Rod Gillies (2 Much Caffeine) blends sci-fi and history to create an alternative fictional aircraft from the German air force during WWII. As much as I like the innovative greeble sandwich aircraft, I like the tan hangar with its dark tan accents even more.
The builder would like to acknowledge that the swastika does not reflect any pro-Nazi sentiments. It is for historical representation only.
Not as fictional as you would think. Nazis were actually researching and building all kinds of bizarre technological contraptions. Some believe that one of the primary reasons for the US entering WW2 was to gain control of Nazi technology, which at the time was the most advanced in the world. They succeeded in that goal and many Nazi military/ scientists immediately were integrated into the US military industrial empire, becoming some of the founders of agencies like NASA.
Thanks for the feature Nannan, much appreciated.
And once more, just in case anyone takes offence – the swastika is only there as part of an attempt to provide a vaguely-realistic setting for an unrealistic aircraft. I figured if it was okay for the Indy movies then it was okay for my MOC.
@Rocko – the “real” secret weapons projects of the Luftwaffe were definitely the inspiration behind this and another couple of things I’m finishing off at the moment.
I’m not sure that getting hold of German technology was a primary reason for the US entering the war, but it was definitely a major benefit at the war’s end. The integration of German scientists into the American military-industrial complex was called “Operation Paperclip”, apparently because personnel files marked with a paperclip indicated that this was a potentially-valuable scientist.
First, I don’t like military mocs at all.
AFOLs and all that is great, but Lego is still primarily a toy for children. And in my opinion is just wrong to model military themed models with toys. That swastika is the icing of all that.
Have fun “playing” with your swastika toys.
@AF – I understand your position and I respect it. However, I have a couple of issues with your statement.
First of all, do you have issues with all military toys or ones built out of Lego? I assume you are consistant in your thinking. Lego has recently made military themed sets of their own, you know. Several of the Indiana Jones sets have a military vehicles.
My second issue is the swastika. It is a historical symbol. It needs to not be suppressed. We need to remember the horrors that were associated with it, so that those things are never repeated. I think there are appropriate uses for the swastika…namely when Nazi Germany is referenced. After all, they are the ones who appropriated it.
Lastly, my most serious concern is your final sentence. I have no issues with you disagreeing with someone, but why the sarcasm? I find it really hard to take you seriously, solely because of your last sentence.
The Swastika was also an ancient symbol in Hindu, Greece, and Japan meaning Good Luck. It is also the rune for Thor’s Hammer backwards.
@bdd458 – That’s kind of beside the point. The MOC uses the Swastika in an (albeit fantastical) setting of WW2 and therefore it has some very clear and negative connotations.
Whilst I wholeheartedly disagree with AF’s assesment, I can respect his views. Suggesting the Swastika can be used because it was a religious symbol before it was appropriated by the Nazis isn’t really the point.
I made the decision to include the logo in the build because it was clearly a fictional setting and one which I don’t believe celebrated any of the aspects of Nazi Germany beyond a certain engineeing ingenuity.
You are entitled to your opinion. However, try to keep in mind that it is just that: a subjective opinion, not an objective, empirical fact. There is a vast gulf of difference–not a fine line–between “this bothers me” and “this is wrong”.
Lego is a toy for children. It is also an artistic medium. It is also a source of raw crafting materials. It is also a miniature wargaming toy. These are all common uses of what is, after all primarily a commercial product–the “primary”, intended use of which is entirely orthogonal to what uses are “legitimate” or “proper”.
Oh hai, great MOC. I love alt-WWII themes, and this is one of the better ones I’ve seen.
I don’t enjoy belittling the beliefs of others despite how often I do it. However, lego is not the first battle in the war to remove military themes from children’s toys, it is the last. As long as the theme of violence is being employed in a medium of creativity then it is an interaction with violence rather than an indoctrination, an experience where children are permitted to gain and understanding of choices and consequences surrounding it. Allowing your kids to create lego tanks and guns and bombers presents them with a chance to answer questions like why am I doing this and how else could I have used these parts to play? Those are essential lessons in human development.
Now that I’m done being a play Nazi..
I dig this Moc. I love the theme of alt-history and it can be hard to execute and best of all the warmachine is whimsical, curved and retro, kind of chibi in appearance. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series.
@ Rocko – just one minor quibble with your theory, Nazi Germany declared war on the US, not the other way around, making it difficult to argue that the US entered the war to get hold of the technology.
Although of course that was the result.
Oh, I love this MOC by the way, I have no issues at all with depicting a swastika in this historical context. If we censor history then we will never remember the lessons of the past and we will simply repeat them again.
Dr. S.
Oh, Nazis… So wholly and thoroughly objectionable and evil, yet such a great indirect source of “cool” when it comes to weird technology. I mean, I want to throw up when I think about their concentration camps and the like, but heck if I don’t get excited when I see something like this :) I also agree with Dr. Sinister about the swastika: censoring it just gives it more power…
Annnnyway, VERY nice build! Both the models and their arrangement are wonderful :D