AIRCRAFT - "Prototypes and Paper Projects" Group Build - Still Open.

Modeling Subjects Group Builds
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Prototypes and Paper Projects Group Build

Here it is, my first group build! Anyway, here are the stipulations-

  1. Projects must conform to the subject (Duh!)
  2. Any scale is welcome.
  3. Prototypes of familier aircraft are okay.
  4. Any era, any time, anything is fine- just so long as it’s either a prototype, or a project that never got off the ground. (Ha ha.)
  5. Most importantly- Your own designs DO NOT QUALIFY. It has to have been thought of by someone in history at one point and time. If you can find historical documentation, it will work. (Note- if you a project now that now does not qualify because of this change, let me know. We’ll work somthing out.)
  6. The official start date is June 1, but if you have a project now, go for it!
  7. There is no set finish date.

Because this build has no finish date, anyone can just jump in whenever they want. I’m working on a project that will take a LONG time, so I don’t expect anyone to wait around. So don’t worry about what’s going on. Just jump in and have fun!

Okay, I’m gonna try something. What about this-

As some of you know, I’m planning to attempt a totally hairbrained sceme that is way out of my skill level, but nevertheless… (Check out the link in my signature.)

So I thought, with all this crazyness, let’s turn it into a community project! Here’s the deal-

1. It’s my first attempt at a group build, so I apologize if I do stuff a little strange.
2. No matter what I do, I’m not a top quality builder, so anything I do will reflect that fact.
3. As the title said, I plan it to be a hypothetical aircraft group build. That entails anything that never made it into production. (Prototypes are fine by me!)
4. There is no scale restriction.
5. Because it is a hypothetical aircraft build, I guess that could include normal aircraft with custom, nonstandard paint jobs, but if you ask my professional opinion, I kinda think that is taking the easy way out. But don’t get me wrong! It’s still okay.

So there it is. What I’m kinda looking at is like Luft '46 aircraft. NOTE: That DOESN’T mean it’s restricted to just that!

Only one problem…

As of right now, I have nothing I need to start. Absolutly nothing. No kit, no paint, no airbrush, (I plan to remedy that soon, though.) no nothing. So, therefore, this subject is not so much an invitation as it is something to test the water for my idea. You know, get feedback on it, and to get YOUR input. Ask questions, please! As I said, if this group build does become reality, it probably won’t be for a while. (A year, or possibly more! I’m not kidding!) So if you want to join, great! I encourage it!

Just don’t hold your breath![:D]

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Sounds like a fun idea for those that go for that type of modeling. I’m really not into “what ifs” but if you get the GB off the ground I would follow the thread with interest.

3

Interesting…I like it! I’ve just today started planning a Diorama of wierd and wonderful aircraft that were built by Germany in WWII - including this one- B & V 170:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=PLA11572

The idea is to depict a secret experimental testing airfield somewhere…

To start, I got me a Messershmitt Me-328 parasite fighter in mistel configuration sitting atop a Dornier 217 today, in fact…(1:72 scale airfix kit) weird enough? The Me 328 never really entered service, but it was tested…would that count? Otherwise I’ll order the Blooming Vase 170…bit steep at more than 40 notes brit money…

I’ve never done a group build before, and I’ve just got back into model building after a 15 year absence…built a 1:100 spaceshuttle…Christmas pressy…built loads of models as a kid…
…I’m also building an F-14 Tomcat…hoped to finish that before I started on this wacky Deutch Diorama thing…give me more time to think, plan, dream…but I could be interested/persuaded and start the messy-dorny kit now…bloody massive pop rivets all over the damn fusy and wingiestho…sand the buggers off…[V]
Edit:
Here’s the Messy-Dorny Airfix Kit I got today:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=AX05029

4

sounds like a good idea to me. i would love to join in this gb if it gets going.

5

Lucien, I really like the idea, and Luft '46 is my favorite subject. I haven’t built one yet, but I’ll join in the Group when it gets going.

