I am not sure if this is a political comment, brave new world position, or an off-topic rant. I say this from a personal perspective, that is, it is my point of view. I say the following with all respect to fellow model rocketeers.
I have trouble building replicas of war machines. Maybe I am fooling myself when I build a V-2 with White Sands test patterns instead of olive drape or camouflage operational detailing. This is my own rationalization and it works for me. Is the V-2 a war machine or a test rocket for the development of the American manned space program? I suppose its a philosophical question open for debate.
I am very interested in building scale model rockets and scratch built rockets. I have just re-entered this hobby as a BAR. So far, I have done more building than flying.
It is impossible to avoid that fact that much of the aerospace industry was, and is, related to military operations. Maybe building sounding rockets is an exception. This is only one point of view: mine. I am not lecturing here. I love the design of the V-2, the Honest John, and the Redstone. I will build them all with roll-pattern graphics. For my fellow rocketeers, I will respect and marvel at their accurate scale models built in operational markings.
Maybe Jim Flis has it correct, specializing in the "rocketry of old, or fantasy design. Retro rockets can be beautiful designs as well. For me, I like the scale birds. There is a lot of history with these birds, both good and bad.
We make our own choices and all are valid. This has only been my point of view, shared with others, not a soapbox lecture. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Mike
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