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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: Doug ex-em4 on January 11, 2010, 03:26:05 PM

Title: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on January 11, 2010, 03:26:05 PM
For some reason, I was given an Airfix WW1 biplane model for Christmas. I'm thinking I could make use of it as a pulpy, adventurer's steed but, as usual, I'm struggling for a nice colour scheme. I want something striking but simple.

Any ideas, preferably with image links if possible.

thanks.

Doug
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Plynkes on January 11, 2010, 04:02:29 PM
For me the classic inter-war biplane look is this...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/camm_hart_500.jpg)
Shiny shiny metal.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: TadPortly on January 11, 2010, 04:16:30 PM
how about these:

(http://aircraftmanagementprofessionals.com/images/plane5.jpg)

(http://www.traveltalkradio.com/images/barnstorming/barnstorming_sandypatrick_aug04.jpg)

(http://www.century-of-flight.net/new%20site/images30/24.jpg)

(http://www.century-of-flight.net/new%20site/images30/28.jpg)

(http://sites.google.com/a/theamericangeek.com/www/barnstormers_travelair-large.jpg)
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: fairoaks024 on January 11, 2010, 04:47:34 PM
the classic american interwar scheme as ssen on the boeing p-12e is my favourite...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/media/oct-07-03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/usaf%4060.html&usg=__wyrx7tO5SZxyII6lrzhEus1vHKg=&h=337&w=500&sz=22&hl=en&start=8&tbnid=R7LCsser6TuqkM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboeing%2Bp-12e%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ie%3DUTF-8

regards

jim
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: archangel1 on January 11, 2010, 06:22:46 PM
Which bird did you get? It might be easier to suggest a scheme if it was one that actually kept flying postwar.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Greek_Geek on January 11, 2010, 08:56:20 PM
I'd suggest looking at the available decals at a modeling store site (like Hannants). That would give you some good ideas. My favourite (by far) is the Golden Wings scheme used by USN aircraft. Silver fuselage, yellow wings, stripes of various colours on the tail and wings.

Dimitri
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on January 12, 2010, 11:48:03 AM
Which bird did you get? It might be easier to suggest a scheme if it was one that actually kept flying postwar.

It's an R.E.8.

I've no idea if they kept flying after the war but that's the beauty of pulp - this one did...... :D

Thanks for some great ideas so far - by the way; I'm enthused.

Doug
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Conrad Hawkwood on January 12, 2010, 11:54:12 AM
you are all wrong..this would have to be the definitive pulp aeroplane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Victoria
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: archangel1 on January 12, 2010, 06:19:07 PM
The 'Harry Tate'? Good luck building it - the original kit dates from 1957(!) and I don't think they did any modification when they re-released it 30 years later.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on January 12, 2010, 08:00:48 PM
The 'Harry Tate'? Good luck building it - the original kit dates from 1957(!) and I don't think they did any modification when they re-released it 30 years later.

Oh - I've built it. And being destined for pulphood, it doesn't matter if I've modified it a bit. As a matter of interest, should it have a V engine?

Doug

Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: starkadder on January 12, 2010, 08:56:47 PM
As a matter of interest, should it have a V engine?

The engine isn't as important as the prayer-book in the cockpit. Dreadful plane.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: archangel1 on January 13, 2010, 04:51:57 AM
...Oh - I've built it. And being destined for pulphood, it doesn't matter if I've modified it a bit. As a matter of interest, should it have a V engine?

Doug

Good for you! I probably last built that one about 40 years ago.  I've always liked the old crate but wish somebody would release a new kit in the smaller scales.  That said, though, I can hardly wait for Wingnut's new 1/32 scale version.  Yummy!  :-*

http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/comingsoon

And, yes, it does have a V-engine.  You can see a small shot of it on the page linked above.   
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: archangel1 on January 13, 2010, 05:14:25 AM
The engine isn't as important as the prayer-book in the cockpit. Dreadful plane.

I don't think it was as dreadful as it is remembered.  They built over 4000 of them, after all, and they were flying everywhere, right to the end of the war.  It had the usual problems of most of the more maligned aircraft - a dreadfully underpowered engine, an overly flimsy structure and a lack of aircrew with enough training to handle its quirks.  Most of the original accidents were a result of bad handling.  Of course, it didn't help that, in a crash, the engine was often rammed through the fuel tanks, resulting in a fire! At least one squadron was happy to get them, because it had both front and rear guns.  It had its fair share of kills.

@ Plynkes The Hawker Fury is the one between-the-wars British fighter that never appealed to me, although I recognize its place in aviation history.  Like the Spitfire, it's too 'pretty' to be a real fighter.  Give me a Hurricane any day, or, in bipes, a Gloster Gladiator - rugged, dependable and purposeful-looking.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Hammers on January 13, 2010, 08:44:55 AM

@ Plynkes The Hawker Fury is the one between-the-wars British fighter that never appealed to me, although I recognize its place in aviation history.  Like the Spitfire, it's too 'pretty' to be a real fighter.  Give me a Hurricane any day, or, in bipes, a Gloster Gladiator - rugged, dependable and purposeful-looking.

Couldn't agree with you less. The whole Hind, Fury, Demon, Hornet,... range has that "bright future, old technology" look which I adore.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: pilot on January 13, 2010, 09:14:01 AM
The engine isn't as important as the prayer-book in the cockpit. Dreadful plane.
   lol

yes, re8s were used after the war and i think tadportly's post shows some excellent ideas for interwar paint ups.
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Dr X on January 13, 2010, 12:34:07 PM
... Just think of McDonald's burgers and cigarettes.

Okay, I'm not a huge fan of McDonald's bugers but they make damn good cigarettes. I dun't care what nobuddy says!  lol lol
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: archangel1 on January 13, 2010, 01:14:25 PM
@ Bezzo

I would rather have flown the R.E.8 than the early B.E.2 or 'Fee'.  At least it had guns that fired in both directions! The B.E. (about 3500 built) gained the nickname 'Quirk' and was withdrawn from frontline service by early 1917 while the 'Fee' had that nasty great engine rotating behind the pilot's head.  They only produced a little over 200 of those.  As for the 'Tate's' numbers, at least it was still in production at the end of the war, which does say something about its usefulness.

@ Doug

If you want a 'real' aircraft for Pulp, consider the D.H.4, Avro 504 or the F.E.2b Bristol Fighter.  They were all in use until the late 20's or early 30's, with the 504 only ceasing production in 1932.  At least 2 of them are prettier, too.  :D
Title: Re: Ideas for inter-wars biplane colour scheme
Post by: Doug ex-em4 on January 13, 2010, 08:25:28 PM

@ Doug

If you want a 'real' aircraft for Pulp, consider the D.H.4, Avro 504 or the F.E.2b Bristol Fighter.  They were all in use until the late 20's or early 30's, with the 504 only ceasing production in 1932.  At least 2 of them are prettier, too.  :D

I'm sure you're right but I'm not really looking for pulp planes - just some way of using a rather curious Christmas present.

Thanks

Doug