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Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: has.been on October 06, 2022, 01:14:49 PM

Title: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 06, 2022, 01:14:49 PM
Managed a quick game with mates, Flatpack & JC.
WW1 aircraft. The whole game, which included a LOT of 'banter'
and (unfortunately) only one round of beverages, took two hours.

It was a simple scenario. Brits had put up an observation balloon.
The Germans decide to send two Ein-decker's to remove it.
The Royal Flying Corp. could only manage one lonely DH2, but
thanks to a jammy set of dice throws the DH2 (me) was piloted by
a veteran, while one Fokker EIII had a novice flyer (Flatpack) &
the other (JC) an average pilot.

229/230/231 = The planes
232 = The Balloon (for those who might not been able to identify it.  lol)
233 = Battle begins with the Germans closing.
234 = One peels off to engage me, & therefore give the other a clear run
          at the balloon.
235 = JC shooting at the balloon manages to wound the observer & damage
          some fabric. The wound is bad enough news, but just one more point
          of fabric damage & I'll have to dice for serious damage! :o

Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 06, 2022, 01:45:28 PM
Torn between two Germans to pursue, I opt to chase Flatpack.
236 = I manage to get on his tail
237 & 8 = I get a lucky hit & shoot him down, but...
239 = JC has a beautiful shoot at the balloon. His only worry
          was that if he ignited the gas the explosion might catch him too.
          Then from point blank range at a huge target he...MISSED. :o
          and jammed his guns too  lol lol
240 = He then did a great bit of flying to avoid colliding with the Balloon.
          There then followed several moves of his futile attempts to unjam.
          (After all just one more point of fabric damage & the Balloon might blow.)
          His futility was matched by mine, as I tried to both get on his tail yet
          not get too close to the explosive bag of gas.
241 & 242 = I finally got on his tail & another lucky shot downed the second EIII.
 
The rules were written  (both sides of a page!!!) by a nice friend, Andy Taylor, many
years ago. As with most nice & simple games it is easy to add a few scenario rules.
Today it was rules for Balloon hits, especially for the risk of explosion.

We may well give a tweak to unjamming attempts after JC's struggle. Difficult to
fly evasively while field stripping a machine gun & reading the Dutch instructions.  lol
Existing rule = spend two points for the chance to unjam, needing a double on 2xD6.
New rule =For each extra attempt, after the first, the player may alter one dice by a point.
e.g. 4 & 3 can become 4 & 4 on a second attempt, & so on.

These planes are metal, assembled (many years ago) by JC, as I did not have the
patience. I did do the painting, when my eye-sight was much better.
Today there are some very nice 3D printed planes on the market.
I picked up a very nice Italian Bomber from the nice guys at Syborg 3D printers
at a recent show. No assembly needed :D

Once again FUN was had.
 
           
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Westbury on October 07, 2022, 04:06:41 PM
Looks like a lot of fun Pete, good for you  :)
Like the mate.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Cat on October 07, 2022, 04:52:27 PM
Ooh, aah, great balloon too!
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 07, 2022, 07:57:00 PM
Thanks guys. :)

Balloon AND the rules curtesy of the genius that is Andy Taylor.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Golgotha on October 07, 2022, 08:17:40 PM
The aircraft came out a treat and the game looks great. Where did you get the balloon from?
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: pauld on October 07, 2022, 09:50:43 PM
Great stuff - looks and sounds terrific fun and these are some lovely models and paint jobs

I do love aviation games and especially WW1, the kites are so full of character.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2022, 06:31:32 AM
Quote
I do love aviation games and especially WW1, the kites are so full of character.
We agree Pauld, & thanks.

Quote
Where did you get the balloon from?
From the Genius Andy Taylor. He would produce fantastic things,
then say, 'It's only knocked up from...'
In this case  (if I remember correctly) it was some expanded polystyrene,
trimmed to shape, covered in tissue which was soaked in PVA glue, & some
cotton threads. The poor thing (& the Observer) have been attacked lots of times. :D
For the same games he made some miniature village 'tiles' (about an inch across) &
a German Air-Field complete with a red plane! as possible targets/objectives.
He Used shaved matchsticks & some scraps of filler for the hedges!!!! :o :o :o


Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2022, 06:48:06 AM
(Hopefully) The Rules! By Andy Taylor.
I am not very good a these new fangled E-Leck-Trickery things, so
it it doesn't come out properly it is my fault.
As with any very simple rules it is easy to add a few rules for the
scenario you are playing.
For this game we added:-

Balloon Busting is DANGEROUS!
Balloon is worth 10 Fabric points (When down to 5 roll for a critical hit)
Any Critical hits roll a D6
1,2 = Losing Gas & height. Two such hits & it will fall from the sky.
3,4 = Observer Hit. 1st is a wound, 2nd is fatal.
5,6 = It EXPLODES !!! Throw 3xD6 & that is the blast radius in inches.
         Any plane caught in that explosion must dice for a critical hit.

