Here comes the Lancaster
Together with the B-17s, we are going to release another Allied bomber who made history - the Avro Lancaster. Here's the first pre-production sample we got for "Grog the Shot".
Together with the B-17s, we are releasing two Avro Lancaster models. One of them is a "Dambuster", and here's the first pre-production shot of this amazing model. It will includes a special mini- game mat with the dam area to bomb, as well as special rules.
Those look great!
I think I'll be going after these two.
I can not see myself playing with them. Nice models, anyway, but surprisingly carpet bombing (moving B-17 straight across the carpet) and night bombing (playing in a dark room with the Lancaster) is not the Nightbomber's cup of tea.
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
You'd rather be the one shooting those bombers down, eh?Originally Posted by Nightbomber
I can not see myself playing with them. Nice models, anyway, but surprisingly carpet bombing (moving B-17 straight across the carpet
That would be definitely much more fun, than piloting those giants straightly and managing the crew on a card, RandyYou'd rather be the one shooting those bombers down, eh?I just can not find a fun element in flying straightforward!
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
Totally agree. Not that dynamic to fly, and a hassle to manage all the different firing arcs. They would be relegated to AI control in almost every situation... though they might make a pretty spectacular centerpiece for convention games. Peter/Teaticket is running a WGF bomber escort/interdiction event at Havoc (Worcester, MA) this weekend... I can see these beauties filling a similar role in a WGS game.That would be definitely much more fun, than piloting those giants straightly and managing the crew on a card, Randy
Good point, Chris. As an AI manageable target - why not? I just would not dare to say, "Hey, Johnny, today you are not exactly flying a plane tonight, but instead will be pushing this big bird forward and keeping those tiny counters on that stat card in order. You got 10 men inside, pilots, mechanics, radio operators and gunners. Go on!"
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
But... can't the B-17 pull an Immelmann? Or was that just the YB-40?Good point, Chris. As an AI manageable target - why not? I just would not dare to say, "Hey, Johnny, today you are not exactly flying a plane tonight, but instead will be pushing this big bird forward and keeping those tiny counters on that stat card in order. You got 10 men inside, pilots, mechanics, radio operators and gunners. Go on!"
Check out the AA report for the Williamsburg Muster. Richard S ran a bomber game. Lots of action between the escorts and interceptors. Was a fun game.
So any photos of the B-17? I will have to get the Lancaster just to have them.
The Dambuster mini-game sounds an interesting idea.
Really nice Lancs!
I like the idea of the mini mat with the Dams. That should help send them out the shop doors.
I'd say they must have purchased a bucket of lemon yellow paint, so now every new mini series will have a plane that has lemon yellow on it.
Can't wait ! As for the B-17 ... Ouch, my wallet !!!
Yep I love them. Will be getting a bunch. At Origins I will have our members flying the bombers and the new inductees flying escort and interceptors. What eye candy there will be.
Thomas
Tally ho, ThomasYep I love them. Will be getting a bunch. At Origins I will have our members flying the bombers and the new inductees flying escort and interceptors. What eye candy there will be.
Thomas
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
They are gorgeous... but will they release before Origins?Yep I love them. Will be getting a bunch. At Origins I will have our members flying the bombers and the new inductees flying escort and interceptors. What eye candy there will be.
Thomas
Ken Head - "The Cowman"
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. Robin Williams
They are nice models, but not for me they do not fit in with the "Battle of Brittain"
Good point. I had thought the silver B-17 was to have green on it... and I don't remember seeing yellow on the Lanc...
Would be a nice surprise... especially for those attending Origins!
Very nice, but do I need them?
Look good. According to their Facebook, posts these are still preproduction models and they need some additional work. If we are lucky we see them in our grubby little hands fourth quarter this year.
Again thanks for the update.
If not then Andy will be taking photos at Origins next year...wink wink.
This sounds remarkably like wishful thinking...
Great models, comrades.
I think I'll order both of them.
Don't know how to play with them in general, but I have a few ideas for scenarios and need them for my two Bf.110 C-4 nightfighters and the BEaufighter nightfighter.
Andrzej - even if you "do not plan" to buy heavy bombers at the moment I think your nickname forces you, to order at least one of the Lancasters.
Finally I have to say, that we badly need those heavy bombers for gaming with the late war fighters FW-190D, KI-84 and the upcoming Bf.109K.
I'm afraid the B-25 can't handle the firepower of those fighters at the moment.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
I will probably fall into this category as well.
Andrzej - even if you "do not plan" to buy heavy bombers at the moment I think your nickname forces you, to order at least one of the Lancasters.
Nope.
