"Screaming into Combat" Topic

This week we played a new scenario, one destined for another in a series of scenario books. This one, titled "Dougy Drops the Big One", is the first in a series involving a Cold War gone Hot in the early 1950's.

The game leads off with General Douglas MacArthur, on the eve of being sacked by Truman, taking it upon himself to eliminate the Chinese intervention. He orders two SAC B-50 Superfortress bombers from Okinawa to load up with Nuclear bombs. They procede to the Korea/China border, to lay waste to Chinese reinforcements coming across the Yalu. The bombers are escorted by a flight of F-80s, and a flight of the new F-86s. Waiting for them are two flights of Mig15s.

The scenario uses the Polaris Games Mig Hunters rules, modified to include climb/dive/accelerate stats, and maximum altitudes, more aligned with the original aircraft strengths. It also uses the distance scale from Hunters in the Sky, double that of Mig Hunters. The result, a screaming furball at 40,000 feet!

The Migs roared in at their superior altitude, but overshot the bombers, giving the Americans time to pounce. But, with the increased speeds making it harder to hit at times, some of the Migs managed to break free and attack the bombers just before they left the table (the B-50 performed only slightly better than the B-29). Several Migs were shot down, one spectacularly from a fuel tank explosion. But in the end, both bombers went down. The F-86s performed well using their strengths, and even the F-80s made contributions, although since the Migs were concentrating on the bombers, rather than mixing it up with the 80s, they probably lived longer than they should have.

With all this, the game lasted just 8 turns. We extended play by pulling the planes back halfway across the table. The 300th scale figs just barely handle this scale on a 5x8 table. I think I'm gonna expand the playing surface!

Despite the even odds, and the massive firepower of the B-50, it's still a difficult scenario for the Yanks to win. Some alternate tactics were discussed that may have turned the tide. We'll have to replay this one, and see how well we fare.

The photos are on the Dragons Lair Gaming Club site at link

Keep an eye out for our future release, "Silver Fire, Air Combat Scenarios from WWIII".

I bet Truman was ed…

Thanks for sharing the pics and scenario.

Sounds and looks like a good one.

Who makes the B-50?

Hate to be in old Dougie's shoes after that one…

Yeah, I prefer 1/600 if representative distances on table matter (and they do to me, blame my cartographer trainig) but a B-50? Very Cool! Alas, Bombers don't appear to sell well in modern air games (Korea being – hopefully – an exception) from several comments relayed on from Tumbling Dice's owner via Dom. What scale/what manufacturer for the B-50 (Echoing Double Ace) interests me…

Gracias,

Glenn

Actually, the B-50s were nothing more than H&Rs B-29. I am thinking about doing some cosmetic upgrades, droptanks, bigger engine nacelles…we'll see. I've got an ambitious project I hope to have done before Summer…a Convair B-36 Peacemaker in 1/300 scale! I found some plans that I've scaled down to 300th…a 9.25 inch wingspan!!! Probably going to use bass wood, strong but easy to work. If it actually comes to pass, I'll post photos.

Great to hear reports from folks playing thier games. I always check this section figuring the best games will pop up in these posts (i.e., actually being played). I view these reports as I would post flight de-briefings, always something to learn.

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. I built Monogram's B-36 Peacemaker (1/72 scale) for my son years ago. I've yet to figure out how to mount it to a flight stand.

Well, I imagine it is a bit big, and probably heavy, so a suitable base would be in order, probably from someone's weight lifting set.

Then, add a sturdy pole for the upright post, and glue a super magnet on the end, and one on the belly of the plane.

That should do it.

1/72nd? Ummm, 36" wingspan? Holy Toledo!

It did dwarf every other model in the house. The U.S. Air Force Museum has one on display, hard to believe it could fly!

Six Turnin', four burnin'. I would give anything to see one of those in flight. The other day a B-17 and B-24 in town for a show flew over my house…even with those small engines it was a wonderful racket. Imagine a Peacemaker…we're talkin' peeled plaster at that point….

Years ago I spoke with a retired enlisted man who was stationed at a SAC airbase equiped with the B-36. Said the noise was truly earth shaking. Wish I had a recording of that!

Nice pics, and nice site. looks like it was a blast. :)

Ages ago I lived in family housing at Kelly AFB, TX where B 36s had depot maintenance. My cub scout pack even got to tour the programmed depot maintenance line for B036s. and its cargo carrier big brother the XC-99 was the first plane I ever got to visit the inside.

My favorite B-36 memory was from General Tinker elementary school, especially during recess or PE on a very hot and humid San Antonio day. When playing baseball, a bunch of us would be out in whichever field nobody hits to and where you got exiled when your team consisted of 15 or more players. An observor would notice due to feet in sneakers being burned by the hot Texas dirt, we were all slowly lifting our feet and setting them down.

Suddenly one heard a mind-numbing roar from a B-36 passing over as all the dogs from family housing joined in. Then they always seemed to blot out the sun for seemed like eternity as we all gave thanks silent or otherwise to the B036 for that wonderful shade.

Now that was a plane with character!!!