Watchman

I.S.C. vs. Gorns 20210220 I.S.C. Gorn Strike Cruiser Battle Cruiser Light Cruiser Light Cruiser Destroyer Leader Battle Destroyer Escort 2 Destroyers 3 Destroyers 2 Frigates This is a practice battle, since there are only two of us currently gaming, due to the Corona scam. We are using other races to try out their special weapons and characteristics, as we may not experience them otherwise. Last month it was the Hydrans vs. the Lyrans. The Lyran force did not stand a chance against the Hydran weapons. The Lyrans (me), beat a hasty retreat to keep from being totally wiped out. This battle was a back and forth action; rush in, unload most weapons, and back off. We both attempted to maintain our respective formations as we maneuvered. The I.S.C. (me), was doing quite well, until I under estimated the Gorn commander. I allowed the Light Cruiser get too close and did not expect the Gorn to use an uncharacteristic attack. He Bolted all his Plasmas which put a hurting on the CL. After that I maintained a distance to utilize the PPDs more, while using Plasmas to keep him from getting too close. Eventually time ran out and it was pretty much a draw due to my lack of caution. ALWAYS expect the unexpected. Battle results:

Encounter with the IJN S.W. Pacific Islands 20201203 (using Standard Rules only) 2 – P47D Thunderbolts (Jugs) 2 – Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei 2 – Yokosuka D4Y3 Suisei (Judy dive bombers) Two P-47s on combat air patrol over scattered islands we recently captured, encountered four Jap A/C coming in low and fast. Whatever their intent, it will not bode well for our side. We are quite confident of dealing with aircraft nowhere near the ruggedness of the Jugs. We should make short work of them. They were broken into two sections but the ones to the left are coming to join with the section we face. Right at the start of battle, we concentrate on the one closest to the both of us and blow him out of the sky with the combined weight of sixteen, .50 caliber machine guns. We receive some damage, but nothing of consequence. Now we will be between the two groups and will be receiving Tail Gunner fire. The second group is now engaging and we receive more low damage hits, but we keep our speed up and roar on through. In the mean time the single plane, D4Y1, is diving on our radio station, which shows there intent of disrupting our communication and probably Logistics. The other group does not give chase, sooo they are all after targets of opportunity at all costs. The D4Y1 dropped his bombs and did some damage but did not totally destroy the station. So now we need to pursue and catch up. They are splitting up looking for their respective targets. One of the D4Y3s is diving on the HQ building and doing damage, but once again not destroying the target. We are finally closing in and hopefully put an end to their rampage. We each take on one of the D4Y3s causing one to catch fire. We still get hit twice due to the Tail Gunner. We try to go after the plane on fire but end up going one on one again. Hmmm these planes are getting tore up with our .50s at point blank and they still fly on. Of course we are collecting our own souvenirs. My wingman is in trouble with three of them swarming him. He takes out another one but the combined fire of three planes makes Swiss Cheese out of him. So I have two left to deal with, one of which I know is out of bombs, the other I could not keep track of so he will be my primary target. I end up settling for the D4Y1 of the first section, catching him and finally taking him down. The other was able to make his escape. Battle results: two of four targets bombed, targets indicated by target cards on the battle field, being near misses gives 4 points each target out of 8 points each for a direct hit. 12 points for each downed aircraft, for a total of 12 points against the US and 36 points against the IJN. If you will notice the IJN that was on fire, was miss identified by the IJN pilot, as the markers show smoke and not fire. So the IJN aircraft actually did not have enough points to be considered downed since he received a damage marker for each of the four turns he was supposedly on fire. So the actual tally is: IJN: 4 points target 1 US: 24 points for 2 planes 4 points target 2 12 points, 1 plane Probably could consider this a draw, with two IJN downed but a loss of one plane and two targets bombed. One battle I am considering is Doolittle's Raid, if I can acquire enough B-25s to make it interesting. I have three and would like to do it with five so it would look more impressive. If not, three it will be. We will see how good Tojo's A/A is.

Western Front 20201105 Allies Airco DH.4 A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Force), 50th Sqdn. Airco DH.4 R.N. Air Service Sopwith Snipe 1 VVS Raboche-Krest’Yanskoi Armii · Istrebitel ‘Nyi Aviaotryad Axis Central Powers (4) Hannover CL.IIIa Luftstreitkrafte A mixed allied flight on a joint training mission strayed a tad bit too close to the Front and encountered a reciprocal force on a training/recon flight. Not wasting any time the Germans headed for the mixed U.S./U.K./Russian group. The allies were a little hesitant seeing a tight formation heading their way and having three different operatives not familiar with each other, and not much experience working together. The decision was to drive on into the on coming German formation. The formations met a bit off center of one another, this prompting the Hannover on the right flank to break formation and hope to intercept the allies as they pass through. The maneuver worked as intended and caught the allies in the flank. In the ensuing melee the DH.4 of the R.N. went down in flames and the American DH.4 to catch fire. The Germans had rather light damage. Now the Germans were attempting to regroup their formation while trailing the allies. In the mean time the allies wanted to distance themselves from their numerous foes in their less than full combat worthy conditions. Unfortunately for the allies, it was necessary to pass by the Germans once again and the results were devastating, losing the Russian. Now the resulting position for the American was crossing in front of four enemy aircraft, three of which had the range to deal enough damage to bring down the American. Here are the results for each aircraft.

