Future challenge ideas/suggestions

[The_Sprinklez]

FD scale: "Interim Interceptor" challenge

It's 1952, and a hostile superpower has just unveiled the world's first strategic jet bomber. Your intelligence community is scrambling to find out details about the exact number of these planes in service, while your military, just beginning to break into the jet age, is hastily ordering a new and advanced interceptor carrying novel weapon systems, a large air-search and tracking radar, and new, afterburning engines to offer the required performance edge to catch the target.

However, there are too many innovations in this new design, and its development drags on, running horribly over budget and, perhaps, even facing cancellation. The air force generals are now screaming at their heads of procurement to create a cheap, fast to produce interim all-weather interceptor that can leap into action until the advanced design finally matures. The design is supposed to use as many off-the-shelf parts feasible. A conversion of an already existing airframe to the job is also an option. What does your response look like??

Seconding "Interim Interceptor" and suggesting:


(FD Scale) WWII Maritime Patrol Aircraft



A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, and search and rescue.

Your submission should depict a Maritime Patrol Aircraft that saw service during WWII or your AU's equivalent (1939-1945). Entries can be either conversions/variants of other aircraft (see PB4Y-2 Privateer) or a new-built aircraft (see PBY Catalina). Aircraft should enter service after 1939, but can be designed and first flown earlier.


Design Requirements:
1. Your submission should depict a fictional maritime patrol aircraft
2. Your aircraft should enter service as an MPA after 1939
3. Your aircraft should be drawn as it appears in use as an MPA between 1939 and 1945

[Kiwi Imperialist]

CIWS Challenge (Soldierbucket)
The year is 1967 and the Israeli destroyer Eilat, or an in-universe equivalent, has just been sunk by an anti-ship missile. It has brought into question the efficacy of your nation's existing naval surface-to-air missile systems, especially against massed threats. A last line of defence is required, ideally within the next ten years. Your task is to draw a close-in weapon system in Soldierbucket scale. The system is expected to enter service by 1977, may be gun or missile based, crewed or remotely controlled, and should be self-contained with radars necessary for operation integrated into the mount. You may choose to depict the CIWS later in life with various upgrades included. Three views would be permitted.



Tropic Moon Challenge (FD Scale)
Its the 1960s and emerging infrared technology has dramatically increased the potency of bombing at night. Unfortunately, the air force of your chosen nation has few aircraft fitted with the necessary equipment. It requires a self-contained, all weather night attack aircraft capable of low-level interdiction missions. The decision has been made to convert existing air frames. Your task is to draw a tactical bomber, which first flew between 1940 and 1955, and modify it to include the systems appropriate for the aforementioned role. Both versions should be shown: the original unmodified aircraft and the converted night attack aircraft.



Vismod Challenge (FD Scale)
This one is partially inspired by The_Sprinklez adversary/agressor aircraft challenge. In this challenge, you must draw two vehicles. The first is an ordinary military ground vehicle in the role it was originally designed for. The second is the same vehicle visually modified to resemble an opposing force's vehicle for training purposes.



Inverse Economy Challenge (FD Scale)
You have woken in an alternate universe. The United States and China are destitute. India, meanwhile, is a affluent superpower. Every country that was rich is now poor, and those that were poor are now rich. You must draw a military vehicle suitable for the alternate economic conditions of a real life country. For the impoverished United Kingdom, for example, you might draw a successor to the now woefully obsolete Folland Gnat. North Korea, in contrast, might need a stealth bomber to deal with its unstable neighbours to the south and east.



Industrial Locomotive (Trainbucket)
Your task is to draw a privately-owned industrial locomotive from any period.



Prop Gun (Gunbucket)
In this challenge, your objective is to take a real life firearm and draw a fictional version where it has been modified for use as a prop in a science-fiction film or television show. For inspiration consider the M-41A pulse rifle from Aliens (Thompson and Remington 870), the Morita assault rifle from Starship Troopers (Ruger and Ithaca 37), or the E-11 blaster from Star Wars (Sterling).

