Unicraft

[AeroplaneDriver]

Looks to me like it's ready to nuke a 1/200 scale New York City.  Lost of scale-o-rama potential there I think.  I wonder how it would look on a 1/350 carrier deck?

[Martin H]

that from the man who introduced me to unicraft kits lol

[jcf]

Makes as much sense as this:
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/02/09/flying-bomb-guided-by-man-pilot/

Of course whether or not those "Rammer" projects actually existed is evidently open to debate.

Jon

[Maverick]

Whilst I'd agree that most of the 'projekten' were merely paper projects, I see no reason to doubt a papper project of a ramming aircraft, given that the Sturmbock units operated against Allied bombers late in the War.  Part of their mission profile was to close with their target (they had 'whites of their eyes' painted on their flying jackets), expend their ammunition and failing a kill, they considered ramming, although they would attempt to do it without killing themselves.

As for the Mechanix idea, considering the guy who proposed it was an 'expert', I really wonder about the culture pre-War in the US military.  After all, I've also read a document by a USN officer who deliberately suggested that airpower was a waste of time.

Regards,

Mav

[jcf]

Whilst I'd agree that most of the 'projekten' were merely paper projects, I see no reason to doubt a papper project of a ramming aircraft, given that the Sturmbock units operated against Allied bombers late in the War.  Part of their mission profile was to close with their target (they had 'whites of their eyes' painted on their flying jackets), expend their ammunition and failing a kill, they considered ramming, although they would attempt to do it without killing themselves.

As for the Mechanix idea, considering the guy who proposed it was an 'expert', I really wonder about the culture pre-War in the US military.  After all, I've also read a document by a USN officer who deliberately suggested that airpower was a waste of time.

Regards,

Mav

Go over to Secret Projects then:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3648.0/highlight,rammer.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3167.0/highlight,rammer.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4869.0/highlight,rammer.html


As to your comment about the US military pre-war culture, well, you'll find equally daft concepts from all powers if you cared to do the research. Its great how you slam the entire between the wars US military but consider the supposed ramming concept as reasonbale? Why because its German?

[Martin H]

Why because its German?

I do belive that we Brits got there first.........we had several "rammer" projects on the go after Dunkirk... all borne out of utter desperation.
Considering how desperate things were for Germany in the last 18 months of the war, i could well belive that a fair few of these "Luft 46" rammer projects were being considered.  Certainly a weapon of last resort thou, when all else has failed.

[Maverick]

Go over to Secret Projects then:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3648.0/highlight,rammer.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3167.0/highlight,rammer.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4869.0/highlight,rammer.html


As to your comment about the US military pre-war culture, well, you'll find equally daft concepts from all powers if you cared to do the research. Its great how you slam the entire between the wars US military but consider the supposed ramming concept as reasonbale? Why because its German?
[/quote]

Jon,

Perhaps you misunderstood me, but I HAVE cared to do the research and a vast majority of ALL nations inter-war concepts were pretty dumb.  I don't believe the ramming concept had that much of a degree of reason, it was (as Martin noted) born out of desperation.  I made no attempt at any point to defend the concept, but instead pointed out that the Germans did have some units who used ramming as part of their operational doctrine.  Is this defense?  I hardly think so.  Is it defending the German military against anyone else? Equally ludicrous.

Mav

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

An update from Unicraft for a trio of rather interesting types.

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/on/sp190/sp190.htm

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/germ/fw-rammer/fw-rammer.htm

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/germ/fw250/fw250.htm

Once again, fairly basic & requiring work, but very nifty looking.  The Souvage-Payen in particular looks brilliant.

Regards,

Mav

[kitnut617]

I like that Fw.250, it would sit well with my Focke Wulf Entwurf III and Ta.183

[lancer]

I like that Fw.250, it would sit well with my Focke Wulf Entwurf III and Ta.183

Agreed, the FW 250 does look really smart.

[Mossie]

Yeah, I liked that one too.  Igor's had the Cheranovsky BICh on the 'Russian Future Releases' page for a long time, it's a favourite of mine.  I e-mailed him about & he said he's not really planning on doing it since not many have showed interest.  So if you really want it.....

[kitnut617]

I don't disagree with you Lee, the quality is not CMK or Planet, but he does do a number of unique subjects.  I have the Rolls Royce Mustang FTB (twice) where I ditched practically the whole of the conversion, using just the top of the new fuselage, but I had really wanted it and there's not anything else out there.  The FW Entwerf III he does definitely isn't as good as the Planet kit (the one I have) but it's not quite as expensive as the Planet kit, plus over on this side of the pond, we can buy the Unicraft stuff right from a guy in the States that he ships all his models too, which then gets forwarded on. He's able to cut the shipping costs by doing this.

[Madoc]

Lee,

I don't think that really applies to Unicraft.

Igor's subject matter is far, far to esoteric for even the most adventurous scale model kit manufacturers to even consider tackling.

Mach 2, in contrast, fits that much more aptly.  The subject matter that Mach 2 renders is much more mainstream and their production is more professional appearing.  They're the ones who act the spoiler when it comes to more capable and competent manufacturers trying their hand at the same subjects.

Igor's Unicraft avoids this by sticking to the "what if?" realm almost entirely.

And there's also the fact that he's gotten consistently better at his renderings over the years.  While still nowhere near even a 1960's vintage Airfix or Monogram rendering, the stuff he's putting out these days is leagues ahead of the stuff he first put out in the 90's.

Madoc

Madoc

[frank2056]

And there's also the fact that he's gotten consistently better at his renderings over the years.  While still nowhere near even a 1960's vintage Airfix or Monogram rendering, the stuff he's putting out these days is leagues ahead of the stuff he first put out in the 90's.

Madoc

I have some of his early "kits" - the ones where he would heat plastic until it softened then hand pushed it into the mold. The plastic actually had burnt paper (or something) stuck to them. I managed to build one; I don't know what to do with the others. His early resin kits were pretty bad as well. From what I've seen online, he's certainly improved his production methods.


Steve Malikoff, one of the guys on my old German Projects mailing list, actually built a few of those old Unicraft kits. He sent me a few pictures of the unbuilt kits as well.
Frank

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

Unicraft has a couple of new releases up.

Lockheed's Bronco competitor

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/on/cl760/cl760.htm

and one which should make Greg happy, the BAe HERTi

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/on/herti/herti.htm

Regards,

Mav