Algernon Pulls It Off! QRS

Fellow club wargamer and wizard with the DTP, Geoff Curran, has created a one stop shop quick reference sheet for Algernon Pulls It Off!, which is a vast improvement on the old version that was designed by someone years ago, when the rules were still freshly minted. I'm taking no credit for this whatsoever but you can download a copy from the Algy Facebook group, as well as lots of other useful stuff for your games. Thanks Geoff!

Chain of Command Two

I've been allowed to pre-order the new edition of Chain of Command, which is a nice surprise, on condition that I dig lots of holes in the garden and dismantle a shed. This will be a boost to my summer project plans and will enable me to build my platoons and support to make the most of the new rule systems. I still have my old copy of the first edition rules to refer to but it will be useful to be able to coordinate my efforts in 15mm.

Dawn Patrol Scenario Research

Ltn. Hans Weiss in his White Fokker DrI

I've found an ideal historical action to use as a basis for the next scenario I'm writing for Algernon Pulls It Off!. This is a Dawn Patrol themed game, featuring a small number of aircraft flying at least to begin with as formations and using blinds. 

The action I'll be basing this on took place on the 3rd April 1918 and involved a dogfight between a patrol of three Sopwith Camels of No.43 Squadron and two Fokker DrI triplanes of an unidentified unit. I'll allocate these to Jasta 11 which was operating in the area at the time and which clashed with No.43 Squadron a few days later.

The RAF pilots were Capt.C.F.King, flight leader, Capt.L.G.Loudon and 2nd Lt.T.O'Niell, with King ranked as a Junior Ace and the other pilots probably Veteran and Regular respectively. The Jasta 11 pilots will be Ltn.H.Weiss, Top Ace, and either Ltn.E.Just or Vzfw.E.Scholtz, both very experienced Veterans, with Scholtz even a potential Junior Ace.

I still need to fill in some gaps but this is looking very promising. In the actual action, the RAF pilots claimed one triplane shot down over Morlancourt but none were reported by the Luftstreitkrafte that day, so it's a bit of a mystery as to the identity of the German unit involved. 

Jasta 11 Fokker DrI

I've not been feeling great over the last few days so decided to do some painting rather than wargaming today. 

These three 1/600th scale Fokker DrI models needed finishing, so I've started painting them up as Jasta 11 'Flying Circus' machines, in the characteristic red cowlings and undercarriage. 

I'll be applying the late war Balkan cross insignia to these, as I already have some with the Maltese cross markings, so that they can be used for a scenario I'm going to be writing this week. 

Unfortunately, I've already fluffed up one of these models, when the upper wing detached itself and fell into the carpet of doom, so I'm going to build some more and paint them up in the actual schemes used by Jasta 11, with one or two generic patterns to fill in the gaps.

Fiddly Fokkers Finally Finished

That's the aircraft finished for the Algernon Pulls It Off! Sprog level scenario - The Duellist - which I may even get a chance to play tomorrow, if I don't have to do gardening duty again. I'm quite pleased with how they came out and with the tiddly decals, which are from Flight Deck, as I was not looking forward to applying them. As always, Dan's decals were very high quality and went on without a hitch, so I needn't have worried.

Star Wars Day

Blocking in the Fokkers

I've been a bit poorly the last day or so which means I've achieved less than I wanted to at the workbench or at the wargaming table for that matter. Nonetheless, the blocking in has now been completed on the 1/600th scale Tumbling Dice aircraft for The Duellist scenario. As you can see, these models are particularly fiddly, even for 3mm but they are still fun to paint and nicely detailed. 

On the Cards

It was far too hot for gardening today which meant I had time to print, cut out and laminate the card deck and aircraft sheets for The Duellist, a scenario I've written for Algernon Pulls It Off! designed to teach the basic rules. I'm quite pleased with how this has turned out and now just need to paint the models to be ready for a solo game. I've had to postpone my planned game later today, however, as I have a busy afternoon and evening that will soak up the rest of my hobby time.

Black Thursday Play Test

I have a day off work tomorrow, so I'm hoping to run a play test game of the 'Black Thursday' scenario in my Jasta 18 - Raben's Ravens - series for Algernon Pulls It Off! This is another dogfight game, with SE5a scouts against Fokker DVII's, both sides being fairly evenly matched aside from a  slight edge for the RFC due to pilot experience. It will be interesting to see how the SE5a with its mixed armament fares against the opposition, with the Fokker DVII having more effective twin machine guns. 

Chain of Command Support Units

The Peter Pig Germans in Zeltbahn have arrived today, along with some additional support units figures, guns and vehicles, so I'm pretty much kitted out to begin the Chain of Command project this summer. 

I also had a rummage in the loft and found this PSC box set of Sdkfz 250 Neu half tracks, a couple of which I can use as support units, one for recce and another as an assault half track. I'll use Peter Pig figures for the crew so that they match the infantry.

Unfortunately, I'm really busy at the moment, so all this will have to wait a few weeks longer. In the meantime, I think I might pre-order the new edition of the rules, which I think are now available on the TFL webshop thingy?