DONCASTER 2017 Reports & Feedback

**Hedeby** · 09-15-2017 16:47

Amazing to see so many people there for the Friday afternoon, over 25 people with more due tomorrow. Great to Welcome Karl our Lend Lease colleague from thr goood old US of A, and honoured to host our very own game designer Andrea from Italy. Will have a full roll call soon but big call out to Alfonso (Portugal), Sven (Germany) Guus (Holland), Dan & Kubash (Czech Republic), Paul (France) and Neil (Geordieland). A real multinational event. Wore the pirate bandana and took my seat at the boaty boy table this afternoon for a spot of sails action. Appointed as Admiral for the day the Royal Navy formed line astern and smashed through the French line. Despite a heavy pounding taken by myself and Steve we broke the line and did some real damage to the French ships, allowing Guus to bring in his 100 gunner and blast Doug out of the water, followed very closly by Reg in Frenchie number 2, that left the three of us to take on ALphonso in the one remaining French Ship. He was valiantly rammed by Steve, although Steve's ship was lost in the ensuing melee - I arrived (abruptly) behind him to off load his tired and wounded crew, whilst Guus moved in and blasted the life out of Alphonso's ship, which became a tidy proze for th Royal Navy to take back to port.

Looking forward to the full on action tomorrow - where I will have a chance to whip my Bristols out... see you after breakfast folks...

**matt56** · 09-15-2017 17:24

Glad to see you survived the first action of the day, Chris! Hope the flyboys had as much fun and success as you did...

I look forward to more 'reports from the Front' as the weekend progresses...

All the best,
Matt

**Naharaht** · 09-15-2017 22:33

I am glad to hear that people are having a good time. Is your flagship called H.M.S. Bristol?

**Stumptonian** · 09-16-2017 08:53

... and Neil (Geordieland) ...

Priceless!

**Hedeby** · 09-16-2017 15:26

First game up I was playing the part of a young Horatio Nelson - when they said young I didnt realise they meant he was 8 !!
A series of schoolboy errors preceded the heroic (and tragic) attempt to ram the French flagship at the Battle of the Nile - I did manage to set it on fire which led to its ultimate demise.
A great days gaming followed by a nice get together in the evning - 33 of us around the table for dinner - which was nice.

**Dirigible** · 09-17-2017 03:13

I just want to extend my thanks to all those involved with organising and putting on games after mine and Alex' (Dirigible 2) visit yesterday!
We had a great time! Alex loved racking up the points over the airfield, and we both enjoyed defending the Chain Home station!
He is already looking forward to next years gathering (as am I, actually!)
We'll put some photos up shortly....
Thank you, all!!

**Hedeby** · 09-18-2017 15:17

Information obtained from chatting to Andrea as I gave him a list to the station....

Future releases - ALBERT BALL in a Nieuport, James McCudden in an SE5a - finally !

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 09-18-2017 16:02

2018 planning has started watch out...watch out.

**fast.git** · 09-18-2017 17:25

Originally Posted by Hedeby

Information obtained from chatting to Andrea as I gave him a list to the station....

Future releases - ALBERT BALL in a Nieuport, James McCudden in an SE5a - finally !

Outstanding news! Something worth waiting for.

**tikkifriend** · 09-19-2017 08:37

Originally Posted by Dirigible

I just want to extend my thanks to all those involved with organising and putting on games after mine and Alex' (Dirigible 2) visit yesterday!
We had a great time! Alex loved racking up the points over the airfield, and we both enjoyed defending the Chain Home station!
He is already looking forward to next years gathering (as am I, actually!)
We'll put some photos up shortly....
Thank you, all!!

Alex played like a veteran and came away with the games top prize,even if he didn't get to kill you

Hope to see you both again next year.
Paul (spelt the same as your name)

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-19-2017 11:27

Afraid it still will not let me post pictures, so can't show our adventures with Karl yet. The Sails games are gradually going up over there though.
Rob.

**Aardvark1430** · 09-19-2017 14:41

Originally Posted by Hedeby

Amazing to see so many people there for the Friday afternoon, over 25 people with more due tomorrow. Great to Welcome Karl our Lend Lease colleague from thr goood old US of A, and honoured to host our very own game designer Andrea from Italy. Will have a full roll call soon but big call out to Alfonso (Portugal), Sven (Germany) Guus (Holland), Dan & Kubash (Czech Republic), Paul (France) and Neil (Geordieland). A real multinational event. Wore the pirate bandana and took my seat at the boaty boy table this afternoon for a spot of sails action. Appointed as Admiral for the day the Royal Navy formed line astern and smashed through the French line. Despite a heavy pounding taken by myself and Steve we broke the line and did some real damage to the French ships, allowing Guus to bring in his 100 gunner and blast Doug out of the water, followed very closly by Reg in Frenchie number 2, that left the three of us to take on ALphonso in the one remaining French Ship. He was valiantly rammed by Steve, although Steve's ship was lost in the ensuing melee - I arrived (abruptly) behind him to off load his tired and wounded crew, whilst Guus moved in and blasted the life out of Alphonso's ship, which became a tidy proze for th Royal Navy to take back to port.

