Author Topic: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules  (Read 6421 times)

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Moderator
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« on: March 25, 2016, 07:05:20 AM »
Okay, you know those alternative, non-military, swords-into-ploughshares, build-something-nice-and-civilian GBs? The ones that are supposed to convince people that we arn't all military-obsessed, weapon-fetishists who glorify death and destruction? The one where we tell ourselves that we're never going to fly the results round the room making gun and bomb noises like an eight-year-old?


Well this isn't one of those GBs. This GB is about blowing shit up.


Specifically, this GB is about filling stuff full of holes sideways whilst flying past it: that genre of aeronautical drive-by shooting performed by the likes of the AC-130K and it's ilk. Side-firing guns, and lots of them. You know you love it....

The word 'gunship' gets used in a lot of different contexts these days, so to avoid this GB becoming a meaningless 'any vehicle with guns' type of thing, I've gone for a fairly narrow definition: see Rule 1. If you think there's something that legitimately fits in the GB which is excluded by Rule 1, then by all means make your case in this thread. Likewise, if you're not certain whether your proposed build is eligible, please ask.

I've said it in the rules, but just to repeat: if you want to ask open questions for discussion purposes then by all means post on this thread or the inspirations one, but if you definitely need a prompt answer from me, then PLEASE PM ME to make sure I've seen the question.


Okay? Well here goes:

1. For the purposes of this GB, a gunship is defined as an aircraft with fixed or limited-traverse guns fitted to fire at a large angle (over 45 deg) to the long axis of the airframe, for the purpose of attacking surface targets with large volumes of fire whilst flying around them or past them. It can have other weapons that fall outside these limits, but the side-firing guns must be the main weapon, and using them must be it's primary mission. Essentially it's an AC-130K style aircraft. Helicopters are admissable, but please note that normal-style 'helicopter gunships' of the Hueycobra layout are not, since the turreted guns do not constitute their main weapon. A Chinook with multiple side-firing guns would be admissable, however, it's primary mission would have to be fire support, not just a transport with a few door guns.

2. Any and all mediums are welcome: physical models, pixels/profiles and stories. Likewise, both What If and Real World models are welcome. If you want to make your model out of play-dough then do an oil painting of it, knock yourself out...

3. Part-started models are welcome as long as no substantial construction or painting has been undertaken. Please ASK the moderator about part-started models before submitting them. The moderator's decision is final.

4. Duration will be from 1 Apr 2016 to 31 May 2016. An extension of up to two weeks may be granted depending on interest and  the volume, value, imaginitiveness and creativity of bribes and/or threats.

5. Any questions are to be directed to the Moderator: Weaver (me). PLEASE SUBMIT QUESTIONS BY PM. I cannot guarantee to see your question if it's buried in the middle of a thread. I also cannot guarantee that I'd remember to take my head with me if it wasn't screwed on, so if you don't get a prompt answer to your PM, please feel free to remind/bug me about it.

6. Please start a new thread for each build within the GB area of the forum. When your build is finished, please post pics and a short description of it in the appropriate 'Finished' thread, observing the posting rules therein. If you want your build to be considered in multiple categories, please post it on ALL the relevent 'Finished' threads.

7. A poll, open to all forum members, will be conducted at the end of the GB to determine the winners in each category: physical models and pixels/profiles/stories.


So, ready to put someone's personal space through a rapid change process and cause them to re-evaluate their lifestyle choices? Well wait for the first of April, and then lets rock and roll...... >:D
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline jcf

  • Global Moderator
  • Turn that Gila-copter down!
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2016, 01:56:10 PM »
In other words weapons systems that would be dead useless in the First and Second World Wars, or any
war where the user didn't have complete air superiority.
 :-\
“Conspiracy theory’s got to be simple.
Sense doesn’t come into it. People are
more scared of how complicated shit
actually is than they ever are about
whatever’s supposed to be behind the
conspiracy.”
-The Peripheral, William Gibson 2014

Offline Tophe

  • He sees things in double...
  • twin-boom & asymmetric fan
    • my models
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2016, 06:59:56 PM »
Okay, you know those alternative, non-military, swords-into-ploughshares, build-something-nice-and-civilian GBs? The ones that are supposed to convince people that we arn't all military-obsessed, weapon-fetishists who glorify death and destruction? The one where we tell ourselves that we're never going to fly the results round the room making gun and bomb noises like an eight-year-old?

