Your most hoped for aircraft - 1/285 scale Microarmor

[Donald M. Scheef]

I am a firm believer in providing aircraft to support land forces. The existing Microarmor aircraft provide a fairly good selection, but I have some suggestions for additions. I have tried to suggest one type that I would like to see for each of the Second World War combatants. The 2015-2016 schedule includes B-17G, Dornier Do17, and (C-47 Skytrain or Douglas Dakota, depending on the user). I’m not sure how a B-17 fits in with Microarmor; it was pretty much a strategic bomber. I didn’t have the Do17 listed either, but there were some occasions in which these aircraft flew interdiction flights against ground forces. The C-47 should be a very popular addition.

Australia: Early in the war, the Australians were at the wrong end of a very long supply line with only limited local aircraft production capacity. Making the best of what was available; they produced useful adaptations of the North American NA-16 trainer aircraft. The Commonwealth CA-1 (CA-3, -5, -7, -8, -9, and -16) Wirraway [Coll, H&R] was a minimum-change modification for a light bomber and army co-operation aircraft. The CA-12 (-13, -14, -19) Boomerang [Coll, H&R] was a more developed fighter aircraft with only a few commonalities with the NA-16. Although neither was an outstanding aircraft, they were available and proved useful in supporting ground forces.
Of these aircraft, I would like GHQ to produce the Boomerang first.

Czechoslovakia: GHQ does not make any Czech models yet (except for some vehicles that were taken over by the Germans). If there had been resistance to the German annexation of the Sudetenland, these would have been used against the Germans. The Aero A.100 was a biplane light bomber/recon aircraft that was already past the end of its useful life. The Aero A.304 was a twin-engined light bomber developed from a transport concept. The Avia B-534 [H&R] was a biplane fighter contemporary of the Gloster Gladiator, C.R.42 Falco, etc.
My choice for a 1/285 scale Czech aircraft is the Avia B-534.

France: GHQ has not yet produced any 1/285 scale aircraft for the French, leaving the options wide open. None of the French fighters of this time (Bloch MB.150 [Coll, H&R], Dewoitine D.520 [Coll, H&R], or Morane-Saulnier MS.406 [Coll, H&R]) had a notable record in ground support. I believe this was due more to circumstances than lack of capability. Certainly, the 20 mm moteur cannon of the in-line types would have been effective against contemporary ground vehicles.
For a dive bomber, some of the Loire-Nieuport LN.40 [H&R] initially were delivered to the Army but all wound up in naval service. The French Army had more faith in fast level attack from low altitude, as provided by the Breguet Br.690 [Coll, H&R]. The most-built French aircraft of the time was the Potez 630 series. In addition to light bomber [H&R] and heavy fighter versions, the Potez 63.11 [H&R] was a highly-modified version for battle-front observation and army cooperation.
The French organized only two companies of airborne troops but did build a small number of the Potez 650, which was intended specifically for paratroop assault (although developed from an earlier civilian passenger carrier). This was a relatively small two-engine high-wing monoplane (mostly fabric-covered, external braces for wings with engines mounted below the wings). The only planned combat use of these aircraft was cancelled and they served as light transports for the rest of the war.
I would like to see any of the combat aircraft modeled in 1/285 scale, but my first choice would be the Potez 63.11. Although they were slaughtered by German forces, they were available in large numbers and did the best they could.

Germany: I see one glaring deficiency in the GHQ Microarmor offerings for WWII German aircraft: AC8 is an in-line engine version of the Fw 190. This was primarily a high-altitude interceptor. For interaction with ground forces, a radial-engine version (Fw 190A or Fw 190F) [CinC, Coll, H&R, Raiden, Sky] is more appropriate. Aside from being excellent fighter aircraft, these could (and did) carry a significant payload of bombs, rockets, etc. in a ground-support role.
For something different from what GHQ already produces, the Fw 189 Uhu [Coll, H&R, Sky] would be interesting, especially for East Front scenarios. A twin engine Bf 110 [CinC, Coll, H&R, Raiden, Sky] (early war) or Me 410 [Coll, H&R, Sky] (late war) would be nice. Even though they were more associated with high-altitude combat than with ground support, they could (and did) perform low-level attack.
Although GHQ already produces the most-common German powered transport aircraft (Ju 52) and gliders (DFS-230 and Go 242), there are some other interesting aircraft in this area. The Gotha Go 244 [Coll] was a powered version of the Go 242. Messerschmitt built an extremely large glider, the Me 321 Gigant. The Me 323 [H&R] was the same airframe with three French radial engines attached to the front of each wing.
My choice is the Fw 190F.

