☮️Give Peace a Chance ☮️- 11 Jan to 4 May 2025

[bianfuxia]

We all understand "War is Hell". For starters, we do a lot of GBs focused on it. Some of us (not me) have fought in wars or served in the military, or their friends and family have. Others have suffered as civilians through wars, or their friends and family have. Many of us have studied wars, campaigns, battles, and weaponry.

 

Between that and the news of the day, which seems worse by the hour sometimes, it might be nice to turn our modeling attention to...the opposite of war? The point of war? The place I think most people would want to whole world to get to, and stay at.

 

Let's call it Give Peace a Chance.

 

For this GB, it's pretty easy. Build something that's not a weapon of war, a means of war, or in any meaningful way associated with war. 

 

For example:

. cars, trucks (civilian ones), trains

. airliners, general aviation

. ocean liners, cargo ships (not while pressed into war service)

. research vessels/planes

. civilian spacecraft

 

Anything from anywhere and any-when, just not military.

 

Sure enough there are some grey zones.

 

Search and rescue - that's good - but often flown by the military. If it says Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines on the chopper, maybe not.

Disaster relief - often done by the military and also a good thing. Maybe not for this GB.

UN - more of a "it's not war while we're standing on this field" but it's not really peace if there's peacekeepers.

Former military stuff pressed into civilian service - the "Swords to Ploughshares" idea - if you like but it's probably a bit of a  grey zone given how many not-as-military-adjacent options are out there.

 

There's a ton to choose from outside the grey zone, so I'd say try to make a pretty clear choice.

 

1. me

2. @theplasticsurgeon

3. @zebra

4. @TimJ

5. @Karearea

6. @Heather Kay

7. @Bandsaw Steve

8. @IanC

9. @Grandboof

10. @Corsairfoxfouruncle

11. @rafalbert

12. @Redstaff

13. @John Masters

14. @Mjwomack

15. @ArnoldAmbrose

16. @Marklo

17. @Keeff

18. @2996 Victor

19. @Paul821

20. @Bengalensis

21. @Paul J

22. @Wings unlevel

23. @flashlight

24. @arfa1983

25. @CliffB

26. @Thom216

27. @Ray S

28. @Trevor L

29. @Whofan

30. @Bertie McBoatface

31. @TonyW

32. @RC Boater Bill

33.

@Bobby No Mac

34. @robw_uk

35. @wimbledon99

36. @Kanesuke

37. @rob Lyttle

38.

39.

 

 

Edited November 19 by bianfuxia

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Can you build something that was once used for war then converted to a peaceful use ? Im thinking of a WW2 bomber converted to an 1950’s -60’s executive aircraft ? Or possibly a reno style racer with WW2 fighters. Military trucks converted to civilian use. Sherman tanks were also converted to logging tractors in Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.. 

[zebra]

Sign me up! Airliners, GA and research aircraft are right up my street. 

 

The grey areas could be tricky here! Things like CIA front companies operating aircraft in civilian markings - not exactly being used for peaceful purposes. There were a few Soviet aircraft that looked civilian but couldn't really be called that as well.

[Bertie McBoatface]

With all of the peaceful civilian world to chose from, folks pick converted bombers and the cia. 😔 There’s no hope for mankind 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[theplasticsurgeon]

Another great idea, I'm in.  Here the only possibility from my stash.  Rocket now vouched to railways.

[bianfuxia]

10 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Can you build something that was once used for war then converted to a peaceful use ? Im thinking of a WW2 bomber converted to an 1950’s -60’s executive aircraft ? Or possibly a reno style racer with WW2 fighters. Military trucks converted to civilian use. Sherman tanks were also converted to logging tractors in Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.. 

I feel like this might be the Swords to Ploughshares GB....but ultimately it's up to each person to decide where the grey zone ends.

[TimJ]

I'm in. I don't need to go anywhere near a grey area as I have more than enough options in the stash. 

[Rob G]

How about the UN, who, while armed, are meant to be the opposite of war? Just asking, not joining.

[Karearea]

I think the only thing I have in the stash is the classic Airfix Heron, but I really like the spirit of this so count me in. Good excuse to do the Canadair CL-415 I’ve always wanted to do.

[bianfuxia]

1 hour ago, Rob G said:

How about the UN, who, while armed, are meant to be the opposite of war? Just asking, not joining.

Yeah I mean I guess if they're there it's not really peace so much as not-war-while-we're here. 

 

For this GB I'm really thinking of things that are obviously not military or military -adjacent subjects. It's a safe bet every other GB in 25 will have a military theme. 

[zebra]

12 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

With all of the peaceful civilian world to chose from, folks pick converted bombers and the cia. 😔 There’s no hope for mankind 🤣🤣🤣🤣

For me I think these two are on either side of the line - a converted bomber used for a peaceful purpose (fire fighting would be a good example) is a pretty good example of 'swords into ploughshares' whilst I don't think something used by a CIA front company can really be said to be for a peaceful purpose so would be the wrong side of the line. 

 

A bit of a minefield and I'd leave it up to the individual modeller, but for something that's military-adjacent the question should be whether it fulfils a peaceful purpose I think.

