Watch out Fritz, here come the Brisfits

I've been a bit busy lately and haven't had time to work on the scenarios for Algy Flies Down Under, which is something I need to crack on with. 

On the plus side, the notes for Scenario A, B and C are nailed down, which means the latter scenarios D, E and possibly F, are now in my sights. These will all be in 1918 and so will feature the formidable F2B Bristol Fighter or 'Brisfit' which completely changed the balance of air superiority in the Palestine campaign. 

Not that it was all one way, of course, as the Germans reinforced, reorganised and re-equipped their units in response, with the Albatros DV and Pfalz DIIIa arriving alongside veteran pilots from the Western Front. All very good stuff and excellent for scenarios with a bit more punch. Tally Ho!

One Hour Wargames Small Footprint Solo Options

One of the things that persuaded me to get a 2' x 2' grass terrain cloth is the chance to revive my One Hour Wargames 2mm ECW project, which I tinkered with a year or so ago. This was scuppered by some dodgy basing that I screwed up, which put me off the project for a while, but it's otherwise still something I'm keen to have a go at. I may also try the rules with other periods and scales, up to 6mm or even 10mm, as I have a fair few options that wouldn't require much effort to get sorted, including 2mm Ancients using leftover bits from Strength and Honour. It's potentially the next thing to hit the workbench if the terrain cloth turns out to be too small for the 18mm Wiglaf Miniatures skirmish idea....?

Jasta 300 Albatros D.III conversion

I've nearly finished assembling the 1/600th scale aircraft for play testing the Algy Flies Down Under scenarios, with only four Albatros D.III / D.Va models to get sorted. These are a bit more fiddly than you'd expect as I am adding twin radiators to the upper wing centre section, which were needed for cooling due to the high temperatures of the region. To do this I've sanded down the wing to remove the existing radiator, then glued small rectangles of plastic card in place before sanding them down to the right profile. It's all a bit of a faff but will be worth it in the end?

Small Footprint Solo Skirmish Mid-Saxon Sitrep

A bit of forward momentum with my solo skirmish project today. I've ordered a 2' x 2' grass terrain cloth after hunting about a bit for something that looked just right. This will be used for the first iteration of the project, which at the moment will be a mid-Saxon Eighth century version of Ravenfeast using the 15/18mm Wiglaf Miniatures range, but may well go on to include other things, possibly in 10/12mm or even smaller. I've also received the order of wire spears I need for the Wiglaf West Saxons, so it's a jolly good time to get started on the Ravenfeast figures in order to get the project off the ground. If you are thinking that 2' x 2' is a bit on the small side you may well be right but I'll be switching to cm for movement and missile purposes, so I think it should be feasible. I'll just have to give it a go!

Algy's 'Bang On' Bombing Raid Generator

I got round to drafting a basic scenario generator for bombing raids yesterday, based on my existing balloon busting mechanism with some appropriate tweaks. It's got a few typos and needs some tidying up but I think it should work well for pick up games. One thing I may add is a modified 2D6 roll for bombing aircraft with different payloads, as at the moment you just roll a single 2D6 regardless of the size of the aircraft, which seems a bit bonkers?

Algy Flies Down Under - Scenario B

The second scenario in the Lard Mag line up is one that I mentioned  in an earlier post  - The Sportsman - which involves a dogfight between three AFC aircraft on a patrol near Gaza and two aircraft of FA300. Here's a report of the action from the German records:

"Monday, 9.July 1917. To the Sinai Front at the 8.July two hostile airplanes were shot down in aerial combat and both crashed. Details are missing still"

The BE2e of Lieutenant T. Taylor and Lieutenant F.W.F Lukis was on an operation escorted by the Martinsyde of Captain Charles A. Brookes an RFC officer attached to the AFC and a BE12a aircraft flown by Claude H.Vautin. 

The three aircraft were attacked by the Rumpler C.I aircraft of Offstv. Kern and Oberleutnant Kurt Jancke, and the Albatros DIII of Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy. 

