PLAAF Magnetised

I've now magnet based all of my 1/600th scale PLAAF fighters, fighter bombers and light bombers, although one of the Il-28's ended up in the bin as it would not detach from it's piano wire stand and ended up all bent and twisted. These models aren't as good as the Soviet fighters, partly due to the rougher castings but mainly as I mucked up the matt varnish which killed the bare metal shine. At least I can now run some Cold War Sino-Soviet 'What If?' games now that they are all based the same way and some Taiwan Straits games when I've rebased the ROCAF.

Magnetised Fishpots

I made a modest start to the 1/600th scale re-basing scheme today, with four Soviet Su-9 Fishpot interceptors converted with 3mm x 2mm magnets superglued to the underside. This was a tedious job as the fuselage is curved and the temperature was too cold for the superglue to work properly, so there was a fair bit of angst involved. I also assembled the Tumbling Dice acrylic stands, which are great apart from the fact that the flight posts have tops that aren't level, so you need to sand them down a bit to make sure the models don't look like their banking, climbing or diving. I used Gorilla Glue to attach the magnets, following a tip from a fellow wargamer, but this was far too long winded so I'll probably resort to superglue next time, taking the risk that the acrylic will frost. I have four Su-7 Fitters to re-base tomorrow, followed by the PLAAF fighters and bombers, which may take some time.

Modern Jet Magnet Re-Basing

These stands will be replaced with mini-magnets

As of Friday, it looks like I'll be spending a lot more time at home, so I've decided to re-base all of my 1/600th aircraft for the Flashpoint Taiwan and Flashpoint PVO projects. These were based on piano wire and laser cut mdf stands but I'm switching over entirely to mini-magnets, in line with all of my other models. I'll be using them with my homemade stands but also with the new transparent acrylic ones from Tumbling Dice, so I am going to make sure the polarity is correct this time rather than just slapping them on any old how. It's going to be a fiddly job but worth doing so that I can use the planes with different terrain cloths, adding a lot more flexibility to my Target Locked On! and possibly some Naval Command games.

Target Locked On! at the Club

There's some interest at the local club from a couple of players in a game of Target Locked On! at some point in the not too distant future, which is great as I now have plenty of 1/600th scale aircraft to bring along and a good handle on the rules, albeit a slightly rusty one as I haven't played a game since the summer holidays. I'm thinking of using my Cold War Soviet aircraft against the Chinese aircraft for a few 'what if?' games, followed by the Flashpoint: Taiwan option once we've mastered the mechanisms. We also have a talented graphic designer on hand, who has just worked up a new and much improved version of the turn templates and counters, so that the games will really look great!

Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter B for Target Locked On!

Having painted four of the excellent Tumbling Dice Su-7 Fitter A's, I thought it would be a good idea to work out the statistics for Target Locked On! I've used the data for the Su-7B fighter bomber variant, rather than the less than successful interceptor and tactical fighter version, simply because that's what I suspect it will be used for. I don't think there's a massive difference in game performance terms between the two, so I'll use the basic numbers for both rather than be too fussy.

A) MAN = 4

B) HITS = 4

C) TARGET = 5+

D) FUEL = 18 (+8)

E) ECM = 3+

F) RADAR = -1

G) SPEED = MAX 40 / MIN 15

H) POINTS = 70

ARMAMENT

2 x 30mm NR-30 cannon

4 x Hardpoints (AA8 Aphid / AA2 Atoll / FAB-500)

2 x Fuselage Centreline Drop Tanks (non jettison)

(This is a typical range of armament options but there were many variations and combinations)

Last of the Loose Ends

 

I finished off the Tumbing Dice 1/600th scale Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter A fighter bombers today, adding some Soviet decals and buzz numbers to the painted models. This went mouch more smoothly than the decals on the Su-9's as I took the precaution of brushing on a little Future before I applied the insignia. I'm quite pleased with the way they turned out in the end.

