…well?
I like the more dynamic poses, so, flaps down.
If the airplane is on the deck of the Zuiho, flaps down.
Otherwise depends on kit features.
Anytime I hear “flaps up”, I have visions of the penguins from the “Madagascar” movie…
But if we’re talking plastic models, usually flaps up for some reason.
Manny was suspended from the Zuiho for lowering his fiddly bits .
HAHahaha!
Depends on how the real plane sat.
That depends on the kit. The F/A-18 has a very complex set of multi-part flaps. If the kit has them molded up, it would be virtually impossible to pose them down without some sort of AM set with all the pieces. Anything with Fowler flaps would be the same situation. Anything where the flaps just rotate around a forward pivot line is fairly simple. Then you have to consider whether or not the full scale bird usually had them down when at rest.
Darwin, O.F. [aln]
Depends on the aircraft & how much work is involved, but I like the look of flaps down.
Regards, Rick
I like 'em down. But Darren is right, Fowlers would would be tough of they don’t come in the box. I keep threatening (in my head) to build an airliner with the flaps fully extended. My favorite seat is even with or 1-2 rows behind the TE of the wings to watch those flaps slide down. very cool.
Depends on the aircraft…
For instance, Monogram released the P-61 with the flaps down, and I for one, like everything “down & dirty” if I get a choice… However, the flaps on the Widow were only down for landing and take-off, they had to be raised for taxiing…
The Corsair, well… That MUST be down for the flaps… Even after the boarding step was removed from the right inboard flap, they just look better that way… But overall, I display them according to whatever I can find in the pilot’s handbook or from ref-photos…
Some Fowler flaps I just leave alone though… Too much work rebuilding them unless te diorama calls for them to be lowered…
[N] Down looks cool.
Dean
Right now, however the kit has it. I haven’t worked up to modifying them on my own yet.
Most of the time I’ll do flaps down. Like gear down I’ve come to appreciate the extra detail you can see or add by having gear down, flaps down, canopy open, etc.
I’ve built more 109’s than any other quarter scale kit (over a dozen)…and every one has a different flap configuration…since the 109 has “clamshell flaps” you can lower both, raise the top one and lower the bottom one, or any permutation inbetween…then there are the leading-edge slats…
you answered your own question.
Flaps are used to control the aircraft. Slow speed or to raise lift at take off.
Some are dropped at park to facilitate boarding and maint.
Each aircraft has it’s own demands and configs.
In modeling a particular aircraft I take all that into consideration.
In real life, they fly much faster clean and power up!
Dr
I often do that, and as a pilot, I do know what they are for in real life.
Manny was testing us.
He first gained flying experience on those notorious “Schadelspalter” HJ gliders
wait wait wait, is he testing us, or is he really (REALLY) a pilot… hmmm, the plot thickens!
You appear to doubt Manny’s fervent attempts at educating us.
Sorry, Manny.
Vance doesn’t really mean it.