I draw the audience's attention to how close Baron JC flew his Ein-Dekker
to the balloon while STILL firing at it!! :o :o :o

We thought he was trying for the Blue Max, posthumous. lol
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on October 08, 2022, 08:15:07 AM
WW1 air war.
You can’t go wrong.
Fabric, wood and machine guns. Gulp.

Scenario - 2 eindeckers in the air, trying to bring down a British spotting balloon. One British fighter sent up to protect the ballloon.

(https://i.postimg.cc/x8Z9gJGj/7-CEDCB96-97-B2-45-B9-AB0-D-83-BE0-EF4-F41-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hQ9FtG3N)

Closing in on the target.

(https://i.postimg.cc/xC0jdSTQ/9-AE1-F033-7226-4-B98-AAFF-707-F4941-A866.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jWFY8m73)

British DH2 mixing it with the gallant Germans.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYz9FQBt/DBDE1-DEB-535-E-457-E-A140-2-DF58-AE9006-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mP7cW3wS)

That’s my eindecker out of the game, as the DH2 guns me out of the sky.

(https://i.postimg.cc/wjmjfVbC/B26-CD09-C-A443-4589-B50-A-30-CCC2-F43-AF5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4YXGnzGP)

Second eindecker closes on the target balloon.
All we need now is a good dice roll on the firing dice.
Anything but double one.
Oh heck….
(https://i.postimg.cc/SQgRJjMv/F3-C0-D27-C-787-A-4-E9-C-8-CCB-38-B5-AFB42431.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Rqn4YSG7)

Time for the final eindecker to get out of there.
(https://i.postimg.cc/SN5Kf5VL/F31-DF818-57-EB-44-EC-89-AC-753232-C5-A281.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2VQmz0s3)

But it’s all over as the British ace guns the second eindecker out of the air.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ncT4VHFF/7-DF62-C1-A-89-A8-44-BE-93-E9-3577-F6-F0-F4-A2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0bMMc1KF)

A great victory for the Royal Flying Corps.
Scratch two eindeckers.

Great, fun game, played in the right spirit.

Finally, I took pictures of Pete’s great collection of metal 1/144 skytrex aircraft.
(https://i.postimg.cc/SKYCGCWR/BF141-E8-B-BDAA-4-C6-D-B9-AA-EA9-CD924-FC07.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VS1JfSZP)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jdR6rWr3/507043-F2-D7-AA-4-B30-AEC7-908-CA45-F61-C1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HjP8wknb)



Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: pauld on October 08, 2022, 08:28:35 AM
Those German planes 8)

That's a whole box of fun
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2022, 11:27:34 AM
Thanks Flatpack & Pauld.
It has been said before, the right opponents is far more
important than the right rules.
Some nice miniatures, scenery, friends & a good Cuppa...Heaven.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Driscoles on October 08, 2022, 05:54:54 PM
That is very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 08, 2022, 07:34:03 PM
You are welcome Driscoles.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: marianas_gamer on October 08, 2022, 09:43:29 PM
Looks great fun and the balloon is brilliant!
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 09, 2022, 04:46:10 PM
Ta. Marianus, but the plaudits will be passed on to the creator, Andy Taylor.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: bluewillow on October 22, 2022, 09:48:51 PM
Great stuff, great inspiration!
I am going to have a crack at building a observer 1/72 balloon myself over winter I think!

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 22, 2022, 10:10:30 PM
Good luck Bluewillow. Let us know how you get on.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Dubar on November 11, 2022, 11:18:55 AM
Wonderful work!!!

I just took the plunge in gaming WW1 aircraft, been interested in it for some time but never took that first step until now.

Downloaded the Canvas Eagles files and have been play testing them using a paper hex mat I printed plus some paper top views of various aircraft.  Currently waiting for my 1/144 order from Reduced Aircraft Factory (3D printed planes, Shapeways) and Battle Mat from Cigar Box.  I was going to use the 1/48 planes I have, but I needed to buy more and decided to spend the same amount of cash on the smaller scale.

The balloon is fantastic! :-*
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on November 11, 2022, 03:38:44 PM
Thanks Dubar.
I've just heard, thanks to Flatpack, that Syborg (3D printing) may be
back in business soon. They do excellent WW1 aircraft, no need to
glue wings together!
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Dubar on November 11, 2022, 04:35:27 PM
Thanks has.been!  Reduced Aircraft Factory was my first look and when I saw they had my favorite plane (Fokker DVIII) I took the plunge.  DVIII has always been my fav, back last century I built a 1/6 RC model of one.