Italian Encounter 20201022 Allies: P-51 D Mustang Axis: Fiat CR.42 Falco P-47 D Thunderbolt Fiat CR.42 Falco P-47 D Thunderbolt Reggiane RE.2001 Falco II Reggiane RE.2001 Falco II It is a desperate time of the war for the Italians, throwing up whatever they had available, to halt the Allied advance. The Allies were closing fast. The RE.2001s tangle with the Allies while the CR.42s catch up, with a flank attack. Early on in the battle one of the P-47Ds explodes.This helps the Italians even up the sides a bit. Later on the black RE.2001 takes sufficient damage to knock it out of the battle. The two CR.42s, put a few rounds into the P-51D, they have done well to hit all three of the Allied planes at some point of the battle. The flying has been very energetic with several Immelmann maneuvers, tight turns, and stalls. Here a stall has a P-47D flying past the RE.2001 and placing himself in a bad situation. The results have become painfully obvious. You would think the Mustang would be in a world of hurt being out numbered three to one, but an Immelmann puts a CR.42 point blank in front of six .50 caliber machine guns. His plane shredded, goes down. Once again shots are traded with minimal results. The other CR.42 is not so fortunate in exchanging shots. Down to one on one, in the midst of circling one another, the RE.2001 gets off more shots with little effect. The final maneuvers with the Mustang pulling yet another Immelmann, finishes off the Falco, himself four hits shy of being finished off. This is the first Standard Rules battle, with one slight slip-up, I left out the special damage counters… next time though.

Newest additions: More HVAC(?) structures, and missile silo hatches... a rather hugh one for that bottom hatch. Some Ammo Bunkers (Suet containers that has an end shaped like a door when it gets added later) and another ATC/ADC command structure (Fig Newton container). These are from Nobel Knight Games clearance section and look more impressive as Ammo Bunkers. Maybe the others could be Maintenance structures or whatever, any ideas out there?

Command Bunker and ATC /ADC Control Center. Some what complete, until I think of more to add.

The containers are from cat food, cocktail sauce containers (Command & Control centers?) with cover (Missile Silo covers?) from take out. Added a SatCom dish, left over from the Shield Generator Tower, the back ring is where the surface radio antennas will be mounted. Mask packages (Classified). A cookie container, looks like a bunker of sorts. I will mount four more SatCom dishes on it.

This is the result of haste: The paint used, says to shake vigorously for one to two minutes. The first time I used the two minutes and the coating went on perfectly. The second time I did one minute and the plastic melted. Haste makes waste, although I may be able to use them as battle damaged Generator units.

More projects in progress with stuff I keep finding. Here another type of, maybe an HVAC, structure (a cat food container.) Possibly Command and Control structures (from mask packages... you know... the ones that say "will not protect you from covid.") Antennas (tooth picks that hold sandwiches together.) The tower being glued and an alert warning beacon (cap from revolution flea treatment for cats.) Also found two more generator sets (cupcake holders currently in the Kitchen sink being washed.) I now watch everything being tossed when I visit friends and family. You just never know, the next structure could be just around the corner.

This is the planned, final setup of the O-IFF/SIF RADAR tower and bunker.

Here is where I am at for the moment. The compass is rotating but not fast enough for the camera to show it. This could be an omni-directional IFF/SIF (Identification Friend or Foe/Selective Identification Feature) RADAR unit verses the old Earth directional rotating beam RADAR.

More trash picking... ah, excess material reserve stock. I located more heavy duty tubes, much smaller than the one for the turrets. So some construction paper, the tubes, and a malfunctioning dash compass components. let's see what I can come up with.

Complete...

Project "Turret Enable" has started. The top flange of the gun tower was cut off flush with the tower proper. The RADAR tower flange was shortened to 3/4". The tube shown in the last posting was cut in half and positioned over the respective towers for tracing the tube shape on the top edge of both towers for trimming. A fortunate find at work, was ready to toss the tube out, thought it would make a good storage tank. Once the tubes were fitted they were glued to the bases instead of the turrets. Here i am letting it dry upside down, allowing the extra glue to run down the tube and tower forming a larger bonding area. Here the scrap cut off will be used to fill in the corner gaps: More when completed.

Honest, I really do have a job... An experiment with a cupcake holder. It was all the same color but was transparent at the bottom. I sprayed the inside with Almond colored paint and resulted in a two tone color. I will think of some function for it. So this is as far as I intend to assemble the "RADAR Tracking Tower" for the "Planetary Defense Guns." Hmmmmmmmmmmmm... both are supposed to be turret mounts... I was just thinking...