An obvious gap in my WW2 Soviet aircraft library has now been filled by a second hand but immaculate copy of this. Although not relevant for my current Bag the Hun scenario project, it's very on target for the Arctic Eagles one, which I'm planning to develop next year., being one of the most common adversaries for JG5 in the far North.
A small parcel from Scotia Collectair arrived yesterday with extras to fill some gaps in the Soviet ranks. The three LaGG-3 models are to make up the numbers for the Bag the LaGG scenario, while the IL-4 bombers will replace the DB-3 bombers that I originally prepared for the Bomb Run Bounce scenario. The Ilyushin IL-4's are particularly lovely models and will look great once painted, assuming my brush skills are up to scratch.
A definite move in the right direction with the painting today. The LaGG-3's are now in the process of having the cockpit glazing painted, as well as the prop boss and exhausts, so I've made a start on base coating the MiG-3 and I-16 models, ready to add the camouflage stripes. I'm out tomorrow, however, so the next bits will have to wait until mid-week, when I have a day off.
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I've got one, or at the most two more scenarios to draft before I move on to the accompanying article for the Bag the Hun Lard Mag project, so I need to pick one that will go out with a bang, so to speak. The current front runner is this action, which I've decided to rename as the Bandits 12 O'Clock High, just because it sounds a bit more exciting:
http://jimswargamesworkbench.blogspot.com/2024/08/bag-hun-scenario-dogfight.html?m=0
It also means I can deploy the iconic I-16 Ischak for the Soviets, which otherwise wouldn't be making an appearance, something that would be a bit of a missed opportunity. I'll get cracking over the next few days to write it up, once I've worked out how to manage the flak!
The scenario featuring the Fokker C.X has now been drafted but I realised that the numbers for this aircraft aren't included in the Bag the Hun 2 aircraft data tables. Luckily, they are to be found in the Blue Swastika Rampant article from the 2009 Summer Special, so here they are with a slight amendment to the armament ratings to include the rear firing observer's 7.62mm machine gun:
SPD: 4
MAN: 3
ALT: 4
ROC: 1
ROB: 1
SIZ: 2
FF: F 2 / L 0 / R 0 / R 1
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I've got a couple more scenarios to write up for the Bag the Hun Continuation War project, so wanted to include an escort mission somewhere. This action on 7th November 1942 looks very promising, if a little one sided, but I can easily balance it out to avoid a walkover for the Finns, which is what actually happened:
"Capt Nurminen’s 3/LeLv 32 escorted a Fokker C.X over the front. A MiG-3 schwarm from 415 IAP tried to down the elderly biplane, but all four Soviet aircraft fell victim to the Fokker’s fighter escort instead. SSgt Aimo Gerdt (in CU-503) became on ace following his successes during this mission"
The paint test models for the Bag the Hun project have now had the camouflage patterns painted in Vallejo German Grey and the undersides painted in Vallejo Pastel Blue. They've now been given an overall coat in a Future based ink wash, prior to some tidying up, followed by the canopies, prop bosses and exhausts, when I can grab some more time. They don't look like much at the moment but should scrub up quite nicely.
I've been on the hunt for 1/300 - 1/285 scale VVS numbers this week, without much luck. In the past I've used the I-94 tank numbers on my late war Soviet fighters, but what I really want are the numbers in the earlier cursive style font. I put out a query on various FB groups and was surprised to find at least three of four possible sources, but as usual Dan Arute of Flight Deck Decals has come to the rescue. He's now drafting a sheet up for me and it should be available in a couple of days. Excellent!
I've just discovered these 1/200th scale decals from Blue Falcon Hobbies in the US. Although they are not 1/300th or 1/600th, my usual scales for air wargaming, I'm sorely tempted to order both sets for some Bag the Hun action, using the old Football War article from the Specials to set up some games. Very nifty!
Here's the next scenario for the ongoing Bag the Hun Continuation War project, a simple dogfight set up but with a couple of twists to make it more exciting, I hope. I've given all of the leaders special characteristics to add some variety, with my favourite being 'Brass Monkey", representing a pilot with good firing discipline, keeping ammunition expenditure down to a minimum (one D6 result of 1 when firing can be discarded). This will be a good one to playtest first, as it only needs a few aircraft and will be quick to set up.
