Shipmates -

New year, new modelling plans! I would like to help get a GB (or two) going in the Summer/Fall 2009, either solo or with some help,whatever works!

I will leave this thread open for couple weeks to gauge interest and responses, then move the favorite proposals (if any) to a "full" proposal thread for formal approval.

The candidates are:

1. Small Craft Redux - Another round of small crafts; many new and exciting releases at the "small craft" scale, as well as new experts on board. Give it another go, or too soon after end of first one?

2. Battle of the Philippine Sea (Marianas Turkey Shoot) - Any vessel on either side that participated in the action. Plenty to choose from, including carriers, light carriers, cruisers, BBs, DDs, subs, oilers, etc. We can also ask the Aeroscale people to join with aircraft builds.

3. Nuclear power - Any vessel using a nuclear powerplant. This idea has floated around in the past, I forgot who first proposed it... but feel free to claim ownership!

4. WW2 Pacific Flattops - Any carrier that saw action in the Pacific during Ww2. Should probably last a year; great place to build your Akagi

5. Divine waterline - 700 scale and waterline builds; sort of a 'technique" build, all entries must have a water base. Great place to learn/practice different water base techniques.

6. Logistics Chain - Ancillary vessels: the oilers, tankers, tenders, etc. Could expand to include transports, Liberty ships ? Any vessel carrrying the vital logistic chain necessary for a war effort.


---

Post your 'favorites", and at the end of 2 weeks I will post the numbers and move the most popular choices to a full proposal thread (if any!).

Cheers, happy new year everyone!

I like number 4 and number 6 (Wonder if I can find any of the "Maru's" from Kido Butai in 1/350 )

Nice group of suggestions, James!

You've got my blessing (and help ) when the time comes, mate...let's see what our builders have to say!!

Hi James!

Well, you have listed very interesting proposals... ALL OF THEM!
It is very though to pick just one or two, with perhaps being the least "solid" the Small Craft Redux (if I can enter my half built entry, that's another story ).
A very interesting one is the Logistics Chain / Auxiliary Fleet... This would be a good reason to build some Battlefleet Models

You have been thinking hard on this and the list is a good proof of that!!

I would go for any, let's see what the other members have to say. I have models for every campaign, so it's a question of waiting and let's see...

Rui

I like the Divine waterline, it would allow members to bring forth their ideas on techniques and if done on smaller (less complex) kits, would keep the emphasis on the water effects. We've currently seen plenty of how to tutorials (ie; Guido, Peter) and this would surely bring forth more examples.

Frank

My vote would be for #4. Give me a perfect excuse to build my 1/700 USS Ticonderoga.

Jim

Well, I was supposed to have already set up a Nuke campaign, but sort of dropped the ball on that one.

As for which ones I choose, #1, #5, and #6.

With a special mention to #2. I have liked the idea of a Battle oriented Campaign for some time. The Battle of the Philippine Sea really encompassed a good deal of ships and had a major profound impact on the war.

For just one vote I am going to give it to #5. I have grown to enjoy taking a weekend to build one. A person can spend as much time or as little time on a divine scale ship as they wish to get a great looking piece.

Divine waterline! Divine waterline! Divine waterline!

hello all,
if you do the carrier campaign for 2010,i am in.i also like the Philippines Campaign,i have a couple of DD's on the shelf.
not to rain on anyone's parade,but remember that we have Hollywood at sea ending March 1,Community Build ends June 1,and Predread ends Sept 1.also we have Gator Navy Starts Feb 1,WW1 Warships Starts May 15,and Cammo ships Starts June 6.most of the starting campaign's run 6-10 months.
i think that any proposed campaigns should start around Aug-Sept of 09.
Now we can move either Gator or WW1 to 2010 if that will help get some of James great suggestions up and running.
What do you think?
cheers,
Bruce

Carriers and/or Phil Sea works for me as well as auxiliaries.

--Karl

Ahoy!

Thanks everyone for the initial interest!

Couple comments/updates:

- I will follow Skipper's suggestion and wean out Small Craft Redux until next year; may make some decisions easier!

- Philippine Sea and Pacific Flattops will be CAMPAIGNS (~10-12 m), starting late 2009 or thereabouts. Also mutually exclusive (for this time frame ). So choose one OR the other.

- Auxil, Nukes, DivineWater will be shorter (~ 6m) but also start middle/late 2009 (or whatever people decide).

- Anyone who wants to take over one of the suggestion, please go ahead!


Ok, lets shake some interest then in a week or so I will post more official GB requests individually.

Cheers, james

They all sound pretty interesting to me, but I suppose the small scale and WWII Pacifc Flattops and Auxiliiary Vessels ones sound the most interesting. I will be keeping a weather eye out for start dates and such.

If given permission, I'll gladly take over for Divine Waterline,... as long as Rui makes me one of his splendid ribbons. I could even turn it into a contest, give away a small prize... (I would like to see this be a year long campaign, 6 months is too constrictive for some of us)

Frank

Hi Jim!

