My Article Part 1
Mar. 1st, 2007 08:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frustratedpilotAN APPRAISAL OF AVAILABLE MODEL AIRCRAFT FOR FLAMES OF WAR
Okay, I don't consider myself very knowledgeable about Flames of War. And I've only been an aviation enthusiast for thirty years or so. Sources upon which I base my opinions: Warplanes of the Third Reich by Green, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft by Angelucci, Complete Book of Fighters by Green & Swanborough, The Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II by Mondey, Encyclopedia of the World's Combat Aircraft by Gunston, and many others.
Where to start...
In addition to the resin kits offered by Battlefront Miniatures, there is a world of 1/144th and likeable scale aircraft models out there that are useful in Flames of War. So let's start with the easiest in terms of accessibility--the diecast planes in the toy aisles of discount and dollar stores! The two main manufacturers for the U.S. market (at least) are Motormax and Maisto, although there is in addition a very nice (if limited) series being made by New Millennium/Ultimate Soldier. Both Motormax and Maisto have websites that have pictures of their products, so you can see the subjects before you go shopping.
* P-40 Warhawk, Hawker Hurricane, Junkers Ju87 Stuka--you should all know the capabilities of these by now. I've never seen Stormoviks in diecast, but there are other sources for those that I'll talk about later.
* B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfort, Avro Lancaster, B-24 Liberator--your opponent will NOT allow you to use these, unless you're having some Battalion-level fight (four or five companies on a side, each with a force commander/coordinator in control of aircraft and off-board assets). Heavy bombers would not be available for skirmish-level airstrikes except in very unusual circumstances.
* B-25 Mitchell, DeHavilland Mosquito--These medium bombers would be far more likely to be seen over a Flames of War fight than the heavies. The Mitchell was used by all of the Allies (including the Soviets and the Chinese Nationalists) from mid-war on. The Mossie was almost exclusively in British use; the US had a squadron or two but these were unarmed reconnaisance planes. Both types were built in glass-nose bomber and solid-nose gunship versions. The late-war Mitchells had strap-on machine gun packs on the sides of the fuselage as strafing weapons.
* P-61 Black Widow--This plane is exclusive to American late-war forces. Designed and deployed first as a night interceptor, it was also used as a ground-attack strike fighter in Europe, China/Burma and the Philippines.
* F4U Corsair & F6F Hellcat--Used in the Pacific from mid-war on, and also briefly appeared in Europe (when the Fleet Air Arm and the US Navy used them in support of the amphibious landings in Southern France). Statistically, the two aircraft are very close if not identical. While both were designed to win air superiority from the Japanese Zero-sen and Hayabusa, they also became very effective fighter-bombers. Same gun firepower as a P-40, and double the bomb load.
* P-47 Thunderbolt & P-38 Lightning--both mentioned in the official late-war American army list. I should add that the P-47 was also used by late-war British Far East forces. The P-38 was used by the Free French and the Italian Co-Belligerent forces too. 25% more gun firepower than a P-40, and double the bomb load.
* P-51 Mustang--Available for mid-war British and Americans, and for late-war Western Allies plus the Chinese Nationalists. The mid-war version (The Mustang IA/A-36 Apache) is statistically like a faster Hurricane IIC, with the same firepower and bomb load. The P-51D model (late-war) has the same firepower of the F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat.
* Supermarine Spitfire--Used by the British throughout the War, and sometimes flown by American mid-war forces in the North Africa and Mediterranean theaters. While Spitfires were deployed on occaison as fighter-bombers, they weren't as effective as Hurricanes (only half the bomb load and just over half the gun firepower of the Hurricane IIC).
* Messerschmitt Bf109--Like the Spitfire, the 109 served throughout the war and evolved into the role of fighter-bomber later on...in the case of the 109, towards the end of the Blitzkrieg in France and the Low Countries. As well, the 109 didn't possess as much firepower in comparison to its ground-attack stablemates (Stuka, Fw190F/G, Henschel Hs129B, etc.). The Germans just built a lot of them. Exported to Spain (who used some on the Eastern Front versus the Russians), Finland (who wound up using them and Ju88s against their creators), Rumania, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Italian Fascists/RSI.
