2018 Huzzah! 18-20 May in Portland Maine

[Teaticket]

Huzzah! In Portland Maine, 18-20 May 2018.

Huzzah! Web site can be found ‘HERE’, event listings ‘HERE’.

This year's theme is the Great War so I'll be running 3 WGF and only 1 WGS. Games that I am putting on are listed as follows,

Saturday 9-1 The Skies above Operation Michael 21 players
The Germans had one last punch in them and gave it all they had. New ground attack planes were designed and sent out to support the advancing infantry. New armored planes protected the crew while they machine gunned and dropped cluster grenades on the enemy below. Fly for the Kaiser and support the push on the ground or with the Entente, desperately trying to keep the new machines of death away from their friends below.

Saturday 2-6 Above Guadalcanal 21 players
After the Marines took control of what would become Henderson field, the Japanese sent raid after raid by air and sea prior to and after their land forces tried to retake it.
The Cactus Air Force stoutly defended the airspace over the Marines as best they could. Wildcats P-40s and P-39s contested the sky against Zeros, Vals and Betty bombers.
Come fly in the desperate struggle for the control of Guadalcanal.

Saturday 7:30-11:30 1917, Bombers Over London 12 players
With bombs dropping continually from above the Home Defense Force was created to counter the German Zeppelin threat. As it became too costly to the Zeppelin force, bombers were sent instead. First Gothas and then the giant Zeppelin Staakens flew missions of death and terror over Britain.
Come fly in the defense of Old Blighty, your family and children, or fly for the Kaiser raining terror down on your mortal enemy.

Sunday 9-3 Infantry Contact Patrol 12 players
The scout pilots got all the glory and fame but it was the 2 seaters that did the real work in the air over the front in WWI. One of the important missions was to find where the actual front line of friendly infantry was. This information desperately needed by HQ for tactical and operational planning and so not to shell their own troops with artillery fire. Today we fly this mission on the American front. Observation planes with escort to try to hold off enemy interceptors at the end of summer, 1918.

[NewFlyBoy]

Peter,
As soon as they open up registration, I'll be signing up -- please let me know if you need any of my Japanese or USN planes for Guadalcanal -- BTW -- if possible I'd love to fly my P-40 in this game (I do love P-40's)
Bill

[Teaticket]

Registration for Huzzah! is open. Link 'HERE'.

[NewFlyBoy]

Peter,
Got on at Midnight -- my registration is set -- I'm in two of your games -- Above Guadalcanal (WGS), and Infantry Contact Patrol (WGF), ALSO the Saturday morning Sails of Glory Battle of the Virginia Capes, Saturday night Bolt Action Stalingrad game, and on Friday I am doing Friday Night Dogfights (Aerodrome rules) and the De Bellis Antiquitatus (DBA) Hyksos invasion game (I'm dragging out of storage my Old and Middle Kingdom Hittites for that one).
Looking forward to seeing you both once again,
Bill

[NewFlyBoy]

One month to go to Huzzah! Two Wings of Glory games, Sails of Glory, Bolt Action, and DBA -- woo hoo !! Can't wait !!

[Teaticket]

I can't wait either. Today I just got in some P-400s for Guadalcanal. Got to finish up a few more Bettys too.

[NewFlyBoy]

Peter, I have a number of Japanese planes -- if you need me to I can bring them along -- also have P-40s, Dauntless SBDs, etc. Just let me know....really looking forward to Guadalcanal game!
Bill

[Teaticket]

Hi Bill, thanks for offering. I should be good for Zeros, Vals and Bettys, Airacobras and Dauntless. If you bring a P-40 or two that would be nice. If you want to fly your own plane either side, bring it.

I'm looking forward to Guadalcanal too as it will be the first time I get to use my newest mat.

[NewFlyBoy]

Hi Bill, thanks for offering. I should be good for Zeros, Vals and Bettys, Airacobras and Dauntless. If you bring a P-40 or two that would be nice. If you want to fly your own plane either side, bring it.

I'm looking forward to Guadalcanal too as it will be the first time I get to use my newest mat.

Thanks, Peter, I'll pack my P-40s -- I DO love to fly them!

