Wings of Glory - Modifying Climb Rates, Altitude and Other Changes

I have been working on historical data for climb rates for the last several months. The discrepancy between aircraft types can be rather inaccurate within the rules, for example the Nieuport 16 with a climb rate of two is simply ridiculous. While it had a more powerful engine than the Nieuport 11, the increased power came at a cost - a much heaver engine, and hence performance was only slightly improved. I decided to find and utilize as much historical data that I could, which in itself can be faulty based on who was doing the reporting. The result (and still a work in progress) is the file you can find on the right. (entries in black have at least three data points, goldenrod has two data points, and red just one data point) 

While I was researching at climb rates, something else didn't feel quite right when using just four pegs to represent altitude. While I would prefer to use the advanced altitude ratings, the physical limitations of using so many pegs prevents that from happening - can you imagine the carnage caused by the ham-fisted gamer who keeps knocking over planes that have ten or more pegs stacked up? So I have taken a modified approach that lies between the basic four pegs and the advanced ratings, capping the maximum number of pegs at seven and a minimum at two, which provides a better historical feel and at seven pegs the chances of bumping a plane is reduced. Using just four pegs in the basic rules gives all planes the same height advantage, and no one can tell me a B.E.2c had the same ceiling as a Siemens-Schuckert D.IV. Even moving to seven pegs still means that one peg represents a huge amount of vertical space, and so I have also modified firing a bit as well (see below).

I also feel that the over dive process within the rules is overkill, and the modified diving rules below addresses the HUGE amount of space lost in an over dive. It also allows, for those aircraft I have rated as having only two or three pegs of altitude, a chance to perform an over dive when attempting to put out a fire without crashing into the ground.

Rules Changes

Diving

When the dive card is played, remove one peg and place climb counters at half the climb rate rounded up. If there are already climb counters in place, when the dive card is played remove all climb counters but do not remove a peg. This allows a dive to be made within a reasonable amount of vertical space. 

Example: A B.E.2c with a climb rate of 8 is flying at three pegs (maximum altitude for the B.E.2c). A dive card is played. As the B.E.2c currently has no climb counters, one peg is removed and four climb counters are issued. If the B.E.2c was at two pegs, but with any amount of climb counters in place, when the dive card is played all counters are removed, but not a peg.

Over dives are stall, dive (remove one peg and place climb counters at half the climb rate rounded up), straight (remove remaining climb counters). If climb counters are present at the beginning of the over dive, then stall, dive (removing all climb counters), and straight (remove one peg and place climb counters at half the climb rate rounded up). The end result of an over dive is only one peg is removed, not two.

Firing

As the altitude bands within the rules are too generous from a vertical height perspective, firing may only occur under the following conditions (assuming that the target is within the firing arc):

Firing Aircraft Has         Then Target Must Be

No climb counters        at same peg height with no or some climb counters, or one peg                                                        below with climb counters (+1 for firing from a higher altitude) 

Climb counters                 one peg above with no climb counters (+1 for firing from a higher                                                    altitude), same peg height with or without climb counters

I have used these modifications once thus far at a group event, and once the players mastered the changes, seemed to enjoy the fact that planes were now lasting longer because of the restrictions in firing at different altitudes and were able to climb back to altitude a tad faster.

A Bevy of Belgians

Perhaps not as complete as I would like it, or even as impressive when compared to some others' collections, but I am decently happy with my Aviation Militaire Belge selection of aircraft. I still needed to add the color printed Reduced Aircraft Factory Sopwith Strutter and Breguet XIV, but waited too long and they are now no longer available.

Might have to add some decals to the Hanriot and Camel as I am not liking the more modern 1:3:5 Belgian roundel. Yes, they were used, but the 1:2:3 ratio roundel looks much better!

Organizing a Belgian Bloody April scenario to feature a few of the earlier period planes.

The Completed Ponnier

This nice little bird is completed! Added another coat of yellow to the rudder stripe, added the remaining decals, and applied a coat of matte varnish. The decals (made by I-94) were sent by a fellow gamer (thanks again, Keith). Alas, they were a bit aged, so some tore during the process, so I went with Miscellaneous Miniatures decals. The sizes are pretty close to the illustration shown.

After several discussions with camelbeagle and other on the Wings of Glory forum, I've decided to go with the following stats:

V Deck, B Gun, 10 damage points, Climb Rate of 4. I have been unable to obtain a maximum altitude for the Ponnier.

