I was a bit worried that the flight stand prototype I constructed the other day wouldn't be able to hold on to larger aircraft models, so I cleaned up and magnet based a Scotia Collectair DB-3 bomber to test it out. The DB-3 is the largest aircraft I'll be using for the Continuation War project and, as you can see, it is absolutely stable with no wobbling or falling off, even when held upside down. Job's a good'un!
This is a bit different, so I'm almost certain to include it in the final cut for the Continuation War Lard Mag article. I've devised what I think are interesting tweaks for the card deck, as well as some special rules to give the eponymous Soviet fighter pilot at least a fighting chance of defending the bombers from the Finnish patrol. This one will definitely require some play testing but I reckon it will result in an exciting game, if only for Lt. Ivanov!
I was using a painting jig that I knocked together for my 1/600th scale projects, using an offcut of MDF and panel pins, but realised it was just too small, so I've boshed together a new one designed for 1/300th scale. This has 60mm flat head nails on to which the magnet based models can be attached, with an area left clear at the front as a sort of shelf for useful tools, glue and models. It's pretty big but sits on top of my workbench without any problems. Jobs a good'un!
I've been looking for a decent bomber interception scenario to include in the Lard Mag selection but without much luck, as LLv 32 was not often involved in this sort of thing. However, I have found one potential scenario in which a schwarm of Hawk 75 fighters 'bounced' a flight of three DB-3F medium bombers of 1AP and shot them all down. The DB-3's were the later model, subsequently retitled as the Il-4, but I have a soft spot for the earlier version, so I'll be using those in the scenario set up. I also already have three of them in the leadpile, so why not kill two birds with one stone?
Here's an after action report by 2nd Lt Alapuro of 2/LLv 32:
‘Whilst patrolling in the Petäjän-mäki area, I spotted three DBs heading north. I attacked one from above and behind in a shallow bank. I quickly silenced the gunner, and the bomber’s port engine began to trail black smoke. Due to my higher speed, I had to pull up and pass it. I curved back around again and fired continuously at the starboard engine until it caught fire. The DB then slipped into a cloud. I banked away to the south, waiting for the aircraft to pass through it, but when the DB did not reappear I flew towards Lem-paala, where I saw a burning aircraft in a swamp southwest of Rahonjärvi.’
A very straightforward set up but, with the addition of some clouds and a few special tweaks to make it more interesting, I think it could be worth a write up?
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As my pre-dreadnought painting was going nowhere, I've decided to shelve it for now and concentrate on the Bag the Hun Continuation War project instead (I really need to come up with a better title for it!) It's my other big project for this year, after the Napoleonic naval fleets, and is aimed at an article for the Lard Mag, so I need to get cracking.
In another switch, I've also decided to go back to my roots and use 1/300th scale models instead of 1/600th scale, mainly as I already have most of what I need, but also due to my declining eyesight, which makes painting very small things harder even with a magnifier. I started Bag the Hun gaming way back in 2004 (!) with the first edition, using Raiden Miniatures in the slightly larger 1/285th scale.
This time, however, I'm using Scotia Collectair models in the main, as they are inexpensive and reasonably detailed, although less chunky than Raiden Miniatures and not as nice as the now defunct Museum Miniatures range. The Soviets will be assembled and painted first including I-153, I-16 and MiG-3 fighters for starters. After that I'll tackle the Finnish Hawk 75, Brewster Buffaloes and a handful of Hurricanes.
Tally Ho!
I had a crack at a prototype flight stand for 1/300th scale planes, based on the method I use for 1/600th scale. This consists of a 50mm flat head nail, a 30mm x 3mm MDF hex, a thinner 30mm x 2mm MDF hex for added stability and a two cell 7mm dice frame. The two dice are blue for altitude and red, yellow, green or white for aircraft identification. The Scotia MiG-3 has a 4mm x 2mm magnet glued underneath to attach it to the stand. It's only undercoated in Halfords camouflage matt green at the moment but will be painted to match my hex cloth. Total cost about 30p excluding the magnet, so very cheap. Not too bad?
I've ordered some larger 4mm x 2mm round magnets to experiment with, the aim being to see if they are strong enough for 1/300th scale aircraft to attach securely to flat head nails. The idea is to move from permanently mounted models to magnet based ones, very much in the same way that I base and store my 1/600th scale planes. It's going to be interesting to see how well this works as a scaled up version of my usual basing for air warfare wargaming.