[NewFlyBoy]

Looking forward to playing in Peter's (Teaticket) WGF and WGS games this weekend at Huzzah! up in Maine....it has been a while for me and I can't wait (got my P-40's packed already!).

[Teaticket]

Almost here. All day Saturday (three missions) and one mission on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing Bill and Thomas and all the other pilots that show up.

[NewFlyBoy]

Already up here in Maine -- no one here but the Moose....

[Teaticket]

Even the moose need a rest stop. On the way home you can see the bears on the other side of the highway.

[NewFlyBoy]

Today my Hittites fought well -- tomorrow is WGS (after the morning Sails of Glory game) -- Sunday WGF -- woo hoo !

[NewFlyBoy]

Many thanks to Peter (Teaticket) for running the two terrific games I played in at Huzzah! this weekend (he ran more than two). The Above Guadalcanal game was exciting and great fun. I did learn, though, that causing your GameMaster's unscathed plane to go boom early in the game can come back to haunt you. Later in the WW I game, the GM managed to slip me "boom" cards on my first two turns -- suspicious ??? Hmmm...you make the call....

[Teaticket]

Bill, I thought I did a masterly piece of illusion. It looked to all that Ian shot you, and he was the one that inflicted the 'Fuzzy Donut' upon you. Turn 2, first card shot at you, BOOM. A nice touch I thought.

[Teaticket]

1st game Saturday morning was German ground attack supporting Operation Michael. 8 Pilots flew this mission.

Infantry targets take 10 damage points to push back. Doing so scores vps. Grenade clusters are tossed by the observer from either side of the plane and fall like bombs. They do one 'D' card of damage. If they hit the Center red dot they can re-draw a 0. Only the 2 seaters can strafe the infantry. Dropping grenades or strafing will trigger return infantry fire. AEG J.IIs are armored, ignore first, BOOM, fire, crew and engine damage from ground fire. Front firing arc is downward ground fire only.




1st casualty


A Camel chasing an AEG narrowly missing a Hannover.


The Camel Immelmanns behind the Hannover but sadly with jammed guns.


The Hannover's Observer doesn't miss.




All are wounded.




An SE5a after the deadly Hannover.




Easy to see why we have collisions.




AEG gets a direct hit with a cluster.




Germans gathering away from the British.


One AEG goes down.


The Hannover finally gets downed.


Dolphin set on fire.


It is quickly downed.


One very unhappy pilot.


Revenge comes quickly.


A Halberstadt observer tosses a strike and takes out some infantry.

[Teaticket]

2nd game, Guadalcanal. Only 3 pilots made the muster even though 7 were on the roster. I jumped in on the Japanese side to make it a game.

This was my first opportunity to use my newest VistaPrint mat, an 8' x 4' Guadalcanal.

Zeros escorted the Bettys, Vals and Kates that came in loaded to hit Henderson hard. P-40s and Wildcats put up stiff resistance against the odds.

As mentioned above, Bill's first shot on me at long range was the dreaded BOOM. Fate would quickly return the favor to him the next day.


Thomas (ThomasNH) left and Bill (NewFlyBoy) giving me the pre-game stare-down.


Just before the first rounds flew.


A P-40 zipping by a Betty.


A Val lines up Henderson.


The strip comes into view for a Betty.


A pair of Bettys tailed by one of Bill's P-40s.


The first Val delivers a direct hit on the strip.


The first and second Bettys go down.


Another quickly follows.


A Wildcat slipping down into the jungle.


A Betty escapes with it's life to the ire if a Wildcat pilot.


Henderson has been hit hard.


Bill's Flying Tiger flying so fast I couldn't focus on it.

[NewFlyBoy]

I love the pictures, Peter -- thanks for posting -- special thanks for running the games and all your other kindnesses to me.

[Teaticket]

I love the pictures, Peter -- thanks for posting -- special thanks for running the games and all your other kindnesses to me.

Thank you for making it fun to run.

We definitely have to run some games at Old Rhinebeck. When do you run your Hudson Valley event?

[Teaticket]

3rd game. I couldn't find my Gothas (moving house!) so the Capronis went on the offensive. 8 pilots for this one.