Kern and Jancke attacked the Martinsyde of Brookes and in the ensuing engagement Brookes was shot down out of control, his Martinsyde's wings collapsing in a spin before crashing. 

Vautin was chased to Beit Hanun before being forced to land. Vautin was the third confirmed victory for Felmy (although other sources suggest it may actually have been his fifth).

This is a cracking little dogfight and should make for a relatively straightforward but challenging scenario, especially for the Australian pilots in their assorted obsolescent aircraft. The Germans will definitely have the edge but I can balance things out with some careful design, especially in the objectives and special rules I can build in to the write up.

Talky Ho!

Ravenfeast Mid-Saxon Army List

I've been tinkering with the army lists in the Ravenfeast rules to put together a variant for the mid-Saxon period, specifically for the West Second and Mercians. This is actually pretty straightforward,  the old Warhammer Historical Age of Arthur contains a lot of useful and relevant information. I've had a go at a crossover based on both the Viking list and the late Saxon list but will probably mash them together to make up the variant, with some additional rules tweaks to cover period specifics e.g. no shield wall rule. I should have something workable later this week.

1/600th DFW C.V conversion

The next conversion job is a DFW C.V observation machine, based on the Tumbling Dice Albatros C.II model with a little bit of sanding and shaping on the fuselage, a new top wing and a modified tail. It's not very accurate, being a bit too short, but it will do the job, as I need one for a 1918 scenario in the Algy Lard Mag project. Next in the production line will be the Albatros D.III / D.V scouts with added twin radiators for tropical conditions.

Aussie Brisfits

Wrapping up the Australian Flying Corps contingent of the Algy Flies Down Under project, here are the four F2B Bristol Fighters that I'll need for the later scenarios. These are all Tumbling Dice models with added twin Lewis gun armament, minus the ammunition drums as I couldn't get them to fit without looking over scale. The twin Lewis gun load out was the standard for the Aussie Brisfits, giving them some additional punch and also the ability to strafe more effectively. No wonder they were able to gain air superiority in the latter half of the campaign!

1/600th AEG C.IV Conversion

 

I needed a couple of C Type observation aircraft for the Algy Flies Down Under project, but Tumbling Dice only make an Albatross C.II, so I've had to have a go at some model bashing instead. Here's my attempt at an AEG C.IV using the fuselage of a Hannover CL.III with top wing and tail from the aforementioned Albatross. It's not exactly accurate to say the least, but it's also not too far off to be ridiculous, so I'm happy with the end result. 

Ravenfeast Pointy Sticks

 

I'm thinking of picking up my mid-Saxon Ravenfeast project next month, as a little painting project on the side, using the Wiglaf Miniatures 18mm range of figures. I was planning on doing this at the start of the year but was side tracked on to other things. One obstacle I bumped into that slowed it down was the lack of wire spears and javelins to glue on to the figures but I've found some on the Eureka Miniatures UK web shop, so have ordered a couple of packs of 40mm spears to cut down to size. These things are like hens teeth these days, so you may want to check them out, as they're comparatively good value at £4.95 for 50. 

Algy Flies Down Under - Scenario A

 

The first historical scenario for the Algy Flies Down Under project is set in early November 1916. A bombing raid by five BE2c and a single Martinsyde G100 on the airfield and military targets at Beersheba has just taken place and the Australian aircraft are making their getaway. 

Two Fokker Eindeckers of Flieger Abteilung 300 take off to chase the retreating raiders, only to be taken on by one of the BE2c's which has been field modified with a Lewis mounting for the observer to act as an escort. The 'Tinsyde' joins in to give the Eindeckers a nasty surprise, forcing both of the German pilots to abandon the pursuit. 

As such, it's a simple dogfight scenario but made more interesting by the unusual armament of the Australian aircraft and by the relatively limited performance of the BE2c and the Fokker EIII. The pilots were all experienced flyers and so skill ratings will be veteran, making it a fairly even match in terms of ability. 

...more details to follow!