I'm excited to have won this lot on eBay for an excellent price yesterday. I've heard very good things about this set of rules and especially the campaign system. I'm hoping it will play well as a solo game but will have to wait and see. I just need to order a convoy pack from the old Davco 1/3000th range and we're ready to go!
I popped into town this afternoon and, as usual, stopped off in the Oxfam bookshop, where I found a hardback copy of this book. It's a subject I've considered wargaming in 10mm, using the Pendraken range and If The Lord Spares Us from Toofatlardies, perhaps the least inspiring title for a set of rules I've come across. The rules are, however, pretty good and perfect for the sort of thing I'm after. All good stuff and something to read up on for next year perhaps?
After some rethinking I have bought larger magnets to use on my bombers, replacing the smaller ones that I initially glued to the DB-3's. The new ones are 5mm x 3mm instead of 3mm x 2mm, which doesn't sound like much of a difference but adds a bit more adhesion to prevent the models rotating. I've also ordered three Il-4 bombers from Scotia Collectair to use for the scenario that I've written, as the DB-3 is a lovely model but the earlier variant of the Il-4.
A bit of a **** day at work, so some retail therapy was needed. This should be a good resource and clearly relevant to the ongoing Bag the Hun Continuation War project, not to mention the Eastern Front as a whole and even the early stages of the Korean War.
I've been looking for some more potential scenarios featuring the LaGG-3, and have identified a couple that would work well as simple dogfight games, to be aptly titled as "Bag the LaGG". Both feature a pair of veteran Hawk-75 pilots in a three to one clash against LaGG-3's of 524 IAP.
Here's the first potential scenario:
"On the 21st, WO Viljo Ikonen and his wingman from 1/LeLv 32 intercepted five LaGG-3s over the River Svir, one of which was destroyed and the other damaged. Claiming a share in the destruction of the Soviet fighter, SSgt Niilo Erkinheimo (in CU-558) took his tally in the Hawk 75 to five.'
...and here's the other one:
'The squadron flew 33 sorties on 16 June, and during the course of one of the missions a pair of 2/LeLv 32 aircraft led by 2Lt Kalevi Tervo engaged six LaGG-3s over Mäkräjärvi. One was shot down and the others tried to escape, but a second Soviet fighter was destroyed before the higher speed of the LaGGs saw them flee the pursuing Curtiss pilots.'
I started drafting another scenario over the last couple of days but I don't think it's going to give a good game, primarily due to too many aircraft involved and the clunkiness of the bombing rules in Bag the Hun. I really wanted to include a bomber escort mission for the Finnish players but it's not really going to work, so I've scrapped this one in favour of a different action involving La-5FN fighters. It's a bit of a shame but better to cut my losses before I purchase, prepare and paint up twenty Lavochkins!
After a very busy few days I've found some time to shift the Soviet aircraft for the Continuation War project further along. The I-153 Chaika squadron is now assembled and magnet based, along with two Pe-2 light bombers for the 'Crazy Ivan' scenario, leaving the I-16, LaGG-3 and La-5 FN fighters to be prepared, the latter probably not in the initial painting plan. I also have three MBR-2 floatplanes to glue together but they aren't the best castings I've come across, so may well be left in their packets.
This weekend I was away from home, so nothing was shifted on the workbench for the Bag the Hun Continuation War project. This week, I'm going to write up another couple of scenarios to make up for lost time, one of which will be a big multiplayer style game based on this (from Osprey Aircraft of the Aces: P-39 Hawk Aces):
"1Lt Hillo led six Curtiss fighters from 1/HLeLv 32 on a bomber escort mission to Mergino on 28 May 1944. They were attacked over the target by 20 La-5s from 415 IAP, and the Finns, whose ranks included a pair of Bf 109Gs on attachment from 1/HLeLv 24, fought back and claimed six enemy fighters shot down for the loss of CU-555."
This scenario clearly requires some medium bombers, so the obvious and most historical options would be a flight of four Bristol Blenheim Mk I or MkIV bombers of LeLv 42, the only squadron that was equipped with the aircraft at the time.
Luckily, I have eight Blenheim IV models from the excellent Leading Edge range, formerly sold by Museum Miniatures but now out of production. These are lovely models and I have painted some before in North Africa camouflage for the RAF. I'm really looking forward to painting the four I've put aside in Finnish two tone camouflage instead!
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| Collectair La-5 FN |
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| Collectair La-5 FN |
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| Raiden Miniatures La-5FN |