Well this isn't one of those GBs. This GB is about blowing shit up.
I feel just opposite: I feel guilty to love (the shape of) many military aircraft. I intend to post drawings in a therapeutic way: self-showing that I (alas) love not angels but murderers... I will not compete and not post in the "to be voted for" topic, but this seems a good idea to face frontally my horror of guns, drawing a few wild monster aircraft (according to my pacifist values).
Thanks for you assistance psy' doctor... ;)

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Moderator
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2016, 10:54:10 PM »
In other words weapons systems that would be dead useless in the First and Second World Wars, or any
war where the user didn't have complete air superiority.
 :-\

Cheers Jon, I just won £5 from myself. Twice.  ;)

We've had COIN and/or armed trainer GBs where the results would be dead in seconds in WWIII. If we had a Biplane GB or a Piston-Engined GB, none of the results would be relevent to a modern hi-tech conflict. The way that the cost of small missiles is going down, they're likely to make 'classic' gunships obsolete before long anyway. So yep, this is a GB for a weapon system that probably had it's heyday around 1970 (just before MANPADS came in) but has retained a niche market into the present day.

Of course, that's real history. There's nothing to stop you from rewriting history to give the gunship a greater or different role.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Moderator
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2016, 11:02:19 PM »
Okay, you know those alternative, non-military, swords-into-ploughshares, build-something-nice-and-civilian GBs? The ones that are supposed to convince people that we arn't all military-obsessed, weapon-fetishists who glorify death and destruction? The one where we tell ourselves that we're never going to fly the results round the room making gun and bomb noises like an eight-year-old?

Well this isn't one of those GBs. This GB is about blowing shit up.
I feel just opposite: I feel guilty to love (the shape of) many military aircraft. I intend to post drawings in a therapeutic way: self-showing that I (alas) love not angels but murderers... I will not compete and not post in the "to be voted for" topic, but this seems a good idea to face frontally my horror of guns, drawing a few wild monster aircraft (according to my pacifist values).
Thanks for you assistance psy' doctor... ;)

Although I talked about blowing stuff up in the intro Tophe, please note that the actual rule just says 'guns' used to 'attack' targets. 'Guns' and 'attacks' arn't neccessarily lethal:

How about some millionaire gets kicked out of his local paintball club and decides to get his revenge by kitting out a light aircraft with every paintball gun in the county and bringing down paintball armageddon on them?  ;D

How about an anti-riot gunship that shoots thousands of rubber balls? They hit hard enough to make you change your mind about rioting, but they certainly don't kill you.
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline Tophe

  • He sees things in double...
  • twin-boom & asymmetric fan
    • my models
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2016, 01:45:24 AM »
Thanks for the psychological assistance... ;)

Offline Volkodav

  • Counts rivits with his abacus...
  • Much older now...but procrastinating about it
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2016, 07:05:52 PM »
How about an international Cricket gunship that lobs cold beer cans and soft drinks at hot thirsty crowds?

Offline Tophe

  • He sees things in double...
  • twin-boom & asymmetric fan
    • my models
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2016, 01:08:31 AM »
Sorry... :( Feel free to do in your own way. I fear I am destroying all your gun-love project, and this love is fully legal (while I may be sent to jail soon for my pacifism - today I have written a song that will be forbidden & condemned)... ???

Offline ysi_maniac

  • I will die understanding not this world
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2016, 05:04:20 AM »
Do not worry Tophe, next GB will be completely Civil. ;) ;D

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Moderator
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2016, 09:33:08 PM »
Okay, well it being the Oh Oneth of April, I declare this GB well and truly started (and no, I'm not joking...)!

The finished build threads are now unlocked: please build away to your heart's content.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2016, 09:34:53 PM by Weaver »
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2016, 04:53:01 AM »
Ammunition is getting low...better wrap up this mission soon chaps!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Weaver

  • Skyhawk stealer and violator of Panthers, with designs on a Cougar and a Tiger too
  • Moderator
  • Chaos Engineer & Evangelistic Agnostic
Re: Gunships GB (01/04/16 - 31/5/16): The Rules
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2016, 09:41:33 AM »
Okay, fuel's at bingo, all the ammo has been converted into spent cases and the oiks have finished shovelling them out of the back, so it's time to wrap this one up. The Completed Builds threads have been locked and a poll will follow shortly.

Thanks to everyone who took part. :)
"I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others" - Thucydides

"I've jazzed mine up a bit" - Spike Milligan

"I'm a general specialist," - Harry Purvis in Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke

Twitter: @hws5mp
Minds.com: @HaroldWeaverSmith