Author Topic: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow  (Read 28392 times)

Offline taiidantomcat

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Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« on: July 31, 2017, 10:03:19 PM »
Post pictures thoughts and if you would like what you are planning on building or drawing or writing 













"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2017, 01:10:16 AM »
Would a X-15 / SR-71 Hybrid be acceptable?  An experimental supersonic test aircraft. 
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2017, 03:18:04 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2017, 05:26:55 AM »
For a novel with some inspirational ideas, A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!" by Harry Harrison has some interesting ideas (for ex. a rather large eight-engined coal-burning gas turbine flying boat).  Some fun concepts to play with.

Offline Kerick

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2017, 08:19:37 AM »
Are we including subjects from vintage TV or movies? How far back is the cut off line?

Offline finsrin

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2017, 08:53:52 AM »
Those coal powered flying boats are a sight to behold.

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2017, 11:45:16 AM »
Are we including subjects from vintage TV or movies? How far back is the cut off line?

Sure, and no cut off for time
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

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Offline Kerick

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2017, 12:09:07 AM »
Cool! I have Robbie the robot kit......

Offline tankmodeler

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2017, 03:14:30 AM »
Check out this site for inspiration and, frankly, cool stuff.

http://shop.webomator.com/retropolis/

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2017, 03:21:59 AM »
Check out this site for inspiration and, frankly, cool stuff.

http://shop.webomator.com/retropolis/


Never seen That! Nice!
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Offline Volkodav

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2017, 05:13:06 PM »
How about still born concepts or evolutions of such, i.e initial missile ship ideas that ended up very different when they eventually arrived, or concepts that were killed by changing technology, treaties and or real experience demonstrating a better way, i.e. cruiser and battleship carriers.  Large cruisers / battlecruisers carrying not just aircraft but motor torpedo boats, post WWII Cruiser/Destroyers, or the station cruiser replacing station carrier for empire security and trade protection.  Maybe aircraft concepts of what was thought was going to happen but didn't, i.e. the BP ads in aviation magazines from the 60s showing civilian inflight refuelling tankers refuelling concords in flight.  Another idea is the land marines concept from WWI, i.e. armoured infantry that was assumed would evolve along side tanks but didn't happen until much latter.

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2017, 04:23:41 AM »
How about still born concepts or evolutions of such, i.e initial missile ship ideas that ended up very different when they eventually arrived, or concepts that were killed by changing technology, treaties and or real experience demonstrating a better way, i.e. cruiser and battleship carriers.  Large cruisers / battlecruisers carrying not just aircraft but motor torpedo boats, post WWII Cruiser/Destroyers, or the station cruiser replacing station carrier for empire security and trade protection.  Maybe aircraft concepts of what was thought was going to happen but didn't, i.e. the BP ads in aviation magazines from the 60s showing civilian inflight refuelling tankers refuelling concords in flight.  Another idea is the land marines concept from WWI, i.e. armoured infantry that was assumed would evolve along side tanks but didn't happen until much latter.


I think those are all really good and acceptable ideas. Ive been thinking about this a lot and even consulting with others on the sight, and I think about the only real "limit" on this GB is the notion of time and eras.

So for example put yourself in the shows of a World War II aircraft designer and he thinks about how an airplane would look in 20 years. You can't really be "wrong" . its just an educated guess on what his educated guess would be. Your example using ships is a good one. in the mid 1930s someone would probably be guessing the battleship is still the king and would be for the next 20 years, only getting larger and more powerful, rather than going nearly completely out of business.

And I think original ("pre evolved") concepts are a big part of that so definitely acceptable. I guess you have to kind of have the knowledge of styles and trends and features from different eras. If you are going to build a World War II F-18 hornet, it would probably have rounded wing tips for example, wing cannons, ordnance from the era, etc. Again you can't really be wrong I'd like to see lots of details to really back date it, but that's up the creator/builder/engineer and what they note and decide to emphasize.

On that note, its ok to take a subject and transfer it BACKWARD:





in this case you have a modern subject (the super hornet not the Prowler!  ;D) going "retro" with its paint. As opposed to an official 1940s design:



I mean look at that JU-287! Streamlined, jet engines, Forward swept wings, and SPATS!? (I know that wasn't the intended design, but its a great look at the "original" prototype as mentioned above.)

So to break it down really simply, In this GB you are basically either backdating a modern design or taking an older design and modernizing it, or taking an image or idea from the time about the future and replicating it.

Hope that helps. Like I said its rather loose guidelines.



Happy modeling!


« Last Edit: August 04, 2017, 04:52:29 AM by taiidantomcat »
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Offline AXOR

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2017, 05:16:41 AM »
Did this six yeras ago...



Alex

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2017, 07:19:07 AM »

< snip >



I mean look at that JU-287! Streamlined, jet engines, Forward swept wings, and SPATS!?

< snip >


You know, it's possible that sleek, aerodynamic spats could be a crucial element to this GB...

 :-*

Rowr!

Brian da Basher

« Last Edit: August 04, 2017, 07:20:53 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2017, 01:53:51 AM »
Down boy!!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #15 on: August 05, 2017, 01:54:09 AM »
Did this six yeras ago...




Oh yeah!! :-*
« Last Edit: August 05, 2017, 01:56:59 AM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline jcf

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #16 on: August 05, 2017, 02:32:22 AM »
Only two years away. ;D I'd say it counts as retro-future:smiley:



I have three Syd Mead books:






I have these two books directly on the subject of visions of the future, part of my history of technology and design library:

A well illustrated, academic look that accompanied a small, yet very good, Smithsonian traveling exhibit.



I also have these three and they are good for Streamline:






Another good one:
“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 elmayerle

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #17 on: August 05, 2017, 10:21:07 AM »
I should throw mention of GM's "Aerotrain" from the 1950's in here.  Interesting concept, didn't place.

Offline jcf

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #18 on: August 05, 2017, 11:26:20 PM »
A 5/8 scale version has been operating as one of the trains on Portland, Oregon's Washington Park & Zoo RR ,
since 1958.



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park_and_Zoo_Railway
“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 Kerick

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #19 on: August 05, 2017, 11:30:33 PM »
I've been trying to think of what would make a good looking flying car. I could take a vintage car kit and stick rocket nozzles on it but I was thinking of something more.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #20 on: August 06, 2017, 12:00:35 AM »
The "Fallout" games are a good source of Retro Futuristic designs (albeit broken & corroded), if you go looking.
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Offline jcf

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #21 on: August 06, 2017, 01:20:31 AM »
I've been trying to think of what would make a good looking flying car. I could take a vintage car kit and stick rocket nozzles on it but I was thinking of something more.


I've often thought that the Lancia Stratos could be the basis for a Spinner type vehicle.



Roadable Times is probably the best source for RW flying car designs.
http://roadabletimes.com/

Norman Bel Geddes design is intriguing:


Flying car article on The Old Motor:
http://theoldmotor.com/?p=156997
“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 kitnut617

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #22 on: August 06, 2017, 03:45:15 AM »
Not a lot different to the Lotus submarine that appeared in a Bond movie.

Offline jcf

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #23 on: August 06, 2017, 05:48:47 AM »
Aside from being smaller and predating the Esprit, its also powered by a Ferrari Dino V-6.
It was a very successful rally car, and, of course, much better looking.  ;D ;D :icon_fsm:
“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 GTX_Admin

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Re: Inspiration for yesterday's tomorrow
« Reply #24 on: August 06, 2017, 09:08:16 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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