Posted By James on 15 Dec 2009 11:52 PM
So talking to the two nearest caaptains, it seems that they've both chosen fast-gun over big-gun. I was introduced to the hobby by the WWC a big gun group, so that's the direction I lean. I'm curious why Independent Captians choose their formats. I said in the a different thread, I think the bigger round is exciting, and it seems more fun to build a battleship that can fire the larger round (plus better water penetration), but after drooling over captiancooks pictures of the Utah, which I'd given up on (both because I don't have his amazing woodworking skills, and because it didn't mount 14+ in guns in the original) I'm starting to reconsider. As I understand it:
Big Gun has larger guns, and only mounts those in the main turrets, for the ships over 50,000 tons. (I had to check, and I guess cruisers can mount the smaller turrets, although how in the heck you get them powered I don't know.
Fast Gun has all .177 bb guns, and can mount all guns on all ships.
The other large difference between the two is how they scale the speed.
For everything else, either the two formats are the same, or even different clubs in the same format have different rules.
Am I correct?
So it seems to me, that as an Independent, going Fast-Gun will give me more flexiblity in ships (both age and country/diversity) while still staying competitive.
Those big guns are sexy though.
Fast gun is easier because it is cheeper to buy BBs than 1/4" ball bearings and the ships do not need timers for their guns etc.
Fast gun is divided into 2 major groups:
IRCWCC which was the original, a fast easy way to group and categorize ships, good solid rules, tested and revised over many years, and quite workable. the boats tend to be cheeper to build and maintain and easyer to set up, the speeds are not as accurate.
MWC started with a base similar to IRCWCC but changed some of the categories and numbers of guns for their ships also has a closer approximation of scale speeds or at least a greater range to better define ship classes.
A later comer and one that could be part of the above groups is
Treaty Combat, it is a bit more detailed but again basically a off shoot of IRCWCC.
All 3 of these use the smaller BB guns which makes it easier to get permission to use ponds, allows younger captains (some areas consider the guns above a small caliber to be actual fire arms, check local areas), and is generally softer for anyone getting hit by a stray round. All clubs have good building and design rules and good safety rules, really it depends on who you can battle with and want to make the effort to contact and play with. I know it is easier to get permission to use a pond for fast gun (Small Guns) than any of the big gun combats in our area. Our club has most members part of the IRCWCC but some friends drop in and battle ships that are constructed to MWCC or Treaty stats, what happens is we look at each ship and make the call before a battle if everyone is ok with it fighting and if any changes have to be made, then we go play, really you just have to work together and make it fair and enjoyable for all and it is good then!
Bryan
Model Warship Combat, International Remote Control Warship Combat Club, Treaty Warship Combat Club