"Any recommends for WW1 planes? Newbie needs help" Topic

Hi All
I'm keen to enter the world of WW1 dogfights.
The rules I have at present are the Too Fat Lardies "Algernon Pulls It Off", (though I am interested in other systems).
I have looked at the Wings Of War Models, and the scale looks right for me, (1/144); but I'm not 100% sold on them, (and getting them seems a bit problamatic).
Any suggestions on who produces good quality models / castings?
They can be smaller that the Wings Of War planes, (I'm open to suggestions).
HELP!

I prefer 1/72nd scale using Airfix, Revell, Esci etc kits.

The kits are cheap and easy to get hold of and, speaking for myself, I enjoy building them as you have plenty of opportunity to personalise your planes, which is what it's all about.

They should work fine with APIO or with most other rules e.g. Airwar 1918

Hi Boggler
I suspect that 1/72nd might be to big for my needs. I think 1/144 is about a big as I could go.
Worth looking into though,..
Any other suggestions anyone?

Try

1. Wings of War WW1 plane range these are pre-painted and Doms Decals do some decal sets so can be repainted easy to represent other planes in squadrons around £8.00 GBP to £11.00 GBP each

2. Skytrex – They do a range of 1/144 planes (metal) (saround £5.00 GBP and up)

All I can think off for now

Al

Hi Aliosborne
The problem with the WoW kits is they cost about $25.00 AUD each here in Australia, (and liminted in supply).
I'll Check out Skytrex,…

I think Old glory do some WW1 planes as well

I use 1/300 stuff (Heroics&Ros), with a little bit of 1/285 (Goblintooth, C-in-C) thrown in. You could also go really small (1/600 – Tumbling Dice).

As a general (and therefore likely false!) rule, the elements of cost, selection, and assembly/painting tend to match the size of the mini: the bigger the model the bigger the facet.

If gaming (rather than modeling) is your priority, I'd consider the smallest size that satisfies your selection requirements (ie: contains the models you want to game with). In a genre where the combat arena is airspace, you can never have too much gaming space, IMO, and the smaller the model the greater area available for play on any given surface. I readily concede the superior visuals of the individual larger models, but think that -from an overall tabletop POV- the smaller stuff makes for a better view of the action as a whole.

examples of games with the 1/300 can be seen here:
link

I have a lot of H&R 1/300 planes and like them a lot. Having said that I would still recommend that you consider the WoW planes. Most WWI air combat games dont put many planes on the table. The WoW planes come prepainted and assembled which is a plus. Assembling and painting 1/300 biplanes is time consuming. Unless you plan on playing one of the few games that let you put a larger number of planes in action the WoW planes are not that big an investment.

Hi
I do like the WoW planes, so might give them a crack.
Having said that, the H&R 1/300 are very cheap, so I might invest in some of them also.
Maybe keep the WoW stuff for 1on1 or 2 v 2 fights, and the 1/300 stuff for the bigger bomber escort missions etc.
THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!
I'll happily take recommendations on any other manufactures!
Cheers

Corgi metal 1/48 ready painted – so cool…

Can you buy WoW online and import yourself? Before they were easily available in UK I bought mine in US back in the days of the strong pound.

I say try limited numbers of both and see which you like best.

I play Algy with WoW and find they give a good game on a 6' x4' mat (2"hex) from Hotz.

Doms decals (as mentioned) do some great extras if you want proper squadrons.

Also perhaps look at F-Toys Spad and Albatros – a cheaper option in 1/144 plastic. Available on ebay.

Trailape – if availability's the issue with WoW it might be worth looking overseas; I've had a few orders for Wings Of War models to Australia recently, as the Aussie dollar's well up against the pound at the moment, and availability's tended to be more straight-forward in the UK. (Eg. I have 35 of the 36 models in stock at the moment, and suspect many UK and other dealers are in a similar boat; barring occasionally "drying up" as a new production run's needed, the Wings Of War models are relatively easy to maintain stock of.)

In 1/300, WWI isn't very well treated compared to more modern periods, but besides the cheap and cheerful Navwar range, CinC make some absolute gems of WWI aircraft – cost's about double that of Navwar, but still not a lot really, and they're really nice models, if a bit on the fragile side. If doing smallish numbers in 1/300 CinC would probably be my choice, although obviously I ended up going down the 1/144 road instead, hence the decal range….

Dom <gratuitous plug> domsdecals.com </gratuitous plug>

1:144 is a good scale. Strikes a nice balance between storage/gaming space and aesthetic appeal.

The iddy bitty scales never did it for me -- just not enough detail. But they do paint up fast!

mjc

Does anybody have a link to RED WING miniatures?
I was flicking through my mates copy of TFL's "Algernon Pulls It Off" and RED WING is mentioned as a source for 1/144 scale aircraft.
My Google attempts have yealed nought,…
Thanks

theres also these guys

link

Red Wing in Algy is, I think, a reference to Red Eagle ie Skytrex. If you are insane you could use SRAM kits.

"If you are insane you could use SRAM kits."????
What do you mean by that?

They're resin kits – very nice, beautifully scaled, absurdly expensive, and fragile enough that an ill-timed sneeze can destroy half of your air force….

Reviresco's 1/144 metal models are a good thought, though – some nice stuff in their range, with a good few that nobody else does.

Hi Guys
Thanks for the good oil.
I've had a look at F-Toys 1/144 kits also. Very basic, but very cheap! Might go with a mix of them, WoW kits (for my aces) and some Reviresco's 1/144 metal models.
That way I might be able to scape up about 25-30 planes for under $300.00 USD AUD, (as opposed to abouy $250 USD for 12 WoW planes).
I'll be in touch Dom for some Decals and a plane or two I suspect.

Cheers

We are running a WWI aeroplanes game to the 13th September 2009 at the Penrith PCYC (Emperor's Legion meeting -10am to 4pm).

· Each family should have an aeroplane and a stand for every player and a parent present or participating as well.

· Paper Aeroplanes can be printed from the rules link or you can build a 1/72nd scale WWI plane.

· The free rules can be found here

link

Trailape

Another option in 1/144 metal kits is Mamoli. They aren't made anymore but come up on ebay from time to time. I have been told they are nice neat castings but don't write from my own experience.

Wonder who has the masters and moulds?

Hi Trailape,

Just wondering what you eventually went with? I'm leaning towards 1/600 Tumbling Dice as I went with them for Bag the Hun, excellent value but maybe too small for a game like Algy.

Timbo

Hi
I bought about 10 F-TOY's planes on Ebay, (about $7.00 USD each).
Also got another half dozon or so WoW planes for about $12.00 USD each from SCALE CREEP miniatures.
Everywhere else they wanted about $20-25.
Planes arrived inside a week!
I'll still get in touch with Dom for some Decals and a plane or two though.

Any good sources for the K-Toys? Thanks!

Hi
I got my F-Toys Planes on Ebay.
Megae cheap and pretty darn good.
I'll post pictures on my Blog this weekend.
BTW, my WoW planes arrived from SCALE CREEP.
Excellent service as usual.
Cheers