Aircraft scales?

Hi all - my first post so be gentle with me...

I am interested in WWI gaming with miniatures but I'm a little confused about which scale to go with.
I have a 9' X 5' gaming table and was looking at 144 scale as the best compromise between model detail and realism but I'm open to suggestions.

I haven't chosen a ruleset as yet so I have no idea what area a 9' X 5' table would represent in 144 scale (probably rules-dependant I guess)?

What is the general consensus on preferable scales for wargaming WWI?

TIA

[Mr_Flibble]

This might go better in the Games section. There's a few veteran gamers in there

A 9x5 table is great for both 1/72 and 1/144 scale. I play Fokker Fodder with my friends on a 6x4 table at the moment with 1/72 scale miniatures. It is a little crowded, but for 1/144 you would have plenty of room to play bigger scenarios with more players.


Regards,

Rick

Ooops - first post, first slip-up...

Thanks for the info - I thought my table should be big enough for 144, I was wondering about using 72 scale though...

Can the mods move this post for me?

[Ross_Moorhouse]

Moved for you.

[kugelfang]

Hi Magicdog,

Welcome to the 'drome.

I too struggle with this scale issue. I've got about 20 planes in both 1/72 and 1/144 scales. I'm leaning towards 1/72 scale for serveral reasons:

1) my eyesight is not what it used to be and 1/72 scale is more enjoyable to build
2) better plane type selection; many more manufacturers
3) if you search for deals, 1/72 is less expensive

But 1/144 has definite advantages:

1) less storage space, and let's face it... this is where the planes spend most of their time
2) distances look more realistic on the gaming table
3) at this scale, for gaming purposes, I'm not adverse to making up my own paper models which means cost is next to nothing and selection is infinite

I've also found that the same stands work equally well for either scale. The larger size of the 1/72 planes offset the white metal construction of the 1/144. You don't necessarily need twice as much room for the larger scale (and most rules sets greatly simplify ranges anyway) but I think the game genarally looks better if you do.

--jeff
www.overthefront.com

Thanks for that Kugelfang - it is confusing to start with...

I have bought a couple of 144 in metal and I may do the same in 72 so I can try out a scenario or two with both scales and see what I prefer.

I take your point about storage - very true. I have found a good supply of 144 'planes, some metal, some plastic but many are resin kits which I know can take a while to put together so 72 may win here too.

[Yeoman]

Hello Magicdog
I would definately go with 1/144. sturdier and more practical than 1,72.
have a look at this supplier as well-
http://www.tin-soldier.com/fighter/pilot/fpkits.html

I use 1/144.The reason? Ever tried a Gotha raid in 1/72 on a 9'x5' table?

You can never be 'deep inside enemy territory' in1 /72. Double your airspace go for the smaller stuff.1/72 just looks too crowded for my tastes.

Seriously though there are a lot more wargames freindly kits in 1/144 than 1/72.Two seaters are a bit of a problem in the larger scale with many of the common aircraft only being avalible as vac-forms or expensive limited run resins.

Hope this helps!

I love Canvas Eagles rules (http://www.generalissue.com/canvas.html) - well done, lots of player and club support on the associated Yahoo sites, and based on the popular (but out of print) Blue Max. Best part to me, it's free - just download and print out rules, aircraft charts, even instructions for basing your models. It is playable in both 1/144 and 1/72 scales. We are playing Blue Max here locally, as several of the folks in the group have that set, but there has been discussion to switch after our current campaign.

I went with 1/72 for my eyes as well. I used to have a great time painting 5mm Napoleonics and stuff, but about 4 years ago, went from perfect vision to bi-focals. I am doing Korean War air combat in 1/300, but there isnt as much to do except a few stripes and some decals and they are ready to put on the table. I have found a good selection of kits so far, more than I have had time to build , and have decided to give vacuform kits a try. If it wasnt for the gaming, I probably would never try one of them, and the limited run kits are on Ebay all the time for very good prices. I got a Hansa Brandenburg W-29 flying boat kit made by Meisterkraft - lots of flash, but a pretty nice kit overall. To me, it is an opportunity to build a nice model and use it as a gaming piece rather than the other way around, although I certainly would have more room to display the smaller models than I do for the 1/72 scale stuff.

Tom Oxley

[Axgrinder]

I have played air combat games in both 1/72 and 1/144 scale and enjoy both for different reasons. For large scale tactical games like "Bridges at Toko Ri" I prefer 1/144 because you use dozens of jets and cover large areas of terrain to play the game correctly. The game centers more on moving large groups of jet squadrons and not on one to one combat. WWI games
like "Richthofen's War" would also play well at 1/144 because you can fly whole squads and do long trench recon, strafing and bombing missions. The games look cool just due to the numbers of planes on the table!

For games like Canvas Eagles, Blue Max and Fokker Fodder people like using 1/72. These games are all about one-on-one dogfighting so you normally don't cover large areas. The rules in these games play as if you have already spotted the opposing planes and combat is inevitable. Planes are turning and twisting to gain position and not crossing miles of terrain to get to a target.
We play Blue Max on the old "Battle Masters" vinyl mats. They have colorful terrain and a hex grid already printed on them. (there are pics of Fokker Fodder and Blue Max in the miniatures post) Due to the "tailing" rules in Canvas Eagles and Blue Max you can only fly one plane at a time anyway so if you have friends that play the game with you each person only needs to build one or two 1/72 modes. (One each of different nations) You can build more if you like to fly a different type of plane each time. The games played in 1/72 are visually stunning and this tends to add depth to the games.

As far as storage goes, if you only build a couple of planes in 1/72 or a bunch in 1/144 you will end up using about the same amount of space. As far as price, I noticed 1/72 and 1/144 models cost about the same, within the $10 range. You can still find 1/72 models at hobby shops and most 1/144's need to be bought online. 1/72's are easier to paint but if you don't like to paint 1/144's are the way to go.

Right now I am playing Blue Max (with Tom O and others) and enjoy the game both for its one-on-one play and the visual athstetics.

Good luck on the choice of game that you end up going with. Keep us updated.

[Lt_Cheerios]

If you can still see small objects, I suggest 1/285 scale, giving the SE 5a and other energy fighters a chance to use "big circles" and dives effectively... see how the face of the game changes, whichever system or rules you use. - Long-time Hostile Aircraft player.... Also at $7.5 for 4 game pieces, the set is very affordable... ha ha ha ratt tat tat!!!