If you were intending to release some SE5s? A rousing "YES!" Can't get enough SE5s.
Yes
Perhaps
No
If you were intending to release some SE5s? A rousing "YES!" Can't get enough SE5s.
Sound great. 3-5 planes a box would be OK. Would decals be included and a painting example(s) will help.
Think the idea is very desirable to many, both sides of the pond. Between that wrinkle and the other spots of baggage (decals, assembly&color scheme guides, plane bases) seems like a few miles to cover before getting this idea to the tarmac. Still seems worth the effort to pursue.
DI love the wreckage part! Lol...Originally Posted by CdnFlyer
There's something to consider! With all the Boom cards I draw, I will need lots of wreckage models, too.
I love the wreckage part! Lol...
Mike
I like the idea. But, I would rather get the models prepainted. I am not very good at painting and would not want to butcher the models.
Trust me, having in mind scale and fair availability of decals, it wouldn't be much of a problem for you.
Of course, it's easier with pre-painted models (you get your whole army straight from the box
T would be interested in them maybe in BATCH ORDERS, 4 diff ones each month, as long as the $8 / $12 each and thats only because UNCLE SAM lots me a small amount each month.
in other words ON A FIXED INCOME, and planes would be my once a month TREAT. so i do without the BEER, it might just be better for me, and thats my story and i am sticking to it!
Why 5? I'd personally prefer even batches of 3, 4 or 6 myself (six being a typical flight IIRC, three being the batches Nexus/Ares has tried for so as to simplify storage arrangements.
My absolute preference would be pre-camo'ed, so all you need to do is add individual national, squadron or personal markings... but even just decal lozenge sheets would help.
Agreed.
The biggest advantage would be the finish. Shapeways models are a bit time consuming getting the finish smooth.
Deffinte No here. I got into WoG because you can take the models straight out of the box and game with them!
This idea seems sound, and leaves individuals many options open. I like the idea of different gun choices in the kit as it opens up more possibilities. However as much as I like the DR1's CAmels etc it would be nice to see that niche in the market of the aircraft that aren't available, or if they are they are too expensive (metal), covered too. A few aircraft have been mentioned but there are many others that could be included. Time, sales and price being the driving force for diversity.
Any new planes would be great. Doesn't have to be a box of five... three seem about right for me.
I like the Ares minis but will happily get any new planes not yet covered.
I think that the drawback with waiting for Ares is the same as any line of Wargaming models, you will get them eventually but it will take years to get them all out Peter.
Meantime Shapeways, Vallom, Red Eagle, Aim and the rest fill in the gap.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Rob, I totally agree. Time for this flyboy to look into Shapeways.
Peter
Likewise!
I'd also be very interested in a line of 1/144th WWI kits. Including decals would be a definite plus, although it might also be possible to do something like the WW2 kits that are pre-painted and pre-decaled on the sprue: all you do with those is clip off the parts and assemble the model.
Years ago (mid-'70s) there was a Japanese company making a small line of WWI aircraft in 1/144th called (IIRC) "Peanut Planes" (for their small size, not the comic.) They were nice little models, but my gaming group was flying the Triplane rules using 1/72nd kits at the time so I only picked up one of the little ones. I'm sure they're long out of production and probably collectors' items by now, but if any of those could be found it might help fill the bill.
for the more obscure types that i dont think ares will produce, yes most certainly!
My vote is YES and I already do, Shapeways and Valom for starters
Although the "Easy to assemble" is a bit subjective as some may find even the shapeways models not so easy to assemble. (Trust me I've had one or two exploded between fingers)
So I am guessing this is still a "Hypothetical" and not a "Practical"?
I only ask after having spent the weekend putting together my first Valom SE5a and finding not only the struts a pain in the ass, but the metal etched lewis a little over-etched... disappointing
C'mon Timmy, make this dream a reality!!!
I'm not going to progress with this project any further.
The Valom kits are primarily for modellers not war gamers.