* Messerschmitt Bf110--I don't know that there are any diecast available now, but several years ago there was a Bf110 in metal from Woolworth, and there are model kits too, so I'm writing it up here. The myth (which is partly true) is that the Bf110 wasn't a good fighter plane, that it had trouble with Spitfires and Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. Even before then, the Luftwaffe was beginning to convert the Bf110 to the role of fighter-bomber, which it took on in earnest in the Balkans, the Russian Front, North Africa, and the Middle East. It wasn't as commonly available in the strike role as the Stuka, but it was available to mid-war German forces. It would be replaced by other types by late-war, though.
* Messerschmitt Me262--Yes, they would definitely be available to late-war Germans, not only as counter-air, but as fighter-bombers. The historic reality--Me262s weren't effective fighter-bombers. The Luftwaffe pilots who flew the Me262 were well aware of the speed advantage they had...and how sluggish the plane was at SLOW speeds. So instead of taking the time to line up direct hits (and risk anti-aircraft ground fire) they were more likely to dash in, drop their bomb in the general vicinity of the enemy, and hope for the best as they boosted for home.
* Focke-Wulf Fw190--There are two families of this German aircraft: the short-nose radial-engined A/F/G family (which was used for ground-attack as well as counter-air) and the long-nosed D/Ta-152 family (which was strictly counter-air). The F & G models eventually replaced the Stuka in late-war German forces.
* Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen--Available to early- and mid-war Japanese Naval forces (but not Japanese Army forces, as they had the Hayabusa and Hien for that mission) but rare for late-war (due to attrition and the arrival of better types). "Captured" ones served with the Chinese Communists. The Zero-sen can also stand-in/proxy for other early-war fighter types, including the Polish PZL P.50 Jastrab and the French Bloch MB152.
* Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate "Frank"--the subject of a very nice diecast from New Millennium. Available for late-war Japanese Army. Firepower equal to a Hurricane IIC. The Frank can proxy for a very important Soviet type: the Lavochkin La-5FN/La-7. This fighter would be available for mid-war and late-war Soviet forces.
* C-47 Skytrain (Douglas DC-3) & Ford Trimotor--Paratrooper insertion airplanes. The DC-3 was used as a transport by all the Allies (and the Japanese, who built their own version under license); the Ford can proxy for the German's Junkers Ju52/3m.
* PT-17 Stearman biplane--The diecast of this machine can be found in many dollar stores. Why buy them? If you run early-war or mid-war Soviets, they can proxy for Polikarpov Po-2. These biplanes were used for artillery spotting and light attack--the chosen type for the "Night Witches" all-female strike squadrons.
More to come.
Okay, I don't consider myself very knowledgeable about Flames of War. And I've only been an aviation enthusiast for thirty years or so. Sources upon which I base my opinions: Warplanes of the Third Reich by Green, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft by Angelucci, Complete Book of Fighters by Green & Swanborough, The Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II by Mondey, Encyclopedia of the World's Combat Aircraft by Gunston, and many others.
Where to start...
In addition to the resin kits offered by Battlefront Miniatures, there is a world of 1/144th and likeable scale aircraft models out there that are useful in Flames of War. So let's start with the easiest in terms of accessibility--the diecast planes in the toy aisles of discount and dollar stores! The two main manufacturers for the U.S. market (at least) are Motormax and Maisto, although there is in addition a very nice (if limited) series being made by New Millennium/Ultimate Soldier. Both Motormax and Maisto have websites that have pictures of their products, so you can see the subjects before you go shopping.
* P-40 Warhawk, Hawker Hurricane, Junkers Ju87 Stuka--you should all know the capabilities of these by now. I've never seen Stormoviks in diecast, but there are other sources for those that I'll talk about later.
* B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfort, Avro Lancaster, B-24 Liberator--your opponent will NOT allow you to use these, unless you're having some Battalion-level fight (four or five companies on a side, each with a force commander/coordinator in control of aircraft and off-board assets). Heavy bombers would not be available for skirmish-level airstrikes except in very unusual circumstances.
* B-25 Mitchell, DeHavilland Mosquito--These medium bombers would be far more likely to be seen over a Flames of War fight than the heavies. The Mitchell was used by all of the Allies (including the Soviets and the Chinese Nationalists) from mid-war on. The Mossie was almost exclusively in British use; the US had a squadron or two but these were unarmed reconnaisance planes. Both types were built in glass-nose bomber and solid-nose gunship versions. The late-war Mitchells had strap-on machine gun packs on the sides of the fuselage as strafing weapons.
* P-61 Black Widow--This plane is exclusive to American late-war forces. Designed and deployed first as a night interceptor, it was also used as a ground-attack strike fighter in Europe, China/Burma and the Philippines.
