Author Topic: Airship Ideas and Inspiration (Read 31810 times)

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #50 on:** July 14, 2014, 02:44:12 AM »

Quote from: Rickshaw on July 13, 2014, 08:13:33 PM

I wonder if they could be scaled up to 1/72?

Probably…though it starts to get expensive.

Further searching turned up these options - not saying any are easily available though:

Last one is 1/700.

Then of course there is always this technique (click on image for more details):

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #51 on:** July 14, 2014, 02:47:29 AM »

BTW, in case anyone was wondering about the appendage on the Drachen type balloon shown above/below:

jcf · « **Reply #52 on:** July 14, 2014, 05:35:43 AM »

I built the Intrepid back in the '70s and frankly to get a good result you'd
probably be better off wrapping papier-mâché around a party balloon. The
netting is moulded to the multi-section balloon body and none of it fit very well
or aligned well.

$:-\$

Never mind that it's 1/57th scale and sometimes gets silly money on the used market.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #53 on:** July 26, 2014, 05:38:12 AM »

Some inspiration - click on each image to see more:

Old Wombat · « **Reply #54 on:** July 26, 2014, 09:13:39 PM »

I'm surprised I haven't put this one forward, yet!

The airship "Ophelia", part of the back story behind the band "Abney Park";

dy031101 · « **Reply #55 on:** April 07, 2015, 11:52:09 PM »

This had me revisiting a suggestion MAD made to me before about a retractible AEW balloon that could be simpler and cheaper than even a helicopter-based AEW platform.

Would the fact that the balloon would be tethered unlike a helicopter (that can reposition itself) be a factor in how large the balloon and its radar would need to be to match the overall effectiveness of, say, a Sea King AEW?

Rickshaw · « **Reply #56 on:** April 08, 2015, 09:05:28 AM »

What must be factored in, when using a tethered balloon to lift an AEW system aloft is the weight of the cable. Obviously the more cable, the heavier weight that must be lifted to reach a given altitude. While attractive because of their "cheapness", the weight and the cost of the cable quickly adds up and while it may be recoverable if you lose the balloon, the question has to be asked if its worth it when it means you must build a ship big enough to carry that much cable, plus service the balloon, when a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft are smaller, cheaper and much lighter, allowing a bigger AEW set to be carried aloft. Alternatively, you could of course utilise an airship, which is a good compromise between the two sorts of aircraft...

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #57 on:** December 07, 2015, 03:10:37 AM »

Inspirations from the internet:

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #58 on:** December 10, 2015, 04:31:44 AM »

A shot from the recent Airship race:

The Big Gimper · « **Reply #59 on:** March 20, 2021, 01:42:39 AM »

Found on Facebook. Translated from the French text:

Artist's vision of a giant ship project, mi direct (half dirigible), mi bomber (half bomber). This 1951 project was supposed to be able to transport a row of atomic bombers to enemy territory. Finally, the Air Force has settled for less gigantic and more realistic projects.

Bombers look to be B-57-ish.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #60 on:** March 20, 2021, 03:30:07 AM »

I like.

Buzzbomb · « **Reply #61 on:** March 20, 2021, 06:24:47 AM »

Very interesting concept of a hybrid Airship/Aircraft

I have read a sci fi book (Torch of Honour) where the antagonist forces have a large "Carrier" which is a starship, but uses the hydrogen fuel tankage as extra lift for when it enters atmosphere.
Of course working out how it was destroyed becomes a bit obvious.

Story · « **Reply #62 on:** May 07, 2021, 06:20:50 AM »

Something I've never seen before -
wreck of the USS Akron

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #63 on:** July 03, 2021, 03:10:47 AM »

I was thinking about the announcement from Tacoma of these two:

And was wondering if there are any equivalent scaled British airship kits available. Possibly a 23-class airship one?

It could be interesting to ponder the scenario of airships fighting each other - the dogfight of whales... would be a bit like sailing warships fighting each other perhaps.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #64 on:** July 03, 2021, 03:40:36 AM »

A different approach to airship propulsion perhaps:

Mig Eater · « **Reply #65 on:** July 03, 2021, 07:24:30 AM »

My favorite big balloon, the Kirov airship from the computer game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. I've been thinking of scratch building/3D printing it in 1/72 scale, which would be roughly a meter long. Never built anything like this before though, I'm thinking of either 3D printing it in large ring sections & then bolting them together, which would use up a lot of printing material & be very heavy but also very strong. The other option would be to 3D print an internal frame & then cover itwith papier-mache, it would be a lot lighter & cheaper but more fragile & messy to make.

apophenia · « **Reply #66 on:** July 04, 2021, 03:20:17 AM »

What about 3D printing the 'pokey' bits to apply to a vacuformed gas bag? You'd get the strength of the 3D printed material without quite so much weight (or the fragility of papier-mâché surfaces).

Mind you, a metre-long envelope is getting into industrial-sized vacuum-forming machines

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #67 on:** July 04, 2021, 03:24:44 AM »

Perhaps a variation would be the 3D printed (or cut balsa) frames and then the Tissue/rice paper and dope approach?

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #68 on:** July 06, 2021, 03:24:40 AM »

arkon · « **Reply #69 on:** July 07, 2021, 12:29:34 AM »

I do believe there is a paper model of the c&c red alert 2 airship out there, will have to look around for it

Mig Eater · « **Reply #70 on:** July 08, 2021, 05:04:36 PM »

Yeah I've seen the paper model, there is also a resin kit, a kit made entirely from photo-etch & a several 3D printed model available. They all have accuracy issues & are too small for my needs/interest though.

Paper (note this is the Red Alert 3 version)

Resin

Photo-etch

3D Print

apophenia · « **Reply #71 on:** July 09, 2021, 03:24:34 AM »

Quote from: Mig Eater on July 08, 2021, 05:04:36 PM

... too small for my needs/interest though...

That photo-etched version is gorgeous though

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #72 on:** January 27, 2022, 01:33:30 AM »

The futuristic superyacht concept that can fly as well as sail

raafif · « **Reply #73 on:** November 24, 2023, 08:22:11 AM »

I'm sure I posted this somewhere on here before but can't find it now $:-\$

looks like I started this idea back in 2015 & started the model in 2021 with slight progress in 2022 ... but I now have the very light blue paint for it. I'll probably go for German markings.

Combination of Trumpeter Russian Kilo & Chinese G-33 sub kits. Jet pods from a Revell Beluga kit that's turning into a submarine.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #74 on:** November 25, 2023, 12:54:03 AM »

Brian would be proud.


Swords to Plowshares GB Now Open!!

News:

Author Topic: Airship Ideas and Inspiration (Read 31810 times)