Colors: Wing surfaces and wheel covers AK Interactive Clear Doped Linen version 2, tires Vallejo Medium Sea Grey, fuselage and propeller Vallejo Cork Brown, Lewis gun and motor Vallejo Natural Steel, rudder flash Vallejo Black, Vallejo Carmine Red, and Army Painter Babe Blonde, struts Vallejo Flat Brown.

I cannot wait to get this little plane on the table.

Adding Some Pop

A bit of a video describing the process: 

Ahhh, the wonderful colored prints that Reduced Aircraft Factory gave us via Shapeways, I do pine for those planes to be available again. When Shapeways unceremoniously shut their internet doors, I still had planes in the shopping cart, saved for a future purchase. And because I didn't buy the planes then, I lost out on adding to my growing collection of Belgian aircraft for Wings of Glory. 

As much as I enjoyed the prints from RAF, colors at times could be less than ideal. Solid primary colors did not print well, but details such as lozenge patterns were wonderful. In preparation for an upcoming game (the last flight of Werner Voss), I decided to give some of the RAF planes purchased for that scenario some "pop." Adding Mark I Decals and touches of paint, I think the end results were worth it. The texture of the Shapeways prints gave the planes a touch of a haze and a gritty feel, even after a spray of satin and a brush of matte varnishes. When deciding to add decals, I came across some mentions about placing decals on smooth (glossy) surfaces. I had not really had any issues applying decals to matte varnish surfaces in the past, but with the Shapeways prints I thought I would give the areas that would see decals a coat of gloss. Two things occurred - first, it was very easy to align decals with the smooth surface and a dab of Vallejo decal fix, and second, the colors "popped" a bit more. The grit and the haze were much reduced. So I have given these pair of Pfalz D.IIIs a bit of a rejuvenation - decals and gloss.

Upon arrival from Shapeways...

Varnish applied to the decal locations and decals started...

Decals complete (after applying Vallejo decal softener) and a coat of gloss varnish in place...

And the finished product after some matte varnish. They are a tad less shiny in person. The grainy feel is nearly gone, and the texture is nearly 100% smooth. I will be applying the same technique to Voss' Fokker once the appropriate decals arrive, and then onto my Belgian collection.

The Last Flight of Werner Voss - German Planes

There has been much talk and controversy about the colors on Werner Voss's Fokker during his last combat. Author Barry Diggens gives some consideration in one of the appendixes in his book September Evening: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss. When studying Great War airplane colors, one has to consider what type of film was being used during the Great War.  in which many colors that appear dark were actually light. When looking at Jasta 10's various aircraft pictured during the war, the chrome yellow noses appear black. This is evidenced in this poor quality picture:

The nose looks black, or some other very dark color. But an R. A. F. expert, who worked with aircraft and film from the Great War, clearly identified Jasta 10's noses as chrome yellow from the various pictures he had seen. If Alex Imrie, the most noted expert of Great War aircraft from the 1960s, accepted Voss's Fokker with a yellow nose based on the R. A. F. expert, then there was a very good chance it was. Knowing this, let's look at a picture of Voss's Fokker:

The metal engine cowling looks black, but as the Jasta carried chrome yellow noses on their other aircraft, and film showing light colors as dark, there is a very good chance Voss' Fokker did sport a chrome yellow engine cowling.

What of the rest of the plane? Factory light blue painted over with streaks of olive green. There was more green towards the front of the plane, allowing more of the light blue to be more clearly seen towards the rear of the aircraft. The comments of some of the 56 Squadron pilots of a silvery blue Fokker indicate that the blue was noticed. 

As for the two pilots of Jasta 10 who left with Voss that day Friedrch Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III carried the Jasta's chrome yellow nose, struts, and wheel covers. Rudenberg also had alternating red stripes on the tail and a black band angled around the fuselage. Gustav Bellen's Pfalz was painted in a green and purple scheme, no distinctive chrome yellow to be found. Another pilot, Alois Heldmann, who took off later, sported a similar Pfalz.

Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III by Russell Smith

Bellen's Pfalz

Fortunately before Shapeways went tits up I was able to procure Voss, Rudenberg, and Heldmann, the latter will stand in for Bellen.

The Focke-Wulf Ta 183

As some of my gaming friends know, I like the obscure. I also like the look of certain aircraft - the iconic Corsair F4U, the nimble Nieuport 28, the sleek Pfalz D.IIIa and the beautiful Pfalz Dr.I. An aircraft that fits both the obscure and look of cool is the Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein (from Wilhelm Busch's "Hans Huckebein, the unlucky raven", a cartoon raven that traditionally makes trouble for others, and is often pictured with a decanter of liquor - my kind of bird). 