* F4U Corsair & F6F Hellcat--Used in the Pacific from mid-war on, and also briefly appeared in Europe (when the Fleet Air Arm and the US Navy used them in support of the amphibious landings in Southern France). Statistically, the two aircraft are very close if not identical. While both were designed to win air superiority from the Japanese Zero-sen and Hayabusa, they also became very effective fighter-bombers. Same gun firepower as a P-40, and double the bomb load.
* P-47 Thunderbolt & P-38 Lightning--both mentioned in the official late-war American army list. I should add that the P-47 was also used by late-war British Far East forces. The P-38 was used by the Free French and the Italian Co-Belligerent forces too. 25% more gun firepower than a P-40, and double the bomb load.
* P-51 Mustang--Available for mid-war British and Americans, and for late-war Western Allies plus the Chinese Nationalists. The mid-war version (The Mustang IA/A-36 Apache) is statistically like a faster Hurricane IIC, with the same firepower and bomb load. The P-51D model (late-war) has the same firepower of the F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat.
* Supermarine Spitfire--Used by the British throughout the War, and sometimes flown by American mid-war forces in the North Africa and Mediterranean theaters. While Spitfires were deployed on occaison as fighter-bombers, they weren't as effective as Hurricanes (only half the bomb load and just over half the gun firepower of the Hurricane IIC).
* Messerschmitt Bf109--Like the Spitfire, the 109 served throughout the war and evolved into the role of fighter-bomber later on...in the case of the 109, towards the end of the Blitzkrieg in France and the Low Countries. As well, the 109 didn't possess as much firepower in comparison to its ground-attack stablemates (Stuka, Fw190F/G, Henschel Hs129B, etc.). The Germans just built a lot of them. Exported to Spain (who used some on the Eastern Front versus the Russians), Finland (who wound up using them and Ju88s against their creators), Rumania, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Italian Fascists/RSI.
* Messerschmitt Bf110--I don't know that there are any diecast available now, but several years ago there was a Bf110 in metal from Woolworth, and there are model kits too, so I'm writing it up here. The myth (which is partly true) is that the Bf110 wasn't a good fighter plane, that it had trouble with Spitfires and Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. Even before then, the Luftwaffe was beginning to convert the Bf110 to the role of fighter-bomber, which it took on in earnest in the Balkans, the Russian Front, North Africa, and the Middle East. It wasn't as commonly available in the strike role as the Stuka, but it was available to mid-war German forces. It would be replaced by other types by late-war, though.
* Messerschmitt Me262--Yes, they would definitely be available to late-war Germans, not only as counter-air, but as fighter-bombers. The historic reality--Me262s weren't effective fighter-bombers. The Luftwaffe pilots who flew the Me262 were well aware of the speed advantage they had...and how sluggish the plane was at SLOW speeds. So instead of taking the time to line up direct hits (and risk anti-aircraft ground fire) they were more likely to dash in, drop their bomb in the general vicinity of the enemy, and hope for the best as they boosted for home.
* Focke-Wulf Fw190--There are two families of this German aircraft: the short-nose radial-engined A/F/G family (which was used for ground-attack as well as counter-air) and the long-nosed D/Ta-152 family (which was strictly counter-air). The F & G models eventually replaced the Stuka in late-war German forces.
* Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen--Available to early- and mid-war Japanese Naval forces (but not Japanese Army forces, as they had the Hayabusa and Hien for that mission) but rare for late-war (due to attrition and the arrival of better types). "Captured" ones served with the Chinese Communists. The Zero-sen can also stand-in/proxy for other early-war fighter types, including the Polish PZL P.50 Jastrab and the French Bloch MB152.
* Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate "Frank"--the subject of a very nice diecast from New Millennium. Available for late-war Japanese Army. Firepower equal to a Hurricane IIC. The Frank can proxy for a very important Soviet type: the Lavochkin La-5FN/La-7. This fighter would be available for mid-war and late-war Soviet forces.
* C-47 Skytrain (Douglas DC-3) & Ford Trimotor--Paratrooper insertion airplanes. The DC-3 was used as a transport by all the Allies (and the Japanese, who built their own version under license); the Ford can proxy for the German's Junkers Ju52/3m.
* PT-17 Stearman biplane--The diecast of this machine can be found in many dollar stores. Why buy them? If you run early-war or mid-war Soviets, they can proxy for Polikarpov Po-2. These biplanes were used for artillery spotting and light attack--the chosen type for the "Night Witches" all-female strike squadrons.
More to come.
