WoW at the Mall

A quick update this morning. The workbench is full of Laura's "Afrika Korps" models at the moment as her SdKfz 251s undergo a repaint (they came ready painted, but in European colours). Also a Rivireso Junkers D.1 and a couple of Hansa Brandenburg W.29s (awaiting decals).

Anyway, last night saw me up in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway. A small wargames group meets there at the Giardino's coffee shop. The games are mostly GW, but there are a handful of Wings of War players. After several abortive attempts I made it up there for a game, or more accurately three.

Hop 1 - I'm in an Albatros D.V, up against a DH4 on a mission to photograph a chateau behind German lines. I initially make an awful start, confusion left with right and hare off in the wrong direction. But I'm soon back on track and intercept after the happy snaps have been taken and the DH4 is on its way home. I take a few hits, but manage to get in his blind spot and fire, at which point the return fire suddenly stops - observer hit! The DH4 is quite manoauvrable, and not fun to be in front of with those twin Vickers, but I'm in the chair for this engagement and hegoes down. Score 1-0

Hop 2 - My turn in a two seater, this time I'm in a Rumpler on a photo recce mission, the enemy in a Sopwith Triplane. We twist and turn as I run in on the objective, and I manage to keep my rear arcs open, scoring a  few hits. Plenty of fire incoming though. The Tripe goes wide as I turn in to the objective and the pictures  are safely in the can. he comes back at me and my next burst causes a fire. He turns violently into me and we bump wings, but no serious damage and then my observer gets a long burst into him as he overshoots. The Tripe goes down! Score 2-0

Hop 3 - We go old school, a Fokker Eindecker vs. a Nieuport. Immelmann vs. Albert Ball. After some careful jockeying for position we end up head to head, both scoring damage as we pass, followed by Immelmanns that could have been choreographed and more mutual hits. Then we both turn away and into a "scissors" manoeuvre. Finally we both turn wide, go head to head again, but waaay to close - collision! But luck is with me. My wheels bump his top wing and crack his main spar. The wing disintegrates and the Nieuport comes apart in the air (my opponent drew the "10" card from the C deck) Final score 3-0!

So, a very satisfactory night. One of the reasons for playing the first two games was on account of the belief that 2 seaters were too powerful in WoW. The lesson from these engagements was for the attacker to exploit the blind spot, a rule that seems to be forgotten by quite a few WoW players.  I must also remember to be more careful when plotting turns to left and right when the model is facing me :)

Then home to see Arsenal beat Barca (I'm not much of a footie fan, but even I was impressed by this and the Spurs win at AC Milan - only an idiot would hea dbutt Joe Jordan!!) And so home to bed, some light reading on the Suakin campaign - must get back to the Sudan sometime - and then to sleep.