The Shinden

[heenanc]

I'm looking forward to a sucessfull game as Japan [:D], and as is historically correct I've been reading about Japan getting demolished in 44. I was thinking about the Shinden. How early would it be possible to produce this plane? Would it have any major effects on the outcome of the war?

I'm will to be frugul now for a few advantages later on.

Help from Japan 44 PBEM'er would be great...

[Mike Solli]

My guess would be 3 months early tops.  I've never heard of anyone getting a plane more than 3 months early.  Not saying it's not possible, just that I've never heard of it.

[heenanc]

Cheers Mike, what planes do you pump then? I think I'm a bit to late for the Tony/Tojo it's mid feb, stock. But I don't want to be late in the air. Which fighter keeps you going at this stage? Looking towards 43?

[Mike Solli]

You may want to ask someone else about late war.  My longest game is May 43.  Tonys and Tojos are the best (by far) for the IJA.  The Jack is a killer plane for the IJN.  It'll shoot down anything.  I use the A6M3a on carriers.  On land, it's A6M2 (overproduced them), A6M3 and A6M3a (along with the Jack).  The 3a is best but not all that great.  Can't wait for the A6M5.  I have high hopes for it.

Another plane to consider for late war is the Randy.  It's supposedly pretty good.  I don't upgrade any Lt. bomber Sentai beyone the Lily.  They will upgrade to the Randy when it comes along.  The Lilys are used primarily for ASW now, or in China.  Not very survivable anywhere else.  Their experience is usually in the high 80s though.  They'll make for some nice Randy units late in the war should they survive that long.

[fabertong]

Hi heenac,


What Mike said...........AFAIK......or, in my experience........three months is the most one can move forward production.........

Get Tojo/Tony/Jacks as soon as you can.

A6M5 for carrier duty really......but do overproduce for future Kami use........

Build far more than you think you need.....because in stock the last few months are carnage.......esp. when Mustangs arrive......

[Coach Z]

When should a Japanese player begin pouring in the R & D for types like the SHINDEN, the FRANK, & the REPPU? Or perhaps when is it the ost effective?
 
 

[n01487477]

CoachZ,
it is pretty hard to get R&D factories consistently repairing more than a year out, but I don't think there is ever a bad time to start if you have free slots. And they consume nothing while in R&D, except the 1000 Pts to repair each factory point.

As Uamaga and others have tested, the chance of repair is as much about time till avail as the size of the facility. A larger factory I believe does better.

Damian

[Nemo121]

I think that most people haven't found any benefit from accelerating them more than one year out so the rules of thumb I've developed ( which seem pretty solid from review of AARs and in-game experience ) are as follows:
 
1. There's no point doing R&D for planes which are more than 12 months away.
 
2. For every 100 airframe factories you build you can get the plane 1 month earlier up to a maximum of 3 months earlier.

So, if you REALLY want a plane early than about 1 year before it is due begin building 3 x 100+ airframe factories and you should have the plane 3 months earlier and be able to build at least 300 of them per month. Since you'll need hundreds of Shinden's per month this sort of investment is well worth it.
 
E.g. In my game vs 2nd ACR July is going to mark the beginning of a serious build-up of Ki-44 III production with a view to getting it into action 3 months earlier so that my front-line forces can be ready for the onslaught of Corsairs in January 43.