While the Ta 183 was never built, one can see its influences on 1950s jet fighters such as the MiG-15. The Ta 183 was intended to counter the large bomber formations that devastated Germany late in the war, particularly the threat that far ranging B-29s would be used in Europe. Heavily armed with four 30mm  MK 108 cannon, the Huckebein could also carry four Ruhrstahl X-4 wire guided air to air missiles or 500 kilos of bombs. Top speed was projected to be nearly 600 miles per hour, and climb rate was 4,020 feet per minute. With a ceiling of 46,000 feet, it would have been able to intercept Allied bombers with punch and speed, no matter the altitude.

Art by Marek Rys from the luft46 website

Check Your 6! ratings for the Ta 183 might look as follows: 

Interestingly enough, there are a few companies with miniatures for the Ta 183. Raiden, MSD Games, Table Top Flights, and Scotia Grendel (the Collectair range) are all available. The Table Top Flights version is in 1/200 scale, but can be special ordered in a smaller scale if desired (as pictured below). 

I'll have these two Ta 183s painted up for some "what if" scenarios against Allied jets and bomber formations.

Shipping Planes for Painting!

Today I mailed off a few Raiden planes to have painted by Kevin Hammond at Miscellaneous Miniatures. Kevin had contacted me via the Wings of Glory Aerodrome to let me know that he was doing commission work once again, and so of course I was ecstatic to hear that great news. Kevin has painted some beautiful planes for me in the past, including my 1948 Arab-Israeli War collection.

Today's shipment included two projects - Burma and Pearl Harbor - for the former Ki-27s, Hawk 81s, Brewster Buffalos, and Hawker Hurricanes, and for the latter P-40s and P-36s. With what I am having painted for Burma I will be able to host three scenarios and for the Pearl project I will be able to do the Second Strike scenario with my friend Matt (he is handling the Japanese side of things).

I am really looking forward to seeing how these planes will turn out, as well as finally getting some scenarios for Burma on the table as I have had the unpainted castings sitting in a box for a few years now!

Next War, Next Enemy After Action Report

I was able to host the first scenario from the Falcon of the Duce Check Your 6! book that features the World War exploits of Franco Lucchini. I've ran this particular scenario before, but wanted to pull it out again as it features a variety of rules nuances, such as a diverse range of pilot skills (ace to green), early war slow but maneuverable aircraft, and light guns and frail airframes. I decided to run this on a three foot square Monday Knight Productions mat as the last time I hosted this scenario the comment was made of how long it took for the planes to close, and then in how little table space they wound up using once closing to range. The smaller mat helped greatly.

Not looking grand for the Brits on this end

The Italians had the advantage with aircrew skill (one ace and two skilled pilots), heavier armament (two heavy machineguns vs. for light machineguns for the Gladiators), a higher starting altitude, and a slightly better agility (the Gladiators suffering an agility loss when moving at maximum speed).

However, the Italians separated quickly, responding to the British splitting their planes as they struggled to climb. The Italian ace headed for a pair of Brits, comprising of one veteran and one green pilot. A head on pass failed to hit the Brits, but the Italian was able to get on the tail of the green Brit within just three hexes. At this point we all thought it was over for this green Gladiator, but the robustness check was ably passed. This green pilot had the best luck of the game, being shot at a few times and surviving, and even helping to knock one of the Italian planes out of the air.

The Italians lining up for the kill, but it was not to be

The other British pilot did not have the same run of luck, having taken one airframe hit and one engine hit on his two green pilots in a head on pass with the two skilled Italian pilots. It certainly looked as if they were easy pickings, with another turn of an advantageous position, but the Brits survived. Then the Italian player moved his Italians in a turn that placed him in front of the slower Brits. Down went one of the Cr.32s as a result! The other Cr.32 would take an airframe hit, and the Italian ace had taken an engine hit by this point. The ace took another hit, leaving one Italian left on the board, and that one unable to climb or dive due to a lucky hit. 

The result - an overwhelming British victory. They lost one Gladiator, had another damaged, but the Italians had two aircraft shot down and one damaged. Throw in the aircrew quality and the victory points piled up for the British players.

The death of an ace, the left Cr.42 about to go down

The planes were part of the collection of our good but departed friend Bob, so it was great to get them on the table once again.

Snipes on the Hunt After Action Report

At the Wright Flight monthly Wings of Glory gaming day I hosted the Snipes on the Hunt Polish-Soviet War scenario. Five players took part, and we used some modified rules (covered within the scenario download to the upper right).

