Additional Sources for Miniatures

In an effort to track down 1/285 scale Great War aircraft, I have come across a couple of companies offering 3D prints. Paint and Glue Miniatures, which I had come across before when looking about for 1/144 scale aircraft for Wings of Glory, also provides the same Great War aircraft in 1/285 (seventy-nine different planes). I have placed an order and will post pictures of the printed product once it arrives as I am eager to do the Werner Voss fight in 1/285, using my Check Your 6! Great War modifications. 

The second shop is The Miniatures Marketplace, which has 444 aircraft of various periods available in a slew of scales. While many of these prints can be found at other retailers, The Miniatures Marketplace also has many prints that others do not offer, like the Rogozarski IK-3 and the Messerschmitt Bf-109D for example. Price points are a bit high compared to Flight Deck Decals or Table Top Flights, with medium and heavy bombers at stupid costs, but for smaller aircraft, ones that others do not have, they make a good alternative. They also offer price breaks when ordering larger amounts of aircraft along with free shipping so that does help offset the higher costs per plane. I am placing a small order and will also post pictures to provide some ideas of their print quality.

Conversion Work

Admittedly one of the easiest conversions to tackle....

I picked up a mix of items from a fellow historian who also happens to be a gamer. In the mix were eight Messerschmitt Bf 109E models, metal castings from Raiden. On three of the planes some of the wing 20mm cannon barrels were broken off, and I could not decide what to do with them. Yes, I like my barrels to be present, thank you very much. After a little thought I have decided to convert them into the earlier E-1 variant, one that was equipped only with four 7.92mm MG 17 machineguns (two in the fuselage and one in each wing).  The wing machineguns were flush with the leading edge of the wing, so the lack of barrels is a good thing. While the Raiden castings are the later E-4 variant with a squared off canopy, removing the cannon barrels as well as the underwing bulge created by the cannon, provides a "good enough for government work" version of the E-1 variant. The E-1 was used during the Spanish Civil War and stayed in service into late summer of 1940. 

Clean up phase

Using an X-acto knife, a flick of the wrist removed the remaining barrels. I also removed both barrels from a fourth Messerschmitt so that I could have a schwarm of converted models (think I will do the other four as Romanian Messerschmitts as Sieben Schwaben Spiele have decals for the E-3 model). The X-acto knife also did a decent job cutting off the cannon bulges, and the remaining nubs were then filed flush with the underside of the wing.

While the planes already had a coat of primer, the filing took some of the paint off of the wings - and I did some cleanup work on seam lines and the like - so a new coat of primer was applied. Next was to start painting the proper RLM colors to the miniatures. As I already have some decals for the Bf 109 in Spain (Scale Specialties Code 300AC-GER006 on the I-94/Raiden site), and the fact that the scheme is relatively simple, I had decided to do four Legion Condor versions, but then I also realized that I could just go with German markings to use them in 1940 - the E-1, E-3, and E-4 models were used in France and the skies over Britain.* 

Regardless of how I use the E-1s, the undersurfaces are all painted in RLM 65 (hellblau - light blue) went on the undersurfaces.

Vallejo Model Air 71.255 applied and the removal of the 20mm barrel and bulge.

As I make a final decision on what theater to use these modified Messerschmitts I will post more on this conversion.

* I am working on a 1940 booklet that feature scenarios of Swiss neutrality violations and also included will be scenarios that highlight Groupe de Chasse Polonais I/145 flying the Caudron-Renault CR.714.

Blue Falcon Hobbies - More Decals

Well, I have certainly spent enough money with Blue Falcon to warrant a response to my inquiries about making more decals - I used their online request form, I used direct email, and I made a comment on one of their posts. No response. That is shite service, only balanced by the good service I receive when ordering their decals. Well, the following might be the last I order from Blue Falcon since I cannot get them to respond. Why have a form on your site to request custom decals if you are not going to answer? Why have an email address if you are not going to answer? 

CR.42 decals - I have several CR.42s from my departed friend's collection but they need a bit of squadron markings added - these will do.

I had ZERO use for these (get it?) but want to add some distinct markings to my A6M2s.

Repeat after me - it is NOT called the Football War! But needed decals all the same.

These are super handy for my Darwin project.

Okay, difficult to see, but late war Hellcat markings, which I did not need!

Eventually I will have a couple of schwarms (schwarmen? schwarme?) of Bf 109G miniatures and these decals will be sued for them.

I am awaiting the 343rd Kōkūtai decals from I-94 as part of their Genda's Blade pack, but it did not hurt to buy more!