Andy, the way to solve that is to assign the bombers to players already flying an escort plane. The first fighter pilot shot down takes over a bomber and so on until all the bombers our flown by downed fighter pilots or they are all shot down.Good point, Chris. As an AI manageable target - why not? I just would not dare to say, "Hey, Johnny, today you are not exactly flying a plane tonight, but instead will be pushing this big bird forward and keeping those tiny counters on that stat card in order. You got 10 men inside, pilots, mechanics, radio operators and gunners. Go on!"
If you have enough players, you could also put the planes on auto pilot, but assign each player a gunner position that they also have to play. Make it even more fun by having the German fighter pilots man the bomber guns... and they have to shoot if they have a shot (no waiting for a possible close range shot later and such).
The MGs of the rear gun turret look paired.
Just like the top turret.
Ideas what damage this rear turret wil deal out? Just the same like the top turret of a B-25 Mitchell?
Do you think the Lancaster comes with pilot & co-pilot?
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
Again the guns on the rear turret would have to be replace with 4 barells, more converting to do, as the rear turret should be a "B" token. Still not sure if I will get one, but there again I am an Australian so the Lanc does not hold the same nostalga for me.
That's why I wrote they look paired.
There is a difference to the B-17 guns.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
Exactly my thoughts, Barry....
I like the idea of the mini mat with the Dams. That should help send them out the shop doors.
I'm shure it's a folded paper overlay, with a little bit of luck it's a plastic overlay.
Maybe this is the first step for a no-man's-land overlay map for WGF.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
They do look rather enticing.
Trying to get one home after a raid may be more fun than using it as a carpet bomber.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Just give the German interceptors a chance and let the Lancasters fly in and out, Rob.
What's the City Map for if not for a raid on a city?
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
I'm wondering if the mini mat they talk of is not just a new ground target card... sized the same as the Lanc base card.
No wonder you're the commanding Officer, Herr Oberst.
It's obviously that I joined in from the infantry, becaue I didn't see this option.
This would really be the most easiest solution!
Maybe they upgrade the other special packs with some nice target cards, too.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
You've apparently never heard of 460 Sqn RAAF then?!?
No B24s (the RAAF's other heavy bomber) at the AWM, but there is 460's 'G' for George. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:G_...e_panorama.jpg
From Wiki: 'The squadron flew the most sorties of any Australian bomber squadron and dropped more bomb tonnage than any squadron in the whole of Bomber Command—24,856 tons, which it dropped over 6,262 sorties. In doing that it lost 188 aircraft and suffered 1,018 combat deaths (589 of whom were Australian). This was the most of any Australian squadron during the war, with No. 460 Squadron effectively wiped out five times over its existence. RAF Bomber Command represented only two percent of total Australian enlistments during World War II, but accounted for almost 20 percent of personnel killed in action.'
Last edited by Baldrick62; 04-04-2014 at 15:21.
Till the end of 1943, the chances of a RAF Bomber Command crew to survive and not get killed, get captured or became MIA were "zero".
Ever heared from a crew that made it throughout the war?
If I remember right the crews were mostly volunteers that had to solve 30 missions.
Unfortunately we have no literature in German that deals "only" with RAF Bomber Command, crews and machines.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
Lancasters flew without a co-pilot. They were easy enough to fly for the flight engineer to control the plane for a while if the pilot was injured.The MGs of the rear gun turret look paired.
Just like the top turret.
Ideas what damage this rear turret wil deal out? Just the same like the top turret of a B-25 Mitchell?
Do you think the Lancaster comes with pilot & co-pilot?
No, because at the end of an operational cycle the crew members each went their separate ways; to staff jobs, instructional positions or other postings. When it came time to return to operational flying again, they did it as individuals rather than as a constituted crew. For a personal insight into what crew life was like, I'd heartily recommend http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...n-Another-Dusk
Despite there being 4 of them, the Lanc's guns are only LMGs (.303 rifle calibre) while the B25 (and most other USAAF bomber turret guns) are HMGs (.50/12.7mm), so Lanc damage should be less.
Until very late in the war, most Lancasters had only two (rather than two pairs) of .303 guns in the dorsal turret, which were then replaced with two .50s. Four guns in the upper (dorsal) turret is correct for later marque Halifaxes, not Lancasters.The MGs of the rear gun turret look paired.
Just like the top turret.
Last edited by Baldrick62; 04-05-2014 at 02:25.
Edit: Where is my post?
OK, the yellow tail is a special marking for Group Leaders during Berchtesgaden raid, April 1945.
In Yorkshire Air Museum I read that tail colours were specific for each squadron (but it was near Halifax, hope it works for Lancaster squadrons too).
Last edited by Dan-Sam; 04-08-2014 at 02:23.
Not just colours, but also the pattern of applied paint, in stripes, cross-hatching, part or full panel coverage.
Latest "release date"?
ARES News
Mike
July for the WW2 Bombers, probably means in real terms late August in the U.S.A. and October in the U.K.
Christmas pressies again this year then chaps!
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
"I'm not cynical. I'm just experienced."
Mike
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