If your last entry is anything to go by, this is going to be one to watch. Good luck Robin.

Mark

This sounds like another interesting build from you Robin, will look forward to seeing it come together.

Al

Hi Robin.
Look forward to seeing what you do with this build.
Ian

History of the Chindits Part 2:
“Operation Longcloth”


The original plan for “Longcloth” was that the Chindits would be deployed far behind the Japanese lines whilst the regular Allied forces commenced a large scale offensive into North Burma. Before the main attack could be finalised however, it was decided that the armies were not ready to participate in such a large campaign without further time to replace their losses incurred during the retreat through Burma and to train the new arrivals. Undeterred, Wingate proposed to Wavell that the Chindit operation be undertaken alone to test their new techniques against the Japanese and to prevent them from building up their forces for a new offensive of their own.
Wingate organised his force into two groups – the main force in the north consisting of Columns No. 3,4,5,7 and 8 with the Brigade HQ and a smaller force in the south made up of Columns 1 and 2 with the Group HQ, (Column 6 was the one broken up to replenish the others). This amounted to 2,000 men and 850 mules in the Northern Group and 1,000 men and 250 mules in the Southern Group. The theory was that the columns would move through the jungle itself, not along the usual roads and tracks, which transported troops would have to take. Security from Japanese counter attack would be provided by the enemy not knowing where the columns were heading or where they might strike next. The actual routes followed by the various columns is shown on the map in Photo 8. Air supply was to be provided by 31 Squadron of the RAF flying from Agartala in eastern Bengal. Despite having to supply around 3,000 men (and 1100 mules), the squadron never had more than three Lockheed Hudsons and three DC3 transports at any one time. Fighter escorts were provided when the situation permitted but when emergency drops at short notice were called in the transports had to fly alone, although, as the interior shot of the DC3 shows, the normally unarmed transports did in fact possess some teeth! It had been supposed that the men on the ground would have to create clearing for each supply drop but on one occasion an emergency drop had to be made into the jungle itself, this proved so successful that the technique was used many times again. No aircraft were lost during Longcloth.
On the 8th February, 1943 the Chindits left Imphal and entered into Japanese occupied Burma. There was no contact with the enemy for some time and then the advancing columns were sighted by Japanese patrols who believed the Chindits were simply small groups on intelligence gathering missions. The enemy only realised that their enemies were in Brigade strength after numerous outposts and patrols had been attacked and destroyed and railway bridges suddenly began blowing up! The Japanese were confused and surprised by the suddenly aggressive actions of an enemy they thought had been entirely driven out of Burma. The Japanese had no idea how the Chindits were being supplied and initially sent troops off to the west of Chindit sightings, hoping to cut off what they thought was a land supply route. Eventually of course, they finally realised what was going on when an air drop was interrupted by the coincidental arrival of a Japanese force searching for the Chindits on the 13th of March. Once the Chindit’s operational tactics were understood, the Japanese moved the western troops back from their pointless patrols and the Chindit columns began to find themselves surrounded. To retreat back to India would be very hazardous, with two major river crossings now guarded by the Japanese. Since going west was likely to be met with stiff resistance, the Chindits did the exact opposite and continued east, attacking whatever targets presented themselves. On the 24th March, Wingate was ordered to break off the operation and return. By now however the Chindits had advanced to the extreme range of the airdrops which, although successful were only providing the men with half of their required rations leading to malnutrition and subsequent exhaustion. They also found themselves in an area short of water supplies and heavily patrolled by increasing numbers of Japanese. In fact by now the Japanese had committed large numbers of men in an attempt to surround and capture the Chindits.
Wingate gave the order to return, dumping all non essential equipment and releasing the mules no longer needed to carry it. The Chindits were by now seriously short of food, many were sick and all now faced a dangerous journey to return back to India through the ever tightening Japanese forces. Many were ambushed on the march back, some were captured. One column moved north and marched into China to evade the enemy whilst another constructed a final jungle clearing airstrip to evacuate their sick and wounded. The rest returned by crossing back over the Chindwin and Irrawaddy rivers, either as a full column or else broken up into small groups better able to escape the Japanese net closing in. One column received an air drop of rubber dinghies to aid their escape whilst others who had by now lost their radio gear and couldn’t call for assistance were fortunately located by recon flights and re-supplied.
Of the three thousand officers and men who entered Burma, two thousand, one hundred and eighty two returned to the British lines having marched between one thousand and fifteen hundred miles through dense Japanese infested jungle. They were all sick and malnourished but in high spirits and rightfully proud of their epic achievement. Of those who returned, only six hundred were passed as fit for further front line service.
It was said by some top brass at the time (most of them Wingate’s detractors) and by many arm chair experts and historians ever since, that the effect of the Chindit’s raid was negligible, played little part in the overall Burma campaign and was a waste of men and materials. The only ‘experts’ whose opinion meant anything would be the Japanese High Command. They were later to admit after the war that the Chindits had come as a very nasty surprise to them. They had been extremely difficult to track down and as a result were forced to bring in thousands of troops, pulling them out of the rest camps where they had been sent to recover their strength before the next planned offensive. The main railway lines were put out of action for four weeks forcing the Japanese supplies to take longer routes, disrupting the flow to the front. To track down the Chindits, between six and eight entire Japanese battalions were diverted from other planned operations.
Perhaps the greatest effect of Operation Longcloth was the boosting of Allied morale. Until now the story of the war in Burma was one of defeat after defeat, of humiliating retreat after retreat. The British, Indian, Gurkha and Nigerian Chindits were the first allied unit to take the war back to the Japanese in their jungle terrain, fight them on far from equal terms and beat them at their own game. The myth of the invincible Japanese jungle fighter was smashed forever and the morale of the allied forces was raised no end. To the Japanese however, they suddenly realised their ever retreating western enemy wasn’t retreating any more! Much was learned from Longcloth, especially in the care of the sick and wounded, many of whom were left behind with friendly Burmese villagers or abandoned in the jungle. As a result, casualty evacuation became a high priority in future missions.
Churchill was very impressed with the results of Longcloth and Wingate’s grasp of guerrilla warfare. And, as you’ll see in the next instalment, so were the Americans!

