Solid Modeling Projects For 2011

History Dates Back to Flight's Beginning

The history of Solid Scale Models, when the aviation component is considered primarily,begins with the inception of flight itself proceeding, but playing a lesser role right up tothe present age.

Over time they have been used in every capacity from prototypes of design-stage aircraftto wind tunnel test models; from military aircraft recognition models to travel agency,manufacturer, sales and airline promotional materials; from movies to museums, and;from ground schools to commercial kits for both young and adult.

The prime of Solid Scale may be represented by the 1936 kit of the China Clipperfeaturing a hollow fuselage and four hardwood ready-made engines. Later, during theearly war years, kits consisting of a three-view plan, a block of balsa for the fuselage andthinner pieces of balsa to be used for wings and tail surfaces were still offered for sale.

However, as the war proceeded, balsawood became progressively scarcer until only ablock of unyielding hardwood and cardboard made up the kits.This led to the initial decline in Solid Scale; its ultimate complete demise, almost, comingabout with the advent of the highly detailed, realistic but comparatively effortless and lesstime-consuming plastic models of the post-war era.

Nevertheless, such internet sites as Solid Model Memories and Kenny’s Old Time ModelMagazine – together with similar sites and links – indicate that there exists still, in spiteof a more arduous commitment and deficiencies in realism, a vibrant and expandingenthusiasm for the traditional form.