I had to do a search of the forums, going back 5 years, to find posts about airships. I was wondering what’s available out there. Also, considering what kinds of airships I’m interested in, this might be better in the Sci-Fi section.
I’m mostly interested in fictional and “what-if” airships. Most of my inspiration coming from the movie Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, Jules Verne, Space: 1889, Crimson Skies (and now Sky Captain - though I haven’t seen it yet - just scenes from the comercials,) and just my own fantastic imagination.
I wouldn’t mind trying to scratch-build - though I’ve never done that and would admit that my modelling skills are still very underdevelop - I have more ambition than ability. Would anyone have some ideas where to start on something like that? Should I have the main body be made of rigid styrene sheets, or try to simulate some sort of fabric (I was just thinking Aluminum foil this evening. ) Would have to build a framework - but, that would be authentic, neh? What were dirigibles, blimps, rigid airships made of?
Since I have my own “models” of airships flying around in my head, I suppose that ultimately, I would need to scratchbuild and maybe kit-bash.
Is this a subject area that might generate some interest?
there are a few kits I can think of off the top of my head… the Hindenburg, the good year blimp, there’s a navy blimp out there I believe… a few others… you might try looking at www.squadron.com or www.greatmodels.com and see what you can find… I just looked and also found the Graf Zeppelin,
as far as a frame, all the rigid dirigibles are going to have some sort of metal frame, maybe some wood ones I don’t know much about them, I do know the hindenburg was metal framed…
you might have some luck with the Sky Captain/Jules Verne ideas in the SciFi topic, they do a lot of scratchbuilding of their stuff their too!
Cor,
Sounds as if you might be more of the SciFi guy.
I have seen build ups of some really cool “airships” using “real” stuff. Any Aircraft carrier kit could be the basis of what you are thinking of, let your mind go and use the force!
I’m an airship fan, but not really of the “fictional” variety you mentioned.
I’ve built the old MPC Hindenburg and Akron/Macon, as well as a huge vacuform Graf Zeppelin that was boxed by Testors. Still have the old Revell Goodyear Blimp, too.
I recently built the Revell 1/800 Hindenburg, which is lazily floating over my desk right now (had to add my own swastikas!).
The LHS has the Maquette R-100, and several big balsa and tissue kits of the Graf Zeppelin, Akron/Macon, and several WW I zeppelins. They also have a series of 1/700 zeppelins done in photoetched metal. Very detailed, and very expensive!
So, there are quite a few kits out there, which I’m sure you could modify to realize your fictional airships!
Have built two airships in paper models. Not easy but make wonderful models. Look on a paper model site such as www.lighthousemodelart.com. They have the Graf Zep kit from the German publisher, Schreiber Vertag. That publisher also makes a beautiful Hindenberg Kit. Find Schreiber on Google. Good luck.
Wow, this generated responses quicker than my Aviator post did. I believe it was Squadron that I was browsing the other night, and seen the dirigible models there. Only like 4 or 5, and two of them were technically the same ship.
I already had thhe idea that the framework would be metal (probably simulate with styrene rod of course!) I hadn’t thought of that some of the real ships might have used wood. As my memory may be serving me - I do seem to remember metal ribbing from some movies. Anyhow, I know that I would want ribbing regardless of what way I would do body. I’m sure I would want to do some detailing where the framework might be seen - so would need to be complete even if it isn’t serving a structural purpose in the model.
I like the idea of using a wet-navy ship as part of a fictional airship. Though, as far as cabins are concerned - I thought that would be where I can experiment the most. I’m mostly unsure how to do the body (gas bag) of the ship. It looked like from the online catalogue, that some of the models use wax paper (it was listed as material needed to complete the kit.) Wax paper is decently thick and sturdy, yet light in weight. I seem to recall that it can be glued, just takes a while to dry. Anyone have any idea how it takes paint?
I’m going to mirror this in Sci-fi, as I am interested in original concept airships. But, as long as there might be flyers here that are interested in the subject of airships, I think this can still be open for discussion here.
Hmm didn’t realize there was a thread already on the subject when I started a new thread… I am looking for blueprints or floorplans for Zepplins. I would like to make a cross section (Lengthwise) of a Zepplin rather than one that just shows the outside.
Anyone have any links to where I could find this info? I am not really into the fantasy type more the actual ones such as the Graf or Hindenburg etc. that actually flew in the early 20th Century… Thanks