Using the random starting location generator from the Wings of Glory Aerodrome, the Poles, being on the defense, started in the center of the table, while the attacking Bolsheviks were two range sticks to the Poles' starboard. Within a few turns the planes engaged, with one Ansaldo taking some early damage. I had the Camel, and climbed to maximum altitude while the two Ansaldos became also separated in height. The players took a few turns to grasp the changes to the diving and firing rules, but worked both changes pretty well for the remainder of the game. The Soviet ace continued to lay down some heavy damage on the G Dog's Ansaldo, flown by an ace and representing Meriam C. Cooper's plane, he of later King Kong fame, continued to take a beating as his damage cards were of higher values in the A deck. Down went G Dog.

Down goes G Dog - note the heavy amount of damage inflicted

The other Ansaldo started taking damage, including the boom card (which we play at half damage rounded up) and limped off the board with just a point or two of damage remaining on the stricken aircraft. While  had a nice run at one at the Snipes, my altitude was too high for firing, so I decided that as the Soviets had two planes in excellent shape still on the board that it was time for some discretionary valor and headed for the safety of friendly lines.

All in all it was a short game, even with the modified altitudes for firing. The Ansaldos were given diving turn cards to enhance their historical performance, but the nimble Snipes were too much to overcome.

We laid out a second game in which I hosted and another player swapped in. The second game saw a much longer combat, with no planes shot down, but a couple forced off the table. 

Starting locations for the second game

Planes: Table Top Flights Ansaldos, Ares Camel and Snipes

Mat - GripMats

Magnets - K and J Magnetics

A Proper Ponnier

Another project nearly completed - this one being a French made but Belgian used Ponnier M.1. The Ponnier was rejected by the French as they were focusing more on other types (the Nieuport line in particular) while the Belgians were scrambling for whatever they could get their hands on. 

The Ponnier story is one of controversy. I addressed this on the Wings of Glory forum, but will repeat here.

Table Top Flights' Ponnier M.1

One of the smallest of Great War fighters, which might have led to its perceived poor performance as being nose heavy. Nungesser disliked the plane after flying it in January 1916 with the initial smaller rudder, and the unknown (at the time) Willi Coppens did not want to fly it either. But Coppens would have had no "clout" in 1916, and Nungesser was performing acrobatics at 200 meters in an unfamiliar plane that led to him being injured. Jean Navarre also mentioned the plane was demanding to fly, but then again so was the Sopwith Camel.

However, I feel that the Ponnier has been unfairly represented.

As a American Civil War historian, I often deal with those who cling to misconceptions that permeate history, such as Braxton Bragg was a terrible general and everyone hated him. But the historical data does not back that argument as many of his soldiers, writing private letters home, wanted Bragg back in command during the Atlanta Campaign, over Joseph Johnston. You see a small but vocal portion of Bragg's army that did indeed dislike the man, but many in his army respected Bragg. Much like Bragg I have a feeling that there is a misconception for the Ponnier due to one bad report that other pilots gravitated towards without understanding the circumstances, and without having flown the plane themselves.

Noted Belgian aviation expert Walter Pieters in his definitive account of the Belgian Air Service (The Belgian Air Service in the First World War - Aeronaut Books, 2010) includes two photos of the Ponnier, with the caption of stating that the Ponnier was used by two Escadrille de Chasse (the 1st and 5th). No derogatory commentary is included. Pieters, in his book Above Flanders' Fields (Grub Street, 1998) provides one brief mention of how a Ponnier was tested during the summer of 1916, and mentions that several Belgian pilots were photographed with the plane. A thought to ponder - if the plane was so bad why would a pilot be seen in a photo with this plane? Pieters goes on to mention that Jan Olieslagers convinced higher authorities to not purchase the plane. However, there is no evidence I have been able to source that Olieslagers ever flew the plane, and perhaps was simply using Nungesser's comments. So, has the Ponnier been given the short end? It is rated by the Unofficial Stats Committee as a K Deck for maneuverability, and only six points of damage, again, as far as I can tell, based on the common misconception taken from Nungesser's flight in an unfamiliar plane at low altitude. The Nieuport 28 was not highly thought of, with the fabric shredding issues, until its pilots learned how to use the plane more effectively, and two of its squadrons wanted to keep the Nieuport instead of taking on the SPAD XIII. The Ponnier was not given much of an opportunity, but could it have performed, in the hands of a pilot who knew how to use it, like the Nieuport?

I suggest a revision to the Ponnier - as it used a rotary engine it might be considered for an I Deck. That might feel extreme to those who look through Nungesser lenses, so perhaps a compromise of a J Deck is in order? As for damage, if we believe that this plane has been given an undeserved reputation, then an 11 or 12 for a light 1916 plane is in order.