Italy: With only the C.R.42 Falco and the SM.79 Sparviero available from GHQ, there are many choices for Italian aircraft. Looking at attack aircraft, the Breda Ba.65 [H&R] is the only reasonable candidate. Unfortunately, this aircraft was showing its age and did not have a good record against any opposition more capable than spear-carrying Ethiopians. Its intended successor, the elegant-looking Ba.88, was a technical failure. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 (radial-engine) and SM.86 (in-line-engine) were good-looking twin-engine dive bombers, but, like the Ba.88, were failures in service. The Caproni Ca.310 series aircraft (especially the Ca.314) were light twin-engine reconnaissance/bombers with modest performance.
Among fighter types, the biplane C.R.32 [H&R] had been produced in large numbers before the war and many remained in service at the start of the conflict. Fiat-Gabrielli, Macchi-Castoldi, and Reggiane all started the war with radial-engine monoplane fighters in production (G.50 [Coll, H&R, Raiden, Sky], C.200 [Coll, H&R, Sky], and Re.2000 [Coll, H&R, Sky]). Based on early-war experience, they updated their aircraft with copies of Daimler-Benz in-line engines. Initially this was the DB 601 (C.202 [Coll, H&R] and Re.2001). Reggiane also installed a more powerful, but unreliable, radial engine in the Re.2002, which was used primarily in the attack role. Later, the more powerful DB605 was used in the (G.55 [Raiden], C.205, and Re.2005 [Raiden]). Of the three major manufacturers of fighter aircraft, significantly more of the Macchi types were produced than of the competitors.
The S.M.81 Pipistrello [Coll, H&R] was the Italian equivalent of the German Ju 52. Like the German transport, it provided better service than would have been expected from its obsolescent appearance. The more modern-looking SM.82 Canguru [Coll, H&R] was an updated version of the same concept; a three-engine transport bomber but with retractable landing gear and a more streamlined body. It saw combat service in North Africa, the Balkans and Russia.
Any of these would be welcome, but my choice is the Re.2002 because it was produced specifically for the fighter-bomber role. Also, it is not offered by any of the other producers of 1/285 scale figures.

Japan – Army: GHQ has not yet made any Japanese Army aircraft models for Microarmor. Going back to the conflict in China before 1941; the Japanese Army used the Nakajima Ki-27 (Nate) [Coll, H&R] a monoplane fighter with fixed landing gear. The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar) [Coll, H&R] was the standard early-war fighter. The single (in-line) engined Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Tony) [CinC, Coll, H&R, Sky] served in mid-war along with the twin-engine Ki-45 Toryu (Nick) [Coll, H&R, Raiden]. Later, the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank) [Coll, H&R, Sky] and Kawasaki Ki 100 [H&R] entered service. For light attack aircraft, the Japanese Army had the Mitsubishi Ki-30 (Ann) [Coll], Kawasaki Ki-32 (Mary) [H&R], and Mitsubishi Ki-51 (Sonia) [Coll, H&R]. The Kawasaki Ki-48 (Lily) [Coll, H&R] was a twin-engine attack bomber.
The standard Japanese Army transport aircraft was the Mitsubishi Ki-57 (Topsy) [H&R]. This transport version of the Ki-21 bomber (same flight surfaces but totally different body) was used for several airborne attacks in the Philippines and south-west Pacific region. The Kokusai Ku-8 [H&R] was a medium-sized glider used for airborne assault early in the war and for supplying cut-off forces later in the war.
Any of these would be a good addition. Limiting my choices to only one, my favorite among these is the Ki-51 because it was produced in greater numbers than the other light attack types.

Japan – Navy: GHQ already makes the obvious best choices – the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter and the Aichi D3A (Val) dive bomber. Before introduction of the A6M, the Mitsubishi A5M (Claude), a monoplane with fixed landing gear, [Coll, H&R] was the standard carrier-based fighter. Other possibilities include the Aichi B7A Ryusei (Grace), a late-war attack bomber; the Nakajima B5N (Kate) [Coll, H&R, Raiden], the standard torpedo bomber in the first half of the war; the Nakajima B6N Tenzan (Jill) [Coll, Raiden], replacement for the B5N; the Kawanishi N1K Shiden (George) [Coll, H&R, Raiden], a land-based fighter/bomber (a carrier-based version was proposed but never reached production); and the Yokosuka D4Y Susei (Judy) [H&R], a fast reconnaissance/dive bomber. The Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Sam) was intended to replace the A6M, but was still in the prototype stage at the end of the war.
The most common transport aircraft for the Japanese was the Nakajima L2D (Tabby), a copy of the DC-3 with a few modifications (enlarged cockpit with more windows, larger engine, large spinner on propeller hub.
Of these, my choice is the B5N, which was used as a level bomber against land targets in the first part of the war.

