More 1/144 float planes ready for action

I've managed to finish a couple of additional plane models for use with Ares Games Wings of Glory game system. The recent planes are all German floatplanes - a Hansa-Bradenberg W. 29 (the second of the collection) a Rumpler 6B and a FF.33E. All are maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The Rumpler is a single seat patrol fighter while the W.29 is a robust two-seater that served later in the war. The FF33E served from mid-war to the end of the war.

All three models were acquired from Shapeways. All were printed in either WSF or BSF material. I'm partial to BSF until something better comes along.

The Rumpler (on the left) and the new W.29 model. Decals on he W.29 by Tin-soldier.com. 

Rumpler in the front with FF33E in the back. 

Rear aspect of the Rumpler.

Folks over at the Aerodrome knocked out a customer plane card that matches the model.
Thanks guys! 

Wings of Glory - WWI Air War at the FLGS

We had a spirited day of gaming today at one of our Friendly Local Game Stores - Epic Loot in Centerville, Ohio. Over the course of three games, many planes were shot down, exploded or succesfully bombed their targets.

We started with the a Stakken raid of two bombers on a target in England. While the targets were destroyed or heavily damaged and several RFC fighters were shot down, in the end, both Stakken were eliminated for a narrow victory to the Allies. This was a great scenario and would be a good candidate for a refight as there were lots of events that could give this a much different outcome.

I flew one Stakken. I suffered TWO explosion cards which did me in (on top of additional damage suffered between the two boom cards). I crushed my target dumping both bomb loads directly on the bridge and inflicting maximum damage.
I collided with Bill's Snipe, I took 2 points of damage. I don't know what Bill too for damage. In the end, the swarm of Allied fighters shot me down as I was on the return leg of my mission.

Die Stakken gekommen!

The two forces interpenetrate the lines. A Snipe rams into a Stakken.

Those Stakken are HUGE!

Target destroyed! The Stakken drops the bridge into the river.

The Stakken are turning around as the fighters move in for the kill.

Running for the friendly table edge, the Stakken is brought down by a burst of .303 from a Bristol fighter.

 Game # 2 - Float plane Hell, WWI style!

The W.29, a W.12 and an Albatross W.4 close with the bombers.

The Handly Page bombers lumber along.

The bombers split up. Maybe not the most effective tactic, but it did reduce the amount of fire they took from the German fighters.

A pair of Albatross W.4 Dom's Decals on the left plane. Revirisco decals (from the W.29 decal set) on the right.

Circling around after the first pass.

Blue on Blue collision as a W.4 and the W.29 collide.

Another collision this time between the H-P bomber and the W.29

It's looking bleak for the H-P as the German fighters swarm about.

The Albatross W.4 continues to burn (and will explode at the end of the game). The W.29 cannot close with the bomber.

The Giants have landed! Unboxing the Staaken and Handley Page 0/400 heavy bombers

The long awaiting heavy bombers from Ares Games Kickstarter campaign have arrived! It was a longer than expected wait...but the goods arrived in today's post. How did they look? Pretty darn good!

Found this large box on the porch today. That's a lot of box for two models!

Opening the box up we find...campaign add on's from the Aerodrome - smoke and flame markers for the bombers and a 'standard' base as well as a deck of 'ace' ability cards.

These were offered as special upgrades with the campaign. If you've used them before, the smoke and flame markers are great visual upgrades to the standard markers. 

 

 

A close up of the smoke and flame markers and the ace ability decks. (Get to the bombers! )

What's this?  A Handley-Page?

Wow - that's some robust packaging!  Let's see what's inside.

It's a Handley-Page bomber model!

And a Staaken R.VI model

 

It's a poster showing all the Great War planes Ares makes. Will look great framed.

Opening up the Staaken box and there's a lot going on. The plane is well protected in it's cradle. The posts for the flgiht stand are in the top center and the maneuver and ace decks are in the upper right.

A close up of the ace abilities deck.

Remioving the plastic cover from the plane. The entire cradle for the plane lifts out...

...revealing the assorted paperwork.

There's assorted paperwork in the box. A Kickstarter certificate, Staaken specific rules, playing surface maps  and another poster!

The rule booklet includes the basics of multi-engine aircraft and the scenarios.

Reaching the bottom of the box, we find the plastic base and the data and management cards.

A close up.

Counter sheets, aircraft card and management cards.

The R.VI on it's flight base.

They did a nice job with these models. A little more detail on the crew would have been nice, but hey - it's a very nice model! Look at the detail on the engine nacelle.

I thought the Caproni had some odd gun placements.

The Handley-Page has the same components as the Staaken. It's a nicely rendered model.

The red and white nacelles give this model some color.

What's the deal with that nose gunner. Standing and waving?

And there you have it.

These are one half of the kickstarter models. Exercising restraint, I do not have the other two models to review. There's another H-P 0/400 with nice tactical markings done up in a night bombing paint scheme and a Staaken with a green lozenge pattern and late war iron crosses that looks quick fetching.

It took a bit of time to deliver, but Ares has delivered. If they contemplate doing similar campaigns for other aircraft (Felixstowe...cough cough), I'll definitely be jumping in.