Aussie Aircraft Adaptations

An addition to the research material I've accumulated for the Algy Flies Down Under project, after finding a reference to it in another source. I'm hoping the book will help fill in some details on the early phase of the Palestine campaign, during which the AFC deployed a variety of obsolete or obsolescent aircraft, primarily for photography, observation, bombing and escort duties. I'm particularly interested in field adaptations to the BE2c in an attempt to turn it into an effective escort machine...not without some success, as well as retro fitting rearwards firing Lewis guns to Martynside G100 scouts. You've got to admire their enthusiasm!

https://3sqnraafasn.net/subpages/WackettFirstCombat.htm

Aussie Aircraft for Algy Flies Down Under

 

Be2 / Be12a

Be2c

RE8

Martynside G100

HP O/400

For the Algy Flies Down Under scenario play testing I'm using the tried and tested option of 1/600th scale models from Tumbling Dice. I did think about using some very nice Oddzial Osmy 3mm models that I have in the lead pile but the earlier aircraft are missing, so Tumbling Dice it is again. There are most of the types that I need in the range but I'm going to have to do some adaptation and conversion work to cover the line up required, especially for the Germans.

Here we have the two seater observation machines, with the single seater escorts and a single but very big bomber. The Be2e and Be12a models use the top wing from the RE8 on the fuselage of the Be2c, otherwise being interchangable as they looked very similar. The Be2c is straight out of the pack but on its own as there were only four of them in the squadron line up. The RE8 is also a standard model but the two Martynside G100 single seaters were adapted from an Airco DH4 model by  the simple addition of a wing mounted Lewis gun.

I added rear guns to the RE8 and exhaust stacks to all of the BE2 type aircraft, which was a fiddle but worth it for aesthetic reasons, even if they are a bit too tall. I tried shorter brass wire stacks but they weren't very visible, so the longer ones are visually better. The HP O/400 is a bit over the top but may actually feature in one ahistorical scenario that I'm thinking of including, just for kicks.

Next up will be the Brisfits...

Small Footprint Solo Skirmish Down Mexico Way

The Warbases free postage offer at the weekend got me thinking about a small scale solo skirmish project again. The last iteration of this was the Ravenfeast Viking era rules bounced back to the eighth century, using the exceptional Wiglaf Miniatures 18mm figures for West Saxon and Mercian raiding forces. I really love the scale and scope of the rules, while the figures are packed full of character, some of Mark Copplestone's best work I think. 

This is very much still on the cards but I'm also tinkering with a Wild West alternative, again using free rules , a small figure count and a minimal footprint. The rules are Ruthless from Little Wars TV and are just two sides of A4, so definitely concise and fast play enough. The figures would be from Peter Pig, of which I have a small stash, or from Check Point Miniatures, which have a small but very characterful range...

...as always, it's just an idea at the moment but there's an order in with Warbases for some Wild West buildings, so watch this space. The idea is to fit everything into a single 4 or 5 litre RUB for portability and storage, terrain, figures, rules, the lot. I have a whole stack of Wild West terrain in 28mm but it takes up the boot of the car when I use it at the club, not to mention the figures and rules. In 15mm and with some careful organisation, it should all fit in one box that I can easily carry under one arm. Result!

Over The Front Back Issue Bargain

The back issues of the Over the Front journal are available as Amazon print on demand or in pdf digital format, the latter costing only $9.99 for four issues. This is an absolute bargain and gives you access to some invaluable information for air wargaming projects, including my Algernon Pulls It Off! article, where Volume XIII includes an issue on The Forgotten Fronts. This should help to fill in the details I need for the German units on the Palestine Front, which would otherwise be very difficult to track down. Talky Ho!

Algy Flies Down Under

I was planning to go to the Colours wargaming show up the road in Newbury yesterday but, unfortunately for me, my daughter decided she was going to move in to her new student accommodation in Exeter, so I was down there shifting boxes instead. I like Colours as a show and a venue and I'm a bit miffed to have missed it for a second year in a row, but needs must. At least it saves me from spending pocket money on things I don't really need!