I also added buzz number to the Su-9's as I forgot to do so the other day and it does make them look the part. I really should find a way to make underwing stores, missiles and so on, as they do look a bit lightly loaded for strike aircraft? I definitely want to expand the Soviet capabilities a bit further, so will be adding some MiG 21's and MiG-25's at some point in the future.

Su-9 Fishpot for Target Locked On!

As promised here are the vital statistics for the Su-9 Fishpot, calculated using the aircraft generation system in the Target Locked On! rules (p38-39). I've also worked out the numbers for the K5 Alkali first generation AAM, with which the Su-9 was armed for close range use against enemy bombers. I'm not sure how effective they will be, which pretty much sums up the difficulty any Soviet pilot would have had when trying to use them, given their primitive beam riding guidance system.

A) MAN = 4

B) HITS = 4

C) TARGET = 5+

D) FUEL = 18

E) ECM = 3+

F) RADAR = 0

G) SPEED = MAX 40 / MIN 15

H) POINTS = 60

ARMAMENT = 4 x K5 AA1 Alkali   

Guidance R      Min Range 10       Max Range 30     EW +0     Damage 4

How big is that thing?

More Loose Ends

I've been busy today, sorting things out ready for the return to work tomorrow, so have done very little at the workbench. I did get the Soviet decals applied to four Tumbling Dice Su-9 Fishpot interceptors, however, which took a lot longer than usual as the buggers refused to sit down, despite lashings of Decal Soft and some colourful language, made worse by the fact that the little red stars are very, very little and have to be the right way up! It didn't help that I'd matt varnished the aircraft before adding the decals, which tends to stop them sticking as well.

Next time, I'll make them Libyan as that only requires a big green roundel! I have also started on the four Su-7 Fitter A's but have only done the one thus far, although the remaining planes should be sorted this evening, leaving only a couple of Yak-28P Firebars to be finished ready for a game of Target Locked On! against my Cold War Chinese at some point. I now have enough aircraft for a decent 'What If?' clash over the Sino-Soviet border c1970, which should be a very interesting scenario and a good way to get a firmer grip on the rules.

Tying up Loose Ends

Sukhoi 22M

Mirage 2000P

Cessna A37B Dragonfly

Canberra B Mk2

I decided to wrap up a couple of half finished things today, one being the 1/600th scale Peruvian aircraft for my Target Locked On! Flashpoint:Alto Cenepa project, which have been hanging about for years, the other being the 1/600th Soviet Cold War PVO interceptors that I start on a few months ago. The Alto Cenepa planes have been sitting in a box since 2015, so I really should have finished painting then by now.

I did manage to finish the Peruvian aircraft this morning, although I had to simplify the insignia because all I had to use were Turkish roundels without fin flashes for the tails. I will now need to do the other half of the project at some point, by painting the planes for the Ecuadorian Air Force, again using magnet basing rather than my usual wire stands so that they match. Who knows where the decals will come from for those?

I didn't finish the Soviet planes, however, as I ran out of time to do the decals. I'll tackle these tomorrow morning, so that they are finished off properly. I am pleased with the bare metal finish on these, as I used a different approach from the one I used on my Korean War planes, with Foundry Metal rather than Spearpoint as the base layer. I think this looks better once it's been ink washed and highlighted.

White Wash and Go!

I grabbed some time this afternoon to add the grey and green camouflage pattern to the Desert Spitfires RAF Spitfire FR18's and the bare metal finish with ink wash to the replacement Mosquito PR34's. I then added a white blocking in basecoat to the canopies, prop bosses, exhausts and ID strips on all of the RAF aircraft, as well as the canopies and nose cones on the Soviet interceptors for Target Locked On!. This about wraps it up for the day, so nothing spectacular but steady progress nonetheless, making the next steps relatively easy to complete. 

