Its never too late to Start!
Its Never Too Late to Start!
Introducing Jon, whom you already know (the guy who has sketched some caricatures for one of the “H E Roe logs” - now there's a plug for you) and Dave. He's the one below, with the white hair and goggles. Dave's dad actually survived the first day of the Somme! Eventually he was taken prisoner about half way through the battle, which is, of course, why Dave is with us : ) But the point is, Dave inherited his dad's stubborn determination – he really did not want to get involved with WGF. “Not interested in planes, me!” You must understand that Dave loves 25mm Napoleonics, as we all do around here, and has a lovely collection of Prussians, which we don't. But aircraft? “Oh no – definitely not interested.”
Mmmmmmmm what to do about this? Everyone I have introduced it to thus far has loved it – friends, sons, brother, nephew (failed utterly with any of the fairer sex though). But Dave is very determined. So Jon and I arrange a game (yes, of course WGF, that's the point of all this!) and invite Dave along to watch, or chat, or play his guitar or something (he's really impressive with the old Shadows numbers.
So there we are, Jon and I, nearly at the end of an enticing half hour of two v two scouts, and all the while Dave chatting away and avoiding conversation involving WW1 aircraft, when he suddenly agrees, to a direct challenge, that he “wouldn't mind giving it a go” Woooohoooooo gotcha!
Now, one of the most amazing statistics of WW1 flying that I have ever come across is the one about casualties in training! You probably know this already, but just in case huh – especially for any younger readers – those under 55 years ok
He chooses to be German (Prussian no doubt): Jon takes on a French pilot's role.
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Now, like the old professional he is, Dave knows, immediately, what to do with the movement deck, so makes a very careful choice of three cards! Jon ponders for a moment, staring vacantly at my brand new, never been used before, mats (purchased for away matches and for the times when the wargames room must revert back to its former spare bedroom condition (Christmas and the like – very inconvenient – not really, only kidding).
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Chocks away – we're off to a flying start! Circling around like an old mongoose hunting a cobra, the two dance the dance! What will Dave be thinking? Its July 2nd 2016 - “100 years ago my old man was down there and most of his mates had probably already gone west”Focus Dave, this is your first flight. Don't mess up now. Show Jon your true metal old chap!
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Ha ha. The cobra turns to strike, but straight away the Prussian mongoose spots the move and makes an aggressive one of his own. This is it guys – daka daka daka daka – give em hell I say!
But what's this? No, no, guys. You have guns for this sort of thing. The Nieuport has 2 x 0.303 caliber Vickers machine guns in fixed, forward-firing arrangement over nose or 2 x .30 caliber M1895 Marlin Machine Guns. The Siemens Schuckert DIII, 2 x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns. Why collide? OK it's a training flight, but surely one of you might have known
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And the outcome?
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Oh that's a good draw, both of you – what will follow? Oh yes! More mayhem, lovely! Let's get this over and done with quickly, shall we?
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So, sticking to historical accuracy, Dave goes down on his first ever flight, inside two minutes!!!! But, does he mind ?
No of course not. “Loved every minute of it! Got to get Steve involved in the next one! What do you say Mike?” “Of course Dave, great idea!”
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Joking apart. Dave really did enjoy the experience and once again my hat off to Andrea Angiolino for designing a game that can be picked up in under ten minutes. Its as complex or as simple as you want to make it, and yet keeps you guessing, because it is so unpredictable – and the models are superb. Dave is now the owner of a spare Fokker DVII (nothing like starting from the top is there!) and we have another worthy opponent. Cheers everyone – happy days!
Mike
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Well done Mike!
Originally Posted by gully_raker
Don't know Rob is everyone would agree about it being a "Blessing"! 
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