Key to the rest of the Photos:

Photo 9 A Gurkha column crossing the Chindwin river at the start of the operation.
Photo 10 Chindits following one of the many smaller rivers.
Photo 11 Jungle rest camp. The man sitting on the mule is possibly suffering from malaria, it was the usual practise to place sick men on the mules until their fever passed when the next sick man would take their place. Almost out of shot on the left are a group of Japanese prisoners.
Photo 12 Nigerian soldiers of the West African Chindits.
Photo 13 Interior of the DC3 transport, note the improvised gun ports with Vickers ‘K’ guns (improved versions of the old Lewis Gun)
Photo 14 RAF Signals Unit attached to the columns calling for a supply drop.
Photo 15 The supply packs seen in the interior shot are heaved out the side door over what appears to be a clearing in the jungle.
Photo 16 and 17 Chindits laying explosives on one of the many railway bridges and the subsequent explosion.
Photo 18 and 19 Some of the survivors of Operation Longcloth. Their gaunt and emaciated condition as well as the sheer exhaustion is plain to see in these pictures.


Until next time.

Robin.

Many thanks for that Paul! Apologies for the delay in continuing! Health matters haven’t been too good lately, not only have I had flare-ups with the IBS but an exploratory ultra sound scan of my innards looking for possible gall stones as a cause for the problem have revealed after a lifetime of avoiding fatty foods like the plague (I hate the taste of fat) I have fatty liver disease! AND, just to rub it in, I spent part of last week down with Norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) and boy, is it well named!! Anyway, I seem to be getting over it at last so here we go.
Most of the articles required for the build have now arrived so the real planning and experimenting can begin. The actual thing that gave me the idea for this model is shown in Photo 1. No, not Frederick himself, but his swanky new residence! This brilliant display case was found on ebay (of course), and was, to be honest, cheaper than I could make one for from scratch. The case consisting of five clip together acrylic panels measures 14cm square (at the base and lid) by 21.5cm high. It cost just under £9 which is very good value. I had intended using this size for the busts but it soon became apparent that this would be too tight. The next size up is intended to display a full size 1/6th scale figure and a bust, together with a name plinth (especially if the arm(s) are raised) isn’t going to be much shorter than the full figure height anyway. The next purchase will have to be one of those cases to make sure the pose will actually fit inside! That's just arrived now!
Photo 2 illustrates the basic ‘core’ of the bust – a 1/6th scale articulated ‘action figure’ all the way from China. The cost of this figure is even more impressive – far more articulation joints than a basic Action Man for just £3.25 (and free p&p!) Costing more than the whole figure, in Photo 3 I have a selection of hands, these are made by a company called “Dragon in Dreams”, who also make full figures and uniforms. The two I’m planning on using are the second one down (gripping the machete) and the bottom one (where the others are moulded that shape, this one actually bends to whatever position is required). Going back to the body again, in Photo 4 you can see the other reason apart from the cost that this figure is so useful – the whole thing is secured with lots of tiny screws! Although at that price I could simply epoxy the figure in the pose I want and saw it up to make moulds, I hate destroying any perfectly good model/item. So the intention is to dismantle the figure down to the torso and arms, make silicone moulds and resin casts to Milliput over and then put him back together again until the next figure evolves. In Photo 5 we have the head that won’t be used this time. This was another Chinese import at £2.29 and isn’t half bad at that price. I was going to Milliput a straggly beard and longer hair but after I’d sent off for that one I found a perfect match as seen in Photo 6. I came across an absolutely brilliant website called www.antheads.co.uk. This site is run by a chap called Tony Barton, who in my opinion is one of the best sculptors I’ve seen. I chose this head, No.67 in his catalogue as it looked just what I needed – haggard and exhausted. It was only after I’d ordered the head (and another item) that I looked through his photo gallery and discovered that he’d designed that face – for a Chindit figure! (There must be something in that ‘Minds thinking alike’ saying!