I’ll get thinking on a project right now.

Thanks for the idea,

stinger

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as with rjk, i am not into the “what if” builds. however recently i watched the history channel present a hour long show on japanese what if planes. they sparked my interest and i will be considering this build.

joe

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Very interesting subject. Especially if the entries would go beyond Luft '46 subjects. Experimental jets from the '40s and '50s come to mind… Or some of the planes that come up in Blackwolf’s quizzes [:D]. Some of the weirdest designs are also some of the most beautiful (check out quiz #20 for a great example). I’m thinking Northrop flying wing prototypes N-1m, N-9M… Uh-oh, I was not going to get involved in this one but I’m afraid I just got bitten by the bug. I guess I’m in but I don’t know when I would be able to start because I have a few things that come first (F-15E, Beaufighter, need to find a Mirage F-1CZ and have to build my Cat after that…[sigh][(-D]). But heck, give me a start date and I’m in!
Btw, I do have an XB-35 and XB-70 stashed away somewhere. Would thoset qualify (in case I can’t find anything weirder)?

8

This morning an idea struck me, and reading your suggestions (thanks, by the way) I sold myself to it.

Instead of a “hypothetical” aircraft build, I was thinking of changing it to a “Prototypes and Paper Projects” group build instead. Still kind of the same thing, but in my opinion, it encompasses a slightly larger group. Now, if some people don’t like to model purely hypothetical aircraft, they still have the option of modelling a real prototype.

Pretty much anything experimental, strange, or not gotten past the drawing board!

And norite, yes, the Me 328/ Do 217 would be fine. Heck, it’d be great! I actually know a little about the Me 328 myself. If you havn’t checked out the photo in my signature yet (the only link in it), look now. Notice the little aircraft on the starboard fugelage?

Oh, yes. I have big plans for that sucker…

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norite! I just realized what the Bv 170 was! That (In my opinion) is one of the coolest aircraft ever- wait. Not built, 'cause it wasn’t… Anyway, wether this group build becomes a reality or not (I really want it to be), pics of your progress on it would be greatly appreciated!

10

Hmmm…hokay…might get me that Blooming Vase 170…but at forty notes, I’ll wait till the end of the month…

Going to start on the double decker mistel craft tonight. I’m off then!!

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Right then, I’m off and running with the ball.

Here’s my contribution:

I’ve started on the Me 328, just painted the cockpit this evening.

I will probably get the Blooming Vase 170 at the end of the month…depends how rich me is feeling…forty UK notes for a 1:72 scale…eeeek…

Anyone else?

P.S can we make this a sticky, and rename it to weird aircraft or summat?? Ta

12

Whoa, there! I like the enthusiasum, but this is just the planning stage! As I said before, even though I initiated this thing, I don’t even have anything to start yet! I guess we could make it sticky… It’s just that I wouldn’t really be able to join for quite a while!

And you have all my sympathies with the Bv 170. I must have been under the impression you had it already! [D)] The price isn’t much better over here.

And, last but not least, a tentative list of who wants to join this thing-
-norite (definitly! Right?)
-Me (Duh! When it starts!)
-Filibert Kraxner (I said tentative!)
-stinger
-ghettochild

By all means, if someone wants to get this thing off the ground now, I guess it could be okay. I just don’t want it wallowing as a sticky doing nothing because I don’t have anything to contribute!

Unless…

I also guess people could just pop in and out as projects are started and completed. Has this been tried before? My only objection would be on how to finish it up, when the time came!

And I seem to have run out of things to say! Read this, consider it, and let me have your ideas!