Yak-28P Firebar Chop Shop

I had an idea this morning. I reckoned that I could bash together a Yak-28P Firebar interceptor by cutting the nose cone from another 1/600th scale model and gluing it to a Yak-25 Flashlight. This wouldn't be a very accurate result but, it would at the very least look something like a Yak-28, or so I thought? Here's the end result and, as you can see, it's not too bad. This will expand my existing Soviet PVO line up by two additional aircraft, which is handy as I have moved the Tu-16's and Il-28's  over to the PLAAF, where they are more approprately deployed, leaving Soviet Air Defence a little understrength.

Flashpoint Spring Clean

I have been giving some thought to the various Target Locked On! projects that I have started, collectively titled as the 'Flashpoint' projects. These are all focussed on Cold War conflicts, either real or imagined, with one already nearly compete (Flashpoint Taiwan) and a second well on the way (Flashpoint Xinjiang). I've yet to start on the principal project (Flashpoint Baltic) but that's because the other two are more of a feasibility study in basing, painting and learning the rules.

However, I did think that the whole scheme needed a bit of a rationalisation as it was in danger of sprawling in too many directions. So, I have retitled the Flashpoint Xinjiang Sino-Soviet project as Flashpoint PVO, in order to make it more flexible. I have also brought the half completed Alto Cenepa War project into the fold, which was originally designed for Air War:C21, so that I can finish it off too as Flashpoint Alto Cenepa. 

The other projects will stay as they are, although the Flashpoint Fleet Air Arm may eventually evolve into something more confrontational, assuming I can get hold of some 1/600th Indonesian Air Force insignia or think of a different 'alternate history' conflict in which the Royal Navy could take a role. I may fall back on a Flashpoint Hong Kong concept for this, re-cycling my existing Chinese aircraft for just such a scheme?

Target Locked On Sixties Soviets

The other half has broken the laptop, so I'm having to improvise with my phone, which means there may be some sellpng mistks. Anyway, for no particularly logical reason,  I decided to start painting the 1960's Soviet aircraft for my Target Locked On: Flashpoint Xinjiang project yesterday. I will post some photos once I work out how to do it (which I have, as you can see below)

I didn't get very far but a base coat of Foundry Metal does make a difference, with some blocking in with white over the canopies, intakes and other coloured bits to follow. I'm also painting the RAF aircraft for Desert Spitfires at the same time but haven't started on those just yet, as I'll be using a slightly different approach, using an ink wash rather than lining.

Flashpoint Taiwan Plan B

I had a bit of a disjointed day at the workbench, with various diversions dragging me away, not the least being the freezing garage and my daughters cup cake competition entry, so I didn't get quite as much done as I hoped. However, I now have three Tu-16 heavy bombers and three more Il-16 light bombers to add to the Chinese PLAAF, four F-86D Sabre Dogs and two more F-5A Freedom Fighters to add to the Taiwanese ROCAF, together with a single Su-11 and two new MiG-25 interceptors for the Soviet PVO.

The last two were a bit of a late addition, as I managed to destroy a pair of F-5A's by over drilling them, leaving me with a couple of spare stands to use up. I thought the MiG-25's would be an ideal substitute and would push the Soviet PVO air defences into the mid 1970's, which would add a little bit of a cutting edge. Unfortunately, it's now too cold to whip out the grey spray undercoat, so I will have to do when the weather improves mid-week.

Flashpoint Taiwan Plan

I have a bit of time today, so I'm going to finish off preparing the final lot of aircraft for my Target Locked On! Flashpoint Taiwan project, with a few Soviet fighters thrown in for good measure. The main aim is to use up the bases that I salvaged from the Flashpoint Baltic project, which will now be magnet based, with some additional bombers for the PLAAF and some extra fighters for the ROCAF.  This should add up to about twenty planes in total, so a few extra bases will be needed to soak up the numbers.

Cold War Soviet Strike Package

I had some time this evening to get started on the Target Locked On! Flashpoint Xinjiang project, with a selection of classic mid to late 1960's Soviet aircraft including three Su-9 Fishpots, four Su-7 Fitters and a single, very large Tu-22 Blinder bomber. The latter ended up a bit of pain, as I inadvertently glued the wings on upside down (I think?) leaving the nacelles underneath rather than on top. It didn't help that I sliced open my finger in the process too.

