New 3D printed 1/350 aircraft models for ICOG. English language ruleset coming.

[Kingscarbine]

  I'm lovin' it! I downloaded the original set but can't read Danish yet. 

[Kingscarbine]

The fabulous Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 seaplane - A worthy adversary to the Felixstowe flying boat

Zvezda and ICM have a few 1/350 scale battleships and I'm curious to know if there's any real gaming possibilities of using them. Was there much plane-to-ship action? Where can I read more about it?

[GilmoreDK]

Zvezda and ICM have a few 1/350 scale battleships and I'm curious to know if there's any real gaming possibilities of using them. Was there much plane-to-ship action? Where can I read more about it?

There was different activities involving ships...

The first succesfull torpedo attacks were carried out by German twin engine flying boats and British Short 184 flying boats (hopefully we will have one of these) in 1916.

in 1917 and to the end british F.2 Felixstowe and american Curtis flying boats patrolled the channel area looking for airships and u-boats.. They were armed with bombs and heavy MG armament in order to attack he subs. Subs could not emergency dive at that time.
Their main adversaries were the very able German two seat seaplane patrol fighters: W.12 (coming soon) and the later W.29.

We are writing a mission for these where 2 Felixstowes attack a stricken Sub being aided by seaplanes. We use this model:
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/misc/ships/ger/bodilyu35.htm

Also 1918 saw two succesfull carrier strikes: A Camel took off from a lighter being towed by a destroyer and shot down a Zeppelin and 5 Camels took of in the very epic Tønder raid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tondern_raid

Hopefully we wil also get Colin to produce a small armed trawler and a Gunboat in 1/350 in order to make some more variety in possible missions.

I could be fun to make a coastal campaign as both sides fielded both seaplanes and flying boats as well as ordinary fighters in the channel zone making all types of work.. Harassment attack on each others seaplane stations, looking for enemy ship activities, anti zeppelin and anti-sub patrols, fighter patrols, artillery spotting as well as normal recon activities in the coastal front zone. The RNAS made bomber interception when the German bombers returned from bombing England (Sop. Pups vs. Gothas)

[GilmoreDK]

And the Hansa Brandenburg W.12 .. the predecessor to the W.29.



http://www.shapeways.com/model/426372/1_350th_hansa_brandenburg_w_12.html

A typical opponent to the Felixstowe flying boat.

- Svend

[GilmoreDK]

Some pics of the recent shipment.. I have given them a light coat of grey sprat primer in order to get the paint to stick and to expose and uneven surfaces that would need a fine sanding.

[abhorsen950]

Really, really superb! I've got my eye on this and can't wait for the rules to come through in English!

[GilmoreDK]

Just a short update:

The rules are progressing slowly, but steadily...  Some chapters are in need of a revision, af few sections need complete translation, we need to translate the Cockpit panel and graphic layout is on the way. Expect a couple of months. But send me a PM with a mail and i will send you full rules chapters (ca 60% ) as word files, as a taster.

Since last time:

Hanriot HD.1 - The less known and very successfull french fighter in Belgian and Italian service

http://www.shapeways.com/model/428027/1_350th_hanriot_hd_1.html?gid=sg91179

Caudron G.4 - Early recon/bomber/deathtrap

http://www.shapeways.com/model/431905/1_350_caudron_g_4.html?gid=sg85287

Albatros C.III - very succesfull 1916-17 German recon/bomber


http://www.shapeways.com/model/431904/1_350_albatros_c_iii.html?gid=sg85287

Fokker D.II - 1916 fighter - Filling the gap between the Eindekker and the Alb. DII.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/431878/1_350_fokker_d_ii.html?gid=sg85287



AW FK.8 painted up:

[Kingscarbine]

Oh boy... They keep bangging like popcorn! You should start a ICOG blog and post all that dispersed info in one place.

Those WIP models have a lot of grain. Are they made with FUD? In the Shapeways site FUD looks much smoother and detailed.

[Kingscarbine]

Svend,

How will you mount the bombers and such? Single engined planes are easy but the big boys pose a new challenge.

[GilmoreDK]

Hi Kingscarbine

The fuzzyness is a part of the production proces and it somehow differs from model to model. Some are very smooth. I however think i made and error by spraypriming. The procedure i think should be:

1: Wash off the supporting wax with hot (not boiling) water and dishwashing soap.
- This also soften the material som that eventual bent wings can be returned to their original shape. They will then retain the original shape.

2: Let dry and gently sand (with fine paper) any roughness on the flat surfaces and eventually scrape with a knife where needed. Drill out the nose mounting hole with a 0,7 mm drill. (it has been printed with a hole but need reaming).

3: Remove any remaining wax (it sticks!) by dipping the model in spirit.

4: Give the model several layers of thinned gloss or semi-gloss varnish - This will smooth out the fuzzyness.

5. Paint the model as normal - eventually after priming it.

Some more on preparing shapeways WSF here:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?7614-Compare-WSF-vs-FUD

As for the bombers and mounting. We have not tried mounting the new FUD bombers. I guess your problem is that they are so heavy that the tail will drop? But i suggest diffrent possible solutions:

Increase the friction between the nose mount piano wire and the carbon flight stand by

A) Sanding the piano wire where it touches the carbon with rough sanding paper or ..
B) Move the piano wire mount to the other side of the crimp tube (the hole in the crimp tube may be off set a bit and thus be tighter on the other side thus increasing tension)
C) Use another kind of rubber tube instead of the crimp tube - one that provide with more tension.
D) Coat the piano wire where it touches the carbon pole with something that provide more friction - This could be some kind of rubber or dry glue coating - For example superglue that has been sanded rough.

Let me know how any of these works out.. if none of them works then the clumsy solution: Make another mount beneath the first that will support the belly of the bomber...

- Svend


   

[Kingscarbine]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm burning brain cells coming up with a decent solution... I'll ask my three-year old for ideas. 

Have you tried PVA as a basecoat before painting? It could smooth and strengthen the surface?

[Kingscarbine]

In my search for air-naval scenarios I found this interesting article about operations in the Adriatic: http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v1/v1n2/adriatic.html

This site has nice pics of planes: http://www.wwiaviation.com/seaplanes.html

[GilmoreDK]

In my search for air-naval scenarios I found this interesting article about operations in the Adriatic

It is an interesting theater of operations, but i unfortunately think it will take some time to get the 3D designers to scale those Lohners and Maccis to the rigth scale. There is still some of the basic planes (SE5a, Dr.I just to mention a few) that need to be produced. They will follow the next couple of months.

I will try diluted PVA glue (very thin solution) on the Felixstowes. it sound viable to get a smoother surface, but a couple of layers of varnish helps a lot too.

Within the next 3-4 weeks we will begin posting files on either a new blog or on icog.dk (currently hosting our current campaign scores ad missions in Danish).

[Kingscarbine]

No rush. There's so much already that the Adriatic can wait a couple of years. 

Here you can find useful paper model ships but they'll need to be printed to scale: http://www.digitalnavy.com/html/downloads.html

[GilmoreDK]

Great find Nuno... Especially this one: http://www.digitalnavy.com/V108new/index.html

Would be great for a channel coastal campaign ..

- Svend