13

Lucien, Give the project a specific end date, say 3 months from the beginning of June? Finish by end August? That way we all have a focus, and it’ll keep us on our toes. By the end of this month, we should all have chosen a model or two to build. that gives everyone two weeks from now to get a model… Or if you have one already, start now, like me [8D]

I dunno, matey, you suggested this idea, so you’re in charge?
I like the JU 290…If you like that kind of thing, I can suggest something smaller, like the BF-109Z - it was exactly the same idea, two 109’s welded together. It didn’t fly afaik…
That would be a nice one for the group build…[^]

There are kits available - Hannants stock it over here…

14

Lucien,

I would be interested in joining such a group build, as those Luft 46 ‘‘paper projects’’ are fun to build and paint. My current project should be finished in a few weeks and I should be able to join in on the fun.

Matrixone

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I just have one problem with setting a start date and a finish date- as I said before, I have nothing to begin it, and I’m totally broke! Maybe it was a mistake by offering this build this early, before I was prepared… I don’t know. No matter when it starts, I can tell you this much- I’m not gonna be able to get a model in two weeks! When I started this thing, I only intended to just pass the idea, you know? See if anyone wanted to do it. My point is, I’m not setting a start date because-

  1. I can’t, and
  2. I never intended to.

I just want to get one thing clear- [:)]THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL GROUP BUILD![:)] I just wanted to judge the reaction for a possible one. The only thing I can say to norite is finish the Dornier Mistel. But save your money for the Bv 170 until this build actually starts!

16

Did you get all that? Basically, keep going on the Mistel! Don’t stop! Save your money for the Bv 170 'till later! The Group Build hasn’t started yet! It won’t for a while! I am broke! No money for me until distant future! I was just fishing for the idea! The build will happen! JUST NOT YET!

I do thank you wholeheartedly for the suggestions, though! You’re just moving a little faster than I am able to right now! I promise, as soon as I have a start date, I will give one. I still need to buy two Ju 290 kits, a Me 328 kit, an airbrush, paint, and possibly Condor’s German missle set (and that’s without the electronics to moterize the thing!), all with money I do not have!

If you do want a realistic start date, from my side I’m thinking about… A year from today.

What? I’m serious!

I am.

17

Lucien, I see the predicament you are in [:(]. I think the problem is you suggested an idea that’s just too good to be left alone. When do oyu think you will be a ble to get a kit for this project? I am told Ebay has some great opportunities for low prices in the USA (in Holland it’s not so good). Maybe you could get lucky there. We could set a date that leaves a couple of months time for everyone to get their stuff sorted. In the meantime, the quick and eager [:-,] folks could already start on their kits (like me…). It doesn’t have to be just one build per person, right? We could still make this thing sticky, I suppose. What do you think? I certainly don’t want to shoplift your idea and would like to assist if I can.
Btw: just went to the LHS and got an MPM Curtiss XP-55 Ascender in 1/72 scale, because the XB-35 wouldn’t fit on my shelf if I built it right now (we gotta move someday…). Alas no digital camera, but I’ll borrow one to document any serious progress. Well, I’m brakes on, engines to full[:D][;)]

18

OK, Lucien, I’ll be going along on this one… Plenty of exciting things to do with a theme like that!

19

Okay, here’s the plan-

We make it Sticky, with a start date of, mmm…, July 1st. This year.
There will be no “finish by” date.
People chompin’ at the bit can start as soon as possible.
I will join you whenever I can.

Sound good? Good? Any questions? Go for it!
(When it becomes Sticky, I’ll rename it something more appropriate.)

20

@Lucien:
OK, matey, no worries. This has attracted a lot of interest; I think you’ve become a victim of your own success here, chuckle chuckle…[:D] I’m gonna build the mistel; I’m not in any hurry anyways…an hour here…an hour there…good wine is never rushed…It was just a nice coincidence that I bought the Misteltoe on the same day that I saw your post…so I couldn’t help myself…[:I] This is actually right up my road…I want to build lots of weird aircraft for my deutcherama, so I’ll just build away[:D]

This is a really great idea Lucien and I hope we get some really cool builds out of it! [:D]

Good stuff!