Looking forward to the full on action tomorrow - where I will have a chance to whip my Bristols out... see you after breakfast folks...

Thanks for this AAR

But, a small rectification if I may ....
Alfonso, although Spanish (and certainly not Portugese), currently is a valuable member of the Dutch Wing ... don't worry, no offence taken...

cheers,
Guus

**Naharaht** · 09-19-2017 17:05

Well done, that is excellent news, Chris! Did anyone else glean any new information from Andrea?

A photograph of a model of Albert Ball's Nieuport 17

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A photograph of a model of James McCudden's S.E.5a.

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**NewFlyBoy** · 09-20-2017 19:56

Really looking forward to these two models...any ETA on them?

**Flying Helmut** · 09-21-2017 00:56

Originally Posted by Hedeby

Information obtained from chatting to Andrea as I gave him a list to the station....

Future releases - ALBERT BALL in a Nieuport, James McCudden in an SE5a - finally !

I really hope this is correct, but since we just had the Nieuport reprint, is it possible that Andrea meant Albert Ball and James McCudden both in the upcoming SE5a reprint?

I'll buy them both, either way - we really need both pilots in both machines!

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-21-2017 12:45

Softly softly catchee monkey Tim.
Rob.

**Naharaht** · 09-21-2017 19:42

This is a photograph of Albert Ball in a Nieuport 16 whilst with no. 11 Squadron R.F.C.. He was later transferred to no. 60 Squadron on 23rd August 1916.
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In his Wikipedia biography, there are these sentences," Upon return to No. 60 Squadron in France, Ball scored morning and evening victories on 15 September, flying two different Nieuports. On the evening mission, he armed his aircraft with eight Le Prieur rockets, fitted to the outer struts and designed to fire electrically. He intended to use them on an observation balloon. As it happened, he spotted three German Roland C.IIs and broke their formation by salvoing his rockets at them, then picked off one of the pilots with machine-gun fire. After this he settled into an improved aeroplane, Nieuport 17 A213. He had it rigged to fly tail-heavy to facilitate his changing of ammunition drums in the machine-gun, and had a holster built into the cockpit for the Colt automatic pistol that he habitually carried.".

We have heard from Canada that Ares are proposing a Starter Set for 'Triplanes and Tripods' containing a Martian War Machine and a rocket firing Nieuport. Could it possibly be that the Nieuport will be a replica of a Nieuport 16 flown by Albert Ball? This is pure speculation on my part.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-22-2017 04:02

Here are a few shots from Paul's Friday afternoon game.

" Lame Duck" in which I played an insignificant role flying an American aircraft which made a pleasant change.

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Manoeuvring for position.
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My beautiful silver striped aircraft sets off full of promise.

Got one!
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There are more of the enemy.
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Where did that bandit come from
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Guess that will teach me to watch my six then!
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Rob.

**Guntruck** · 09-22-2017 05:54

China 1938? Paul's Lame Duck game, surely?

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 09-22-2017 06:01

You are of course correct Steve. I have amended it accordingly thanks.
Rob.

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 09-22-2017 06:13

UnfortunatelY with myself taking over as 'Patient 0.1' over weekend China 1938 will hopefully be on next year.

**tikkifriend** · 09-23-2017 00:22

Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Here are a few shots from Paul's Friday afternoon game.

" Lame Duck" in which I played an insignificant role flying an American aircraft which made a pleasant change.

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Size: 154.7 KB

Manoeuvring for position.
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Views: 226
Size: 135.1 KB

My beautiful silver striped aircraft sets off full of promise.

Got one!
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Views: 215
Size: 149.0 KB

There are more of the enemy.
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Views: 202
Size: 100.4 KB

Where did that bandit come from
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Size: 129.7 KB

Guess that will teach me to watch my six then!
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Rob.

Thank you for posting the photos Rob. Camera is not responding to the download command at the moment.

**Naharaht** · 09-30-2017 23:31

Another possibility for an Albert Ball Nieuport 16 might be when the observation balloons are reprinted. Perhaps Ares might release some anti-balloon aircraft at the same time.

**Dan-Sam** · 10-01-2017 03:52

As far as I know, balloons are in reprint plan. May be again combination of a balloon and (rocket?) Nieuport 16? That makes sense

**mikeemagnus** · 10-02-2017 03:02

Just seen this - great time had by all - congrats.

Information obtained from chatting to Andrea as I gave him a list to the station....

Future releases - ALBERT BALL in a Nieuport, James McCudden in an SE5a - finally !

Woooohooooo

Really look forward to seeing them!