Caudron-Renault CR.714

Let's just get this out of the way first - while it looks kinda ugly cool, it's a pig. Unlike several other French fighters that could hold their own against the Bf 109E, the Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone was a fairly unsuccessful effort to take French racing plane designs and militarize them, with wooden construction. As a light fighter it was supposed to supplement the lack of fighter aircraft in the French stable without having a negative impact on French fighter plane production. One might think that a "light fighter" design would result in a speedy and maneuverable aircraft, but with a top speed of just 290 miles per hour (keeping in mind that the aforementioned Messerschmitt had a top speed of 355 miles per hour), the 500 horsepower Renault engine just could not deliver. Surely being a light fighter then would at least yield a superior climb rate? Alas, no, as the Caudron could only manage twenty-three feet per second, with the German fighter coming in eleven feet per second higher. Okay, then it has to be more maneuverable and more agile, yes? No. Based on the Bf 109's rating in Check Your 6! the Caudron would use the C turn chart, with an agility of just +1. And let's not talk about robustness - without any self sealing fuel tanks, pilot armor, or even a radial engine, it warrants an R0 rating. Sign me up!

The CR.714 was first delivered to French squadrons in January 1940. However, it was such a shite plane that it was withdrawn from service - the following month! And the Finns, those crafty Finns who could make a fight with just about any plane discarded in their direction, said ei when it came to the wooden fighter (winter conditions and wooden plane - not a great combination). Ah, just who is deserving of this failure of a plane - I know, let's give it to the Poles, they won't know any better! And to the Poles it went.

Groupe de Chasse polonais I/145, the Polish Warsaw Squadron, received thirty-five Cyclones in mid-May, 1940. But even the Poles were leery of such an airframe, and one week after delivery and many complaints, the French Minister of War said pas plus and ordered the Caudron withdrawn from service. But the Poles, desperate to fight the Huns, and not having any other aircraft available to them, ignored the withdrawal order and used the Cyclones fairly effectively over a four day span in June. A dozen confirmed kills against Bf 109s, Bf 110s, and Dornier Do 17s were recorded, along with three additional unconfirmed claims. In return the Poles lost nine Caudrons in the air and an equal number on the ground. Hmmm, maybe it IS the man and not the machine....

Oh Bernhard, I need this in 1/285, pretty please!

Of course, those who know me also know that I like the obscure, and as long as I have some wonderfully painted (heaven no, not be me) Germans of the types mentioned, why not get a few Caudrons to recreate those scenarios. Wait, does anyone even make this pig in miniature? Why yes, yes they do - my friends at Flight Deck Decals and Table Top Flights both offer the Cyclone as a 3D print. Hmmm, decals, that will be my roadblock. A quick check at my favorite resources yielded a sheet of decals for the Caudron, for the Groupe de Chasse polonais I/145, over at Sieben Schwaben Spiele Decals! This MUST be fate!

Check out the YouTube video made about this plane over at Showtime112's channel and keep an eye open for a few upcoming scenarios. Now, don't tell my wife but I am going to go order some shite planes! Oh, and then decals. And darn it, I have NO French paint colors! Oh, and I need a book on this plane (there happens to be one in the Polish Wings series - and now ordered!).

Duel Between Eagles After Action

Today a few of the Check Your 6! Southwestern Ohio gathered together at a new location for a little gaming. The scenario was a modified version of the "Duel Between Eagles" scenario from the Over the Channel scenario book. Modified as I went with six instead of nine Spitfires to face off against the eight Messerschmitts, and tried to add a little balance by giving the two British players the higher quality pilots in the scenario.

A Rotte of Bf 109Es...

...and a vic of Sptifires.

The random setup is interesting, and means that one would never have the same game twice, regardless of using the Variable Rules. Each group of planes rolls a random edge location, and a random TAL.

Engine damage and fire!

The setup saw the Brits start along Edges 2 and 5 with the four German players filling in the remaining edges. This led to two distinct and separate furballs - four German planes against three British on each end of the board. For the first couple of turns the Germans starting at low TAL along Edges 3 and 4 headed directly towards each other, with one of the players not realizing that he was maneuvering towards his kamraden!

The support Rotten moving to...support!

A quick kill occurred when one vic of Brits took on a pair of 109s head on - the British ace ("Sailor" Malan - one of two Adolfs on the board) taking down a skilled Hun. Meanwhile the two German elements in the center of the board finally had some height and turned to support their fellow players. I was seated on one end of the table, so my details of the other furball are sketchy at best, bit seemingly the British player was giving the Germans all they could handle. It was not really a day of aces - several time both Adolfs missed some relatively obtainable hits. The game went fifteen turns, but it was fifteen turns of diving, turning, climbing (a little Iron Maiden "Aces High" reference there) with the outnumbered Brits holding their own, but the German numbers started to take their toll.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the board, passing ships in the night, or something like that.

And support on its way.

The British ace in the distance, with engine damaged, moves but one hex per turn.

Final result was a German victory, 16 points against the Brits' 11. 