The coat of primer applied - one can really see the print lines that are enhanced by a digital camera

I've toyed with obtaining a Ponnier for years now, but Kampfflieger is was the only Shapeways option before they went tits up, my dallying about kept me from picking up a SRAM version when they were still available. However, the Shapeways version was offered in white natural versatile, which to me is code for "too damn grainy" and "too much damn prep work." Being a relatively lazy modeler, I like to spend less time in prep and paint and more time gaming. So when camelbeagle brought me a Ponnier from his recent trip to Origins, I was ecstatic! You see, this version is made by member mikejr74 (Table Top Flights), who produced his model in a high quality material that feels a bit more like plastic and is certainly less grainy than white natural versatile.

Base colors added - Vallejo cork brown and AK Interactive clean doped linen (version 2)

I have since painted the rudder with the Belgian colors and have added decals to the top wing. Once I have completed all the decals I'll hit the rudder with another coat (the yellow I have is very thin and needs several coats) and apply matte varnish overall. 

Swiss Miss

Today saw a few of us gather for some Check Your 6! action. The scenario was Neutrality Patrol, an engagement between the Swiss and German air forces on June 8, 1940.

The Germans are trying to bait the Swiss into war, after the Swiss had shot down German aircraft that had wandered into Swiss air space during bombing raids on France. Hermann Goering ordered increased German presence along the German-Swiss border as a result. 

Five players enjoyed this Messerschmitt vs. Messerschmitt action. The Germans start on the board, with the Swiss deploying on Turn One. 

The Swiss scored an early kill, and it did not appear that the Germans would recover, but after several turns, it was still four against seven, the German's outnumbering the Swiss. Another Bf.110 took damage, and the Swiss swarmed, all four aircraft lining up for the kill.

But it was not all easy going for the Swiss. A skilled Swiss pilot was blown out of the sky by the forward guns of a Bf.110, but then the Germans took another damaged aircraft (engine) that also happened to suffer from an engine lucky hit. It limped off the table with a movement rat of one. The Swiss could not close for the kill due to the number of German aircraft still in the fight. By this time another Bf.109 suffered damage at about the same time another German was destroyed. A bad plan by the damage Swiss aircraft resulted in a failed aircrew check. With two of the Swiss Messerschmitts out of ammunition, it was time to head for safer skies.

End result was three Bf.110s destroyed and one damaged for thirteen Swiss victory points, with the Germans gaining eight victory points for the two destroyed Bf.109s.

Table Top Flights - Order Has Arrived

Recently I reached out to Mike at Table Top Flights to see if he could create some World War II aircraft in 1/285th scale (his normal WWII scale is 1/200). He willingly obliged so I placed a small order to see how the planes would turn out. They happened to be in today's post, and I am pleased with the outcome. The planes will be for three different projects - Slovak-Hungarian War, 1945-46 what if, and a 1941 Rumanian scenario (which is available to the right). 

Ta 183s

The prints are clean, not encumbered with oversized details, and very little need of prep. Wing thicknesses are thinner compared to metal castings, and hence more in scale.

I.A.R.80/81

I am awaiting to see if Flight Deck Decals can also scale to 1/285 as that will give me the Ju.86s and the Avia B.534s needed for the Slovak-Hungarian War (I have metal Letov S.328s from Heroics & Ros). Once the planes have been gathered, off for painting, and that project will be complete (and I have two scenarios in mind).

Two of the six Cr.32s

I recommend Table Top Flights - service, communication, and quality all receive high marks!

The Slovak-Hungarian War Project - Rating the Planes

For the Hungarians, ratings are easy - they are already provided in the Check Your 6! rulebook. The Slovaks are a bit more problematic, so I posted on the CY6! group for some assistance. Alas after several weeks of waiting, not a single response. Well, here is my list, and still open to hear more about the Letov S-328 ratings if you have any input!

Cr.32

Hungary

Cr.32 - A3 + 2, 16/36, R0, FF: 2xHMG, 2XLMG (in the rulebook)

Ju.86 - C3 + 0 Lx, 9/35, R2, F: 1xLMG, RT: 1xLMG, RB: 1xLMG (in the rulebook)

Letov S-328

Slovakia

Avia B534 - A3 + 3(-), 23/38, R0, FF: 4xLMG

Letov S.328 - C2 + 0, ?/?, R1,  FF: 2xLMG, RT: 2xLMG (some models FF: 4xLMG, RT: 2xLMG)