Fake it For Fun
By Bill Parker
Isn't it disappointing to take your newly built "Sunday flyer" out to the field to show it off to your flying buddies, only to find them admiring a scale airplane and not paying any attention to yours?
Have you ever taken a non-scale model to your monthly club meeting to enter it in the "project of the month" and had a scale model get all the votes? Frustrating, isn't it? Let's face it: scale models are favored by many.
Don't you just cringe with envy when you go to a meet and see the scale modelers and their beautiful creations? Diamonds among stones, they are!
Have you thought about building a scale model, only to back off when you start thinking about all that is involved in such an undertaking? All the minute details of scale building — struts, flying wires, wheels, doors with latches, sliding canopies, working flaps, documentation and proof of scale — the list goes on and on. Then comes the great psychological hang-up: the fear of dinging the model.
Then there is the regimentation and compliance with rules and rigid regulations set forth by the AMA for the high state of the art: keen competition. What a way to go! It sure gives you a warm feeling of deep admiration for those aristocrats of modeling, doesn't it?
We common modelers have enjoyed many benefits from all the spinoffs of their endeavors. But wouldn't you really like to have a good, snazzy-looking, stable-flying model that looks like a real airplane, instead of that old square, boxy-looking thing? Well, you can.
It's easy, it's simple, and it's fun: fake it!
Our experience as modelers enables us to modify, design, and add our own creative ideas that will make our models different from anything else out at the field. In building our fakes we do not have to conform to any scale rules or regulations, and herein lies the great fun of fake-scale-type modeling.
Choosing a kit or design
You can make any model into a fake scale-type aircraft, but the quickest and probably the easiest are the "fun scale" kits.
The kits we are looking for usually have docile, stable flying characteristics, and the only thing that is scale about them is a look-alike or what has been called a "distinctive scale appearance." Our modeling buddies and spectators will be able to associate our models with an original airplane. Since the airplane is already a scale design, it leaves little else for your creativity except the detail and color scheme. Some of these kits do contain cowls, fairings, struts, and other detail. That's okay, too — it's less work and faster building. Besides, most people are not that discriminating and will seldom notice or mention these discrepancies. But you can go as far as you want with your ideas about details.
Another approach to fake scale is to select a good flying kit — anything from the small Quickie 500 type through 1/4-scale — something that you have built before or that you know has good, stable flying characteristics. There are hundreds on the market, or you can work up a design of your own and scratch-build.
How to fake a design into a scale-looking model
A design of this type can really be faked into a scale-looking model by making relatively simple changes:
- If it has a square fuselage, glue in some angle stock and sand the corners round.
- Reshape the front end, wingtips, and the vertical stab to suit your design — but be careful not to change the aerodynamic geometry.
- It's usually possible to make a tail-dragger out of a trike, if tail-draggers are your thing.
- For pure realism install a turtledeck, open cockpit, headrest, windscreen, or canopy, and always put a pilot in your model.
- Landing gear, wheels, and other parts can be made to look scale by simply purchasing items that are available over the counter.
- Details such as bombs, guns, wing tanks, and anything else you want to add can be easily faked without any concern about true scale perspective.
- Suit your own desires for creativity in color schemes, coverings, striping, and decals.
- Even dummy radial engines can be easily built and added for realism.
These fakes may be nearly as authentic-looking as true scale models, but will seldom (if ever) qualify for a scale-type event. It doesn't matter — that's not the intent. Whether it resembles a prototype of some kind or just looks like it should be a model of an original, your fabulous fake will attract a lot of attention and compliments from everybody — and of course, that makes you feel proud.
So try it — fake it for fun! Who knows, this could motivate you to become a true scale modeler!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
