What if

General Modelling Forum => What-if related Products => Model Kit News => Topic started by: Freightdog862 on June 04, 2025, 03:16:30 PM

Title: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Freightdog862 on June 04, 2025, 03:16:30 PM
Just a heads up, Blue Rider Publishing have jut reprinted three of there Tintin decal sheets in 1/72 scale. The quality looks very good, and offer some useful fictional markings for What-if projects. Have a look at their website at blueriderpublishing.com

Colin
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Weaver on June 04, 2025, 04:05:46 PM
There are actually NINE decal sheets on there now, (one of which has already sold out) and some books on the subject of Tintin aircraft. The hardcopy books don't have many left in stock, but they're available as e-books also.
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Rick Lowe on June 04, 2025, 10:55:35 PM
Oo, interesting, thanks - have passed the info on.

I wonder whether Strobez has seen that?
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Spey_Phantom on June 05, 2025, 10:18:28 AM
great, ive been wanting another go at the bordurian Bf109, the Khemedi Spitfire and mosquito are definatly a must-have!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/3498/3234579656_3d41c66802.jpg)
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Weaver on June 05, 2025, 03:09:52 PM
The What-If-Squared would be to put the Tintin markings on alternative aircraft. Replace the Bordurian Bf 109 with an He 112 or an IAR 80, the Khemedi Spitfire with a Hurricane or Dewotine D.520, and the Mosquito with a Blenheim, Beaufort or Beaufighter.
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: George the Cat on June 05, 2025, 10:28:46 PM
Quote from: Weaver on June 05, 2025, 03:09:52 PMThe What-If-Squared would be to put the Tintin markings on alternative aircraft. Replace the Bordurian Bf 109 with an He 112 or an IAR 80, the Khemedi Spitfire with a Hurricane or Dewotine D.520, and the Mosquito with a Blenheim, Beaufort or Beaufighter.

I think the Mosquito decals might also work well on a Brigand.
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Weaver on June 06, 2025, 01:47:44 AM
Quote from: George the Cat on June 05, 2025, 10:28:46 PM
Quote from: Weaver on June 05, 2025, 03:09:52 PMThe What-If-Squared would be to put the Tintin markings on alternative aircraft. Replace the Bordurian Bf 109 with an He 112 or an IAR 80, the Khemedi Spitfire with a Hurricane or Dewotine D.520, and the Mosquito with a Blenheim, Beaufort or Beaufighter.

I think the Mosquito decals might also work well on a Brigand.

What year are these stories supposed to happen in?

(I didn't grow up with Tintin).
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: scautomoton on June 06, 2025, 03:03:28 AM
An alternative mid-20th century. The comics were produced for about 50 years.
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Weaver on June 06, 2025, 03:27:06 PM
If these countries are buying post-war exports, then you could replace the Bordurian Bf 109 with an Avia S.199 or Hispano HA.1112 Buchon (i.e. Czech or Spanish Bf 109 derivatives), and the Khemedi Spitfire with a Tempest Mk.II or a Sea Fury.

In an alternate universe, you could replace the Spitfire with a Martin-Baker MB.5.
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: George the Cat on June 06, 2025, 07:28:31 PM
Quote from: Weaver on June 06, 2025, 01:47:44 AM
Quote from: George the Cat on June 05, 2025, 10:28:46 PM
Quote from: Weaver on June 05, 2025, 03:09:52 PMThe What-If-Squared would be to put the Tintin markings on alternative aircraft. Replace the Bordurian Bf 109 with an He 112 or an IAR 80, the Khemedi Spitfire with a Hurricane or Dewotine D.520, and the Mosquito with a Blenheim, Beaufort or Beaufighter.

I think the Mosquito decals might also work well on a Brigand.

What year are these stories supposed to happen in?

(I didn't grow up with Tintin).

1920s and 1930s
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: NARSES2 on June 07, 2025, 02:48:30 AM
Hopefully visiting the Comic Museum in Brussels in a couple of weeks. Loved Tin-Tin as a youngster  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Blue Rider Publishing Tintin decal re-prints
Post by: Weaver on June 07, 2025, 05:43:10 AM
So, reading the Wiki page, it seems like the original Borduria story, King Ottokar's Sceptre, was written in the late 1930s. Borduria was a Nazi-aligned Balkan state, so the Bf 109 and other German pre-war types track nicely. He 112s and He 70s would go very well as alternatives.

The second Borduria story, The Calculus Affair, was wwritten in the early 1950s, by which time Borduria had become a Soviet-aligned communist state. I don't see any refeences to specific hardware from that story, but obviously anything early Soviet, such as MiG-15s, Yak-15s or IL-10s would be appropriate.

Borduria is mentioned "off screen" as it were in 1976's Tintin And The Picaros, in which they are supplying the Central American state of San Theodoros with weapons, including the odd mix of Beretta AR70/90 rifles (which look kinda like AK-47s without actually being AKs) and Mil-1 Hare helicopters.


The publication history for Khemed is a good deal more convoluted.

Khemed first appears in The Red Sea Sharks, published in 1958. It's a Arab state on the Arabian Penninsula. This story involves various aircraft including the Khemedi Mosquito and a Daimler armoured car.

The story Land Of Black Gold started serialisation in 1939, was halted in 1940 due to the German occupation of Belgium, restarted in 1948 and finished in 1950. This original version was set in the British Palastiniam mandate and didn't feature Khemed at all. In this, a Spitfire which drops leaflets on a rebel camp is British.

The story was extensively rewritten at the request of the UK publishers in 1971. In this version, the action was moved to Khemed and the Spitfire (now somewhat anachronistic) is Khemedi.