"Coastal Command games: 1/300 or 1/600?" Topic

Bearing in mind the relatively few models involved in a game of this type, I am debating about gaming in 1/300 instead for the aircraft and 1/600 for surface vessels.

My thinking is that, from the point of view of the aircraft, this gives a forced perspective and an idea of height above sea level.

I appreciate that 1/600 aircraft are quite small and wonder if 1/300 would give a better feel to the game?

Any thoughts?

I'm going that same route. The 1/300 planes just look better to me, and they'll do triple duty then (coastal, micro land battles, and air games).

Great minds think alike?

OK, going for 1/300 for aircraft and 1/600 for shipping.

What planes, Beitish and German do I need to start things off?

I am thinking of Wellingtons, Hudsons, Halifaxs, Liberators, Sunderlands, Condors, Ju88s and Mosquitoes. What about Stukas and Beaufighters? Several of these aircraft had different models and I would appreciate advice on which type to go for as this might be more obvious in 1/300 scale.

Works for me, and others, especially if your attacks are from higher altitudes.

Low down though, I really prefer the minis to match the scale of the vessels, for those wave top strikes.

My guess is no one will complain if you don't tell them.

I've used 1/144th scale aircraft over 1/600th scale vessels, for pre-Battle of Britain divebombing attacks with Stukas. Looked great, especially with the large shell splashes from the near misses, for dramatic effect, not to mention the vertically diving aircraft high above.

Larger scale aircraft always work better with smaller scale ships IMO. 1/12000 aircraft with 1/3000th ships is another good example. You really need to give us more of a clue as to timescale and theatre if you want advice on specific versions of specific aircraft.
Doug

Thanks for the helpful replies.

Particular theatres would be Bay Of Biscay and the Banff squadron operating in Norwegian waters. Also, possibly Germans against British coastal shipping.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

I use 1/600 aircraft with 1/1200 ships. Unless you really fudge the aircraft speed you need a lot of space for 1/300 aircraft. My decision is also based on my large 1/600 collection which I use for air combat games. If gaming the English Channel you probably want Me109s with a few Ju88s (nightfighters and torpedo bombers)and He111s. Hurricanes, swordfish, Hampdens, Beaufighters, and Beauforts. There are lots of other maritime patrol types you could also field in the Bay of Biscay. North Sea add Condors and Blenheims. The aircraft I listed would mostly be attack/defense in anti shipping scenarios.

For the Banff Strike Wing you'll need Mosquitos & Beaufighters.
link

I also use 1/300 aircraft with 1/600 ships for almost all my games. The aircraft types needed really depend on the what area and timeframe you are gaming.

As far as reference material goes:
For the Banff wing, I would recommend the book "A Separate Little War" by Andrew Bird ( link )

For stuff in the Bay of Biscay, you might want to look at "Bloody Biscay" by Christopher Goss ( crecy.co.uk/bloody-biscay ) it is the history of a Luftwaffe unit, but should still give plenty of ideas.

For information on Coastal Command you can try "The Cinderella Service" by Andrew Hendrie ( link )

Good luck with the project
Dave

Yea, pretty much all of the above.

Spits and Hurris, Me-109Es, Me-110Cs, Stukas, Ju-88As, Do-17Zs, and He-111s for the Channel

Ju-88Cs for the Bay.

Wellingtons, Sunderlands, B-24s, Condors, Mossies, Beaus, and others as well for the Bay.

Beauforts for torpedo attacks on heavy Kriegsmarine warships.

Lots of good variety to support, and/or find and attack those U-Boats and other vessels.

Many thanks.

For our Blues Bears over Grey Seas Public Participation game we used 1/300th A/C and 1/1200th ships. However, we advised players that 1/600th & 1/3000th were a better mix for actual game play. Now admittedly our game s more "game" than "simulation" but I still think the balance of scale and visual works.

Fatman

What rules are you using?

I found a box of 1/600th ships and aircraft in the basement this weekend myself.

Action Stations for me, at least for the naval part.

Duel of Eagles for the air combat.

Thanks. Is there anything that ties the two together?

No, but both use D10s, so they're pretty simple to integrate from that standpoint.

You can just use the flak and shipping attack rules from AS.

Anything else is pretty easy to just come up with some house rules to address, depending upon the theaters of combat you plan to play in.