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I'm looking at getting into WWI air combat.

The intention is to play a game that uses 1/144 models. I am aware that Blue Max doesn't have any - but I have sourced out models to use by Valom which are very reasonably priced (£10 for two planes)

I am unable to find any of the Duel Packs for Wings of Glory, I'm wondering if they are out of print? One of two pop up from independent sellers for £50+ which is ridiculous.


- Does the Wings of Glory box set (the rules one) contain the flight cards for all plane types?
- Is there any chatter suggesting Wings of Glory will produce more of their original packs that are currently unavailable everywhere?
- Anyone have experience of BOTH Wings of Glory and the Blue Max (2014). If so, what're your thoughts on them both?


Many thanks

Baron Von Wulfmar

 Wulfmar wrote:
I'm looking at getting into WWI air combat.

The intention is to play a game that uses 1/144 models. I am aware that Blue Max doesn't have any - but I have sourced out models to use by Valom which are very reasonably priced (£10 for two planes)

I am unable to find any of the Duel Packs for Wings of Glory, I'm wondering if they are out of print? One of two pop up from independent sellers for £50+ which is ridiculous.


- Does the Wings of Glory box set (the rules one) contain the flight cards for all plane types?
- Is there any chatter suggesting Wings of Glory will produce more of their original packs that are currently unavailable everywhere?
- Anyone have experience of BOTH Wings of Glory and the Blue Max (2014). If so, what're your thoughts on them both?


Many thanks

Baron Von Wulfmar

Wings of War/Wings of Glory will require multiple packs if you want all of the cards. The various starters are geared towards various periods in the war. Generally you don't need the extra booster decks, although that is the main way to get things like Eindeckers outside of the booster planes.

Everything should be back in print for the most part, otherwise I suggest Ebay. Overall the movement decks are reasonably accurate to what the planes could do. The game can be played with minis or just the cards, depending on your preference. Cards are played measuring the cards and if you use the planes you measure to the plane itself. Rules include altitude limits, climb rates, flaming/smoking planes, jams, tailing, observers, bombing, le preuir rockets, drachens, tailing, aiming, etc.

Do you fancy early war/late war/other?

Do you mean the Blue Max game by Game Designers' Workshop, that came out in the early 1980s?

So far I've looked at the 2014 version of the Blue Max released by Fantasy Flight: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/158982/blue-max-world-war-i-air-combat

Do the earlier versions of the game come with the flight decks in the board game box? Looking at the 2014 version above it only states damage cards and so on and gives the impression you have to buy planes (and their associated movement decks).

I was hoping the physical plane models were an optional addition to the game and the movement decks were in the rules box.


As for early war / late war - I've honestly not looked into it, they are all exciting

 Wulfmar wrote:
So far I've looked at the 2014 version of the Blue Max released by Fantasy Flight: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/158982/blue-max-world-war-i-air-combat

Do the earlier versions of the game come with the flight decks in the board game box? Looking at the 2014 version above it only states damage cards and so on and gives the impression you have to buy planes (and their associated movement decks).

I was hoping the physical plane models were an optional addition to the game and the movement decks were in the rules box.


As for early war / late war - I've honestly not looked into it, they are all exciting

I don't know on Blue Max, but plane models are entirely optional for Wings of War/Wings of Glory.

Burning Drachens is mostly mid war-ish, and has some solo play missions. It has the rules for Drachens and Le Prieur rockets
Watch Your Back is geared towards two-seater planes and some earlier war planes
Famous Aces is most of the more well known planes: Spad XIII, Sopwith Camel, Fokker Tripe, etc
Flight of Giants is all bombers/anti zeplin planes and their special rules

The booster decks have planes and all necessary maneuver cards.

I haven't frequented it in a few years, but this used to be the best WoW site on the net by far:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/

Loads of custom content, aids, and more.

The best WWI dogfight game my group tried was Blue Max/Canvas Eagles. It's a free to download game that uses a hex map and miniatures. It covers the whole war and has about any plane you could want.
Check it out. http://www.maxeagles.com/

-K

Never heard of that one, had a look though and it looks pretty good.

Have some 1:600 scale WW1 planes so could do a 'pocket' version.. main issue is I have four types of planes, and know which four they are, but have no clue which is which..

Doh..

Canvas Eagles looks good! Plus the five-finger discount makes it a steal.

