The World of Miniature Warbirds

War has never been of any use to the world. The only benefit arising usually comes from advances in technology and this century has particularly seen massive advances in aircraft and aerospace. If it had not been for the demands of the 1939-45 war, we would still be flying around in airships which in the 1930s were streets ahead of fixed wing aircraft in terms of load capacity, range and safety. But the world's prediliction for conflict has seen a multitude of military aircraft developed, commonly known as 'warbirds', and if there’s a full size airplane then we can make a model airplane to emulate it and so were born the Miniature Warbirds.

In the modelling community Warbirds are looked after by the World Miniature Warbird Association (WMWA) http://www.wmwa.org , a Special Interest Group of the Academy of Model Aeronautices (AMA). The WMWA defines warbirds, has created a community of model airplane warbird enthusiasts, a group directory covering participants all over the world and a number of special events.

The WMWA defines a ‘Warbird Aircraft’ as a model of any aircraft used for military purposes by any Country at any time. It must be a scale or semi-scale rendering, recognizable as such, and marked accordingly. Any prototype offered to the military but not accepted would also fall into the category of a ‘Warbird Aircraft.’ It cannot be a model of any aircraft made to look like a ‘Warbird Aircraft’ by applying military markings to it.” (WMWA Constitution)

Anyone with a love of building or flying warbirds is welcome in the WMWA. To maintain this friendly environment the rules for warbird status are pretty relaxed with no specifics about size, or engines or even scale provided only that the model airplane looks like a warbird. It’s the definition of the original warbird aircraft that defines a warbird model.

Contrary to the original purpose of the aircraft on which it is based, friendship is the name of the game in the WMWA. Members of the association gather in a spirit of camaraderie rather than conflict. This niche of the model airplane hobby really does take pleasure in the process of construction, often replicating the originals in painstaking detail, plus the joy of watching those lovingly constructed model airplanes take to the air.

The main miniature warbird event is the fly-in. Spectacular model airplanes make their mark in the sky and on the ground as fellow RC aviators and spectators look on. Fly-in events also include things like intro pilot training programs, guest speakers, and low-key contests. It is quite astonishing to witness tens of museum-quality aircraft, with wingspans from two to thirty plus feet, decorated to the hilt, en masse.

One of the characteristics of the WMWA for model airplane enthusiast is the world-wide network of ‘Wings’ which specialize in particular types. This can be of great benefit to individual members as it puts them in touch with other members with their specific interest. They can then pool their research efforts, exchange information and generally collaborate to produce the most accurate representation in their model airplane of the full size airplane on which it is based – wherever in the world it may have originated from.

So if you are interested in building or flying a warbird then the World Miniature Warbird Association is the best place to start. You need to base your model airplane on the definition published by the WMWA to ensure that your model airplane qualifies. You can select from any type; bombers, fighters, transport airplanes or helicopters and you can start from scratch or base it on an existing kit or plan.

Any type, any method as long as the finished model airplane gives a good representation of the original as defined by the Association. It’s a great project for the winter months – so maybe do some planning this summer and then get to it as next winter approaches.