Mat - Deep Cut Studio

Planes - Raiden painted by Jamie (more on those HERE)

More Generosity

A couple weekends ago, while gaming with friends at DayCon, I was chatting with one who does 1/600 scale (heathen!) as I was complimenting him on his Battle of Britain planes that he had painted up and used for another event a few years before. For some reason I misremembered them as being 1/600 when he corrected me and stated that they were indeed the Chosen Scale of 1/285. He also mentioned that he needed to figure out what to do with them since he now games in that tinier scale. A few days later I mentioned to him that I would be interested in the planes if he decided to part with them.

Yesterday he brought the planes to me and told me to keep them. Bear in mind these are beautifully painted planes, twenty-eight in sum, and he did not want anything for them! (little does he know I have a cunning plan to repay his kindness) So now I have another theater for World War Two, and what he bequeathed to me can cover a half dozen scenarios from the various scenario books (Over the Channel, Days of Glory, and Battles Above 1)

Swiss Scenarios

From early May into early June, the Swiss Flugwaffe was engaged in several encounters with the German Luftwaffe as the latter consistently violated Swiss airspace, mostly as a result of raids against France. I have been able to cobble together ten scenarios for this period, and while most are rather small, they could make good introductory games for players new to the Check Your 6! system, or for times when only a couple of players can get together for a game.

The ten scenarios are are uploaded and can be found on the Downloads page. While they are mostly vetted, there may be some gaps in the information, so feedback is welcome!

Here are the plane counts. Numbers appearing in red represent aircraft in the Variable Rules.

The Messerschmitt ME 109 DB was the Swiss designation for the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3. DB stood for Daimler-Benz, which is the engine the E-3 used. If you ever see Messerschmitt ME 109 Jumo, that is the D model, again named for the engine.

ANR Scenarios

A Montefusco-Bonet Fiat G.55

The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana facinates me - not certain why, but I have been working on some scenarios involving the ANR. I have utilized some research materials to create a list of aces that served with the ANR. Considering the number of seasoned and veteran pilots that decided to serve in the ANR, one might consider them to be tough opponents and rated "better" than typical Italian pilots. The issue with the ANR units was the lack of serviceable aircraft - at times handfuls of ANR planes would be sent against massed formations of Allied bombers, usually heavily escorted. Therefore scenarios would either be rather one sided, or one can take snippets of the historical events in order to provide a more balanced, and hence playable, game.

As one can see from the following table, the 1° Gruppo Caccia was filled with aces, making the pilots, with 1-4 kills skilled, 5-19 kills veteran, and 20+ kills ace, a formidable foe. Green aircrews should be the exception, not the rule, for the ANR.

Name	ANR Unit	SCW Kills	Pre-ANR WWII Kills	ANR Kills	Total Kills
Adriano Visconti	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	15	11	26
Ugo Drago	1ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	17	3	20
Luigi Gorrini	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	15	4	19
Luigi Morosi	3ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	15	3	18
Ennio Tarantola	Sq. Complementare "Montefusco-Bonet" / 1° Gr.	1	10	4	15
Mario Bellagambi	5ª Squadriglia "Diavoli Rossi", 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	10	4	14
Mario Veronesi	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	11	2	13
Giovanni Barcaro	7ª Squadriglia, 3° Gruppo Caccia	0	9	4	13
Attilio Sanson	5ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	5	7	12
Alvaro Querci	5ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	6	5	11
Giovanni Bonet	Sq. Complementare "Montefusco-Bonet"	0	8	3	11
Carlo Magnaghi	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	9	2	11
Luigi Mariotti	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	11*	Unknown*	11
Alberto Spigaglia	2° Gruppo Caccia	0	6	4	10
Amedeo Benati	3ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	8	2	10
Giulio Torresi	3ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	8	2	10
Giuseppe Biron	Sq. Complementare "Montefusco-Bonet" / 1° Gr.	0	8	2	10
Giuseppe Robetto	1° Gruppo Caccia	0	7	3	10
Vittorino Daffara	3ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	10*	Unknown*	10
Guido Fibbia	2ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	3	6	0	9
Fausto Fornaci	5ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	6	3	9
Walter Omiccioli	5ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	5	4	9
Nicola Zotti	1ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	7	2	9
Aurelio Morandi	2ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	4	4	8
Rinaldo Damiani	2ª Squadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia	0	6	2	8
Loris Baldi	1ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	4	3	7
Francesco Cuscunà	1ª Squadriglia, 2° Gruppo Caccia	0	5	2	7

Note on Mariotti and Daffara: The total World War II scores for Luigi Mariotti and Vittorino Daffara are verified at 11 and 10 kills respectively. However, due to the mass destruction of 1° Gruppo Caccia records at the end of the conflict, the exact mathematical split between their Regia Aeronautica service and ANR service remains unconfirmed by aviation historians.

Here is the aircraft mix of the scenarios I have been able to create thus far:

More on the ANR in the future!