Gear up at model shows

It would seem that the judges at those shows are imposing their own personal preferrences on the contributors. Building to meet someone else's expectations is not why I choose to build. At the very LEAST, a category for such entries would seem only fair.

Those who can, do...Those who can't, JUDGE!

This is not always the case. But the subject of contest judges can spark some colorful, and often heated, debates. I choose not too comment on clueless rivet counters.

Darren

Sounds pretty ridiculous to me. What's the rationalization there, that it's the easy way out to build gear up? Heck, some kits I've built required MORE work to build 'em gear up than gear down! Gear doors not fitting, etc.
I say do what ya like!

I'm with J-Hulk on this one. I have seen some excellent examples of gear-up aircraft models and they are just as deserving of praise. If you like to model your aircraft in flight then do it.
Aurora has a valid point though, have ANY OF US seen a wheels up model win any accolades at a competition or show? I can't say that I have.

I agree J-Hulk. My "test-bed" P-47 jumps to mind. This is a testors kit that has so many fit problems that I won't finish it. I'll just try stuff out on it. To me only having gear down as an option and a standard is foolish. To judge a kit as less because someone took the time, effort, and expense to put their aircraft in action is totally wrong. (does my opinion show?) A model is an expression of individuality not to be subjected to someones peconceived predjudices! I'll get off my soapbox now. Bob

Well, I'm going to stuff the judges good and proper; my 1/72 VG104 is going to feature perfectly scaled OPERATING landing gear, so I'll be abe to display it wheels up OR down!

EXCELLENT!

For myself, I'm trying to get a 1/48 N1K1-J 'George' WWII Japanese fighter finished for my first show entry, this October. It will be mounted in flight, gears up

My biggest question is whether to simulate a spinning prop or not. Better check the 'prop' thread again.

Anybody else remember an article in Finescale that featured an F-16 (I think) taking off with the gear partially retracted. It certainly gave the impression of an aircraft in flight and was well thought out and executed. How could a judge at a contest not take some notice of this effort? Any contests I've been to I was always glad I was not a judge.

Bob

I'm pretty sure I've never seen any 'gear up' plane win anything in any of the shows I've been to. I think there is a 'snobbish' attitude from modelers and possibly more so judges regarding to 'gear up ' stuff... Probably because it appears to be 'simpler' to do that showing a nicely detailed, weathered undercarriage... This also means pilot in the cockpit and close cockpit and therefore (in their eyes), less details to be seen in there...

Just do your models the way you want. But if you are after some 'silver' then you may have to have gear down until somebody decides to create a separate class for gear up aircraft...

Well, that kind of bites. The projects I'm planning will be inflight. Of course, they will also be viginettes, so might be judged in another category. But, all the same. I wanted to make show quality models, and enter them when completed. The show isn't my goal, but could be a kind of barometre as to whether or not I reached my goal. Oh well. Still soldier on with them.

CorMak,
build away! but build them the way you want.
you'll know when your skills are improving, even if your prefered mode is not one the judges favor.

and if you can't tell you are getting better, and you don't have any modeling buddies to eyeball 'em, post some pics here.

we'll be happy to let you know what we think!

ed.

I've seen them built gear up and gear down but, I've never seen one built with the
gear in transit. Only difference between takeoff and landing would be the position of the flaps and/or speed brakes with the LG half way retracted or extended.
Ray

It's unfortunate that welive in a society where everything is subjective. There really should be no standard of wheels up or down, but as mentioned earlier, if a particular judge likes his aircraft or subjects a certain way, what can you do without compromising your integrity? I refuse to build something just because someone else likes it better that way, unless it's comissioned, of course. Modelers will be modelers, and judges shall be judges, and never the twain shall meet on a level playing field.

demono69