The scouts took it on the chin early, middle and late!


Not the place you want to be it you are the DVII.


Targets are disappearing fast as the Caproni rule the sky.


Ah ha! A SSW D.III tails a toothless bomber.


Oops. Got too close in a very bad place. 4 'B' damage cards are hard to take.




Not 1 Caproni down. A very successful mission for the Entente.

The Germans went 1 on 1 instead of ganging up on one or two bombers. It did not go well.

[Naharaht]

Great photographs of the action, Peter! It looks like you all had a good time.

[NewFlyBoy]

Thank you for making it fun to run.

We definitely have to run some games at Old Rhinebeck. When do you run your Hudson Valley event?

Usually in June

[Teaticket]

Great photographs of the action, Peter! It looks like you all had a good time.

Thanks David. Yes, all 4 games went of well.

[Teaticket]

4th game, Infantry Contact Patrol. USAS 2 seaters must fly within short range of a suspected infantry position to fire off a flare.(marked with a flare gun counter. See OTT Bitter End mission 21 for infantry cards and flare gun counters. They are in the files somewhere too.) After 3 movement cards played it can then attempt to spot the infantry. It must again fly within short range. A card is drawn to determine if there is any friendly, enemy or nothing below.




Germans turning back for another pass at the USAS Salmson 2A2 spotter plane. 1st pass set it on fire. /


USAS DH.4 flying along a line of suspected friendly doughboy positions, firing flares along the way.


SSW D.III following the DH.4 while an Albatros searches for a target.




Bill grudgingly moving an enemy plane.


The DH.4 is shot down before it can spot any infantry.


A flare is fired...can the DVII stop the 2A2 before it gains any valuable information?


A DR.1 completes the sandwich of the 2A2


A SPAD XIII has it's day cut short.


Spotters with an escort catch a DVII.


Kempf is knocked out of the fight.


A DVII warily shadowing a 2A2.

[Teaticket]

In another room there were several tables set up for Bolt Action. Anthony Rieger made the tables, absolutely amazing work! Next year I will run less games so I can play on one of his tables.

[flash]

Great pics of the action Peter - good to put names to faces too - and those Bolt Action tables look a joy to play on.

[NewFlyBoy]

Great pics of the action Peter - good to put names to faces too - and those Bolt Action tables look a joy to play on.

Dave, I played in the Bolt Action factory assault game pictured above -- my Heer pioneer squad led the way by toasting a Russian SMG squad with a flamethrower team and then seized the red brick plant in heavy fighting. Last year at Huzzah! I played in the Bolt Action Pavlov's House game (apartment room to room fighting) and had a ball with that one as well. This terrain was truly a joy to play on. My game was a 3,000 point game -- it was HUGE !
B.

[NewFlyBoy]

I have added albums to my profile page with my pictures of the two Wings of Glory games and the Bolt Action Stalingrad game from Huzzah! An album with my pictures of the Sails of Glory Battle of the Virginia Capes game can be viewed on my profile page (Wentworth) on the Sails site.

[Stumptonian]

Was travelling last week and missed the updates to this thread.
Looks like great (and deadly) games were played.
That Guadalcanal mat looks terrific, Peter. That game was certainly hard on Bettys!
It was interesting to see the OTT-BE 21 played in tournament conditions as well, and your trench busting cluster bombs are more counters for me to find in the files.
REP incoming (if I can give it)

[Popsical]

Great pics! What a fantastic group of scraps you had. Well done!

[Teaticket]

Was travelling last week and missed the updates to this thread.
Looks like great (and deadly) games were played.
That Guadalcanal mat looks terrific, Peter. That game was certainly hard on Bettys!
It was interesting to see the OTT-BE 21 played in tournament conditions as well, and your trench busting cluster bombs are more counters for me to find in the files.
REP incoming (if I can give it)

Great pics! What a fantastic group of scraps you had. Well done!

Thanks for the REP guys. Huzzah is one of the best gaming shows I go to. Wings attendance is on an upward trajectory over the last 3 years so I'm quite happy with this trend.

Pete, I'm thinking of incorporating the cluster bombs into my next OTT BE mission. I think I have August so not that long a wait.

