I was in my LHS yesterday and picked up the Minicraft F-5E Photo Recon Lightning for $10. While researching the kit markings I got to wondering if anyone has done a China/Burma/India Theater group build. It could be open to all genres as there were many interesting subjects that operated there. I even found photos of German SdKfz 222s and Pz Is used by the Chinese.
Has it been done? Is it too close to the War in the Pacific GB? What’s the consensus?
Satch
Withouth checking the parameters of the Pacific GB, Satch, I think there should be enough variance. The Pacific build, as I imagine it, was probably lacking in British (RAF and Army mainly) subjects although Australian Sptifires and Beaufighters etc would be about as close as you’d come. Of course if we’re including Singapore and the Buffaloes, Hurricanes and Blenheims…
CBI gives the opportunity to build RAF - both British and American types - aircraft and British vehicles. Add in the usual USAAF gear (anyone built an OD Superfortress?), everything Japanese including rail, Chinese equipment and even Royal Indian Air Force and other Indian subjects. Plenty of scope to be different, I reckon.
After all that I’d love to join with a Tamiya 1/48 Thunderbolt or Hurricane in RAF colours but I’m already in a couple GBs and still haven’t started back into building. Need to get my Airfix Botson III underway. I’ll keep you in mind and join later if that’s okay.
Obviously some overlap with the Pacific since you have most of the same combatants, but there are a lot of unique aspects too, particularly if you include the period before 1941.
Gain
Chinese forces
Thai forces
More Indian forces
Possibly Soviet forces in 1945?
American Volunteer Group
Cargo planes play a bigger role, flying the hump is a key feature of the theaters history
1st Air Commando Group
Older equipment remained in service far longer, so you get some late versions not used elsewhere. Also new schemes for older equipment. There was quite a bit of equipment normally associated with North Africa, in non desert schemes such as the M3 Lee / Grant.
Obviously you lose pretty much any naval power, ANZAC and USMC forces
Both of you are thinking along the same lines as I. I envision anything that served in C/B/I or the South East Asia Theater (the official name) from the Japanese invasion through the Russian invasion. For you ship guys maybe even the Repulse and the Prince of Wales as they were attacked by Japanese aircraft based in Saigon.
If we get enough folks interested we can flesh out the rules and make a go of it.
Satch
The last CBI theater GB here on FSM was back in 2006, so I say go for it! Great theme, a neglected theater of the war that saw a lot of action, and a lot of different subjects.
I don’t personally have anything in the stash that would qualify, but I’ll watch from the sidelines.
Cheers
Come on Arki, you and I both know that nothing in the stash is just an excuse to go buy something new!
I’ve been looking around for subjects and I could be interested if this gets going.
There are quite a few aircraft considered obsolete in other theaters that saw combat in China (actually considered obsolete there too, but I guess you use what you are given). US P-26, P-36, P-40 (C through N), P-43, P-66, and Soviet I-15, I-16, I-153 were used on the Allied side (P-36 was used on both sides as Thailand had some). Similarly the Japanese tended to use their second string aircraft in the CBI.
Yes, this one has my interest. How much later in the year will you be starting this. i have several gBs going already but this one does sound very possible.
I’m thinking after the winter is over. Could be spring or it could be July 7th to coincide with the Marco Polo Bridge incident.
We can get a reading on participation and judge the beginning from there. This GB can draw from Armor, Aircraft, Ship, and Dio modelers. The possibilities are endless.
Regarding the cross-over with the existing Pacific GB, the CBI theater is excluded in the current Pacific GB.
I am interested in participating-more interested if you wait for a early summer start date.
Good deal. I am thinking the July 7th start date is looking like a winner. The Pacific build will be over and most of the current ones will be winding down. Start researching and planning your subjects. Sino-Japanese War/CBI Theater GB is on like Donkey Kong!
I will populate the other forums to gather more interest and put the official GB thread here closer to the start date. This should be fun.
Satch