100 Hour War - Airplane Stats

Short post, mostly for reference for those who might be interested. Here are the Check Your 6! ratings for the various aircraft used in the 100 Hour War.

Besides the Soto Gets Three scenario found here on the blog, there are also a series of scenarios posted in the Files section on the CY6! forum. 

Rogožarski IKZ

Yugoslavian pilots with the first production IKZ, Summer 1940

The what? The Yugoslavian Rogožarski IKZ fighter, also known at times as the IK-3 (the 3 and Z in Cyrillic are very similar in look, hence the "error"). It was designed in the mid-1930s, having its first flight in May 1938, and went into production March 1940. Only thirteen of the IKZ were built, and they did see some action in 1941 when Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis powers. In its first encounter against the Germans, five IKZs claimed five Bf.109Es as kills, while losing a pair of IKZs in return. During other sorties against German bomber formations, the pilots manning the IKZ would claim four twin-engine bombers shot down, with one IKZ taking fifty-six hits, but managing to return to base. Other claims were a Junkers Ju 87 and a Bf 110 before the Yugoslavs, with their bases being threatened of being overrun, burned the remaining IKZs. One pilot, Milislav Semiz, claimed four victories during the short campaign.

The IKZ had a smaller turning radius than the Bf.109, and a smaller wingspan than the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, which in turn gave it a higher speed for its Avia-built Hispano-Suiza V-12 liquid-cooled engine that developed 860 horsepower. The Yugoslavs tested the IKZ against the Hawker Fury, Heinkel He 112, the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, and the Hawker Hurricane. Performance most closely matched the Morane-Saulnier, although the IKZ was faster by twenty-five miles per hour. In mock combat against the Bf.109, it was found that the IKZ was more maneuverable in level flight, allowing the Yugoslav fighter to perform tighter turns and get on the tail of the German fighter.

Rating the IKZ

So, not being an expert on things like wing loading, roll rate, and other assorted values, what I can determine is that the IKZ climbed about 2,300 feet per minute, while the Bf 109E climbed about 3,500 feet during the same timeframe. Hence, the IKZ needs to climb at a slower rate than the Messerschmitt. The Ms.406 and IKZ had an identical rate of climb, so I can use the French fighter's climb rate. I have no idea how to determine dive speed. So, the following is what I have come up with:

One may say, based on the account of taking fifty-six hits, that the robustness should be higher.

Miniatures

Who makes the IKZ? Well, good news (for me) and bad news (for others) here. Leading Edge Miniatures made a lovely 1/300 scale casting of the IKZ, and while Museum Miniatures bought that range some years ago, they seem to be out of production these days. I was able to secure ten of these miniatures from Noble Knight Games, a place that usually charges too much for used items, but at three bucks a pop, I cleaned them out. I do not need ten IKZs, but as my friend The G Dog says, "If you want it, buy it, because you never know when it might become unavailable." I will not need more than four or six, so if you want a couple leave a comment. I will only charge the paltry sum of one million dollars!

How the Leading Edge planes were packaged - a little historical background in a small baggie

Very clean lines on the casting. Shame they are no longer in production

Another angle

However, although Leading Edge is not available, you are in a bit of luck - Heroics & Ros makes the IKZ (listed as a IK-3) in 1/300 scale. H&R's lower quality may be a factor, but at least there is an option. Did I mention my price for my extra IKZs?

Decals

No problem here as Flight Deck Decals makes a set of Royal Yugoslav Air Force national insignia in 1/300 scale. 

Aircraft Colors

Here is a bit of a problem as the various sources are all over the map. I have seen both darker toned camouflage and a much brighter version. I prefer the darker tone, but not being an expert cannot say that the brighter colors are not the way to go. An eye of the beholder situation to be certain.

Feeling too much yellow in the tan

A more subtle color scheme

This one feels a bit too muted

Learn More

The IK range of fighter aircraft was the focus of a Profile Publications Aircraft Profile (#242), which can be still found for varying prices on places like eBay. There are also other, but far more expensive, books on the IKZ.

1946

The Germans were an innovative bunch, creating all sorts of far-out designs, perhaps assisted by off-world beings (yes, I am saying ALIENS!). No, seriously, look at some of the stuff they were designing and tell me they didn't have some sort of ethereal help. Now had they only raised and organized that brigade of Sasquatch....

Okay, I partially jest, but the German designs do make for some interesting what-if the war had continued scenarios. I have already talked about the Ta 183 (in this post), and have purchased a pair of Table Top Flights Yak-15s as potential opponents for the Hucklebeins. I might throw in some Me.262s and Su-9s (the 1946 Me.262 copies made by MSD Games). And let's not forget the American and British jets being designed, with the P-80 Shooting Star having two samples in Italy by war's end and the Gloster Meteor also in production. This could make a interestingly different sort of CY6 game, part Second World War, part Korea (but with better aircrew ratings for the "bad guys."). One issue would be movement charts - the Me.262 has a special one in Check Your 6!, and I guess one could just use the Check Your 6! Jet Age charts for the other aircraft.

Ratings are from a post on the Check Your 6! group

By using some of these what-if aircraft, it would be a way to introduce players into using jet aircraft with good speed and a real punch when it comes to firepower, but avoiding missiles, afterburners, and other rules that bog the game down a bit. More on this once I have some planes painted and put a scenario together.