The other half of this forum's title is way too often neglected ,in my opinion.It was a great era of almost complete freedom in the air(until 1929 or so)and hardly anyone models it.Maybe this thread will help to chance that.

Many great aircraft were built or their development underway by 1934.The static models in this thread ; warbirds or commercial,dioramas,vignettes or stand alone models ,kit or modified kit ,plastic or otherwise will be the center of attention here.

Model by Jose Luis Fauste

Fairey Swordfish Mk1 Airfix
This aircraft first flew April 1934 and is just within our time frame .

You mean aviation from 1918-1933? If so, I agree. One of my favorite time frames for aviation.

I am currently building a 1/48 Polikarpov I-16 and a 1/48 Boeing P-12e.

Just received a 1/72 Curtiss P-1B resin kit as well.....

Nice Swordfish. The new Airfix kit looks great!!

You are right John: There are many aviation subjects from post WWI to 1934 that are overlooked in this forum. I think as time goes on you will see more of them. Maybe a GB so entitled would spark enthusiasm and we would see modelers works.

Best

Mark

Model by Mick Capell
Hard to believe two decades or more separate these designs !

Model and pic by Wildcat.Curtiss BF2C
Ordered by the US Navy in 1932,delivered Oct 1934.
Not a successful design due to landing gear problems and was swiftly withdrawn from service.

Nice work on both of the kits. I always liked the 30's a/c. I have several built. I know that there is an updated limited run kit of the "Gosshawk", I have a couple of the Lindberg releases and although quite basic, build into a decent model. Too bad there isn't a wider variety of markings for the kit. Thanks for passing these along John.

Best

Mark

Curtiss BF2c-Model and image by Michael Stanley

Swordfish -Model and image by Jose Luis Fauste

Albatros -Model and image by Frank Loch

All have given me their kind permission to use their pics here,of which I keep a copy of in my files.
Sorry guys but I can't edit the exact pics on this site after a certain time limit.

Model and image courtesy of Frank Loch.
Thanks! Frank

Here is a great WnW 1/32 model.I especially like the subtle story line of maintenance being done on this airplane. It must have been done at the factory though while it was still "factory fresh."
Although the Baron( MvR )is most associated with the triplane Dr.I, it was in the Albatros that the majority of his victories were actually made.

I agree about the neglected part, but perhaps it could be expanded to include more years, say, to '38 or '39, but not including the early part of WW2, which could be a whole other category.

Myself, I'm trying to put together an early airliner prototype, a Kharkov Khai KhAI3, which was a nice little tail less delta that was supposed to carry 8 passengers, with a 100 hp M11 radial up front. Never got a production order, but it wasn't due to poor flight performance.

But there are many other types, in the Soviet Union, as well as elsewhere, which might do well for someone or someones to try their hand at building, during the `1930's.

Hi! actually I have found that thru 34 is a good cut off point otherwise you get into a lot of WW2 types that were under development at the time.Someone has obviously researched this very well,and I agree,otherwise this site would eventually become just another WW2 military site and we already have plenty of those.

Hi Mark ! it seems that the "between the wars" is not often modeled because guys weren't shooting at one another.Everyone seems to want guns on their models.

Hi Mike !Actually the "between the wars" era was a very exciting time to be in aviation.A major part of my work,I am happy to say, involves this era.

Mark,I think that this has been tried before on so many other sites but the response has always been the same.Other than their war time exploits no one actually cares what eventually happened to all those brave souls.
It has been my experience that most modelers are actually fascinated with the war aspect of aviation and not with aviation itself.

Hi John: Not to start a flame war, but I think you are being a bit judgemental about military aircraft builders. For one, there isn't a whole lot of non military Post WWI-1934 subjects out there. Note, I wrote not a lot. Most of the modeling done on these pages is either plastic or multi media, not a lot of stick and tissue or scratch building. The military aircraft that are modeled aren't modeled because they have guns and shoot at people, they represent a historical era that was very significant in world events and shaped our modern world that todays generation really doesn't understand nor cares about. That being written, here are a few of my post WWI subjects. Most have guns, but not all, they cover a period of my life from 1977 to 1991, one is my dad's build. Enjoy
The vernerable Haseagawa Boeing F4B4 OOB with Kit decals and invisible thread for rigging.

The Stable mate the Hasegawa 1/32nd P-12, again OOB, invisible thread for rigging.

The Monogram Grumman Gulfhawk

Okay a few more:

This is the old Entex Willow: I wanted a multi seat US Navy A/C and is 'resembled' a vought aircraft, so I hand made the scouting emblem and this what it looked like. I think it "has the looke"

The Williams brothers Sparrowhawk. Talk about brave men, can you imagine flying one of these into a dirigible and then climb a jacobs out of the aircraft? Not for the feint of heart.

Here is the AMT Lockheed Vega with floats. A neat looking airplane, no guns!


This is the Monogram 1/72 Gosshawk. My dad built this about 40 years ago, he has since passed away. He got me into building models as a young lad starting with the Aurora Fokker D-VII.


If the kit manufacturers would produce more between the wars civil a/c I am sure people would build them as readily.

Cheers
Mark

Mark,
Thanks for sharing your "Golden Age" subjects. Beautiful to behold and very inspiring. I'm hoping to fit a few into my plans; 1/32 of course, and seeing your builds here is motivating me even more.
I think we all have some builds from the past kicking around and I'm sure there's lots of enjoyment and inspiration to be had; Maybe we need to consider a thread or a real quick Campaign to capture some of them??
Cheers,
Lance

Hello Lance:

Thanks for scoping them out. They really are neat and as John laments a not often seen era. I think the rapid growth of aviation technology during the post WWI era was amazing. Look at the major advancements in aircraft. I would like to see more available in 1/32nd, but I am content with the lot of WWI subjects coming out presently. I have enough in my stash to last me a lifetime.

Cheers

Mark

Here my Grumman F3F-1 1/48 from Accurate Miniatures;



and a Academy 1/48 Boeing P-26A peashooter;

Hi Mike:

Nice models. The P6 has always been a favorite of mine and your paint scheme is very striking. The Grumman F3 family are also on my list of favorites. I have the Monogram 1/32nd F3 but it is at work. The kit shows its age, but it is still a fun buid and can build up into a great model. I had both of the A/M F3F kits, but got into 1/32nd and sold them to a friend. Your is a stunner.

Best
Mark

Hi Mark ! No flame war here,I have my opinion and you have yours,we will just have to agree to disagree.

Thanks Mark for all those great examples of "tween the wars stuff".Love it !

:-H Hello John: I agree.

A hint of what was to come began way back in 1926.

zxzx