By way of another suggestion, how about a Battle of the Atlantic theme? With the variety of subs, escorts, and even merchantmen released in the last couple of years, there should be something for everyone.

--Karl

Hey guys! I'm fine with any one of the campaigns. Since I'm mainly a 1/700 builder anyway, they will all be divine waterline for me.

Kenny

I was lookig through my stash again for ships, and I found the Skywave USS Callaghan (DD-792) which I planned to do as the USS The Sullivans (DD-537) that was at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. So either WW2 Pacific Flattops or Battle of the Philippine Sea would work for me.

Jim

hello all,
may i make 1 suggestion:the Flattop Campaign,maybe it should be Carriers of World War 2.that way we could include the RN and French Carriers.i know most battles involving Carriers where in the Pacific,but who can forget HMS Ark Royal slowing down the KM Bismark or the that the HMS Glorious was sank by both KM Scharnhorst and Gneisenau off of Norway in 1940.by changing the topic,you will open up all kinds of different build ideas for the Campaign.
just a thought.
cheers,
Bruce
edit:it all of you want,i can run the carriers Camapign,but it will have start in the spring 2010.to many campaigns this year for me.

I love the idea of a Divine Scale Campaign. But, let’s do a twist on it. We have already mentioned requiring a base with the ships. How about we make it a diorama campaign? Require a water base and 2 or more ships or subs?

I have been running an idea in my head of something I would like to build and it will fit right in with this type of campaign.


A flattops campaign would be great as well, my Saratoga is just sitting there waiting to be built. But since she is a big girl I will really need to try to finish my WIP and clean off my bench.

Since Frank already offered to take on a Divine Campaign I say we let him run with it. I would offer to run one, but for some reason I have a hard time working within my own campaign.

I like the carrier idea if it is expanded to include all carriers. There were many carriers that accomplished a lot that didn’t serve in the pacific like the baby flat-tops that fought U-boats in the Atlantic and the British raid on Taranto. I myself have the CVE-9 Bogue waiting for me on my shelf. I think expanding to all carriers regardless of type and time of service would be best.

I am willing to lead a carrier campaign. Starting in mid-late 2009 works best for me but I have a few other models that I can work on if it needs to start later.

Ahoy!

Time for another consolidated update... again thanks to all who are interested!

1. Small Craft Redux - Shelved until next year.

2. Battle of the Philippine Sea - Karl, I like the idea of "battle-theme" GBs.. got the idea for Marianas from finishing an excellent book by Barrett Tillman "Clash of the Carriers". We can have a (sort of) annual "battle-theme" group build. A 'battle" campaign also has the added advantage that we can "play" with the Aviation folks over at Aeroscale or even build wingy thingies ourselves.

3. Nuclear power - Jim, are you going to post this one? you have first dibs on Nukes

4.WW2 Pacific Flattops - Bruce/David, making it WW2 Flattops (instead of Pac) would also work, specially since the "battle-theme" will be Pacific oriented.

I think FLATTOPS (and Battle-themes) should be longer GBs (operation), and probably should not be run at once. So far, looks like FLATTOPS has more votes than Marianas?

David - feel free to take ownership of the FLATTOPS GB, I can give you some feeble help and the good people in here can help with logistics! I would vote for a LATE 2009 start on this one, if it runs and have it run awhile.

5.Divine waterline - I think we have our first winner... Frank, you have the CONN!
Jim - I like your idea... maybe the newbies can just make the waterbase, and work UP from there...

I would just ask for the DivineWaterline CO to emphasize the documentation of water base construction as a GB goal. Present and future model shipwrights can then go to ONE thread/GB and look at the various water bases... choose one that fits their building plan, and have an instant WIP to follow.

6.Logistics Chain - maybe also move to next year, as it follows closely onthe No Guns Allowed campaign? or leave it on the books, see how the other GBs fill out, then bring back if needed?

Cheers

As much as I would like to Lead a Nukes Campaign, I am going to pass up on it. I have a good deal on my plate already and next to none of it is getting done.

Divine Waterline it is!

First thing we need is recruits...., all interested, please sign on.

There will be a little prize awarded by me, entries will be judged by me, and other staff if they are interested. The judging will be based partially on the water effects and the model, say 70/30%.

Surfaced subs and ships allowed. Scales (inclusive) 1:720 - 1:72 (smaller scales such as 35th begin to take on a different feel with the water effects and require different outlook and implementation to the construction)

All of the above is open to dialogue and change...

Frank

Hi Frank

I'll make with pleasure the Divine Waterline Ribbon and banner
Please check Ward Room for delay...

Cheers,
Rui

hello Frank,
If i sign up,and thats a big if,i am thinking about doing something in the 1/48-1/35 scale if that will be allowed.i will also take myself out of the running for the prize.
i found a new way to make the water effects and i will need to "play" with it before i try to use it in a build.also is there a time line for this campaign.i am hoping it will be open to any age.
cheers,
Bruce

Hi Bruce,

More than likely, It'll be open to all scales, my preferences shouldn't be a limiting factor. Look forward to your new technique.

Frank