The Commissioned Projects - Part II

The Gruesome Twosome

The next Check Your 6! project being sent off to Miscellaneous Miniatures is for a single scenario, but with possible expansion....

A beautifully printed B-24 by Flight Deck Decals

Within Battles Above 1 is a scenario that features the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group - Protecting Them All. This small scenario will make another good introductory game as it has but one B-24, three P-51s, and two Macchi C.205s. The B-24 was a straggler, returning damaged after a bombing mission, and it was being stalked by the Macchis of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. Seeing the bomber about to be attacked, a flight of P-51s came to its rescue (the scenario only gives three Mustangs, but the historical record I have come across indicates four Mustangs were involved). As the game master I would take control of the B-24 and allow each new player to focus on one fighter. The planes I have gathered for the scenario are all from Flight Deck Decals.

This beautiful print is going to look great as a Red Tail

I've recently begun a bit of a fandom for the ANR, and will have the Macchis painted in the German inspired scheme shown below. This is a dramatic break from the standard Italian sand, brown, and green swirls seen on Macchi aircraft up to 1943.

I am adding to the collection of books on the ANR, and am hoping that one title winging its way to me will have enough details to do more scenarios using details from that book, that focuses mostly on the three ANR fighter groups. More on that once it arrives!

The New Sea/Ocean Mat

I have ordered three mats from Deep Cut Studio in the past, and have been very happy with both the service and quality. I have been in need of a sea/ocean mat with hexes, and decided to treat myself to a Christmas purchase. For those who have not ordered from Deep Cut Studio for whatever reason, but are in need of cool mats, both in existing styles or custom work, you will have a good experience. From the date of order to arrival was about two weeks, and that was in the midst of the New Year's holiday.

I ordered the standard Check Your 6! sized mat - six by four feet, 1.5" hexes that run horizontally. This standard size is used throughout the various scenario books. I used the Deep Cut Studios waterworld image, with white hex lines.

However, when the mat arrived yesterday, I was dismayed...the hexes were so faint which was odd considering that on the last mat I ordered I did the same thickness and transparency...but the last mat was printed on PVC and on the sea mat I went with cloth, so I think the saturation might be different. Tonight I unfolded the mat an snapped some pictures, and to be honest, I am liking the faint hex lines.

Mat - Deep Cut Studios
Terrain piece - Wake Island by Fight's On, painted by yours truly

Planes - MSD Games Ryan FR-1 Fireballs of VF-66 painted by Chris at I-94

The Commissioned Projects - Part I

On the Check Your 6! front I have several planes getting ready to be sent to Miscellaneous Miniatures for painting. This series will break down what is being sent off and how they fit into existing or new projects.

Early Italian World War II - I am adding a Short S.25 Sunderland and six Gloster Gladiators to the existing collection from departed friend Bob. Adding the Sunderland will allow me to tackle a scenario from Falcon of the Duce that I have been wanting to do for sometime - Slow Boat to Bardia. It is a tough fight for the Italians with four CR.42s facing off against the flying boat, which has a Robustness of 4 and machineguns galore. For those who have flown CR.42s, you know there is little in the way of punch when it comes to the Falco's armament against such a robust aircraft. This will make a nice Check Your 6! introductory scenario as I would run the Sunderland and give each new player one CR.42. The Sunderland will be painted as above. The planes are resin prints from Flight Deck Decals, scaled to 1/285th.

It is a fine casting...er, I mean printing

The Gladiators will allow me to tackle a few scenarios from the The Falcon and the Gladiator: The Air War Over the Western Desert 1940 – February 1941. This is a pdf written by Chris Stoesen and available via Wargames Vault, containing thirty-eight scenarios. The Falcon and the Gladiator is definitely worth the price as the pdf is well over one hundred pages in length and is filled with information to go along with the scenarios. While I have four Gladiators already, having six more will allow me to do at least eight scenarios from the pdf, using a mix of CR.32s and CR.42s along with a few other assorted aircraft. The Gladiators will also have the Temporate Land Scheme of dark earth and dark green, with half black and half white undersides.

The details are fantastic and the quality is amazing