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Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: OSHIROmodels on October 20, 2011, 06:24:56 PM

Title: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: OSHIROmodels on October 20, 2011, 06:24:56 PM: As the question asks, do people like the idea of having 'planes' in the neff world.

There was a very nice thread a few weeks ago with a red one and it fitted with the general feel of VSF.

There are obviously aircraftcarrier neffs but why use planes and not really small neffs?

Thoughts and comments would be welcome :)

cheers

James
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Jonas on October 20, 2011, 07:29:22 PM: I am not really sure. At first I would say no, but it might work if the execution was right. But I think it very easy would make more of a steam punk than VSF feel for me.

If planes were to be used I would suggest to make it really special and only one or few ones and as very experimental stuff from insane sciantist or such.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: The_Beast on October 20, 2011, 08:10:33 PM: I'd tend to discount as ship killers, but for local recce, large ship deck crew and small 'nef and dig harassment and the like, they'd seem good.

Doug
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Cadet13 on October 20, 2011, 08:44:26 PM: I got started in VSF gaming when I came across Major General Tremorden Reddering's page. There, they have steam helicopters and early reconaissance airplanes. IMHO, the Major General can do no wrong! :)

Planes would have to have the right "feel," though...
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Dewbakuk on October 20, 2011, 09:04:35 PM: Depends how it was done. I'm intending to do some for the Venizian forces but they'd be based on the Da Vinci flyer in design.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Jonas on October 20, 2011, 09:27:27 PM: Quote from: Dewbakuk on October 20, 2011, 09:04:35 PM
Depends how it was done. I'm intending to do some for the Venizian forces but they'd be based on the Da Vinci flyer in design.

That would seem appropriate.

I would think it is more important to stay clear of WW1 designs, as (for me) it quickly give more thaughts of trench war then victorian colonialism.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Malamute on October 20, 2011, 09:53:51 PM: Option three could be better phrased. ;)

Not keen myself, unless they are very different in design to early planes. I associate VSF with neffs and airships, but not planes, funny eh?

A thought provoking question though. :)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: FramFramson on October 20, 2011, 09:58:30 PM: It might be doable with some of the near-successes from the decade that preceded the wright brothers. But I agree that even so they should be kept rare or special.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Christian on October 20, 2011, 10:03:36 PM: Jim, no matter the result of this survey, I am sure you could pull it off :)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Thunderchicken on October 20, 2011, 10:57:01 PM: Good question. I'm with Malamute, for me it would have to be something other than the conventional design of planes we have come to know. I'm happy with nefs, blimps and wacky flapping things at the moment but I'm always ready to be persuaded otherwise.

I think what your poll will highlight is the varied interpretations of VSF which is a healthy thing and keeps this board alive.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Melnibonean on October 20, 2011, 10:58:37 PM: Not sure about Steam planes but I've recently built a meta-clockwork ornithopter for my Gaslight army which is based on a WWI German Albertross model. I decided on a clockwork mechanism as the need to have flapping wings andclockwork seemed to work well together. It also negates the need for heavy iron furnaces and boilers which seem impracticle for the concept of light weight vessels.

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=33506.15
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: OSHIROmodels on October 20, 2011, 11:09:44 PM: Many thanks for your replies and suggestions chaps :)

Quote from: Melnibonean on October 20, 2011, 10:58:37 PM
Not sure about Steam planes but I've recently built a meta-clockwork ornithopter for my Gaslight army which is based on a WWI German Albertross model. I decided on a clockwork mechanism as the need to have flapping wings andclockwork seemed to work well together. It also negates the need for heavy iron furnaces and boilers which seem impracticle for the concept of light weight vessels.

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=33506.15

This is the one I was referring to in the original post :)

Now then, apart from what has been mentioned already, does anyone have any sort of pictorial reference ;)

cheers

James
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Thunderchicken on October 20, 2011, 11:30:18 PM: You're up to something.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Bullshott on October 21, 2011, 12:26:27 AM: Quote from: Thunderchicken on October 20, 2011, 11:30:18 PM
You're up to something.

VSF Pearl Harbor?

I had better get some AA guns for my US force ...
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: OSHIROmodels on October 21, 2011, 01:03:35 AM: Quote from: Thunderchicken on October 20, 2011, 11:30:18 PM
You're up to something.

But of course...

Muwahahahahahaha ;D

cheers

James
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Alfrik on October 21, 2011, 01:55:31 AM: A VSF plane would certainly take a lot less materials to make versus a full Neff. Missions would be scouting, strafing and dropping light bombs to support an infantry push etc. Possibly one would be hooked to the bottom so some types of Neffs? Wings would maybe look like spoked bat wings or some such, anything other than typical fixed wing aircraft?

Anyways, there's my off the cuff thoughts.

