Landships II

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Link Library for Scale Plans

Tim R · Hero

Hello Peter

I think this is the thread you were talking about, but even if its not, I do think it would be extreamly handy to have a library page for plans, I am most willing to share my collections with anyone. So if you start this, please let me no.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=63528&p=3&topicID=5884791

All the Best

Tim R

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Excellent, excellent! Just the thread I was looking for but could not find!!!!

I have already started that Link Library to WW1 Equipment Plans. It is a quite simple undertaking, that will soon be expanded. Check it out here:

http://www.landships.freeservers.com/new_pages/ww1_scale_plans.htm

I will now take all the tips that were given in the thread given above, and incorporate them into the Link Library. Anyone willing to chip in even more is encouraged to do so.

I welcome anything. If it is strictly copyrighted material, I welcome any suggestions as to titles of books, magazine issue number, etc. The thing is to collate as much info as possible, not caring if it can be posted, linked to, or just mentioned where you can find it.

Centurion · Legend

Peter

As a result of the discussions in that thread I spent considerable time and effort creating an Excel database of sources of plans and photos of WW1 vehicles. Whilst not exhaustive it was pretty comprehensive and could form a core to which others could add. You may remember I sent a copy to you, Tim R and Treadhead. It sank like a man wearing a concrete lifejacket and I don't think any of you responded. I have since updated my copy as I find it useful. Should I bother forwarding another copy?

Tonys · Field Marshal

A lot of the stuff on the Blueprint website could not be used for modelling, especially in the ship section.

One must be careful to differentiate between articles with the odd photo/plan (which are magnificently done on this website) and serious, accurate, and detailed plans able to be used for modelmaking in at least 1/35th scale.

The plans section should be complementary to the current articles and should only be used for SCALE plans. Photos should be in the current article format that can be enjoyed by many, including non modelmakers.

Before putting any plan on the site, one should always ask the question "can I build an accurate model from this?" Just because a set of plans might supposedly be drawn to a particular scale, there is no guarantee that the copied drawings are still in the original scale - at least one dimension is essential to be able to check the scale.

I've had stuff from Bovington giving magnificent detail but unbuildable because not a single dimension is set out for scaling purposes.

Let's concentrate on maintaining the superb quality of this site by taking care with "scale" plans
Tony

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Centurion! Gosh! I'm sorry! I missed out on that one. And I haven't found it in my mail.

Please, PLEASE, send it again! I will of course use it!

Thanks for your patience and the effort you've put in.

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Tonys!

I agree with you, up to a point. Four-way, carefully scaled plans are of course best, but my own experience is that a single-way plan without scale is better than none at all.

Perhaps I could try and sort them in different categories.

Date: Nov 9, 2006

Centurion wrote:

Peter

As a result of the discussions in that thread I spent considerable time and effort creating an Excel database of sources of plans and photos of WW1 vehicles. Whilst not exhaustive it was pretty comprehensive and could form a core to which others could add. You may remember I sent a copy to you, Tim R and Treadhead. It sank like a man wearing a concrete lifejacket and I don't think any of you responded. I have since updated my copy as I find it useful. Should I bother forwarding another copy?

yes, what we should do is create pages with the blueprints, and photos of each tank, for referance.

Tonys · Field Marshal

Peter,
a one-dimensional plan is of no use to a modeller wanting to build something from scratch.

Since the topic first came up, I've been looking at some of the fantastic articles on this website and, although plans are given and sometimes a scale is given, no dimensions are stated eg the 7" US SPG. This one at least should be able to be scaled once a dimension is found on some other site.
If only the museum people would produce decent stuff for us and had it tested by a modelmaker before publishing.

Even the New Vanguard booklet on the Mk I has an incorrect detail of the track link, so where do we go from here.

I reiterate, keep a section purely for usable plans - the information and all the rest can continue in the article section which is without parallel anywhere.
Tony
PS
Peter, what happened to the email I sent you enquiring about how I write a kit review and have it posted under a new manufacturer?

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Regarding that e-mail: **please re-send**. I've just switched computer and I'm afraid that I could have lost some mails in the process.

Centurion · Legend

Tonys wrote:

Peter, a one-dimensional plan is of no use to a modeller wanting to build something from scratch. Since the topic first came up, I've been looking at some of the fantastic articles on this website and, although plans are given and sometimes a scale is given, no dimensions are stated eg the 7" US SPG. This one at least should be able to be scaled once a dimension is found on some other site. If only the museum people would produce decent stuff for us and had it tested by a modelmaker before publishing. Even the New Vanguard booklet on the Mk I has an incorrect detail of the track link, so where do we go from here. I reiterate, keep a section purely for usable plans - the information and all the rest can continue in the article section which is without parallel anywhere. Tony PS Peter, what happened to the email I sent you enquiring about how I write a kit review and have it posted under a new manufacturer?

I think you are asking for a perfect but totally unrealistic world. Museums have far too many calls on their limited esources to produce scale drawins for modellers - in anycase all to often there is no original to make drawings from. All too often the scratch modeller has to scavange perhaps picking up a number of drawings from several sources some or all of which have flaws and fill in gaps from photographic sources and sometime just plain logical deduction. Drawing templates and plans from such a range of sources should be a core skill for a serious modeller. As Peter says often a single view drawing can be far better than nothing. If you have two views it is often possible using a drawing board and orthogaonal projection to produce the missing view (especially if one has photos to help). It isn't as easy as just having a plan handed to you on a plate - but its more fun.

Craig York · Sergeant

As someone who has been collecting plan views of one kind or another for years, let me just say "Thank-You!" .

Peter Kempf · Field Marshal

Now I have posted a MASSIVE update from Centurion, aka Robert Robinson, with references regarding WW1 equipment. The page became BIG, though - it will take some time to load, but it's worth it!

You can check it out here:
http://www.landships.freeservers.com/new_pages/ww1_scale_plans.htm

Centurion · Legend

I'm aware that this index does not cover all the hard copy sources around - only most of the ones in my library and archives. I've kept the master spreadsheet. Originally Treadhead had volunteered to administer this but he has gone silent for some time. If people have references to items in other publications (for example later issues of Military Modelling) and they post them to the forum (we need a thread just for this) I'll periodically update the spreadsheet and send a copy to Peter. I'm afraid it'll be a Thameslink service though (not regular and frequently late) as it'll be when I am able get a round tuit