the fuselage, I like that idea.

Almost done.

Finished, and it's also very durable.