a sci-fi or what if question

I might be wrong, but I think that IPMS rules would likely call for it to go in the SciFi or Fantasy section of a contest.  The only other category I've seen at a contest was a sort of "What If...?" category for Lufte '46 aircraft wherein WWII doesn't end in 1945, but runs on for a few more years.

As a suggestion, you might want to pose the same question in the Ships Forum here. 

Well if you look at Gundam. Then you will find that they are not just limited to mobile suits as their main source of artillary.. You have tanks, aircraft, and both sea worthy and space flight marine/space vessels.. I understand you are talking about a purely a sea bound design, but as it was never created, or wasnt built, then I guess Sci-Fi fantasy would be the place to get it.. The great thing is, that you can also place it in the ship section as a what if build! Hope that helps.. I for one am interested in what you are planning...

Chris 

good evening Durr

Ill be honest, as a contest organizer and after attending many contests, it will be entirely up to the show staff where you attend and how thier catagories are organized. I build a lot of Gundam, and often I am put into Miscellaneous catagory, because according to thier interpretation, its a TV animation show and not "considered" sci fi ( if you can believe THAT!) and other times into snap-together catagories !

I would run your entry by the show staff via Email first and get a thumbs up from the head judge....good luck with it!

Heck, imagine the floating icecube WWII carrier Churchil envisioned......that would be an ultimate 'what if!"

David

"What if" is something that could have happened and is in the realm of possibilities. Like Germany's aircraft carrier that was never finished or the Luftwaffe 46 planes. Also the Maus or E-100 tanks built and marked in operational colors. An Abrams tank in Mexican or Canadian markings is another example of "what if".

Science Fiction tends to be fantasy in nature and mainly speculative. You can also have sci-fi what ifs like a dual cockpit X-Wing or a Constitution class vessel in Vulcan or Klingon markings. This would be in the realm of possibilities within the fantasy framework.