This is my arena for aerial combat; simple, yet durable and, to me, beautiful (in a simple, durable way). I'm using tiny aircraft designed by my buddy Thomaston; not sure what size they are, just that they are much smaller than 1/600. They're 3D printed models that I mounted on cut-down bases from Litko, and I'm using a very simple rules system called "Battle of Britain," which I found for free over on The Miniatures Page (I've already played a good 13 fights with them). North is left, so the Communist aircraft are there, whilst the Cubans are on the right (south).
This fight, for the Cubans we have, from top:
Boxcar 05 (Veteran)
Boxcar 04, Capt Trevino, the Flight Leader (Regular)
Boxcar 08 (Regular)
Boxcar 07, 1st Lt Aguilera, the Flight Leader (Veteran)
Boxcar 09 (Regular)
The Communists, from top:
Green 02
Green 01
Bomber 6 Bomber 3
Bomber 4 Bomber 1
Bomber 5 Bomber 2
Silver 01
Silver 02
All Communist pilots are rated as Regulars.
All fighter aircraft are rated as +1 (no difference between the MiG-21 and F-4 Phantom in these games; you can if you like, I simply have chosen not to. Perhaps later in the campaign there will be engagements between fighters with different capabilities). The bombers are Su-22 Fittes; they have three movement points per turn, and can fire defensive fire only.
Turns 1 and 2, plus the enemy fighters in turn 3, and now the Cubans are close enough to pounce. Tally Ho!
Not that they do: Boxcar 09 cuts left...
And his leader, Boxcar 07, goes with him.
As Boxcar 08 shoots straight in, looking to get after those bombers after the failure to splash even a single one this morning!
Up top, Boxcar 05 jinks right, playing the dogfight game with Green 02 (top center)...
As Boxcar 04 charges straight in, looking to see what Green 01 (top left) is going to do.
And here come the bombers, though Boxcar 08 has already broken their formation up. A little bit, anyway...
At the bottom, Silver 02 is chillin'. "Let them come to me!"
But not so his flight leader; Silver 01 is tired of screwing around and zooms in, cutting left to go head to head with Boxcar 07; both fire and both miss.
Up top, Green 02 goes defensive, cutting into Boxcar 05.
As does Green 01, turning hard right into Boxcar 04, though this move could actually bear fruit if he can force the Cuban flight leader by.
And there ya go, Boxcar 04 reacts too late, not driving far enough to get away, but driving too far to keep Green 01 off his tail...
But not worries, his wingman is here to save the day! Boxcar 05 exposes his own tail to Green 02 (top right) to move in and take a tailing shot on Green 01: "Good tone, Fox One!" And he misses, almost hitting his flight leader (I actually rolled, he missed both)!
At the bottom, Boxcar 07 goes defensive, cutting right to see how it develops with Silver 01.
As Boxcar 09 kicks it in the ass, leaving his flight leader to dash ahead and go head to head with Silver 02! Again both pilots fire and again both pilots miss...
While in the center, Boxcar 08 continues his headlong charge, zooming in to go head to head with Bomber 04; both fire...
And Boxcar 08 cuts left, "Splash one bomber!" as he dodges defensive fire from Bomber 05.
Lookee there, already doing better than the last fight!
And the bombers push south.
Up top, Green 02 cuts hard right to get into tailing position on Boxcar 05 (center), time to make him pay for missing his easy shot on Green 01 (left, with Boxcar 04 at bottom left).
But Green 01 stays defensive, cutting hard left across Boxcar 05's face, looking for help from his wingman, but turning Boxcar 04 loose on the bombers.
But at the bottom, just as Boxcar 07 is thinking he's got it made, Silver 01 pulls off a beautiful Immelman to reverse course and pull in right behind him!
And Silver 02 cuts left, defensive.
And Boxcar 09 takes advantage, cutting right behind him, giving him the option to tail Silver 02 (far right) or go after the bombers, depending on his adversary's reaction.
Boxcar 08 whips his big Phantom around, looking to get back into the bomber killing business.
But the real fight right now is between Boxcar 07 and Silver 01, who just pulled off that Immelman. Boxcar 07 goes defensive, putting a really bad angle on Silver 01.
Up top, Boxcar 05 figures he's about to be left to the wolves by his flight leader (Boxcar 04, bottom left), so he goes defensive, cutting hard left, splitting Green 01 (left) and Green 02 (right). "That's what I get for missing that damn shot," he thinks to himself...
