I dislike the F-22, F-35, F-117, F-15 and basically any “fighter” designated jet with slab sides that looks like you could build it just by going to your local lumber yard and picking up a few sheets of plywood.
I notice somebody mentioned the BAC Lightning here; if there was ever a postwar jet with serious personality in its design, the Lightning was it. Unorthodox engine arrangement, unorthodox auxiliary fuel tank position, unique wing design. She was unmistakable as anything else, just that unique a shape in the sky. How could you not love that in a postwar jet?
I don’t build a lot of WWII generally speaking. I really have to want a subject from that era badly or it has to appeal to me extremely for me to buy and build it.
What I really wish is that more mainstream manufacturers would hit the interwar era more frequently. Aviation had some of its most significant developments in that era. Biplane gave way to the monoplane, fabric on frame gave way to stressed metal construction, new speed records were being set faster than you could keep track of them… Shame that so many of those aircraft are left to the limited run side of things to be represented.
the british lightning has to be no.1, the british vulcan, cambera etc, all look very depressing, however I do like most of the british WW2 planes, of course the Spitfires and Hurricanes, Typhoons etc. I’ve got truckloads of them:)
In general I like most of american and russian planes, most of the F-…s and Migs and SU…s:)
like most of the french planes too. (jets)
And to answer J-Hulk’s question on grammar "Abrams’s (how do you make “Abrams” plural?) " One would just add the apostrophe like so: Abrams’.
Cheers,
Eric
With apologies to Anglophiles everywhere, much of the flying machines designed and built by many British companies were really pretty ugly…Blackburn, Vickers, Handley-Page, DeHavilland, Westland, BAC…man, they made some ugly planes - and so very many of them were really quite good performers.
Form doesn’t always follow function.
[8D] Bf 109’s and Fw 190’s have my vote. I know they were great aircraft but it seems that every where I turn my head at a show or meeting, there they are staring me right in the face.
P-51s, I’m sick of Mustangs. Mustangs get all the glory. Same with all these modern pointy-nosed super-duper-sonic fighters.
Also, anything German post-1930s. I’d rather not bust my hump with all that intricate camouflage and aftermarket markings just so I can have a tribute to the Third Reich.
What I really like are planes from the 40s though the 60s that no one has ever heard about.
Anything “1946 luftwaffe”. It’s not so much the planes as the wild claims made for how the nazis would have won given a little more time etc. I once saw an advertisement for a kit of some twin boom jet that only existed as a general arrangement drawing claiming that it was the inspiration for the vampire. More worrying is that when they found that drawing in some bombed out factory in 1945, they must have also found the time machine that allowed the vampire to be flying in '43!
The YF-23 actually looked like some thought went into the design. You could almost see the air hugging the curves. And it looked so much more predatory.
Honestly, most American bulit jets don’t get me going much, can’t put my finger on exactly why though.
With the exception of the F-5, F-101, F-104 and F-111; none of them really get my blood pumping for some reason.
There was a vac form kit of the Westland Lysander K6127 and also a resin conversion for a 1/72 scale kit.
If it’s ugly I like it. I wouldn’t build a WWIIGerman aircraft (With the exception of the JU52) No Jap WWII planes and nothing after the Viet Nam war period aircraft, these modern boring’o’planes don’t interest me.
Now having said that I love the XB70, and I’m doing an Aussy Blackhawk (God know I have spent enough time in them I may as well build a model) and Turbo Porter.
Love the Air racer golden age, Williams Bros kits ROCK!
Give me a good WWII Aussy subject and I’m happy. Oohh, WWII Italian fighters……. Mmmm Schneider cup contenders Macchi Castoldi MC 72!!!
You know, I think it’s easier to list what I would build!
Current project, 1/24 DAP MK 21 Beaufighter…………….Yeah baby BIG!
Doc.
For me. its anything Soviet and eastern block… And anything like the latest stuff such as the F-22 (too big, and not needed in todays world) F-35. (over priced and well not all that exciting) F-117 (the billions of dollars to use the thing, what, twice??. Simply just a way to say, hey, we have way too much money in all the wrong hands!)
If the question was, “whats the most impressive planes that were not only stunning to look at. But worth thier weight in gold?”… Then it would be the F-15 (just majestic… Built for punishment and is feared) The F/A-18 Hornet.(Earned every dollar it has spent. And some!) The P-51 Mustang. (I rest my case your honour!)