My Welsh grandfather was in the CHESHIRE YEOMANRY, MANCHESTER REGIMENT, MACHINE GUN CORPS   as a private.  Being I'm a yank, I'm not sure exactly what all that means but that's what is on his paperwork for the medals he received.  :?  Prior to and after the war he was in the Mercantile Marines.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on November 11, 2022, 10:32:50 PM
My fav. was & still is the Fokker DVII.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on September 13, 2023, 10:50:16 PM
Looks like we may be bursting more balloons in the future.
One of the gang bought a box of 1/144 Red Eagle aircraft from the bring and buy table, at a show at the weekend.
Today I’ve been, tarting them up, so we have more enemies and allies for has.beens next game.
Bit of glueing the loose bits back on, tarting up, and drilling and adding flying bases, and he’s another dozen to add to the skies.

(https://i.postimg.cc/br4jn5tq/IMG-5057.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YLNVKbRP)

(https://i.postimg.cc/brZhsPd6/IMG-5058.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/n9f5P647)

Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Driscoles on September 14, 2023, 10:38:50 AM
Nice collection
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on September 23, 2023, 09:51:35 PM
More Newports and Camels based up, and ready to go.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zD6gGdbG/IMG-5152.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1PXn44k)

(https://i.postimg.cc/ZnGBsRtd/IMG-5153.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gLK2nG0z)
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on September 24, 2023, 06:36:15 AM
Nice work there Bob. We will have to play using the modified Sci-Fi rules.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on September 24, 2023, 07:54:17 AM
Agree. Only about 4 more to base up, then finished.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on September 27, 2023, 05:04:23 PM
Done - all 32 that came in the box file, re-glued, bits replaced, bits added that had gone missing, props added, and all mounted on flying bases.
Ready to go.
(https://i.postimg.cc/QCy39kcT/IMG-5167.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dZrXgCHs)

Camels and SE5s added (inc home made lewis gun on the top wing, as it was missing)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTtxx8Tt/IMG-5165.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MMcgbN1j)

Newports and DH2 added.
(https://i.postimg.cc/x8CQ1FNQ/IMG-5166.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sQtqnmJH)


Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on September 27, 2023, 08:39:44 PM
Impressive Bob.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on October 01, 2023, 08:22:53 AM
So, not satisfied in repurposing 32 old aircraft, yesterday I put paint to plastic and painted my first couple of 3d printed aircraft. An SE5A and an Albatross.

SE5a
(https://i.postimg.cc/XqjGWGRh/IMG-5189.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qhFMXRMX)

(https://i.postimg.cc/gcsLDsRP/IMG-5188.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/py9dVDq0)

(https://i.postimg.cc/W36Fx6Hg/IMG-5190.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VrvkCM1k)

Albatross
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJ0B2DQn/IMG-5191.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4bS0R5P)

(https://i.postimg.cc/d357VQv0/IMG-5192.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rRtyhkD6)

I think they are useable.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 01, 2023, 01:17:50 PM
Well done.
I haven't got as many planes as you & JC, but include mine & the skies
above Flanders will be full.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on October 16, 2023, 05:35:09 PM
Two Resin printed Austrian-Hungarian airforce Phonix C1 aircraft.
General purpose recon/bomber aircraft.

(https://i.postimg.cc/qMP4DVkW/IMG-5306.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gnHCr7LK)

(https://i.postimg.cc/MKMzYK8y/IMG-5308.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LnSd9S5X)
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 16, 2023, 06:58:38 PM
Nice work Bob.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Dubar on October 18, 2023, 11:51:11 AM
Nice stuff as always!!!

Can you elaborate on the bases/stands?  I've tried antennas, wooden skewers, dowels, and a couple others and just haven't found a good base yet.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on October 18, 2023, 10:25:51 PM
The bases are commercially available, but tbh we bought about 100 of them 10 years ago, and we still haven’t used them all up.
Sorry I can’t help you more.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Dubar on October 19, 2023, 11:16:04 AM
Thanks flatpack, I'll look around the net!!!
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: has.been on October 19, 2023, 03:56:08 PM
A quick search for 'Flying bases' got a lot of responses. One is linked here.

Quote
[https://elementgames.co.uk/wargames-and-miniatures/bases-for-miniatures/flying-bases-for-miniatures/flying-basesquote]

Hope that helps. :)
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: bluewillow on October 19, 2023, 06:17:27 PM
Nice work
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: flatpack on October 25, 2023, 10:45:32 PM
Albatross D2’s finished.
Again, 3d printed resin.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bNG2rnn4/IMG-5357.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jSCnjtb)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jdGn7jQ2/IMG-5356.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CzsKyS2p)

Fingers crossed for a game soon.
Title: Re: The Balloon goes up (nearly)
Post by: Golgotha on October 25, 2023, 11:13:40 PM
Bloody marvelous thread very inspiring and very keen to see more...