Canvas Eagles

[[Nataliia]]

I'll get this ball rolling with a short intro to a really nice World War I Dogfight tabletop miniature game, called Canvas Eagles. A quick blurb from the free to download rules:

Canvas Eagles [CE] is a multi-player air combat game set in the time of World War One 1914-1918. [CE] provides the details of aerial combat: how the aircraft fly and how they fight. Players then choose their aircraft and fight out their encounters using 1/72nd or 1/144th scale model aircraft.

What this means is that you have small airplanes, on elevation markers with a choice of manoeuvers they are capable of. Either playing the Axis or the Allies, the planes climb, dive, shoot, and crash their way to victory across a hex board. Throw in some blimps and you've got wondrous fun.

www.generalissue.com/canvas.html

[Keith Heitmann]

It reminds me of a few board games I have, Flight Leader, Spitfire, Air War, Red Baron. It also takes me back to the days as a kid when I played Milton Bradley's game "Dogfight". A simplified air combat game with small plastic aircraft and stands. Maneuvering was done by means of drawing and discarding playing card type maneuver cards.

Looks expensive to get into with all the planes you have to buy and setup, etc., etc..

[[Nataliia]]

We contacted our local Historical Miniatures group, LSHM in San Antonio, and they provided planes the first several games. Dave only has 2-3 planes right now, and that's plenty. If one gets shot down, he can play later as a different pilot flying the same plane. We get our planes from the UK, and they're about 6 pounds each, but if you can find a group they should be able to loan you a plane to play a few games to see if you like it.
They're also in pieces, so you have to put together and paint

[Keith Heitmann]

I'm no stranger to model building and painting. Since the scales are 1:72 and 1:144 plastic kits should simple to find.

The only major roadblock is that there are no such groups in my area.

[[Nataliia]]

Here's a pictoral poke to this thread. These are shots of our local Historical Miniatures group's Canvas Eagles game at a recent gaming convention:

Our very nice playing board (not the norm, many folks "oohed" and "aaahed" over it):


A close-up of the planes used:


I've been hit!! See the smoke?