Pseudo Scale!

[MadMonkey]

I'm sure this has been discussed here, but it's a concept that has stuck with me for 30 years.

Back in 1996, there was an article in Model Airplane News discussing it, which is where I first discovered it.

Page 48

https://dn760105.eu.archive.org/0/items/Model_Airplane_News_Magazine_1996-05/Model_Airplane_News_Magazine_1996-05.pdf

This has been of interest to me since a lot of actual scale planes kind of... bore me? a bit, and I suspect with the creativity here that many of you would also be interested. It's already done to a degree, but it would be fun to maybe have a competition of "not quite real but almost", with backstories and "documentation".

Thoughts?

 

[MadMonkey]

I had to run in the middle of posting that 😑

A good example of what I'm talking about is Crimson Skies, an older PC game (and board game) set in an alternate universe where planes became more common than cars. There are some really interesting designs.

But we're only limited by imagination. "What ifs" are a good place to start; what if Cessna decided all of their planes would use pusher props, what if WWII ended up being dominated by twin-fuselage designs, what if airliners were wider instead of longer?

I dunno, just thought it might make for some interesting discussion (and projects!) especially since my latest ideas have been a lot of foamboard with 3d printed details 🙂

 

[telnar1236]

Sounds like a neat idea. Just keep in mind, with airplanes, the form is the function in many ways - there's a reason planes look the way they do. I especially like the first of those designs, but it definitely would need a vertical stabilizer

 

[MadMonkey]

Sounds like a neat idea. Just keep in mind, with airplanes, the form is the function in many ways - there's a reason planes look the way they do. I especially like the first of those designs, but it definitely would need a vertical stabilizer

Those are just examples, but yeah... the verticals are built into the engine nacelles, but they're most likely a little small. That can be mostly countered with differential thrust I think.

Several Crimson Skies planes tend to have similar issues.

What would have happened if the jet engine had never been developed? What would a top of the line piston fighter look like in 2026? 🤔

 

[CRASH 22]

 

[telnar1236]

Those are just examples, but yeah... the verticals are built into the engine nacelles, but they're most likely a little small. That can be mostly countered with differential thrust I think.

Several Crimson Skies planes tend to have similar issues.

What would have happened if the jet engine had never been developed? What would a top of the line piston fighter look like in 2026? 🤔

Ah, didn't notice those - maybe with a high degree of gyro stabilization and differential thrust, but you'd definitely be fighting the plane

 

[telnar1236]

Those are just examples, but yeah... the verticals are built into the engine nacelles, but they're most likely a little small. That can be mostly countered with differential thrust I think.

Several Crimson Skies planes tend to have similar issues.

What would have happened if the jet engine had never been developed? What would a top of the line piston fighter look like in 2026? 🤔

Like a mix between an XF-84H and an F-16 I'd imagine - transonic aerodynamics are transonic aerodynamics even with a propeller

 

[MadMonkey]

Imagine the noise... living in San Antonio I'd probably have them rattling the windows all day 😂

 

[Shorty Hassfurther]

Plastic modeling forums are a gold mine of "What If" designs. "Whatifmodellers" was a great source of these designs back before it went offline. Luckily, the "Beyond the Sprues" forum is just as good, and it's still running.

The following is my favorite piece of What If modeling, made by the late "Brian Da Basher". Brian always had a fun backstory for his aircraft, and these planes are no exception.

https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=8844.0