Many of my old projects

[GTX]

Both!

[Pablo1965]

Many hours and dedication to the aviation. Thanks to show it.

[reddfoxx]

After about three years of on and off construction, I just finished a project inspired by the Crimson Skies video and board games.  (In case anyone's not familiar with it, it postulates a U.S. fragmenting during the Great Depression, spawning air pirates and increased zeppelin use.)  I imagined what might happen a few years later, as war approaches in Europe.  I scoured sales for cheap kits and cobbled together Frankensteinian versions.  Some came out well, some had some issues.

Though it took a long time overall, I did things in rushed spurts and finished up in a hurry because I'll be moving soon.  I should have taken more time with details.  Oh, well.  If I had it to do again, I would have used the MiGs for the push-pull fuselage and the Avias for the twin-boom.  Either way, smoothing the joints was/would be an issue.  Otherwise, things fit well (after hours of planning, measuring, modifying, testing...)  On the Bloch-based bomber, I meant the nose glass to suggest a 111-type pilot position, but to me the original cockpit is distracting; I should have just faired that opening in.  I think the PZL-based "Martin" and Saab-based "Northrop" are the most successful conversions.  I tried to go for the game's almost-feasible, but cartoony and physics-stretching, plane design ethos.  In the cases of the two meant to be carried by zeppelins, I left off the retrieval hooks because in the game they were retractable (again, apparently in defiance of reality- where would they retract to in such small planes?)

Kits I didn't use, plus some extras I had from before, I sent to the Baghdad hobby club.  That was a couple of years ago, but I bet they and other military hobby clubs would still appreciate kits/supplies/reference material.


Crimson Skies map:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crimson_skies_map.png

Universe overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Skies

Official site:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/crimsonskies/story.aspx

Semi-official site:
http://firedrake.org/roger/csarchive/universe/index.htm


Crimson Skies part 2... 1939

Though the United States are no more, the remnants continue to move forward.  Struggling through the Great Depression, each country strives to protect its citizens and grow its economy.  But miscreants remain- bank robbers, buccaneers,and now air pirates.  Some idolize them, call them "modern Robin Hoods," but they are only in it for themselves.  The gangs come and go, but the threat remains.

Both the official forces and the pirates obtain aircraft wherever possible.  Some have pushed forward with factories existing before the breakup, some purchase what they need abroad.  The need for the best equipment drives innovation.  The aviation industry is concentrated in several countries, especially Hollywood and the Empire State.  Most others buy from them, or from Europe.

As war clouds gather over Europe and Asia, America dons its armor. Alliances line up, secret treaties are signed, and the air pirates throw one more element of uncertainty into the situation.  The few remaining pirates, though, are being pressed on all sides- either stamped out or persuaded to join official air arms.  Though pirates still dress their planes in garish colors, most air corps are moving toward subtler markings for a more dangerous time.







Curtiss-Wright CW-20 Fledgling (People's Collective Air Army)
     This dirigible escort fighter is small but deadly.  Many can be carried on an airship, making attacks costly.  Drawbacks include short range.
1x 13mm crewed machine gun
6x13mm machine guns
1x30mm cannon
(Heller Caudron-Renault 714 made into pusher, tailplanes from KP Avia; Polish late-'30s splinter scheme, modified early Lithuanian markings with "wheat sheaf.")



Loughead Thunderclap bomber/airship destroyer (Nogoodniks pirate gang)
     Hollywood's prolific aviation industry produces some odd designs.  This one was the brainchild of the Loughead brothers, and is their typical innovative style.  It has decent range, though reduced maneuverability.  Its main armament enables it to down a bomber or even a zeppelin with one or two shots.  However, the massive recoilless gun emits a blast from the rear of the pod which damaged the tailplanes of several prototypes, leading to a unique strengthened tailplane design.  Used by Hollywood for sovereignty patrols, but also in use with some pirate groups for zeppelin hunting.
1x75mm recoilless cannon
2x30mm cannon
1x20mm crewed cannon
4x13mm machine guns
(2 x Encore Mig-3 fuselage, Mig inner wings, Heller PZL outer wings, Heller Bloch 174 tailplane, fishing bobber gun pod, early Polish markings turned 90 degrees.)



Martin B-16 attack bomber (Atlantic Coalition)
     Multiple gun positions, varied ordnance: The Atlantic Coalition uses these for maritime attack, ground attack, and even as a heavy fighter due to all its armament.  Its fragile empennage has lead to some problems, but it is still respected for its overwhelming firepower.
2x 13mm crewed machine guns
5x30mm cannon
4x20mm cannon
1000kg bombload- bombs, rockets, torpedoes, depth charges, fuel tanks
(Heller PZL 23 fuselage, Heller Bloch 174 wings, Tu-2 horizontal tail, Mig-3 stabilizers as vertical fins, imaginary maritime scheme, early Polish markings.)

[An alternative alternative history for this one, since it coincidentally ended up with Polish markings: "In the late 1930s, Poland ramped up armament production, preparing for the inevitable conflicts with Germany and the Soviet Union.  One example is the PZL.31 "King Carp," a variant of the PZL.23.  With 2 Gnome-Rhone engines and substantial payload, it was respected by its opponents, and was partly responsible for Poland's victory.  The Russian invasion was quickly beaten back; the German onslaught was harder to resist, but eventually the Poles wore them down.  By the end of World War Two in 1941, Poland had annexed portions of Germany, Belarus, and Ukraine, and threatened Lithuania and Czechoslovakia.