In more positive news, I've had a thumbs up from Nick for the Lard Mag Palestine article, which is great as I can now crack on, the next couple of days being a good time to get stuck into the scenario short list. In a turn up for the books, the Facebook group poll has also bowled a googly and my original title for the project came out as the popular choice. I've tweaked it a little to match the previous Lard Mag content, so it's now officially going to be Algy Flies Down Under.

...that's going to need some explaining!

A 'Bloody Paralyzer' in Palestine

I've discovered that No.1 Squadron AFC operated a single Handley Page 0/400 bomber from September 1918 to the end of the campaign in Palestine. I'd like to feature it in a fictional action and have some ideas for a potential scenario, with it used as in the transport role with an escort of a couple of  Brisfits. 

According to Aeropedia:

"Although used for bombing operations by No 1 Squadron AFC, it seems after arriving in Heliopolis, in Egypt, as well as attacking Turkish means of communications between the Turkish Headquarters and the 7th and 8th Armies, one of the principal tasks of C9681 in the Middle East was to transport supplies to the advanced airstrip at Azrak in Jordan to assist Lawrence of Arabia in his activities, these including fuel, oil and spare parts for the Bristol Fighters operating in the area. It seems a number of flights were made carrying supplies'

A bit different and hopefully good fun.

Algy Goes Out in the Midday Sun

I wasn't particularly happy with the title for the Lard Mag article, 'Algy Goes Down Under', as it caused no end of confusion about the focus of the project. After a bit of head scratching I came up with half a dozen alternatives and put them to the popular vote on the FB group in a none too serious poll. 

'At 12 noon, the natives swoon and no further work is done. But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.'

The top option was 'Algy Goes Out in the Midday Sun' to paraphrase Noel Coward, so that's what I'm going with from here on. I did consider 'Algy and the Flying A***holes', which is what observers were nicknamed by the Aussie pilots on account of their insignia, but I thought that might be a bit too risqué, even for the Toofatlardies readership!

Sabotag3d Aircraft for Algy Goes Down Under

We've had friends staying over the weekend so I've not been at the workbench at all. Before they arrived, however, I cleaned up,q magnet based and undercoated some 1/300th scale Sabotag3d aircraft for the Algy Goes Down Under Lard Mag project. I was a bit miffed to have to get the polarity right for the magnets, as I don't usually have to bother, but apart from that it wasn't too much of a faff. There are six F2B Bristol Fighters and a single RE8 to paint up over the undercoat of Army Painter German Field Grey, which was all I had in the rattle can collection. Next, will be the PC10 for which I'll use the usual Foundry Phlegm Green Shade, perhaps lightened a touch with some Phlegm Green. 

Farting about with Firing Arcs for Algernon Pulls It Off!

Revised Firing Arc Diagram 

Ring and Rail Mount Flexible Gun Arcs

Fe2b/d Observer Pintle Mount Gun Arcs

Oblique Left or Right Fixed Pilot Gun Arcs

Be2c/d Bar Mounted Observer Gun Arcs 

Something that has caused quite a lot of confusion for players of Algy are the firing arcs for different aircraft, mainly because the diagram in the rules was lifted straight from Bag the Hun and doesn't correspond to the real thing or the aircraft data tables. I've been tinkering about with it and have modified the diagram by adding the blind spot for observers due to the tail, as well as rewriting the descriptors. The latter needs some tweaking but makes more sense than the existing text. I've also been experimenting with arcs of fire for particular aircraft and armament, using the diagram to mark out what can be targeted in each case. 

It seems to work with the caveat that the aircraft data tables for the RFC / RAF have to be ammended to match (they didn't make sense in the first place and don't correspond to the German equivalent either). I've posted some illustrative diagrams on the FB group but, this far, no one has made any comments, no doubt because it's a bit abstract and boring, unless you have actually uky tried to use the rules as they are for a game. Anyway, it's all useful stuff and I may well incorporate it into the Lard Mag article as a rules option.