ARES are gathering their strength although I still think they are few years off where they want to be. I think it's increasingly likely though that they will eventually get there.
Having just assembled my first Valom Pup, after putting it aside for some months, owing to my inability to make the undercart fit. I agree with Jeremy on this, although I have yet to paint and put the model through the rigours of gaming.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Tim the SE5a was a pain but having built a few of them now I think they are perfectly good for gaming I used a .3 drill to make holes for the struts that made the whole assembly much easier and sturdier.
The Albatross and Focker are much better builds and a lot less fiddly
Thanks for the advice. This is very helpful for those of us who are not experienced model makers and I will follow it when I attempt the build.
Should I replace the pe struts with .3mm wire? Is so, what is the best type of wire to replace the struts with?
Good, I am glad it wasn't just me. I used a scalpel blade to the same effect, and that, with liberal amounts of super glue, held things in place quite well.
I think the trick is the Matte Gloss, takes the shine off the dried glue and the attention away from my modelling shortfalls!
Do you think Ares will ever release naked models?
I would happily pay the $ for a naked or base-coated model that came with flight-stand and manouvre deck... pity Goering didnt fly a SE5a i suppose!
I had a bear of a time putting together a pair of Sopwith Pups. I replaced the supplied struts with wire. Even then it was not easy. Of course the special one I painted for my wife I dropped! Tried several times to get it back together before success. I painted her a new Pup from Shapeways. At least whey you drop a WSF they bounce!
Maybe it's time for a 'How to'; Make Valom kits easier to assemble for gamers ?????
Or maybe we could have our esteemed Oberst design a laser-cut jig to hold the struts in position on the lower wing, then remove it once the glue's dry before installing the upper?
Still a tad weak either way. The WOG stuff is just so impressively tough, sometimes I struggle to get them apart for repaints!
I'm sorry to hear the Valom kits are so fragile as I've just ordered them. Robustness is critical.
Could the pe brass struts be OK if they were made thicker by very thin strips of plasticard glued to the outside edge? Then the wings would have more surface area to be glued to. It would not look as nice but it might make them more robust.
My solution is to buy a Shapeways Pup, then cut two wing-jigs out of card, with slots at the correct stagger, to fit around the wings, beyond the interplane struts.
When I finally get around to starting my Valom Pups, I will post to show how I got on (success OR failure!)
I dropped a completed Valom DVII, and it bounced (a bit!) but stayed together.
The DVIIs have the advantage of extra struts, and the 'N' strut in the interplane position is a real boon.
I don't think this would help - unless you also drilled out the locating holes to a bigger size to receive the thicker struts. This introduces the danger of drilling right through the wing (been there!) and of installing a strut thicker than the Ares ones (if that's possible!).
The PE struts themselves are not weak at all - it is just the join which is critical.
On the DVII, the interplane 'N' struts sit nicely in the holes on the wings, and when glued in place with Araldite are strong enough to support the top wing on their own, without any other struts (also at the correct stagger, which helps a lot!).
The flat cross section of the cabane struts makes them ideal for placing in contact with the fuselage sides - a round-section strut would stand proud, and require filing flat at the end to achieve a similar "fit"; since I use cut-down paper clips to replace weak struts on Reviresco kits, filing these flat would be VERY time consuming!
The Entente scouts don't have the 'N' strut arrangement, so would be more difficult in this regard, but the strut-to-wing join remains the same.
For strength, I find that Araldite glue works MUCH better than superglue, but is less forgiving of mistaken strut alignment.
Superglue will work (especially superglue Gel - much less runny to work with) if backed up by a couple of layers of paint, a layer of hard gloss varnish, and at least one top coat of matt, preferably two. After applying all these layers, you will find that the joint is really pretty strong, and that the flat-section strut has taken on a very pleasing rounded cross-section!
I just ordered the DVII, Albatros DV, and the Nieuport 17 from Valom; they should be here mid-week. Really looking forward to seeing how they are and using the extra decals on WoG planes...