Poland: Although they were overwhelmed by the first large-scale blitzkrieg, the Polish did no worse at the start than the Russians, French, etc. The standard Polish fighter at this time was the PZL.11 [Coll, H&R], a parasol-winged monoplane with fixed landing gear. The more-advanced PZL P.50 [H&R], a low-wing monoplane with retractable gear, was not yet in service. The PZL.23 Karaś [Coll, H&R] was a light bomber / army co-operation monoplane aircraft with fixed landing gear. The twin-engined bomber PZL.37 Łoś [Coll, H&R] (monoplane with retractable gear) was just entering service. My choice is the PZL.23 Karaś.

Romania: The aircraft industry in Romania was small but did produce at least one worthy design. GHQ should consider producing a model of the I.A.R.80 [Coll, H&R] (or the very similar I.A.R.81) to go along with the RA series vehicles and figures.

Russia/Soviet Union: There is already a reasonably good selection in GHQ’s models for Great Patriotic War aircraft. Possible new bomber aircraft include the biplane Polikarpov Po-2 [H&R] used for nocturnal harassment and Tupolev’s Tu-2 [Coll] late-war attack bomber. Ilyushin’s medium bombers (the DB-3 [Coll] and the improved Il-4 [Coll, H&R, Sky]) were too large for direct support of ground troops but were forced into these roles early in the war. GHQ already produces the Polikarpov I-153 but the fixed gear I-15 or I-15 bis [H&R] would be nice to have. GHQ has produced the Lavochkin La-5FN and the early La-5 ‘razorback’ version; but the earlier in-line-engined LaGG-3 [CinC, Coll, H&R] or the later improved La-7 [H&R] are credible choices. GHQ already produces the Yakovlev Yak-9; the earlier & larger Yak-1 [Coll, H&R] and the later & smaller Yak-3 are also desirable. There are also some variants of the Sturmovic GHQ could produce; the single-seat Il-2 [H&R] and the improved late-war Il-10 [Coll].
The Soviets did not build many dedicated transport aircraft during the Great Patriotic War, depending on obsolescent bombers and Lend-Lease C-47s. They did produce a medium-sized glider, the Gribovski G-11, and used them for both supplying partisans behind the German lines and for several airborne assaults.
Of these, I would most like to see the Tupolev Tu-2.

UK: GHQ has provided a good selection of British aircraft, especially fighters. The Taylorcraft Auster AOP [H&R] was a liaison aircraft used widely for artillery spotting. The Westland Lysander [Coll, H&R, Sky] was designed specifically for the Army cooperation role, but was withdrawn from direct combat activities after disastrous losses in France. Later it was used effectively to smuggle agents into and out of occupied Europe. The Fairey Battle [Coll, H&R] was a single-engine bomber on much the same scale as the Il 2 Sturmovic, but much less successful. The Bristol Blenheim [Coll, H&R] was a twin-engine fast bomber of the early war period. The Bristol Beaufighter [Coll, H&R, Sky] was a much more powerful twin-engine fighter-bomber. The British used the Vultee Vengeance [Coll, H&R] (A-35 in US service) to good effect in south-east Asia.
Like most allied forces, they depended on US-supplied C-47s for most of their airborne transport. Before sufficient numbers of Dakotas became available, the most common aircraft for carrying paratroopers was the Armstrong-Whitworth Albemarle [Coll], a failed twin-engine bomber. The largest Allied glider of the war was the General Aircraft Hamilcar [Coll, H&R], used to deliver heavy payloads for airborne assaults beginning with D-Day.
My first choice is the Bristol Beaufighter.

US Army: GHQ has provided a good selection of attack types and fighters (although lacking bubble-top versions of the P-51 and P-47 [CinC, H&R]). What I most miss is one of the light ‘liaison’ types widely used for front-line scouting/artillery spotting and a transport for delivering paratroopers. A Taylorcraft L-2 “Grasshopper,â€￾ Piper L-4 “Cubâ€￾ [Coll, H&R] or Stinson L-5 “Sentinelâ€￾ would be appropriate US aircraft for the light liaison type (See Auster AOP in UK list). The A-36 Apache (ground attack version of Allison-engined P-51 Mustang) proved useful in the Mediterranean and CBI theaters. I can’t find any model of the A-36 in Microarmor scale.
GHQ will produce the Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota [Coll, H&R, Raiden, Sky] in 2016. Another transport with significant use is the Curtiss C-46 Commando [Coll]. The C-46 was more capable than the C-47 but also much more expensive, and was produced in smaller (but still significant) numbers.
My vote is for the Piper L-4.

