"DH-2, DH-4 and Junkers J.I available in 1/350 from Shapeways" Topic

For those of you who prefer small scale models:
First some much needed classics:

DH-2
link

DH-4
link

And a full metal oddity…
Junkers J.I
link

That's just the tip of the iceberg, really. Between kampfflieger and colinwe you can get a pretty extensive (if not totally complete) collection for gaming at that scale.

As I've expressed before: While the individual eye-candy appeal of the smaller models isn't as great as the 1/144 stuff (much less 1/72), the ability to game with figs that are closer to ground scale presents an overall battlefield picture that -besides having it's own appeal- gives players a more intuitive sense of the space involved in the 'real' battle and (imo) makes it easier to grasp the situation and make appropriate decisions without having to 'translate' the tabletop picture.

re: the OP -- if I didn't have a (fairly large) pile of 1/300 metal in the closet I'd get into the genre with the referenced 1/350 stuff.

Hi Don

Just to clarify: the DH 2 and 4 plus J.I are new models.

The full Shapeways 1/350 cataloque can be found on the ICOG webpage here: icog.dk/ICOG/Links.html

Major types still missing from the 1917-18 cataloque: Breguet 14, RE8, A printable Halb D.II,and conversion of the CL.IIa to 1/350

The forst two will appear if i can convince any of the designer to make them from ground up as they are not available in 1/144 or when Thomas (the other ICOG designer) will have the time to convert the 3d models used in the ruleset into print files.

Gilmore, thank you and you ICOG group for leading the 1/350 biplane initiative at shapeways. Last month i was able to order some flights of French German and British pursuit and observation aeroplanes for late 1916 period--curiously, in order to finally give Gweirda's games a try. I'd really be interested in the Breguet and RE8 models when they become available.

The small planes look very crisp in the FUD plastic, and dont seem to have the porous surface noted for the 1/144 models.

lapatrie88,

If you'd like, I can email you the latest versions…

Gweirda. Please email me lapatrie88@yahoo.com.

--Matt

Hi Matt

I will try to keep encouraging the designers to make the Breguet and RE8 but i think that the fact that they exist in abundance for 1/144 WoW dampens their motivation. If it fails Thomas (my design partner on the game) will make them as he has decent 3D skills.

As to preparing the models some of them are a bit fragile and should be prepared by

A) cleaning them gently in water with dishwasher soap to remove the supporting wax
B) reinforing them by adding small amounts of CA glue to where the struts joins with wings and fuselage as well as the wheel axle at the inside of the wheel. This is especially important on the more fragile pusher aircraft, V-strutted aircraft and some of the single bay AC.
C) priming them as usual.

Thank you both.

Especially for suggestion B), since I have some of the spindly Caudron observation planes and Nieuport 17's.

If the Breguet and RE8 ever become available they will be welcome, because the Caudrons may not hold up well against the Albatroses. The future of western Europe hangs in the balance!

--Matt

Hi Matt..

If you need French two-seaters between the Caudron and Breguet then dont forget the Sopwith Strutter.. The French produces about for times as many Strutters than the Brits. (some 4.500 as i recall). It was widely used as recon and bomber.
link

Also the Dorand is available.

On the british side the Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 "Big Ack"had a very parallel career along the RE8 fullfilling the exact same roles as corps machines (photo-recon, arty spotting, contact patrols and occasionally ground attack).
link