The Infantry Contact Patrol mission for BE 21 came from this scenario. I had to tone it down for the solo campaign. In convention games we have to keep flying for over 3 hours with 8-12 players!

[Vagabond]

Peter it looks like you had a great time and your mats and planes look excellent. It's the first time I've seen planes with static props and circular disks on the table at the same time. The disks look awesome which is a big concern as I might have to convert my planes to disks.

You mention Vista Print on one game, did they do all your mats and what sort of height do you think you are showing the ground at? I just made a mat and agonised at the height it should be, my learned source is 'Biggles Learns to Fly' and he is dropping bombs on a German airfield at 500', but leaving his own airfield once he reached 7000'. I went for what I thought might be about 3000' but just a guess!!

Thanks for the write up, I enjoyed it a lot.
Cheers

[mikeemagnus]

Its all been said already Peter. Blooming marvellous. Looks like you guys had a ball and the photos are great. Thanks for sharing

[Gotham Resident]

Looks like a wonderful time was had!

[Teaticket]

Peter it looks like you had a great time and your mats and planes look excellent. It's the first time I've seen planes with static props and circular disks on the table at the same time. The disks look awesome which is a big concern as I might have to convert my planes to disks.

You mention Vista Print on one game, did they do all your mats and what sort of height do you think you are showing the ground at? I just made a mat and agonised at the height it should be, my learned source is 'Biggles Learns to Fly' and he is dropping bombs on a German airfield at 500', but leaving his own airfield once he reached 7000'. I went for what I thought might be about 3000' but just a guess!!

Thanks for the write up, I enjoyed it a lot.
Cheers

John, thanks for the kind words.

Both mats are Vista Print. The Guadalcanal I went for a 4' x 8' print. I wanted Henderson Field centered on the coast. Altitude is roughly 15 Mi. according to Google Earth. The other mat I got off of someone here on the Aerodrome. I don't know what height this shot is from. Unfortunately I can't remember who did it. He had two versions of this mat, one with and one without a light misty overcast. He did a fantastic job. I went with the misty cloud cover.

For altitude of photo I'd go with something you can get several different types of battles on. This Guadalcanal mat gives me many options.

I really like the spinning discs for WW2 over still props. As the props break (I've had a few) I replace them with a disc. All my non-ARES planes are slotted for discs. I'm a bit behind but one weekend I'll have to spend just on discs.

[Vagabond]

Thanks for the info but what is 15 Mi is it 1500m?

I had just glued finished glueing props onto four Valom planes when I read your post and saw the spinning props, it was an oh bugger moment.

[Teaticket]

Thanks for the info but what is 15 Mi is it 1500m?

I had just glued finished glueing props onto four Valom planes when I read your post and saw the spinning props, it was an oh bugger moment.

Image is from 15 Miles!

I've only assembled 2 Valom Pups. Beautiful models but more work than I want to do. A bit delicate for the game table. I won't let anyone use them but me. I'll be more careful and it they break no one else will have to feel bad about it.

[Vagabond]

Image is from 15 Miles!

I've only assembled 2 Valom Pups. Beautiful models but more work than I want to do. A bit delicate for the game table. I won't let anyone use them but me. I'll be more careful and it they break no one else will have to feel bad about it.

15 miles, crikey you guy's fly high in Maine.

2 of the planes I've done are Pup's partly because Ares don't do them and I thought I might save some money, the models were a bit less than half the price of an Ares one but I've put a lot of time into them and a lot of glue as well. I'm retired and so on a low hourly rate when I cost my time out but I'm so far out of pocket with these it's not true. and I've still got to paint them. Still working on some German 2 seaters.

I'm only planning to fly solo but I will cry if I break them.

Thanks again for the info on the mat.
Cheers

[Teaticket]

Another great site to get satellite images is 'HERE' called Zoom Earth.

[Vagabond]

Peter the link doesn't work, but I googled it, and got on that way. I've never heard of it before but it works fine, thanks

[Teaticket]

Peter the link doesn't work, but I googled it, and got on that way. I've never heard of it before but it works fine, thanks

Thanks for the heads up. It should work now.