WWI Recognition Models

[lastvautour]

Was there such a thing as a WWI recognition model? I have seen black on white profile shots but don't recall ever seeing anything similar to the  WWII solid ID models.

[dave_t]

Somewhere I recall seeing ship models from the WWI era.

[lastvautour]

I am still searching the web, but have not seen a solid model although there is some talk of them. Here is an interesting site on WWI modelling. http://www.wwi-models.org/

lou

[R.F.Bennett]

Technically the Clemson class we built was the WW1 version Lou. Although I don't know if the Preston (DD 327) was built during the war.

[Balsabasher]

After a lot of research on this subject the general conclusion was that paper ident wall posters were generally used,there would appear to have been a few attempts to make individual recognition type models but not commissioned by the war office in any way,now here is an idea ? why not imagine that there were indeed WW1 recognition models and produce something that is how we would make them if so commissioned ? a Gotha bomber perhaps in all sinister black ? a simple Sopwith Camel showing the salient features or what about a few profile types to experiment with,hung up they would look really good finished in black or grey finish,the struts could be simply made from skewers or flat lollipop sticks trimmed,or even flattened aluminium tube filed at the ends and pierced into the wood,it sounds fun to re-create something that could have been ? I may knock something up myself from scrap wood as would have been used in wartime.
Barry.

[R.F.Bennett]

Save those patterns Barry, We'll need all the help we can get! Great Idea by the way,been in my head too. 

[dave_t]

I don't think I have ever seen any type of aircraft model built in the WWI era. Anyone?

[Balsabasher]

The interesting thing is the interest that was shown around the twenties on WW1 flying,Arch Whitehouse well known aviation writer did a lot of great flying yarns as they called them ! Air Trails did some big solids as well of things like a Breguet biplane and a Spad,then 'Air Stories' came along anothe pulp mag full of stories mostly WW1 orientated and the James Hay Stevens plans,it was a messy war like they all are and the horrors overtook the glamour quickly,last week I went to a very interesting talk on the early days of the RFC,just look at these statistics,in June 1916 between 52 and 106 were killed in action in the air over the Western front,and nearer home 40-106 were killed in training accidents ! before the famous Smith-Barry school was started at Gosport which standardarised training that still stands good today the losses were high,usually a stall at low altitude resulted in a spin to the ground in a machine that had no differential on the draggy ailerons.
The Fokker scourge brought with it more horror and air combat became a very fine art to survive even a few patrols,it is a long time ago but we can re-enact those aircraft in miniature.
I am going to work on a few types to see how they come out,yes there will be plans as well,how about a big black Fokker D7 ? now that would sure look good in anyones collection,no fussy detail just the basic features for identification.
Barry.

[Will]

I don't think I have ever seen any type of aircraft model built in the WWI era. Anyone?

Aviation modelling definitely existed before and around WW1, though presumably flying rather than solid types:
•   WW1 fighter pilot Cecil Lewis in "Sagittarius Rising" describes building models as part of his "air-mindedness" before joining the RFC.
•   A.V.Roe (as later in Avro 504, Lancaster etc) won a prize for his flying model aeroplane before building a real one that "may" have made him the first Briton to fly circa 1908 (the official version being somewhat tied up in who-you-know politics of the era, there are several real possibilities depending on what counts as a "flight").
•   Fairey (as later in Swordfish etc) designed a flying model aircraft for Gamages department store before joining Mr Dunne (as later in Burgess-Dunne flying wing biplanes) who was also one of those aiming to be first to fly.
•   Sir George Cayley built flying models (and a man-carrying glider) in the mid-Victorian period.

Some very flaky non-evidence of early modelling:
•   The marvellous BBC TV 1970's series "Wings" showed plane-mad Alan Farmer as building models before WW1 before joining the RFC – the scripts seem to be an amalgam of many of the reminiscences of WW1 flyers.  No recognition models shown, but charts of "Hun" machines often on the wall in the office.
•   The recent "Flyboys" film showed solid models on sticks being used to demonstrate combat techniques to the novices.  The makers seem to have been very interested in the period though elements and units are all compressed and mixed up.  Unfortunately they neglected the script – the flying sequences are exciting (if too many Dr.1s) but the bits inbetween are turgidly dull and/or clichéd.

Hope this is of interest.

Will

[Balsabasher]

The numerous models made for the 'Wings' TV series were made by David Boddington,only last year I sold a Albatross C.1 to a museum in Wales which specialised in TV orientated items,when I rteceived the model it was a wreck having struck a tree on landing in one of the film sequences,I rebuilt the damaged wing and flew it once,kept it for many years before parting with it.

The models on sticks thing was probably copied from the idea as used in WW2 by gunnery instructors,sometimes they would attach recognition models to dowel to demonstrate tactics.

It is true that the building of model aircraft lured many into the air,I love the stories related to A.V.Roe and the railway arch workshop he built his flying machines from and flew them locally.

All great stuff and there can be no doubt that over the years models have played a big part in creating airmindedness leading up to,and in different theatres.

Barry.

[Mark Braunlich]

Originator of 1:72 scale appears to be Peter Capon in England in 1917. While employed as a youth by a furniture manufacturer contracted to build wings for Avro 504s, he made 6" span solid wood models of Avro 504s and as the span of full size Avro 504 is 36', the models came out to be 1:72 scale. He sold these to his fellow workers. He then built models of other aircraft to the same scale and advertised and sold them as finished models, not kits. In 1919 he made 1:72 solid Vickers Vimys for Sir John Alcock and Sir Arthur Witten Brown. The first 1:72 kits were Skybirds solid wood models introduced in England in 1932.

This history was spelled out in Aeromodeller Aug 1992 issue.

[Balsabasher]

Would that furniture manufacturer happen to be 'Waring & Guillow' they are still around today,what a fascinating story Mark not heard that before ?
Barry.

[Mark Braunlich]

Basher.
The furniture manufacturer was a firm called Greaves & Thomas.

There's a letter by Peter Capon in the July, 1966 issue of Aeromodeller for more details on his early 1:72 solids.

Mark

[Balsabasher]

Yes I remember the name Capon now ! was oner of the solids a DH.2 ? and I think there was a R.E.8 and a few others,the ones I am thinking about were made from balsa and he made the engines by binding thread around dowel etc just as I still do it,can you scan that article for us ?
Thank you,Barry.

[Mark Braunlich]

Basher,
Not balsa; see letter from 7/66 Aeromodeller.