Early game aircraft production and usage (JAP side)

[VukyTzar]

I've had some problems with aircraft shortages in my previous games mostly Ki-43 Ic's and Ki-21 IIa sally's. Now I have about 85 Ki-43's in pool and Im producing about 70 planes per month, air combat went in my favor during malaya campaign and now I'm worried I did overkill in Oscar production. should I turn off production or convert some of smaller factories, how much zeros and oscars do you generaly keep in pool? Also I've read few AAR's (mike sollis was my favorite) where people stated that Ki-48 lillys were almost useless and I cant say they were of much use to me [:(]. Should I completely abandon Lillys and use them for training or would be a good idea to convert them to sallys? also I am playing PDU on and R&D on.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: VukyTzar

I've had some problems with aircraft shortages in my previous games mostly Ki-43 Ic's and Ki-21 IIa sally's. Now I have about 85 Ki-43's in pool and Im producing about 70 planes per month, air combat went in my favor during malaya campaign and now I'm worried I did overkill in Oscar production. should I turn off production or convert some of smaller factories, how much zeros and oscars do you generaly keep in pool? Also I've read few AAR's (mike sollis was my favorite) where people stated that Ki-48 lillys were almost useless and I cant say they were of much use to me [:(]. Should I completely abandon Lillys and use them for training or would be a good idea to convert them to sallys? also I am playing PDU on and R&D on.

I'd advise a limited production of Ki-43-Ics to avoid overproduction, IMO. I think later war Oscars make a good late-war kamikaze airframe with 2x250kg boms apiece and good range, but you will not have much benefit at having the aged Ic around in numbers. Upgrade the factory and the airframes for more functionality.

Yes. The Lillys are easily replaceable with Sallys or Helens. They are an inferior airframe, and I wouldn't hesitate to use whatever you have remaining (later war) as kamikazes also.

[GetAssista]

Ditch Oscar-1-s as fast as possible, they are useless other then training in late game.
Later Lilys are armored IJA DBs with good range that can fly from small airfields. Lowpe can attest to their usefulness in later game =)

[VukyTzar]

I plan on having around 100 oscars in the pool to serve as kamikaze or training planes...Still I dont have any alternative for them because I am still in early february, could simply turn off production but it seems like a waste. Im thinking to convert Oscar factory (20 planes per month) into sally factory [8|] . Im still learning how to run THE ECONOMY and trying to find best way to use limited time and resources I have.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: VukyTzar

I plan on having around 100 oscars in the pool to serve as kamikaze or training planes...Still I dont have any alternative for them because I am still in early february, could simply turn off production but it seems like a waste. Im thinking to convert Oscar factory (20 planes per month) into sally factory [8|] . Im still learning how to run THE ECONOMY and trying to find best way to use limited time and resources I have.

Nein. Upgrade your factory to continue to produce The Oscar IIa, IIb, III and IV as they are developed.

[VukyTzar]

Will do that although I will keep an eye on the pool not to overproduce them[8D]

[rustysi]

What CB says! When you upgrade to an A/C in its upgrade path there's no production reduction. IOW a 20 plane factory will remain so, if you convert to another model it'll be reduced. You are going to want the upgrades in some numbers. Remember the Oscar is an offensive A/C due to its range. Use it as ablative armor for your bombers. Personally I would only keep 25-50 in the pools, depending on your ops levels/losses.

As for the Sally you start with a production of 23/month. At least in scen1. I find that to be sufficient, but its dependent on ops levels/losses as well. For me I'm going to replace it starting with the Helen IIa anyway so I don't want too many. The first Helen is actually a bit inferior, but some like it because it'll get MAD or radar later and they wish to use it in ASW. Not me.

For the Lilly, done on day one. I use what I have in China. As to the dive bomber version I just feel that Allied AAA will chew them up. Now that's just MHO as I've never tried them and others swear by them in that role.