I'm sorry to hear about the "fiddly" nature of some of them - I'll have to report back my experience with them as I start putting them together next weekend. I love the idea of branching out with other pilots/color schemes - I've already repainted 3 WoG planes to get some variety in my growing collection, and THAT'S been a lot of fun, too!
All the best,
Matt Materne
Fuse wire for Pup Struts. Don't bother with the etched pap
I must say, the valom decals are quite impressive. The wing details could be better/more accurate.
Mine turned out just fine.
Nice to know, Hayden. I'm pretty comfortable with modeling techniques, so I imagine I'll be able to conquer the Valom vagaries...
I really love the idea of two planes and four decal sets...and I plan to pick up the others in the series - I think the SE5s and Sopwith Pups will be lovely additions, especially since SE5s are so hard to find.
All the best,
Matt Materne
I am definitely in favor of kits - and it would be wonderful if Ares put out "blank" planes which we could customize to our hearts' content - I'm happy painting details and pilot insignia on planes, although I must admit the national insignia would be better as actual decals - painting circles (especially) is somewhat tasking...
But I have a Goering DVII that I am looking at painting like one of the planes in one of the Leach Corp prints of Barker diving into the flock of DVIIs, and painting around existing national insignia is not too hard.
All the best,
Matt Materne
I have a hard time with metal kits and also the so Valom kits would be not worth my meager effort. Shapeways has gotten better and will hopefully see the results with my next order. I can take apart and reassemble WOG models easily and would buy them if available and usually buy WOG models when available for the aircraft they produce. I got impatient with N17s for Bloody April so I ordered 6 from shapeways.
I do not foresee WOG changing to please a few. So perhaps a new company or an old company getting into 1/144 WW1.
Shame this isn't moving forward.
Valom kits are too fiddly for me, even though I love putting models together.
Shapeways WSF is a pain to prep, but bearable.
Something in the middle would be ideal, ala Plastic Soldier Company with their 1/100 tanks.
Sorry but it is a No from me even if I was a full-time WGF player. It would also still be a No as a full-time WGS player because one of the things I prefer about the Ares / Nexusfor both games is that they come pre-painted and with all the kit that is required to play. But having said that I am now considering the following:
It could be that came into Wings of Glory from 10 years of building plastic aircraft construction kits since my interest in the World Wars began in 2003. By the time I discovered the game my interest was desperately in need of a change in direction from 1/72 & 1/144 scale kits coupled with PC gaming all the time - this was becoming antisocial and I'm sorry to say boringWings of Glory has proven to be that change of direction - no more programme crashes mid-dogfight / Airfix kits which refuse to build without copious amounts of filler / filing. Plus a game which the Lady Wife enjoys playing too. I am also aware of a growing medical problem in my hands and wrists which would prevent me from assembling a plastic model kit nowadays whenever this flares up.
Shapeways WSF planes are better now than they were - they still need quite a bit of preparation, but they are a good bet for expanding your air wings.
Particularly for British biplanes - much easier paint job than most French/German/American WW1 planes.
I think I'm fast becoming the owner of as many Shapeways/Valom as I am Ares/Nexus planes. (Having just taken advantage of the free postage and 10% off (WSF orders only)this weekend.
See you on the Dark Side......
You as well Neil .I didn't bother to put up a post re Shapeways as I figure everyone is on their mail list anyway.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
Well that's the last spending for me for a long time. I have over 50 aircraft to finish, some 12 ships 3 Yeti's and a winged Demon to finish!
See you on the Dark Side......
That sounds like quite a scenario....
Yeh, I passed on this sale too; about 80 Shapeways waiting
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
i did buy a F86 just for the ''why not'' thought. nice model, easy paint b job decals supplied ( no pilots tho, but one of my odd 6mm figs was soon chopped to fit ;-)
A good selling point for Ares is ''no need to paint''
to be honest there are plenty of colour schemes online, I enjoy painting even if my standard is poor, but there seems to me a lack of decals other than roundels etc
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