 

Anyway this GB is a great idea, as @bianfuxia has said it's a safe bet every other GB will have a military theme (because they very often do) so something with a non-military theme is a very good idea. Particularly with the amount of conflict in the world right now.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

7 hours ago, bianfuxia said:

For this GB I'm really thinking of things that are obviously not military or military -adjacent subjects. It's a safe bet every other GB in 25 will have a military theme. 

Fair enough … Sadly I don't do civilian subjects other than General Aviation types. So Im pretty much out as Ive nothing in the stash that will work ? 

[Heather Kay]

Ah, go on then. Sign me up. It’ll give me an excuse to dig out my collection of 1/76th whitemetal kits of 1950s lorries and get them built.

[Bandsaw Steve]

A great idea. Twice I’ve voted for groupbuilds that are something to do with rescue and emergency services (saving lives not taking them) and twice they have been voted down, so hopefully this will benefit from a slightly broader remit. 

 

I really like the idea of building some completely civilian stuff as a contrast to the military subjects that seem to preoccupy so many of us (self included). I’ve got a heap of potential subjects in mind but available time will determine whether I actually build something or not. Anyhow, put my name down because you have my vote. 
 

👍

[IanC]

Why not just call it the 'Civvies GB' ? 🙂

 

I wouldn't mind having a go at a 1/12 motorcycle. Haven't built one for a while.

 

 

[bianfuxia]

56 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Fair enough … Sadly I don't do civilian subjects other than General Aviation types. So Im pretty much out as Ive nothing in the stash that will work ? 

GA would be welcome. If this ever happens it won't be til 2025 so maybe something will come your way! Gives you a year to find a car or airliner - in fact the airliner option is fine anyway I think - it was you who asked about old bombers being airliners I think?. That's on the lighter end of the grey zone and I'd hate to see you not participate - I have left it to participants to decide where the right line is so please join up if you're interested!

Edited November 14, 2023 by bianfuxia

[Grandboof]

Plenty of civvie stuff  so cosider me in please . 

Martin H

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

12 hours ago, bianfuxia said:

GA would be welcome. If this ever happens it won't be til 2025 so maybe something will come your way! Gives you a year to find a car or airliner - in fact the airliner option is fine anyway I think - it was you who asked about old bombers being airliners I think?. That's on the lighter end of the grey zone and I'd hate to see you not participate - I have left it to participants to decide where the right line is so please join up if you're interested!

Maybe civil and single engine ? Not really into airliners as the space involved and cost is prohibitive for me. Yes I did mention old bombers being turned into corporate executive aircraft. Similarly someone also mentioned them being used in combat against nature ? Either fire-bombers, crop-dusting, or anti-mosquito sprayers. Go ahead and add my name and we’ll see if I can find something thats closer to General aviation. Cars sad as it is, as much as I love them. I just haven't been inspired to build one since Ive returned to the hobby. 

[rafalbert]

I have a few that would qualify, count me in.

 

Dave

[Redstaff]

Sounds like a plan to me, many F1 and rally cars in the stash to have a go at 

Ian 😀

[John Masters]

This will give a chance to build that surplus Deuce and a half used by the local highway department.  I’m in!

[Bandsaw Steve]

On 14/11/2023 at 17:31, IanC said:

Why not just call it the 'Civvies GB' ? 🙂

 

 

 

I would have to agree with this suggestion. To me at least, the term ‘peace dividend’ Is strongly tied up with post cold-war defence cuts. When I first saw this proposal I assumed it was going to be about military gear that was stood-down or disposed of in the early to mid 1990’s. 
 

Just saying. 😬

[bianfuxia]

Can I sign you up now that you know what it is?

[bianfuxia]

I've changed the name slightly. 

 

While the Peace Dividend has, to my mind, come to mean the benefit to society of living in peace (ie not spending a fortune on military budgets), it also has a narrower end-of-Cold War historical political meaning as used by Thatcher and Bush Sr. 

 

I don't want to just call this a Civvy Build because even in the middle of war there is a civilian world. Civilian doesn't equal peace.

 

Splitting hairs perhaps but the point was to emphasise the spirit of what we can achieve when we don't focus on war, both in real life and in our modelling. 

Edited November 16, 2023 by bianfuxia

[Mjwomack]

On 11/13/2023 at 11:37 AM, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Can you build something that was once used for war then converted to a peaceful use ? Im thinking of a WW2 bomber converted to an 1950’s -60’s executive aircraft ? Or possibly a reno style racer with WW2 fighters. Military trucks converted to civilian use. Sherman tanks were also converted to logging tractors in Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.. 

I'd actually prefer this suggestion: much as I like a broad GB and seeing what comes along, the scope seems to broad at the moment.

In my mind 'Peace Dividend' is the idea that money that would be spent on weapons is now put to peaceful ends- that was a big thing at the end of the Cold War.

 

I think this gives lots of scope, as well as those @Corsairfoxfouruncle mentions, there's WW1 biplanes that became barnstormers and primitive crop-sprayers.

Numerous cargo airfreight started out with demobbed DC3, yes numerous trucks.

How about a tank being used as a playground- plenty of photos of those on the t'internet.

 

Put me down (in any sense) and if it progresses, I'll work within that narrower definition in any case.

 

Right, anyone know how many I've signed up for ready for the next bunfight already🤷‍♀️