Sunday, 6 July 2014
Launching a long term project
Following on from my previous post I have taken the decision to formalise my Jutland project - by which I have set up a dedicated folder on the blog which will contain all posts relating to the progress of the same. To start with, I have drawn up a couple of lists of models needed and models currently owned - whether painted or under the brush. This was also a useful exercise in that it acquainted me with the ship classes involved. Thus far I have tackled every ship type except for the destroyers and the results were mixed to say the least.
Capital Ships: For the Royal Navy I currently have 12 ships under the brush - 8 battleships and four battle cruisers. To complete the capital ship category I will need to buy a further 7 models - 6 battleships (of which 4 are Stonewall metal models and the remainder will be from Panzerschiffe) and a single Invincible class battle cruiser. The Germans are more straightforward in that I have the remaining 7 dreadnoughts in stock and so will only need to buy the ships of the 2nd Battle squadron - the pre dreadnoughts. These will be from Panzerschiffe.
Cruisers: I will need to get all of the Royal Navy armoured cruisers (8 in all) and then some 24 of the 26 light cruisers present. For the Germans I can muster 1 of the 11 ships present. All of these models will be coming from Panzerschiffe.
I am planning this project on a top down basis and so the capital ships will be finished first, followed by the cruisers and then the destroyers. Whilst I was pretty happy with the capital ship side I was less so with the cruisers - I will need rather more than I had first thought.
Whilst I have not really given much thought to the rules I shall be using the issue of the space required has given me much to think about. I am hoping to be able to fight smaller actions (perhaps the outlying cruiser fights) on my 6ft by 4ft but anything larger will need an alternative solution. The floor in my man cave in the loft has a rather fetching blue/grey carpet and so this would give me (subject to some furniture being moved around) an area easily of some 7ft by 12ft. As you are already on the floor when you enter the loft it would even save having to get up!
The destroyer issue will be a major consideration as there were so many of them present. Luckily Stonewall feature an M class model in their range which will serve for a variety of types. The Germans are less fortunate though so Panzerschiffe and others will be needed to flesh out their escorts.
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12 comments:
Hi david,
I've been following your blog for some time now and it appears that you are "on your way" to owning th most significant elements of both fleets at Jutland. May I offer one suggestion? Rather than buying every single destryer in a flotilla, could you place one destroyer in the middle of a larger, round base? Omn the back of the base would be the destroyers' flotilla number and its strength. If targeted and hit by either torpedoes and/or guns, the strength is reduced appropriately. You get to play with miniatures, but can start up without having to buy and paint each and every destroyer model. In addition, as you have time and money for the project, more destroyers can be added to this larger, round base with no loss of esthetic appeal.
Jerry
A/K/A The celtic Curmudgeon
"Grumpy is good."
Don't forget the N J Fjord :)
Hi Jerry,
My plan is to use movement bases for the destroyers - perhaps with around half a dozen or so per base so using the single model and recording the 'hits' makes a good deal of sense and is certainly something I will use when testing out whatever rule set I finally gravitate towards.
I will get the models for the actual refight though.
All the best,
DC
I was going to suggest something similar to CelticCurmudgeon . . . use a lesser number of actual models on a "flotilla base". You might well consider this for the light cruisers as well.
Remember it is the capital ships that will decide the engagement NOT the smaller ones.
-- Jeff
Hi Jim,
Hopefully she will not be too expensive to buy and that I will be able to a-fjord her....;-)
All the best,
DC
Hi Jeff,
This is certainly something I will be considering and your rationale is perfectly sound. What I am leaning towards though is using multiple bases for groups of LCs and DDs so that you have the individual models but with the convenience of movement 'trays'.
Nothing has been decided as yet but it is certainly something to think about.
All the best,
DC
David
I've fiddled about with multi-bases for destroyers, and, for me at least, divisional bases seem to work best. If a ship can no longer keep pace with the rest of the division, then she is deemed to have headed for home. I use micro-dice to track the number of ships left in the division, as a visual aid on the table.
I like your movement tray idea, warbases should be able to run some up.
Mel
An approach not dissimilar to the old Tabletop Games Micro Fleet WW! system. It should work OK. Still available via Wargames Vault if it helps? Of course at my age I remember getting them from Bob O'Connor at Northern Mil many moons ago.
Great to see you have a definitive way ahead David!
+1 for using Flotilla bases for the lighter warships - lots of savings in time and the screening/torpedo attack effects will be unaffected
Hi Michael,
I remember the Micro Fleet set for Jutland and played a number of games it shortly after my Avalon Hill Jutland phase. I reckon I might have to see about get a set from the vault for old times sake!
All the best,
DC
Hi Mel,
I will take a look at Warbases narer the time but for the moment I shall just concentrate on getting te models painted. I am thinking of bases of four DDs would be about right although I may experiment with larger as the need arises.
All the best,
DC
Hi Paul,
Many thanks old chap! I am a long way from having to worry too much about this but it hopes to have a couple of ideas on the go.
All the best,
DC
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