Posts made by Pacific War

Whatever the cost, I will be buying one of these!

@Variable:

I just added more model pics for the Japanese Expansion Set.

Good stuff all the way around!!

@Variable:

Well crew, your opinions have been heard. Coach and I spoke today on the carrier subject. We are shelving the Shinano for now, but expect to see it back some day… :wink:

In it’s place, our plan is to go back to plan A, a regular fleet carrier sized Unryu. I’m working to convince him that the Shokaku/Zuikaku need to be included as the fleet carrier in set 3, The Basic Set. How does that grab everybody? Give us your feedback.

Perfect!  And thank you guys!

That is an excellent movie.

I would also like to point out that I think there is a difference between number of aircraft carried and actual number ready for flight operations.  I believe that there were extra aircraft onboard but they were partially stowed to replace losses.  Just because a carrier carries “x” number of aircraft, that doesn’t mean that that number can be hurled at the enemy at a moments notice.  So, taking the Akagi as an example, it may have carried 91 aircraft but the number ready for combat that could be put up at any given time was somewhat less.  There is also the issue of deck space available to be factored in so it should be noted that a carrier never had all of it’s available aircraft in the air at one time.  The same applies to US carriers.  So when we research numbers, we have to keep these things in the back of our minds.  Focusing on the Shinano again, part of its envisioned duty was as an aircraft ferry because, by that point in the war, Japan knew that it could not oppose the US navy on the open seas.  You will find some sources listing it as carrying a very large number of aircraft but it could never operate such a large number nor was it intended to.

@CWO:

As I recall, Japan used a total of seven full-scale fleet carriers in combat during the war: the “original six” which attacked Pearl Harbor (Kaga and Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu, and Zuikaku and Shokaku), plus the heavily-armoured Taiho which became operational later in the war.    So in my opinion, those are the seven carriers from which HBG ought to be choosing when deciding which one to produce as a first-rate carrier unit for Japan.  I’d be fine with any of them as HBG’s selection.

I’m right there with you on this.

You just encapsulated my thoughts exactly.  Relevant fleet carriers at regular size are the way to go.  If some rules call for a heavy carrier,  players can either mark a fleet carrier or use a different color.

If you’re using combinedfleet.com, then you’re using an excellent site.  I think that aircraft compliment, speed and survivability (armor and fire control) in that order are the main factors to be considered when describing what constitutes a heavy carrier.  IMO, sheer size does not matter.  What does matter the absolute most is the ability to project power and aircraft capacity is the key factor here.  If, as you hint at, you plan on making various Japanese carriers at regular size then, by all means, have at it with the Shinano as your heavy.  But I think that there are a fair amount of A&A gamers that are like me who really want to see carriers produced that actually participated in the war and made history.  Yes, the Shinano was big….huge in fact, but there are other large (ability to project power) Japanese CV’s that are far more relevant.  Again, if you plan on making a bunch of carrier sculpts have fun with the Shinano.  But if there are going to be sculpting just a couple or few, make ones that mattered and leave it up to the gamer to mark them as “heavy” if the rules call for it.  This will provide us with the greatest compromise between historical accuracy, historical relevance and game mechanics.  Thanks for taking the time to respond Coach and, perhaps more importantly, thanks for providing us with such great products and services.  Without you this hobby would be a lot more bland!

All of the choices for Germany are excellent!

With all due respect , I understand you guys wanting a heavy carrier but please, please, please have a really good carrier sculpt in the final Japanese set if you absolutely MUST put that clunker in this one.  One that saw action and made history instead of one that saw zero action and was sunk within a month of being commissioned.  If you look at the figures, both the Shokaku and the Zuikaku carried more aircraft and were faster than Shinano and they played a pivotal role in the war.  They truly WERE heavy carriers.  Even the  Unryu carried more aircraft than the Shinano.  Please get rid of that dinosaur and give us a real carrier or, at the very least, consider them for your final set.  These will quite possibly be the last great Japanese pieces made for A&A and ya just gotta do em’ right.  That twelve year old boy in me is begging you guys!  :-(

@maverick_76:

Ah the styrofoam dividers….those were the days, anyone else find themselves poking holes in them when it’s not your turn though? I kinda destroyed mine…whoops!

I had a buddy, Steve, who would do stuff like that……it drove me nuts!!  Once, while playing Conquest of The Empire I was busy studying the board and I hear “Check this out!”.  I look over and Steve has taken all of the silver infantry pieces that were not in play and stuck them spear down into the Styrofoam tray.  I wanted to knock his block off!!

As for storage, I make my own trays out of cardboard:

Another version:

I haven’t made similar insers for the newer boxes yet but it would be pretty simple.  To me, if I’m going to divide them, I want them divided completely if possible.

I’m sure that it will be fine.  Check your confirmation email.  It states the color that you ordered in the message so I’m sure that you are good to go.

Count me in as dumb.  I didn’t know about the feature until I read your post mentioning it.

@Variable:

@Pacific:

Also, is there a way to add the light orange to an existing order? I already preordered a couple of sets and would like to add this color too.

Just place a new order. During checkout, use the notes section to request it be added to your previous pre-order and provide the order number.

Excellent!!  Will do!  And coach, thank you for providing such nice pieces!

Also, is there a way to add the light orange to an existing order? I already preordered a couple of sets and would like to add this color too.

What’s that upside down carrier you’re hidin’ there?

Not everyone uses these pieces as simple replacements for the original pieces.  Some folks use them for house rules or simple variety.  Sometimes they are used for games other than A&A.  IMO, the more variety, the better.  The fact that some of the pieces have no equivalent in A&A does not bother me at all.

I figured that the Tiger was made using that process.

Some new sculpts for Pacific War!!  Finally, Japan will have a proper light carrier.  :mrgreen:

Ordered two sets!  Is the yellow anywhere near the color of the old original A&A Japanese pieces?