I noticed that we do not have any "aviation only" campaign running or submitted right now. While aircraft are acceptable in some campaigns, I think it would be a good idea to organize purely aviation campaign to promote better this part of Armorama and military scale modeling.

My idea is an "EARLY BIRDS" campaign.

Rules would allow building any kind of military aircraft (planes, helicopters, UAVs etc.) in any scale. Also any era would be acceptable.

The only limitation would be that the model must represent the first production variant of this particular type! Not a prototype, not an evaluation or FSD (full scale development) variant, but the earliest production version accepted for military service before any upgrades and modification were introduced.

Would anyone be interested in such campaign? As we have quite a lot of campaigns running right now, I would suggest start date around November or December and end date in April or May next year.

Pawel

Howdy Vodster,

I certainly like your idea, coming from an AC background myself it's an easy call to make.
I would like a wee bit more input on the 'Early Birds' parameter though if you don't mind.
I'd like to consider doing this (if this build get's 'legs') from my existing stock of kits. Or more self indulgently from kits 'in-progress' if at all possible (have a lot on the plate as most other's do).
I've got a Panda Huey 1/35th UH-1Delta model I could backdate to a B or C, the Alpha model would be a bit harder to reach to, but certainly not out of the realm of possibilities....
Heck, I've even got the Academy 'Charlie' model 'Frog' kit that I could also backdate to a 'B' model and build a ship from the 'Crocodiles' who operated out of Pleiku around '65. But, I guess I'm just trying to understand if I have to build an 'A' model only.....such as the original 'Huey' pictured below?



I guess my 'ABC me' question is; Are we just tryin' to stick to the generally "early" versions of aircraft, before they became festooned with the predictable assortmant of changes/additions/reconfigurations?

If so.......sound's like a great idea. Hopefully more people here will join in on the game.

Tread.

Would a short run, limited service, aircraft qualify. For instance the F6U-1 Pirate ? If so I'd be interested.

If it actually entered military service, even in limited numbers, then yes, it would qualify!




My initial idea would require you to build UH-1A (or was it actually HU-1A back then?). But we may extend it to e.g. variants that appeared in the first 200 built airframes, but no more that two of them. In case of Huey, that would mean that UH-1B would also qualify as only 183 UH-1A were manufactured Limitation to just two variants would eliminate late variants of aircraft built in many variations, but in very limited numbers.

Such change would also allow submission of F-4B Phantom II. Original variant was F-4A, but less then 50 were built and I'm not aware of any mailstream model kit of F-4A (F-4H-1F).

Pawel

Hmm! A fabric-winged Hurricane or Bf 109B might do rather nicely...

I always sign up for more than I can build... but, schedules permitting, I'd love to join in!

All the best

Rowan

Chesc Pawel...

Sounds good, but as a Luft 46'er I'm wondering what I might build...???

The only thing I could build, without rummaging through my stash, is the Special Hobby 1/72nd Fw 187...would this fly...(pun intended)...??
And if so could I do a non-standard camo job???

So if its ok and my move back to UK (New Year) will not interupt progress too much I'm in.

Cheers
Nasdrowia
Peter

PS
If this gets off the ground...pun again...and becomes an official campaign you'll need awards designing...
"Wings" anyone?

Let me know.

Cheers
Peter
:-)

Hmmm... Falke is a bit problematic. Three of them did serve in Luftwaffe and supposedly even scored a few kills, but those were development / test airframes. It never entered production. So I think it is a great model to build for Project-X campaign, but not exactly what we are looking for here

I would say however that standard comuflage is not required. I like to see early "hardware" in this campaign, but "software" - camo and markings, while it would be nice if it represents real early birds, I don't think is necessary.

Pawel

How about the Avro Arrow??

When it was built, they built the Arrow to be military ready right off the assembly line. IE: no prototypes.

Although none never actually served in an operational squadran, as there was only 6 completed examples and about 20 or so on the assembly line, there never was a prototype, and was to go right into military service.

I see that it is geting more complicated than I thought... My initial idea was to have early versions of well known military aircraft in this campaign. Sort of "let's see how it begun". Merlin got this idea perfectly: fabric winged Hurricane or Bf109B would be exactly what I expected (I wanted to build early configuration F-15A Eagle). Not airplanes that existed only in very early versions and never even entered service. In such case Arrow would not qualify.

But I'm open for other ideas for campaign rules. If you guys want to build pre-production and prototype aicraft, then maybe I should change my plans. I just thought that we already have campaign for such projects: Project-X. On the other hand I don't want to scare people away by forcing too tight rules.

Pawel

Hi Pawel
Project X is for concepts and prototypes of all areas...i.e. land, sea, air and even space.
So its not an aircraft only excercise.

Hope it helps ypu think about a few changes...lol.
I simply don't have anything that would qualify as the rules are at the moment.

The only thing that might qualify is the He 219 Uhu but unfotunately its in UK and I'm here in Riyadh

Cheers
Peter

Since I'm building a flying thingy for "Remember Korea", can I also shuffle it over here????? Or do I have to build a different flying thingy? LOL