3-Views and Scale Plans & Drawings
Plans for modeling real-world aircraft come in a variety of sizes, scales, and quality. There are 3-views available out there, and there are scale plans and drawings out there. What's the difference? What's the benefits of getting a set of scale plans? Are scale drawings as good as plans? Which offers the best value for the virtual modeler?
There are peanut scale, walnut scale, giant scale and more. How do you know which set is best for creating virtual models?
To begin with, it doesn't really matter -- too much. One major consideration will probably be price. There are plans available ranging in price from $1.00 to $50.00.
3-Views
3-Views are best described as drawings (sometimes, though rarely in color) which provide three different view angles of the intended aircraft of interest. Generally, the views are top down, side view, and front view. In some cases additional views are sometimes provided, including a 3/4 view. While these views are very useful (especially color views), they are not always the best source for creating models, as they are generally not detailed enough (or to scale). Hence, the usefulness of these views is general shapes, appearance and relationship of the parts to the whole.
A very interesting and brief article on the cautions of using 3-views can be found HERE.
Scale Drawings and Scale Plans
Scale models are small versions of full-size planes. Because they do have real life counterparts, their proportions and coloration are suppose to match the full-size plane. Documentation such as a scale drawings helps as proof of scale. There are many different divisions of Scale Models (in the real-world modeling community). For a more detailed explanation click HERE.
Scale plans are drawn with the real-world modeler in mind, but, because they ARE drawn to scale, they are equally useful for the virtual modeler as they are in fact miniature plans of the real thing. There is a wide range of scale plans from which to choose. Some of the smallest plans are designed for the Peanut Scale models. These plans, though small are still correctly proportioned, and thus are perfect for virtual modelers. The larger scale plans, such as R/C Scale or Giant Scale, while extremely accurate and detailed, also tend to be quite expensive, and more importantly to virtual modelers, are often too large to be scanned. Scanning the plans for use in programs such a Gmax, seem to be the method of choice, and jumbo plan pages present quite a challenge -- not to mention take a bite out of the wallet. Still, if a modeler is dedicated, and the plans are the only set available...
Commercial Plans
A. A. Lidberg Model Plan Service
Ageless Wings (Plans from the 1930s)
Air Trails Magazine - Model Aircraft Plans (available from Wind Canyon Books)
Ben Buckle Vintage Kits - Old Time Plans Service
Cleveland Model & Supply Company (since 1926)
CCS Monographs (available from Wind Canyon Books)
CCS Drawings and Monographs (available from Wind Canyon Books)
Michael A. Morrow's Flying Scale Moel Plans / Scale Drawings by James A. Morrow
Model Airplane Plans (by Allen Hunt)
Model Activity Press Aircraft Plans
Paul Matt 3-View Scale Airplane Drawings
Scale Plans by Jack Bale
Skystone Plans and Scale Documents
Technical Drawings from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
Volaré Products - Model Airplane Plans
Velivoli by Carlo Godel -- No Longer Available
Free Plans
Eduardo's Airplane 3-View Drawings
Flying Boat Plans Gallery (by Brian Ribbans)
Kenny's Old Time Model Airplane Magazine (by Ken Horne)
Scale Model Plans by D.M. Livesay
DB Design Bureau (Scale Free Flight Plans of Australian Aircraft by Derek Buckmaster)
Modeling Organization Resources
AMA - Academy of Model Aeronautics
SAM - Society of Antique Modelers