The mistake was mainly due to the angle of  things looking a bit wrong when the wings were the right way up and to the absence of nacelle bulges on both surfaces, where they should be. I may add some nacelle bulges to the top wing later on or probably just ditch it and get another one. To cheer myself up, I have ordered some more Su-9/11's to make up the numbers but, in the meantime,  I have a load of MiG-21 Fishbeds and four Tu-16A Badgers to assemble and base, so plenty to keep me busy!

Magnetic Basing Bingo!

 

I tried out the magnetic sheet and iron impregnated adhesive box liner that I got from Tiny Tin Troops the other day and I'm dead impressed with the results. Not only was it quick and easy to cut, stick and trim the magnetic sheet to the hex bases but the 1/600th scale aircraft are also attached very firmly to the base layer, which prevents any sliding about or falling over. I wish I'd tried this approach before as it has solved all my basing headaches in one fell swoop. Brilliant! I'm now going to expand my hex based Cold War line-up with some Soviet aircraft, as well as finishing off the last of the Taiwanese Super Sabres and Freedom Fighters.

More Magnetic Storage Solutions

I have been frustrated by the way that my trusted blobs of blu tack fail to keep the homemade mdf bases on my 1/600th Cold War aircraft from sliding around in the bottom of their Really Useful storage box. They also tend to rip the fibres from the bottom of the bases when I do remove them from the box once they actually have stuck for a change. This has been a pain in the bum but I think I have a perfect solution to the problem:

http://www.tinytintroops.co.uk/

I've decided to try a different approach, using a combination of self adhesive magnetic and flexible iron sheet from Tiny Tin Troops, which I can stick to the bottom of the Really Useful Box and to the bottom of the hex bases. It's not too expensive and for a tenner I have enough for two boxes and multiple stands, assuming I cut the magnetic sheet to fit the bases as economically as possible. I'm hoping that this will solve my slippery, slidy base problem once and for all!

Re-Basing and Re-Cycling

I decided yesterday to de-base my 1/600th scale modern aircraft that I will be using for the Target Locked On! Flashpoint Baltic project. These were based on mdf hexes with wire stands but weren't ideal as they required the models to be drilled and glued to the wire, which proved to be difficult due to the very hard allow used for the Oddzial Ozmy models. This meant that drilling the holes was time consuming and some of the aircraft ended up coming unstuck.

I'm now going to switch to magnet basing for the modern aircraft which I think will be a better solution and will allow me to swap out the bases for hexes or squares, as required. The original bases won't be wasted, however, as I'll be recycling them for the 1/600th scale Tumbling Dice Cold War planes that I'm adding to my existing Target Locked On! Flashpoint Taiwan collection, which are based in the same way.

The Tumbling Dice models are cast in a much softer alloy, are easy to drill and stay stuck on the wire stands, so I might as well carry on using the method that I have used thus far and save myself some extra hassle in scratch building a load of new stands. The recycled ones will be used as bases for either some Soviet fighters and fighter bombers or for some Royal Navy carrier aircraft, although I've yet to make up my mind about which one I want to go for. Any suggestions?

PT Dockyard Turya FAC(H)

I spent half the morning in a futile attempt to kit bash a 1/700th scale Skoryyi class destroyer from an old Tamiya Narvik, before giving up when I realised it wouldn't work.

Drat, Drat and Double Drat!

To save something from the wreckage I decided to assemble a PT Dockyard resin model of a Turya class FAC (H), which I had originally decided to leave well alone. It went together quite easily, much to my surprise, although I did replace some bits with plastic kit parts including a new forward deck twin cannon mounting, albeit an incorrect one.

This wraps up the Soviet-backed FAC flotilla but I can't start painting it yet as the temperature in the garage is still way to low for spray undercoating. Never mind, as I have the MiG Alley planes to finish in the meantime and also plan to base some more 1/600th aircraft, either for the Flashpoint Baltic project or for my projected Cold War Soviets.