I was reading this article regarding the testing they’re conducting of unmanned vehicles for convoy duty. With the future bringing more unmanned vehicles into reality, do you think there will be interest in modeling unmanned vehicles? Or does it lose some of it’s appeal? Granted one of the factors in deciding what to model is based upon it’s visual appeal. However I think there’s a bit more to it, more of a human interest aspect that appeals to people. Think about it, would we celebrate combat aces the same way if they’re deployed in a tent with a computer and joystick controlling the vehicle remotely? Or a computer program?
On the positive side – no more having to worry about painting figures (crew members).
I think there would still be an interest based on the visual appeal, but I think there would be some attrition as the human link is lost. So I guess the answer is yes, models will be made, but less of them. I haven’t learned the secrets of decent figure painting yet so that aspect doesn’t bother me.
I don’t think we will celebrate “aces” in quite the same manner. Look how Anthony Sirka was shut out of the Oscars for what (to me) should have been a slam dunk role in Lord of the Rings. And perhaps that’s how it should be.
Thinking about computerized attack vehicles, that brings a whole new dimension to the “blue screen of death”! [:D]