So these are the main components, minus the plinth base which I’m still pondering over. The first job is to convert the solid resin Tony Barton casting into a hollow version which will eventually be losing the top of his head to accept his resin cast floppy jungle hat. So in the next instalment, lots of silicone rubber and my first experience of Roto Casting Resin.

Until then, Happy Modelling to you All!

Robin.

Not only Schwarzenegger in pic #5 but pic #6 could be Kirk Douglas in his younger days nice update Robin, look forward to seeing more of your progress.

Al

Many thanks to Kev, Al and Alan! The more I look at the pics the more of those resemblances I can see! I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it!
Since the whole idea behind this year’s entry is to create an entire model made of home cast resin, the first task I had to attempt was to turn the solid resin Tony Barton head into a hollow replica which will be fitted onto the also hollow torso later. Photo 1 illustrates the solid original fitted onto a plasticene ‘plug’ under the neck, resting in the lego brick mould casting box. The plan was that the plug was supposed to stick the head to the side wall and the first pouring of silicone rubber would flow under the head. What actually happened was that the head slowly sank down during the curing and came to rest on the plasticene base. When the rubber has cured I found a tiny hole where the back of the head touched the base which needed a second layer of silicone poured over the underside of the rubber. In hindsight, what I should have done was to pour in a layer of silicone first, let that cure and then put in the head to rest on that before pouring the main silicone in! Photo 2 shows the first pouring after curing before trimming off the rubber ‘flash’. The silicone was poured in up to the half way point in the width of the head as you can see. In Photo 3, the flash has been trimmed off and the edges of the rubber cut away to create the locating tabs for the second half of the mould. Once these were cut the surface of the rubber was given three coats of liquid wax release agent. When the last coat was dry the lego box was built up to the final height ready to pour in the second half of the mould as shown in Photo 4. Once the second half has fully cured, the two parts were carefully separated and the head removed. After placing the mould halves back together a small quantity of the Roto Resin was mixed together (1:1 part A and B just as per the ‘normal’ polyurethane resin) and the mixture was poured into the mould. I then had to carefully rotate the mould around, ensuring the liquid resin ran into all the various depressions inside the mould plus ‘almost’ running out of the top to cover the front of the neck and the plug. Eventually, when the resin can’t be seen to be running around anymore the mould was left either upside down or tilted up face down so any resin still able to ‘drool’ around would collect either in the top of the head or behind the face for extra thickness. The liquid resin can be seen running around the inside of the mould in Photo 5. This was repeated three more times giving an overall thickness of four coats of resin resulting in the finished casting shown in Photos 6 and 7. The detail from the silicone mould has come out very well indeed, the plug part will be cut away later when the torso is modelled and the head will then become an integral part of an even bigger mould with the head and torso combined as one casting.
In the next instalment, before starting the body part I’ll be creating the iconic floppy jungle hat to complete the head section first.

Until then, Happy Modelling to you All!

Robin.

Great work Robin regards Phil