Boeing MRB-4 (Pacifica)
     Pacifica needed a fast medium bomber, and the versatile Boeing company delivered.  Cooling of the pusher engines is a problem under extreme conditions.  Heavily armed, though vulnerable to attacks from abeam.
3x13mm guns (2 crewed, 1 blister.)
3x20mm crewed cannons
1000kg bombload- bombs, torpedo.
(Heller Bloch 174 fuselage, Encore Tu-2 wings, Mig wings as V-tail, MiG and Avia airscoops, multi-color splinter based on Luftwaffe splinter, assorted markings.)



Consolidated PB-3M patrol bomber (Nation of Hollywood )
     The Nation of Hollywood uses several squadrons of these to enforce their sovereignty in the ocean, and to patrol the disputed zones.
2x20mm crewed guns, 1 remotely aimed
2x30mm cannons in underwing pods
1x40mm cannon firing through spinner
500 kg payload (bombs, depth charges, rockets.)
(1/48 ICM Yak-7M, MPM Aichi Nanzan wings, Heller Storch 'vertical' fins (actually horizontals,) Aoshima Shiun floats, US Navy experimental splinter scheme, A-1 "star" stripes and modified Lithuanian markings.)



Northrop N4 fighter (Columbia)
     This dirigible-borne fighter has longer range than most, due partly to its large wings.  These necessitated a folding tip hinged just outboard of the vertical stabilizers, to enable the plane to fit in airship hangar bays.
1x40mm cannon
3x20mm cannon
2x13mm machine gun
(Heller Saab J21 fuselage, Aoshima Shiun wings, PZL vertical fins, Tu-2 air scoop, USAAC experimental wargame all-over camo, red/white/blue stripes and modified early Paraguayan stars- Columbia clings to the idea of restoring the United States.)



Junkers Ju 47 patrol fighter (Industrial States )
     Push-pull floatplane, used by the Industrial States of America to patrol the Great Lakes and the many smaller lakes and waterways in their country.  Engines and airframe by Junkers. 
5x13mm guns, 1 crewed.
500kg bombload (bombs, depth charges.)
(KP Avia S199 and CS199 fuselage, Heller Saab wings and tail, Hobbycraft Beaver floats, Yak-7M air scoop, RN maritime patrol scheme, winged 'wrench' from WW1 decal sheet. Inspired partly by Hansa-Brandenburg W.29)

[Brian da Basher]

Those are some ultra-cool aircraft, reddfoxx! Hard to pick a favorite. They're all winners in my book!

Brian da Basher

[dumaniac]

nice collection - i got a weakness for the captured stuff myself

Bernie

[Pablo1965]

Nice wiffer collection.

[reddfoxx]

Thanks, folks!  Glad you like them. 

Dumaniac, you've probably seen the Strangers in a Strange Land books, and of course stuff about KG 200.  You might also like Red Eagles, which I read recently, as well as Under the Red Star and War Prizes, if you don't already have them.

[ericr]

I am reviving this thread because I particularly like this push-pull floatplane based on CS-199s !

I think it's good to remember past ideas from time to time, when they are that spectacular 

Junkers Ju 47 patrol fighter (Industrial States )
     Push-pull floatplane, used by the Industrial States of America to patrol the Great Lakes and the many smaller lakes and waterways in their country.  Engines and airframe by Junkers. 
5x13mm guns, 1 crewed.
500kg bombload (bombs, depth charges.)
(KP Avia S199 and CS199 fuselage, Heller Saab wings and tail, Hobbycraft Beaver floats, Yak-7M air scoop, RN maritime patrol scheme, winged 'wrench' from WW1 decal sheet. Inspired partly by Hansa-Brandenburg W.29)

[DogfighterZen]

I'd never seen this thread before, very nice collection, some great looking camo jobs there!

[Rick Lowe]

I'd never seen this thread before, very nice collection, some great looking camo jobs there!

What he said! And another vote of thanks for bringing this to our (my) attention.

Nice work on those, good imagineering and some amazing cam schemes.

The hand-painted markings get me - even back in the day, I wouldn't have had the nous or courage to try them - well done on all counts.

[TheChronicOne]

Killer stuff!! My fav of the whole shootin match is the Chadian 0-2. I love the camo scheme.  The rest are all very good too, I had a lot of fun going through here. 

[Captain Canada]

Killer stuff alright ! Sorry I missed this thread ! What a great collection, many and varied, differing scales and all ! Love the Stranraer. What a cool looking aeroplane, and that might be the first time I've ever seen one finished !

[reddfoxx]

Thanks, folks 

I still love that Stranraer. 

I think the Chadian plane is an O-2 (I'm not looking back through at the moment.)  Never built a Bronco, though I think I have one in the stash.

The hand-painted markings definitely had a learning curve.  Nowadays you can buy them, or print them out.  Woulda been nice...

[TheChronicOne]

Woops, my mistake!  Fixed my post to reflect.