US Navy: GHQ has really done a good job of covering this area with the Wildcat, Corsair, and Dauntless all available. The Grumman F6F Hellcat [CinC, Coll, H&R, Raiden, Sky] fighter also had significant ground attack capability, but was less known in this role than the Corsair. The Grumman TBF Avenger [CinC, Coll, H&R] was primarily a torpedo bomber, but was used as a level bomber against land targets when no enemy ships were around. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver [CinC, Coll, H&R] had greater capability than the Dauntless, but was less liked by its users.
Several of the medium and large seaplanes were used as transports, but I could find no history of any of them in an assault role.
Given the choice, I would put the Grumman F6F Hellcat next in line.

Don S.

[piersyf]

I'm going to preface this with the disclaimer that I'm only interested in late WW2. There are stacks of very nice aircraft I'd love to have, they just wouldn't fit my gaming range.
With that in mind:
I support the L-4 or L-5 Grasshoppers.
I already have CinC's simply divine FW190's, but would endorse the Fw189. Mostly used in the East, but was used as observation, ground attack, night interdiction and casualty evac. A very capable airframe!
I would like an AR234 Blitz. Actually used in combat from August 1944 as both recon and bomber against land forces.
Gotha 244 I have from Scotia. Boxy enough airframe to not look awful.
I'd like GHQ to redo their Horsa gliders... the ones they make have very ill fitting parts. While we're at it, Hamilcar glider with the Airborne jeep and C8 tractors.
For my odd one; the Re.2001 for the Italians. Mainly because it was selected as the aircraft to operate off the Aquila, and GHQ already make the 2001 in 1:2400 scale. Late war 'what if' with the Aquila providing ground support somewhere in the Med against an Allied amphibious force? (BTW, I like combined ops campaigns...)

BTW, CinC make a very nice Hellcat and the NF version with the radar dome on the wing.

[whoa Mohamed]

Modern and cold war rotory wing.
AH1G Cobra Nam
MI2
MI4
Huey twinpac USMC
S65 twinpac Nam and Loas
MI17

Wasp UK

[DAVIDNOLA62]

A-1G for Vietnam
Chinook that's Vietnam appropriate
Cessna O-2
AC-47
F-100
A-4C and F
A-7

[voltigeur]

F14 with the wings Forward!

[Shark73]

Modern:

China
Z8 Transport Helicopter (aka Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon)
Z19 Attack Helicopter
Z20 Attack Helicopter
Xian JH-7 Fighter-bomber

Russia
Mi171 Transport Helicopter
Mi17 Transport Helicopter
Mi26 Heavy Transport Helicopter

[pmskaar]

GHQ has been slowly filling in some gaps in their WWII aircraft line. I welcomed the Pe-2 and the Ju-87B that have come out in the last couple of years. Here are some more I would like to see.

WWII Germany

1. Ju87D Stuka. This will give the German forces the main Stukas that they used.
2. Fw190 A-8. The major ground attack version of the Focke Wulf types.
3. Me 110. Good for early war especially.
4. Me 109e and Me 109f. This will cover most models of this series in addition to the 109 g that GHQ already makes. Maybe also in a "Tropical" version for North Africa.

WWII Great Britain

1. Hawker Hurricane Mk II types in Tropical versions for North Africa. The model basically already exists but needs the air filter.
2. Spitfire Mk V with Tropical air filter.

WWII United States

1. P47D with bubble canopy.
2. P51D with bubble canopy.
3. Some later P-40 types.

WWII Soviet Union

1. Tu-2.
2. IL-2 early type with single seat.
3. Yak 1 or 3.
4. Lagg 3.

Modern Soviet Union

1. Su-7. Good for Arab-Israeli as well as Cold War scenarios.

Modern United States

1. A-4 Skyhawk. Maybe a couple versions of this one.


That is my list for now. Have a great day!

Pete

[7.62]

Mod fixed wing

1, Saab Gripen
2, Bae Hawk
3, Hawker Hunter
4, Mirage III

Flap wing

1, S-61 Sea King
2, Westland Scout AH1 (+ parts for Wasp)
3, SA-321 /Z-8

[RedLeif]

I would like a GHQ model of a mid war Soviet medium bomber. Either the Il-4 (Ilyushin DB-3f), ~5000? produced or the Tu-2, a mid to post war medium bomber, would be nice.

Although available from a competitor in 1/300 scale these would be nice to have in the slightly larger 1/285th scale and unsurpassed quality of GHQ.