[Pico]

Nuclear-powered icebreaker challenge

Objective: Depict or design a real or fictional nuclear-powered icebreaker used by a military with the time frame being 1957 to 2024
(From the first nuclear icebreaker to the present day)
The ship may or may not be armed.

[Ultraking101]

Couple sb challenge ideas:

1. Barracks ship challenge (any era)
2. Trimaran challenge (1960-present)
3. Training ship challenge (any era)

[Pico]

FD Scale
Spaceplane challenge
- may or may not include a launch system

[The_Sprinklez]

(FD Scale) X-Plane Challenge



An "X-Plane" is an experimental aircraft designed to test and evaluate new developments in aerodynamics or technology. They typically are built specifically for this role, but can also be converted or derived from existing platforms. Examples include the Bell X-1 (high-speed flight), Bell X-5 (variable-geometry wing), and the Lockheed Martin X-55 (composite construction cargo aircraft).

Your submission should depict a experimental aircraft that was used for the testing of new technologies or concepts. Entries can be either conversions/variants of other aircraft or a new-built aircraft. Aircraft should first fly after 1945. The technology/concept being evaluated should be grounded in reality, and near-future quasi-Sci Fi designs are not permitted.


Design Requirements:
1. Your submission should depict a fictional X-Plane
2. Your aircraft should first fly after 1945
3. Your aircraft should be drawn as it appears in use as an X-Plane between 1945 and 2024, near-future designs are not permitted.

[BvonTeapot]

Armoured Cruiser Challenge

Armoured cruisers were the predecessor to the battlecruiser, using essentially the same concepts towards their designs: capable of operating as an independent surface combatant, with the ability to defeat cruisers and battleships alike but have the speed to escape if it ran across a too-formidable foe. The distinguishing feature of the armoured cruiser from the protected cruiser was the incorporation of the armoured belt across the side of the hull to protect it from incoming fire, rather than the protected cruiser's usage of armoured decks.

In this challenge your requirements are:

1) Your submission should depict a fictional armoured cruiser.
2) The ship should be commissioned within the period between 1870-1908.
3) The ship should not have a main calibre of over 10".
3) The ship should not have the armour of over 8 inches (less or more, at the discretion of Kiwi)

[Scootia23]

Seconding the armored cruiser challenge idea because it's a cool ship type that's long overdue to have a challenge about it.

[The_Sprinklez]

(SB Scale) Research or Survey Ship Challenge



A research vessel is a ship designed to conduct various forms of research at sea. This can include hydrographic survey (measurement and cataloging of features that may affect other activities such as maritime navigation, oil exploration, etc.), oceanographic research (survey of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water, the atmosphere, and climate), fisheries research (collection of data on fish populations), et cetera.
Your submission should depict a vessel designed to conduct research or surveys at sea. Armament must be limited to self-defense only, if included at all.

Design Requirements:
1. Your submission should depict a fictional research or survey ship.
2. Your ship should enter service before 2024.
3. Your aircraft should be drawn as it appears in use as a research ship, even if originally designed for another purpose.

[El_snow]

PT Boat Challenge


Introduction:
Crafted from wood, devoid of heavy armaments, and vulnerable to sinking, the patrol torpedo boats of World War II were paradoxes of naval engineering. They were swift, elusive, and "were Pound for pound, the deadliest boats of World War II", disproving the notion that size equates to power on the high seas. This challenge pays tribute to these formidable vessels by inviting you to design a fictional PT boat that captures the daring spirit and lethal efficiency of these wartime icons. Your design should reflect an era when ingenuity and speed ruled over brute strength.

Design Requirements:

1. Your submission should be a fictional PT boat that embodies the characteristics of WWII-era naval warfare.
2. The design must be historically plausible for a boat beginning sea trials by 1939.
3. Your boat, though it may be find its roots in other purposes such as leisure speed boats should be drawn as it appears in its use as a PT boat.