But now, Captain Trevino ain't so bad after all! He forgets about the bombers and whips his Boxcar 04 around in an Immelman, right back in the fight, helping his wingman.
As the bombers push south.
Silver 01 and Boxcar 07 continue the turning, rolling dogfight, seeking advantage.
As Silver 02 stays defensive, cutting left to stay with Boxcar 09 (left). Not a bad move, actually: he's too close to be engaged by the Phantom, and the Cuban dare not turn his tail to him to go after the bombers.
While up top, Green 02 pops out a chocolate drop when he realizes Boxcar 04 (left) didn't go after the bombers. He slams on the air brakes and cuts hard right, defensive, screaming for his wingman to come to his aid.
And he does: Green 02 cuts right, past Boxcar 05, and takes a bad deflection shot on Boxcar 04...
But he misses and shoots past, forgetting about his flight leader, eyes focused on Boxcar 08 (bottom left).
But Boxcar 08 sees him and cuts left, going head to head. Both pilots fire...
And both miss, so Boxcar 08 cuts right, keeping the MiG close while getting into good shape on the bombers.
And here comes Boxcar 09! Silver 02 (right) dared him to go after the bombers, and there he goes! He cuts left and takes a not so great shot on Bomber 05, while dodging defensive fire from Bomber 02...
Both miss, and he shoots past, opening up the distance between his tail and Silver 02 (off camera to bottom right), and hopefully helping out boxcar 08 (center left).
Further south, Boxcar 07's knife fight continues: he cuts left, hanging even with Silver 01.
While up top, Boxcar 04 pulls off a nifty move, juking right then left to stay on Green 01's (center top) tail aspect.
While Boxcar 05 pulls around to the right and gets right on Green 02's tail. He fires and the missile explodes near the MiG, damaging Green 02.
As the bombers push south.
Silver 01 has had enough screwing around with Boxcar 07 (bottom right), so he disengages and runs east to go head to head with Boxcar 04, hoping to free up Green 01 (top left). Both pilots launch...
And both missiles strike home, damaging Boxcar 04 and Silver 01!
Silver 02 cuts left around the bombers, looking to get into the fight with the flock of Phantoms congregating there.
The shooting and damage rolls have really sucked so far, and Silver 02 is currently winning the "pilot that most doesn't want to be in a dogfight today" award.
As Green 01 cuts hard right and takes a (bad) shot on Boxcar 08; he scores, damaging the Phantom! It's a full-on melee in there!
And Green 02, surrounded by F-4s, has had enough! He dashes out, but bursts into tears as he realizes it's probably not far enough out of the furball to save him...
Boxcar 07 smiles to himself: "I knew you'd choke." He jinks onto Silver 01's tail, lines up the shot...
But then he chokes! He misses and shoots past, "dammmiiiiiiiiittttttttttt!"
But Boxcar 05 is licking his chops; he zooms straight in on Green 02's tail to finish him off, and that's exactly what he does.
"Splash one bogey," as he cuts left, into Silver 02 (right) and in the general direction of the fleeing bombers.
Boxcar 08, though damaged, jinks up onto Bomber 06's tail and fires, damaging it...
Then shoots past, onto Bomber 02's tail; he's dodging defensive fire from Bomber 06 as he lines up his shot and fires: "Splash another bomber, boys," his second of the day.
Boxcar 09 tries to run, pulling right, not sure if it's enough to escape Silver 02 (bottom center right).
As Boxcar 04, disregarding the threat posed by Silver 01 (far right, just above Boxcar 08), swoops in on Green 01's tail and fires...
Green 01 comes apart and Boxcar 04 sails triumphantly by.
And the bombers push south.
Silver 01 thinks about giving chase (Boxcar 04 is at far left) but, surrounded by flying capitalist pigs, decides discretion is the better part of valor and goes defensive, cutting left between Boxcars 07 and 08.
Further down, Silver 02 pulls a very aggressive move, cutting hard left to take a bad deflection shot on Boxcar 05...
But he pulls it off, damaging the F-4 (bottom left) then pulling right across Boxcar 04's nose, into a tailing position on Boxcar 09 (top left).
But Boxcar 09 ain't having it: he pushes the throttle up and cuts right, ending up on Bomber 06's tail, but he fires and misses! Boxcar 08 immediately comes up on the net...
"Don't worry, son, I got this," and zooms straight in on Bomber 06's tail and fires, obliterating the Su-22...
