Prototypes G.B. the Rules

[zenrat]

And another thought.  Experimental camouflage schemes would need to be painted onto a prototype in order to test their efficacy.

[PR19_Kit]

The mods will mod and get back to you Fred.

[Spey_Phantom]

question, could i build a realworld aircraft but with a prototype upgrade (in prototype colors of course)? for example an F-104 with a glass cockpit and weapons upgrade?

[PR19_Kit]

We'll discuss that and get back to you Nils.

[Mossie]

I guess there's several real world examples of that happening, YA-7F, F5D Skylancer, & F-16XL come to mind.

[silverwindblade]

I really don't see an angle for sci-fi or fantasy here, but I am not into the genre at all so I defer to others. Seems like it would be a build what ever you want angle.

Plenty of opportunities for SF builds - any SF series that has a somewhat military angle and has war machines could have prototype versions of those machines in prototype schemes. Gundam and Macross both have extensive prototype versions of their respective mecha and transforming fighters. Can also imagine test or prototype versions of Star Wars starfighters, or of Starfleet or other faction ships from Star Trek too. The Defiant in DS9 was originally the prototype for it's class.  Just a case of using the right combination of colour schemes, markings and back-story, with a bit of modelling magic to make it look slightly different.

[Old Wombat]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

Aircraft, space fighters*, torpedo boats, etc., are (*theoretically) cheap enough that prototypes are feasible & appropriate for testing those leading edge of technology ... "advances" ... in design.

[silverwindblade]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

Aircraft, space fighters*, torpedo boats, etc., are (*theoretically) cheap enough that prototypes are feasible & appropriate for testing those leading edge of technology ... "advances" ... in design.

You're right - as far as reality goes. However, the canon of Star Trek disagrees - https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Prototype

That said, it's probably because to most people a 'prototype' of something means it's the new cool thing and is 'advanced', generally speaking - which means it's sexier.
In-universe, I'd agree that there's not much point in it, especially with the kind of holographic computer technology they have that can completely convincingly simulate things.

Anyway, this is going off the point. I was suggesting simply that there could well be and very much is potential for 'prototypes' in the sci-fi genre, and that examples of such do exist in multiple sci-fi franchises, and how they could be part of the group build, since it was suggested there wasn't an angle for sci fi.

[jcf]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

USS Zumwalt, so much new stuff, roles changing mid-course and contention that it became a prototype of itself. 

First of class are often considered prototypes in the precise sense of the word.

prototype
NOUN
a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms
are developed or copied.

[NARSES2]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

USS Zumwalt, so much new stuff, roles changing mid-course and contention that it became a prototype of itself. 

First of class are often considered prototypes in the precise sense of the word.

prototype
NOUN
a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms
are developed or copied.

Indeed Jon. HMS Dreadnaught is another classic example IMHO.

[Rheged]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

USS Zumwalt, so much new stuff, roles changing mid-course and contention that it became a prototype of itself. 

First of class are often considered prototypes in the precise sense of the word.

prototype
NOUN
a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms
are developed or copied.

Indeed Jon. HMS Dreadnaught is another classic example IMHO.

Which Dreadnought had you in mind?
1906 battleship
1960 Nuclear submarine
202? Trident successor class

They are all "first in class"..................................but you were probably aware of that already.

[NARSES2]

Large vessels tend not to have prototypes (there are no prototype corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or battleships), it's just too bleeding expensive.

USS Zumwalt, so much new stuff, roles changing mid-course and contention that it became a prototype of itself. 

First of class are often considered prototypes in the precise sense of the word.

prototype
NOUN
a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms
are developed or copied.

Indeed Jon. HMS Dreadnaught is another classic example IMHO.

Which Dreadnought had you in mind?
1906 battleship
1960 Nuclear submarine
202? Trident successor class

They are all "first in class"..................................but you were probably aware of that already.

I'm afraid I only ever think of THE 1906 Dreadnought as it changed everything

[tigercat]

How about new A.V.R E s but  the trial version a  bit like when they trialled the big smoking Catherine wheel of death in Dads Army .

[PR19_Kit]

How about new A.V.R E s but  the trial version a  bit like when they trialled the big smoking Catherine wheel of death in Dads Army .

That's surely a prototype, as they only built the one.

So long as it's an early version of something, and painted as such, it's allowed. But of you have a specific idea, and you think it may or may not work, run it past Jon and I via a PM if you don't want everyone else to know about it.

[tigercat]

Nothing specific yet just working through possibilities for non aircraft builds especially  as my normal comfort zone of floaty things doesn't really apply as much.