Edit. After writing this post I looked at the pictures on the related link mentioned by Melnibonean :)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Mister Rab on October 21, 2011, 09:26:40 AM: A question I have also considered for some fiction I'm writing, so I bought a book about steam-powered aircraft:

Steam in the Air: The Application of Steam Power in Aviation During the 19th and 20th Centuries (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steam-Air-Application-Aviation-Centuries/dp/1844152952/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319185294&sr=1-1), by Maurice Kelly

I enjoyed it thoroughly - several good diagrams which would provide plenty of inspiration for historical-ish machines. As a design-engineer by training, I found the catalogue of incremental steps with the occasional quantum leap fascinating. If you can get it for between £5 and £8 I would say it was worth it :)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Andym on October 21, 2011, 09:50:08 AM: I personally think if your going to add planes to VSF they need to be a bit weird! Standard bi planes or single winged planes wouldn't feel 'right'. I like the idea based on the Da Vinci helicopter but I prefer the ornicopter( right spelling?) stuff. I always fancied building one based on a wasp or something similar. Maybe if I get some spare time.....

(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv179/andym2105/f8e31622.jpg)

....I've got the plastic domes for the 'eyes' already. Hmmmmmmmmmmm......
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Mister Rab on October 21, 2011, 12:05:47 PM: Quote from: Andym on October 21, 2011, 09:50:08 AM
I always fancied building ~~one~~ several based on a wasp or something similar.

DO IT!!!!! They could attack your mahoossive zeppelin... 8) lol

ps - fixed your post ;)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Melnibonean on October 21, 2011, 01:57:47 PM: Here's something else I made as a light aero-contraption (not really an aircraft as such). It's 28mm but it's pretty big. It sits on a 50mm base and could hold a seated figure if the prop shaft was extended.
I'm thinking of making a large nef with heliport type landing pads with a few of these.

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg91/ikhemm/Fiendish%20Fabrications/Wasp.jpg)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: answer_is_42 on October 21, 2011, 02:05:18 PM: If we're talking Victorian Science Fiction such as that of Wells, then the plane is obviously far more 'correct' than the aeronef, which, to be honest, I can't ever recall being mentioned in any VSF novel I've ever read.

Wells' The War in the Air is the kind of air warfare I imagine for VSF. I think aeronefs are silly... ::)
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers on October 22, 2011, 06:13:26 AM: Planes would be okay, but really depends on how it is done. It's a very subjective topic.

I prefer small and agile dirigibles myself.

Cheers
Fuzzy
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Allen on October 22, 2011, 01:47:04 PM: Could go either way. I play Aeronef but have not incorporated the planes and carriers. I could see zeppelins and planes in place of nefs in a land game like Land Ironclads but have to agree that when the biplanes show up I start thinking WWI.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: OSHIROmodels on October 22, 2011, 04:10:34 PM: Many thanks for the replies chaps :)

I've got some thinking to do ;)

cheers

James
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Andym on October 22, 2011, 06:23:04 PM: Quote from: Bezzo on October 22, 2011, 04:16:27 PM
My response is "Yes" and I have been pondering such a beast for some time. When it is ready I'll share.

That's just teasing! :(
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Skratch on October 22, 2011, 06:26:05 PM: Quote from: Bezzo on October 22, 2011, 04:16:27 PM
My response is "Yes" and I have been pondering such a beast for some time. When it is ready I'll share.

Hurry up with that idea :D
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Dewbakuk on October 22, 2011, 06:38:40 PM: Quote
I like the idea based on the Da Vinci helicopter but I prefer the ornicopter( right spelling?) stuff

Ornithopter. I actually mean the glider as it's more 'plane' like. That said, I do have some nice concept bits for the helicopter styles.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: answer_is_42 on October 22, 2011, 08:47:14 PM: Something like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kress_Drachenflieger
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: HerbyF on October 24, 2011, 02:30:59 PM: I see most VSF planes as being glider types, being dropped by nefs.
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: Trencher on October 24, 2011, 07:58:25 PM: I would like planes, at least in my VSF world. I think every plane up to 1914 could do - with some tweaks:

(http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/Life-Like%2009606%20AvrTipsld.JPG)
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=13130&manu=Life-Like&scale=1/48
(http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=13130&manu=Life-Like&scale=1/48)

(http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/LifeLk%2048%20Boxkite.JPG)
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=3671&manu=Life-Like&scale=1/48 (http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=3671&manu=Life-Like&scale=1/48)

O.k., since these were ancient and rare kits of 1960s vintage, the price is murderous to the wallet. But they certainly have this "magnificent men in their flying machines"-feeling.

Then, for those 10mm VSF people out there, how about this one:

(http://www.spitcrazy.com/Wright-Racer.jpg)

http://www.spitcrazy.com/Aerobase.htm (http://http://www.spitcrazy.com/Aerobase.htm)

Maybe a scratchbuild-project in 28mm?
Title: Re: 'Planes' in VSF
Post by: The_Beast on October 25, 2011, 04:52:20 PM: I'm decidedly against most WWI planes, but Bleriot's channel crosser, and the Taube have seen service in VSF, and have a properly primitive feel, in spite of being monos.

That dragonflyer is just crazy. :D

Doug