discussion 'What if?' modelling

[Miko]

Do any of you guys build in this genera of modelling?

I find it's a great antidote to 'advanced modelers syndrome' where a modeler becomes stalled in their build while struggling with the minutia of detail in attempting to create the 'perfect' build. trying to replicate an exact colour shade or altering what is seen and a sub millimeter dimensional error, spending vast amounts of time and cash in adding after market super detail to add realism and authenticity, it is indeed an admirable and noble venture and some incredible results can be found the scale modelverse for sure, but it also can be a strain taking the fun out of a build! I suppose we are all in some way driven by our peers to improve and present our builds in the hope they are admired and given positive feed back by our fellow modelers to encourage us further in our hobby.

The beauty of 'What if' is they are all 100% accurate! They are made real in our imagination, they are a great counter to pedants who like point what they see as anomalies which can be explained away with a great back story which is half the fun! and any detail that defies explanation can be dismissed with 'that information remains classified at the time of writing'!

Some samples of my 'what if'

The very Jaguar-esque Mitsubishi T2 - A&AEE Boscombe Down

Fairey Delta 3 prototype inspired by continued French research at Dassault




Miko (making stuff up as I go along)

 

[Jim R]

You make a very good point Miko. You can't be criticised by the rivet counters if what you have built has come from your imagination. Luckily there are no self opinionated people like that on this forum.
Nice models :thumb2:

 

[Miko]

Luckily there are no self opinionated people like that on this forum.

That is reassuring to know, thanks!

Miko (really should be at the work bench right now)

 

[boatman]

HI Miko well i like the what if in SIFI as i have built a large model of the movie vershion of the USS ENTERPRISE 1/350 scale pic below an its big with a bit of computer tricery to make it look as though its in space near a red gaint star an i used up to near a hundred leds in this kit

 

[boatman]

AN ANOTHER time i built the SKY-DIIVER model from UFO an that was 3 ft long but dint take a photo as my then girlfreind little brother wanted it so like an idiot i gave it to him an a big what if model of FIREBALL XL5 at 4 ft long an got a pic of it somewhere so yes i love doin models of what IF's an i started to build the big ZERO X from THUNDERBIRDS are GO BUT dint finish it so yes for me i love what if models like you sir AN I LOVE YOUR WHAT IF MODELS
chrisb

 

[Miko]

HI Miko well i like the what if in SIFI as i have built a large model of the movie vershion of the USS ENTERPRISE 1/350 scale pic below an its big with a bit of computer tricery to make it look as though its in space near a red gaint star an i used up to near a hundred leds in this kit

Wow!! Being a bit of a Trekkie I'm liking that a lot!, although I'm a sucker for the original series and have built the Revell version of NCC-1701

I'm also a fan of Gerry Anderson productions too, 'UFO' being a particular favourite

Miko (Lt Gay Ellis, Moon base commander had my teenage hormones gushing in that silver outfit and purple wig!)

 

[boatman]

Wow!! Being a bit of a Trekkie I'm liking that a lot!, although I'm a sucker for the original series and have built the Revell version of NCC-1701

I'm also a fan of Gerry Anderson productions too, 'UFO' being a particular favourite

Miko (Lt Gay Ellis, Moon base commander had my teenage hormones gushing in that silver outfit and purple wig!)

YES Miko she also had me wishin i could meet her in that super outfit what a hottie she was AN I MET GERRY ANDERSON at a school fete up near where i live an had a great 5 min chat tellin him how he made up my childhood an he was a very pleasant person to talk to an my missus videoed him while i was talkin to him real pity he has passed on an ive got the whole UFO seriis on dvd an its great to whatch again an again
chrisb

 

[boatman]

HI AGAIN Miko here is a shot of my 4 foot FIREBALL -XL5 hope you like it sir with my thunderbirds
chrisb

 

[Guest]

Ohhh! that Fireball XL5 model is awesome. (Big Gerry Anderson fan here, my favourite being UFO)

 

[boatman]

Ohhh! that Fireball XL5 model is awesome. (Big Gerry Anderson fan here, my favourite being UFO)

HI Steve yes that fireball model turned out great but took me a year an a half to build an i built into both craft their own undercart which all folded up but again like my big UFO SKYDIVER i went an give it away to one of my freinds as he was crazy on it also an it amazes me at times the big models ive built an then give them away oh dear but at times it was a matter of room as now ive got two big warships but im not givin them away as they cost a whole heap of money an its good to see gerry anderson fans on here
chrisb

 

[Miko]

HI AGAIN Miko here is a shot of my 4 foot FIREBALL -XL5 hope you like it sir with my thunderbirds
chrisb

Wow!! look at that old telly!! Ha!