Thanks for the recommendation

Edit: Very quickly, are there different stats for various plane types in Canvas Eagles? I've been searching through the rules and can't seem to find any

I'm late to the party, but I have some feedback that you may want to consider, OP.


I've seen Blue Max and Wings of Glory tossed around in here. Please allow me to throw another rules set in the mix.

I play a WW1 air combat game called Aerodrome 1.1. These rules have been around awhile and they are well tested and well respected in historical gaming circles.
Incidentally, they also make rules for WWII and the Korean Conflict. Jets!


The rules work in best 1/72, but they can be used well enough in 1/144 or 1/300 scales. According to their website, you could even use 1/48th if you wanted, but that would be massive!

I play in 1/72 on a 4x6 table with 4" hexes. You can play on a larger table if you like, and there's no limit to how many planes you use. If you don't want hexes, then each move is 4".
There are tons of 1/72 WWI plane model kits. They are cheap at $5-10 each and they are large enough to have excellent detail, yet small enough to store easily. I have 8 fighters and 2 bombers in an Army Transport platoon pack (the short case) with three 3" foam sheets.

I have a few pics in my gallery that you can look at, but here's a couple to get you started (Rhino is for scale):






This game was a predecessor to Wings of Glory and their movement system is similar to that of Aerodrome 1.1's movement. You plot your movement in 3 segments, then movement is resolved 1 segment at a time. There's tracking for ammo, damage, movement plotting, etc. At conventions, they use fancy wooden stands that are leather-bound and mimic cockpit controls. I'm not spending that kind of money and I don't have space to keep 10 of these things, so I created my own in Photoshop and laminated them. Just need some dry erase markers and we're ready to scramble the planes at a moment's notice!






Aerodrome 1.1 rulebook is only 36 pages and the rules are super easy to learn. Best part is... it's only $15.00 at the RLBPS website.
If you have any questions, let me know. I'll do my best to answer them.


Ghidorah

Sounds like fun!

WW1 aircraft kits were some of the first models I ever made. It would be fun to get back into it.

Like most historicals, once you've got the planes you can play with any set of rules you like, you just need a bit more space for larger models.

4'x6' table is all you need for Aerodrome 1.1, if you'r e playing in 1/72. If you have less planes, 1 or 2 per side, you could probably get by with a 4'x4', but I've never tried that.

I would like to try the WW2 rules, but I don't really feel like buying a bunch of planes. Building them would be fantastic fun, but I'm short on storage space.

When those Korea rules come out, I would really like to check those out. I love Sabres and MiGs!

Ghidorah

Thanks for the advice Ghidorah! I'll have a look when I can

BTW, a bit off topic but I thought you may be interested, Osprey Publishing posted on Facebook today a link to one of their books:

17 December 1950 - F-86 Sabres clash with MiG-15s for the first time during the Korean War.
Take a look at Duel 50 - F-86 Sabre vs MiG-15 for a detailed look at these daring dogfights - http://bit.ly/1O8jp7t

Looks like it may be worth a read and the posting was timely!

Man, now I want to go buy, build, and paint an F-86 Sabre!


Ghidorah

I've always liked that plane, and I've had three models over the years in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/72 scale, covering the P86, and F86D.

It's a nice looking aircraft.

 Wulfmar wrote:
Canvas Eagles looks good! Plus the five-finger discount makes it a steal.

Thanks for the recommendation

Edit: Very quickly, are there different stats for various plane types in Canvas Eagles? I've been searching through the rules and can't seem to find any

Each plane has it's own chart you download. Look here, http://www.maxeagles.com/eagles_charts.html

-K

If you really want to WOW people with a WWI aerial combat game with models (either 1/144 or 1/72), many manufacturers make Photo-etch upgrades for the 1/144 and 1/72 WWI models that include things like the Engine cylinders, or radiator grills, wing struts, and the wire rigging for the wings.

I recall that the first 1/72 WWI models I ever built already had holes in the plastic for mounting the rigging in the wings (it was intense).

The models will take about twice as long to build, but they will look 10x more impressive.

Either way, though, WWI Aerial Combat is an impressive looking game.

When using the original GDW "Blue Max" in the 1980s, we came up with an altitude system, and mounted planes on telescoping radio antennae to use for altitude. I hear that is the norm, now.

MB