Then he comes right, onto Bomber 01's tail, and fires again...
But he misses and overshoots. "Dang it, thought I had number four there..."
Boxcar 05 comes left, going head to head with Silver 01. For the umpteenth time this game, both pilots fire and both pilots miss!
But while all his comrades are messing around, Boxcar 04 is in real trouble, sandwiched in between Silver 02 (far left) and Silver 01 (far right). Sure he can't escape, he cuts right, hoping it gives his partners room to intercede on his behalf.
But Boxcar 07 can't quite crack the code, either, so he just charges straight in to help protect Boxcar 04's tail, quite possibly sacrificing himself.
And the bombers push south, with the target area coming into view.
Turns out Boxcar 07 doesn't have to sacrifice himself, Silver 01 knows exactly what he wants. The Commie pilot cuts right and gets onto Boxcar 04's tail, then fires, flaming the F-4. Captain Trevino bails out and a few hours later is safely back at base.
*At least my bail out rolls have been good ;)
Silver 02 cuts hard right into Boxcar 07 (left), in good shape on Boxcar 09 (top right) and Boxcar 05 (center bottom).
But Boxcar 09 still don't care! He charges straight in on Bomber 04's tail, firing...
He misses and cuts left, subjecting himself to defensive fire from Bomber 02, which, luckily, misses.
Boxcar 08, with three kills already, pulls off an Immelman, reversing course and placing himself in perfect position to go after the bombers or screen Boxcar 09's (far right) tail from Silver 02 (top left).
And then Boxcar 07 pulls a great move, dancing around Silver 01 to get on Silver 02's tail. He lines up and fires...
Damaging the MiG and shooting past. These damn damage rolls are killing me!!!
Boxcar 05 needs to handle Silver 01 (left, with Silver 02 below him to the right), so he turns with him, entering the dogfight.
And the bombers march south, nearing the finish line.
*And then I missed not, but two, pictures. Both MiGs went defensive, cutting sharply to protect themselves.
Boxcar 07 pulls an Immelman, but can't get back on Silver 02 (right)...
But the Boxcar 05 pulls an Immelman, too, and the two Cuban pilots have swapped targets; he will go after Silver 01 (right), and Boxcar 07 will chase Silver 02 (bottom left)! Pretty slick, no? Well, there is still the possibility that either MiG turns hard into Boxcar 05 to take a not so great shot, but they'd be turning their tail to Boxcar 07.
And with the Communist fighters tied up, Boxcar 09 runs straight in on Bomber 03's tail and fires...
Damaging him and cutting right. Unbelievable with these damage rolls!
And Boxcar 08 comes right to give chase, a little worried about Silver 02 (off camera to left).
*Goodness, I missed another picture: the bombers move south, and this is the last chance to get them.
Silver 01 goes aggressive, cuts hard into Boxcar 05 and takes a bad deflection shot, but the missile strikes the F-4 and knocks it from the sky, its pilot bailing out safely.
And then Silver 02 pulls and Immelman, and now Boxcar 07 finds himself in a bit of a @#$% sandwich. "Just like they did to Boxcar 04, dammit."
He shoots forward and cuts right, leaving his tail dangerously exposed to Silver 01 (far left).
Boxcar 08 is in an impossible position, not sure if he should double back to help Boxcar 07, or go after the bombers, which are almost on the target, and the indecision costs him. Not making a decision is still making a decision, and so his fighter coasts harmlessly south, neither helping his flight leader nor engaging the bombers...
"Dammit Box Seven, get in the damn fight!" says Boxcar 09 as he kicks over hard left to line up a shot on Bomber 05. He launches a missile...
And then sails past as harmlessly as his missile did...
Resulting in three FSNL Su-22's entering the target area and beginning their bombing runs. Two bombers drop in and finish off the Marshalling Area, and the last turning on and bombing the last remaining target, the SLA Logistics Hub, causing moderate damage (6/30).
As predicted, Silver 02 cuts right onto Boxcar 07's tail and fires...
But the Communist pilot misses, and curses as he overshoots!
But just as quickly, Silver 01 cuts in behind him and launches another missile...
This one hits, but Boxcar 07 is only damaged!
And with that, the two MiG-21s break off the engagement and return to base, triumphant. Sure, they lost two MiGs and three bombers, but three bombers got through and destroyed Target #2, then damaged Target #3. Meanwhile, the Cubans lost two F-4s destroyed and two damaged, though both downed pilots returned safely to base.