Miko (99% nostalgia)

 

[boatman]

Wow!! look at that old telly!! Ha!

Miko (99% nostalgia)

WELL Miko this photo was taken nearly 40 yrs ago just after me an jen got wed but that telly did the job for us so we could watch telly in bed
chrisb

 

[Guest]

HI Steve yes that fireball model turned out great but took me a year an a half to build an i built into both craft their own undercart which all folded up but again like my big UFO SKYDIVER i went an give it away to one of my freinds as he was crazy on it also an it amazes me at times the big models ive built an then give them away oh dear but at times it was a matter of room as now ive got two big warships but im not givin them away as they cost a whole heap of money an its good to see gerry anderson fans on here
chrisb

Ohhh. I so want that Skydiver kit! and one of a Shado Mobile too!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

What if? Cue Jeffrey Wright Watcher voice

Somewhere on here I've a Mitsubishi Martlet Mk.I
Something the Fleet Air Arm might have flown, had we kept up the Anglo-Japanese Naval Alliance, and bought from them rather than the US

In the works is a Caproni Ca.313 and Reggiane Re.200 in RAF colours, two of three Italian types we were THAT close to buying in1940
Not that either company would ever have been able to fulfil the numbers ordered

I like to keep to themes too, but 'what if-ery' DOES give an 'excuse' to build outside of that!

 

[Miko]

In the works is a Caproni Ca.313 and Reggiane Re.200 in RAF colours, two of three Italian types we were THAT close to buying in1940
Not that either company would ever have been able to fulfil the numbers ordered

I like to keep to themes too, but 'what if-ery' DOES give an 'excuse' to build outside of that!

Yep, it's always best when there's credibility to the build

Miko (there's branch of mathematical logic called set theory if applied to themed builds would mean the occasional 'what if' is in itself a theme/set So my OCD can remain intact)

 

[Guest]

I have been known to dabble in what-if models:

• M70 Krueger MBT, US Army, Gulf War
• North American F-107 fighter-bomber, USAF, Vietnam War
• JPK 120 tank destroyer, Belgian Army, 1980s
• IDF M247 anti-aircraft vehicle

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

So how about these then

BAC 'Eagles': Gr1 12 Sqn 1986; FR3 29 Sqn Operation Granby 1990
Calling it an 'Eagle' seems to come entirely from the book 'Lost Tomorrows of an eagle' from 2009

 

[davecov]

I've built a few "What-ifs" over the years.

"Viggen-style" TSR2 Conversion to Naval Aircraft:

RNLI Lifeboat converted to RN launch:

TSR2 & Angel Interceptor "Mistel":

Angel Interceptor "Zwilling":

Upgraded "King Tiger" in British Army service:

QE2 converted to "Harrier Carrier":

Four-seat, six-wheel Beach Buggy:

Lady Penelope-inspired Six-wheel Beach Buggy:

Dave

 

[andy55]

The 'what ifs' look great, but the same applies to armour. Yes I get reference photos when I can but, a photo is only relevant the time the photo is taken, who's to say in didn't go into the workshop the following day and have a new paint job, come across a wrecked tank with a bigger MG, plenty of ammo I'll have that. Whilst I can understand modelers who want to go to the Nth degree, just enjoy it.
The King Tiger in British colours, hummm, what would of been the outcome. Lid coming off the can of worms...lol.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I do like the Spectrum 'Mistel.' And the right sort of colours too. Though just when that would be used...
Of course, like the TSR2 in the Stratos-4 anime, as an anti-Mysteron-meteor weapon!
I wish now I had a picture, though, of my late friend's Concorde in Air Terrainean (Fireflash) colours and markings!

How about a Hercules all over green, a la Thunderbird 2. Or a Gazelle in blue-grey and red as TB1. International Rescue used to be a real world organisation, back in the 'eighties. Do they still operate?

Yeah, the King Tiger in 'British' colours, post war I assume? I don't recognise the scheme other than Middle-East maybe. Maybe one day someone will do one of the (real!) French Panthers on here!

Oh yeah, those six-wheeler beach buggies are hilarious!