I might be going to a model ships and boats contest at a maritime museum this Spring in May.
One model I might take is my what if fantasy USS Wisconsin battleship.
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=48217.0
Problem is, the contest rules state that all participants MUST write a one page construction paper on how the model was constructed, and a one page historical account on the actual ship or type of vessel the model represents.
The Construction and Historical papers are only ONE SIDE of one sheet of paper each.
I finished writing the Construction paper. But the Historical paper is leaving me clueless. 
I'm not sure what to write for a non-existant ship. I don't want to write anything too weird or wacky. I want to keep it somewhat "technically believeable". Know what I mean?
Anybody got any ideas or suggestions?

Just to be certain: does the contest accept what-if subjects?

So, you need a back story. One common approach is to take a real life history and deviate from that at some point. Take a look at one of Dizzyfugu's back stories for inspiration.
It has been a while since I posted any of my own work, but my back stories have tended to start from real life events, with something changed: The Napier Heston Racer didn't crash but was developed into a line of fighters, or Supermarine decided a little earlier that a wide track undercarriage makes sense.

Whew! You scared me a little. I thought maybe something bad had happened but I should have taken your words a little more literally.
I agree with perttime. Maybe just include in the first line or two that this is what could have happened, etc. Perhaps a line after the actual history saying something like, "Now here is where the story departs from the real world", or something to that effect. Hope this helps.

Quote from: kerick on February 07, 2023, 09:36:14 PM"Now here is where the story departs from the real world", or something to that effect. Hope this helps.

I think that's a good way to start, or something on the lines of "now that's what happened, but this is what might of happened".

Quote from: perttime on February 07, 2023, 09:05:53 PMJust to be certain: does the contest accept what-if subjects?

So, you need a back story. One common approach is to take a real life history and deviate from that at some point. Take a look at one of Dizzyfugu's back stories for inspiration.
It has been a while since I posted any of my own work, but my back stories have tended to start from real life events, with something changed: The Napier Heston Racer didn't crash but was developed into a line of fighters, or Supermarine decided a little earlier that a wide track undercarriage makes sense.

Yes, I have taken many what if subjects up to the contest.
The only thing I can think of are:
a) Create a backstory based on real life events. Example: Current tensions with China and the South China Sea/Taiwan and the need to bring the battleship back into service due to China's increase in naval shipbuilding and technological developments.

I basically copy paste right out of Wiki, and where timeliness diverge, I move into my own timeline...like I did with BC-5, LCNS Plentyn Taranau (formerly USS Alaska, CB-1):
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?msg=865394

Since I have been quoted: most of my background stories start at wikipedia, too, but I frequrently re-write the text and/or integrate other sources and material, so that little is left over.
A letter limit can be tough, though, one single page is only around 3.000 characters IIRC, which is not too much.

Maybe involve ChatGPT AI or the task - I'd be curious what would come out! 

Mr. Rheged could knock a 1 page backstory together in no time, I bet.   

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on February 08, 2023, 06:56:08 AMSince I have been quoted: most of my background stories start at wikipedia, too, but I frequrently re-write the text and/or integrate other sources and material, so that little is left over.
A letter limit can be tough, though, one single page is only around 3.000 characters IIRC, which is not too much.

Maybe involve ChatGPT AI or the task - I'd be curious what would come out! 

Oh hell no! I am not letting some AI write my backstory.     I don't trust that piece of garbage.
If I can find a decent Wikipedia article about current tensions with China and the South China Sea, I may write something up. But I have to be careful and not plagarize the entire Wiki article. It'd have to be extensively reworded as the contest rules state that the history paper must be in my own words.

For a modern timeframe, I would avoid any link to current tensions or naming specific countries, you don't want to make it political, so just keep it vague, something along the line of "increased tensions in the Pacific..."

Seems like your build has already written the back story- why did you fit it the way your did?  Likely because you wanted state of the art equipment and sensors on a survivable, large hull....so....."Recognizing the new threats from modern cruises missiles, drones and small attack craft, and the lack of survivability and spare buoyancy on several classes of modern warships, the Pentagon took a hard look at the Iowa class battleships that with an extensive modernization that could...."

       

Quote from: sandiego89 on February 08, 2023, 04:56:27 PM"Recognizing the new threats from modern cruises missiles, drones and small attack craft, and the lack of survivability and spare buoyancy on several classes of modern warships, the Pentagon took a hard look at the Iowa class battleships that with an extensive modernization that could...."

I like where you're going with this. Keep going. 

If the story involves combat, include something about disputed islands or a clash over fishing vessels on a shoal. Maybe adapt the Cod Wars to the Pacific?

Quote from: seadude on February 08, 2023, 04:07:57 PMIf I can find a decent Wikipedia article about current tensions with China and the South China Sea, I may write something up. But I have to be careful and not plagarize the entire Wiki article. It'd have to be extensively reworded as the contest rules state that the history paper must be in my own words.

Copy the Wiki article into Word, or the word processor software of your choice. Make spaces between each paragraph and into each type how you would write what is written in the paragraph above. If necessary do it sentence by sentence. Change the ink colour or highlight the original text to help you keep track of each sentence. Maybe combine a couple of sentences or remove ones that don't have any relevance to what your creating.
It's a bit of faff but it allows you to use an article without copying the article verbatim.

Gondor

Quote from: sandiego89 on February 08, 2023, 04:56:27 PMFor a modern timeframe, I would avoid any link to current tensions or naming specific countries, you don't want to make it political, so just keep it vague, something along the line of "increased tensions in the Pacific..." 

Second that. Things can quickly become very political and ugly, personally I'd keep some distance to touchy subjects like this.

IIRC, I wrote up a "matching" story for my Philippine Air Force Kfir a while ago, and it did not feel good because of the virulent conflict in the region. Click on the pic to read the story behind it.


1:72 IAI "Kfir" C.10P, "308", BuNo (20)14-(0)015", of the Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (Philippine Air Force/PAF) 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Cobras", 5th Fighter Wing; Basa Air Base, 2017 (Whif/modified Italeri kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

I wonder how many of these will actually get read by the judges?

Mind you, I've seen some judging decisions which have made me wonder about the judges levels of literacy...