Das Spiel - AIR RAID 36/46

AIR RAID 36/46

NOT JUST ANOTHER AIR COMBAT GAME!

With AIR RAID 36/46, we offer you an aerial combat game that allows you to jump quickly into exciting dogfights. We designed the rules specifically so that you can start playing in no time, without needing prior experience or having to spend ages studying the instructions.
The following points were very important to us when creating AIR RAID 36/46:

Easy-to-learn rules with many examples
Short playtime
No elaborate bookkeeping
Playtime scales well, even with an increasing number of players and units.
High-quality metal miniatures with excellent detail.
All components of the game are manufactured in Europe under fair conditions.

TIME IS A SCARCE RESOURCE

Who hasn't been there? You have little time—or simply lack the patience at the moment—to dive into complex rules. Work and family also demand your time, leaving little left over for your hobby. We know this situation all too well—and it is precisely what led us to the concept behind AIR RAID 36/46.

It is always possible to make things more complicated and detailed—but for us, playability takes priority. The aircraft statistics have been meticulously researched and are grounded in historical reality. The optional supplementary rules included in the core set ensure that the game offers even greater depth and variety.
The blend of tactical skill and elements of chance heightens the suspense and can turn the tide in many a battle.

HIGHLY DETAILED METAL MINIATURES

The 3D models of our figures are created with a high degree of detail by a professional designer. They then undergo a meticulous review by us. Once the 3D model is approved, it is printed in resin using an industrial printer to serve as the master template. This finished master forms the basis for the metal figures, which are cast here in Germany by Schilling-Figuren.

All these steps get a quality check so that we offer only models of such a quality to you which we would expect ourselves.

Why does Air Raid 36/46 use metal miniatures?

We occasionally read that metal miniatures are "outdated" or no longer in step with the times. Indeed, the mass market—particularly regarding major fantasy and science fiction game systems—has long since shifted heavily toward plastic and resin.
However, this does not mean that metal is obsolete. Today, it plays a vital role wherever small production runs, a wide variety of models, durability, and a premium tactile feel are required.
And that is precisely one of the reasons why we at Air Raid 36/46 consciously choose metal.

Our miniatures are produced in 1:200 scale. At this size, a metal miniature offers a completely different feel compared to an ultra-light plastic model; you can actually sense the weight in your hand. The models feel solid, robust, and high-quality—qualities that many classic tabletop gamers and collectors still appreciate in metal miniatures today.
Then there is the matter of durability. With small aircraft models in particular, thin resin components can be very fragile. Metal is much more forgiving in this regard: a slightly bent part can often be carefully straightened out rather than snapping immediately.

However, another crucial factor is production. Injection-molded plastic is ideally suited for manufacturing very large quantities of a given model. Yet, the molds required for this process entail high initial costs and only become cost-effective given sufficiently large production volumes.

Air Raid 36/46 takes a different approach: variety rather than the mass production of a single model. We now offer a range of more than 115 different historical aircraft and vehicle types. Many of these are deliberately unusual models that would likely never appear as dedicated miniatures in a mass-market system.
Metal production allows us to manufacture such models economically—even in relatively small batches—and to continuously expand our lineup with additional aircraft types.
However, this does not mean we rule out other materials entirely. For certain aircraft types, we specifically opt for resin when a model cannot be practically or technically realized as a metal miniature.

Biplanes are a good example. Their thin wings, struts, and delicate connections would often require a multi-part design for a metal miniature—one that the player would first have to assemble. However, this is not always the ideal solution, especially for tabletop games where the goal is for the miniature to be robust, uncomplicated, and ready for action as quickly as possible.
In such cases, high-quality resin can be the more practical alternative, enabling designs that can be produced as single-piece miniatures or ones that are significantly easier to handle.

Our guiding principle remains clear: wherever it is technically feasible and sensible, we prefer metal. We do not use resin as a substitute for metal, but rather specifically where it offers a superior structural solution for the model in question.
Of course, metal has its downsides, too. The miniatures require proper preparation and priming before painting, and multi-part models require superglue or two-part epoxy rather than plastic cement.

For us, however, the advantages at the 1:200 scale clearly outweigh the downsides. Consequently, metal is not merely a relic of tabletop gaming’s past when it comes to *Air Raid 36/46*. It is a deliberate choice made for the sake of durability, tactile quality, and small production runs—and, above all, to enable the vast array of aircraft types we want to offer you. And if the design of a specific aircraft calls for a different material, we utilize that option as well—not for the sake of trends, but because, ultimately, our priority is creating the best possible tabletop miniature.

NO MORE ANNOYING PAPERWORK!

Templates and tape measures are often required to execute movement and fire. Inaccuracies and disagreements can arise time and again. Damage, ammunition levels, speed, and other details must be recorded on record sheets—a task that can entail a massive administrative burden as the number of aircraft increases.

For us, the enjoyment of the game takes precedence—something that can only be ensured through smooth gameplay. We have therefore decided that AIR RAID 36/46 is played on clearly structured maps featuring hexagonal grids. Damage and experience levels are displayed directly on the models' bases using insertable discs.
All necessary statistics—such as speed, firepower, and the like—are listed on a concise reference card, only one copy of which is required on the tabletop per aircraft type. This renders the time-consuming task of maintaining individual record sheets entirely unnecessary.

THEATRES OF WAR

Not only the common theatres like war in the pacific, eastern and western front or africa are covered by us but also the spanish civil war 1936. We also aim for a fictional time after 1945 as if the war did continue.

ANY CHANGE WELCOME?

AIR RAID 36/46 can be played with dogfights head-on but also with demanding scenarios and mission objectives like bombing runs on ground targets or torpedo attacks on ships just to name a few.
In the basic rules there are also optional rules so that experienced players can add new details to the game and make it more interesting.

WHAT ELSE?

AIR RAID 36/46 is continuously expanded by new types of aircraft, expansions for theatres as well as additional rules.
As you can see we have some things in preparation for you.