"Formula for X-Wing Maneuver Templates" Topic

I need to scale up the turn and banking templates for 1/144 scale and 20mm Scale fighters. I can figure out ground scale for the difference between the size of the models and I think I know the rationale behind the turns but the 45% banks are somehow eluding me at present. I guess I could convert two banks into a 90% turn and figure out the radius and then convert up to the larger scale. But I am pretty sure it is more the base size I need to consider not the size of the model itself.

Thoughts?

VR
James Mattes

Didn't somebody who made some after-market plastic templates figure this out?

edit – it was Core Sec Engineering

Doug

Huh, good question. The aftermarket ones by CorSec and Litko just duplicate the current size, so mathematical philosophy was not required. Physically poking at mine now, there is no immediate intuitive relationship of lengths.

But the problem can be solved without mathematical philosophy. Put all the templates on a photocopier. Scale the size up by the proportion needed to get the correct length of the straight templates. All the turns will be scaled up correctly too.

I kinda figured it out. They are based on the arc length.

Each 45 degree turn had a different arc length but the same 45 degree angle. I did some fudging to make it exact to the templates but I did find that the 2-90 in my original set was wrong and the second set proved my calculations. The fudging was simply to compensate for the tolerance of the die cutting mold.

Take a 45 turn and put it on some graph paper. Draw parallel lines from each edge and they should meet at something that makes sense. They hit very round numbers in metric.

I don't have those numbers any more and probably would not release them anyway. Enough competition for those silly things as it is :)

Why not just photocopy them and enlarge by whatever percentage you want? Presto, template created with no math required.

The graph paper and photo copy ideas sound well SOUND. I will have to try and figure out the base sized for the two scales first then go from there. Got a ton of homework on work/job related stuff just dumped on me for next week so might not get to it right away.

VR
James Mattes

Okay I think I have it almost figured out. My FFG Tie Advanced base is 40mm and about 1/2 size of the 1/144 scale models. I can fit the Tie Advanced on a stand of 80mm square with no trouble and a six to ten inch long dowel with magnetic heads.

Ranges will be simple to convert:

Range 1 inches=4, @ 1/144 scale 8 inches
Range 2 inches=8 @ 1/144 scale 16 inches
Range 3 inches=12 @ 1/144 scale 24 inches

Maneuver Templates.
All forward templates would just be doubles 1=#2 2=#4 etc.
turns and banks
#1 will use the #2 templates.

So I just have to graph out the #2 and #3 turns and banks and scale up to get the proper maneuver template for the scale. #2 and #3 templates should not be too hard to figure out. I just have to graph them on a template and increase the radius of the turn.

Planning on a four player game next weekend (six on four fighers) using 4 X-Wings, 3 Tie Advanced, and 3 Tie Interceptors. Have not built the squads with add ons yet so I do not know the point totals but I am going to try and keep it between 100-150 points. Play area will be a six foot by 9 foot area.

VR
James Mattes

Well mounted the fighters, enlarged and laminated the ship templates (pretty easy with new scanner). Added two more X-Wings to give me six on six (they were on clearance for $5.00 USD) Need to glue them with "real" plastic model cement as the snap kits are too fiddley. Thinking about giving everything a gun metal or gray wash.

Still having issues with turns and banks my original idea that a two turn and bank is just a double of the number 1 does not hold true.

Also measurements for the radius of turns are all over the place. I have been working on 1/10th of an inch and 1/16th of an inch and in millimeters and every set I have tried is off some (I have about 12 core sets).

What I think I am going to do is take the enlargements I made on the scanner and compromise on a standard measurement that will work (read simple) for up sizing and down sizing the scale of the ships. I have SWMB & Micro Machines that I am going to end up using the core set base size and templates but for the 1/144 and 20mm and the odd size Revelle that I have not figured out yet I am going to wing it.

VR
James Mattes

James, I have read that the movement system is based on a square grid system and may have been the initial idea for movement. So movement is based on forward spaces and left/right spaces. So a two straight moves two spaces forward. A two bank moves 2 forward and one square to the side while a 2 turn moves 2 forward and two squares to the side. If you lay it out on paper I think you can get the dimensions that way.

I tried that using the 40mm squares and the formula did not work out or I screwed it up somehow. It almost looked right but was not consistant between the three banks and turns.

VR
James Mattes