I'm launching my first playing card project on Kickstarter Monday Feb, 24.
The Flight Deck Playing Cards and Folio set.
Here's an image and a preview link. I've gotten a lot of feedback from playing card collectors, magicians, and aviators. I'm finally ready to launch!
Here's your last chance to take a look before it goes live!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/134284667/2014910784?token=6be6790a

Great project! and Great Art! let me know if you have any questions that I might could help you with. Can't wait to back!

Jackson

Great project! and Great Art! let me know if you have any questions that I might could help you with. Can't wait to back!

Jackson

You asked for it Jackson, I'm sending you a question!

Wow, looks great. What's the print run on each deck? Also, what time is the launch?

I like this a lot. Takes me back to when I started taking flying lessons.

It's an aviator skull smoking a cigarette with his scarf blowing in the wind. The deck mostly deals with civil aviation so I wanted a nod to combat pilots in there and I like the idea of the Ace of Spades being different and kind of gritty. There was this great painting from WWI I saw once and it was this pilot flying out of the clouds firing down on some enemies and in the co-pilot seat the grim reaper was sitting there pointing out his targets. So I wanted to create a deck that was positive and full of hope and progress, but at the same time had a couple nods to some darker imagery.

Right now I've got some ideas for some LE decks involving different color schemes and even a sequel set of decks that could involve more advanced flight but if things go well that stuff will all be known in time. So fingers crossed, we get to a point with this campaign that I can produce those LE decks. And you're probably right about the blow ups, I'll add a note!

I like the design a lot - but there's one element that just looks way too out of place for me.

The Ace of Spades on the Airplane deck - why did you make the face that of a horned devil skull?  It doesn't fit the theme very well to my eyes.  I would think a "daring young man in his flying machine" would have been a better choice.  Is there a specific, thematic reason for choosing that image?

A word of advice - make it clear to people that clicking on the images will send them to a blown-up version on a new page.  I don't see many KS projects offering close-ups like that and it gives people a chance to really see the art details up close.  It could convince a fence-sitter to become a backer.

Hey, for the bonus limited-edition deck - are you making a jet-flight deck?  Or perhaps even spaceflight? 

Consider a WW2 fighter plane nose art deck!  Someone's probably done one before, but that kind of art never seems to fall out of fashion!

I would still leave out the skull on the Ace.  You're right in that the two decks cover civil aviation, which makes the fighter craft artwork seem all the more out of place.  An image of an attractive stewardess or aviatrix (from the days before we called them by gender-neutral terms such as "flight attendants" and "pilots") would probably rock on that card.  Even wing walkers would fit better!

I'm definitely keeping that Aviator Skull. It's sort of one of my signatures. I'm all for making changes when people make suggestions. I've made a lot of adjustments to the deck the past couple weeks based on people's suggestions but I guess this one is important to me!

Maybe one of your other ideas would work well for the LE deck? Who knows! People definitely like pinup art. But I have a lot of female fans and they definitely let me hear it if I do too much cheesecake stuff so I have to be careful with that.

Very nice design and concept PRM, I like it a lot. I understand your concern with being "Tasteful" when dealing with your female backers/fans, but keep in mind that some Nose Art is more than just a Pin Up and marks some very historic events.

Good Luck!!

A very well known Nose Art image comes to mind...

you got my support. this is a very mature design. real classy looking decks & the deck holder is a nice touch, good selling point. i think i may even pick up a t shirt too.

good luck !

Yup, going live today, in about 4 hours! 12 noon PST

Ok now live

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/134284667/the-flight-deck-the-dawn-of-aviation-playing-cards

Thanks! And I'll have to remember to draw a skull on your package. LOL
I was thinking of doing a cheat sheet card but decided on the gaff cards instead.
And the reason for that is I'm hoping to do a small art booklet that will fit into the Flight Log, or at least release a .pdf of it.
But After drawing these I now know that Orville had the mustache and Wilbur was the bald one. I'd know those guys anywhere

I'm in.  These are GORGEOUS.  What an elegant art deco look to the whole thing.  And while I get it that your skull is a signature thing (and not in keeping with the art deco theme at all), THANK YOU for not putting a skull on every card.  One on the Ace of Spades?  That's cool ... your signatures, your rules.

A question ... if we're supposed to recognize who the people are on the courts, it would be really nice if one of the extra cards would have a cheat sheet to tell us who's who.

This is a must buy for me.

Well done.

New update is up if you haven't already seen it....
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/134284667/the-flight-deck-the-dawn-of-aviation-playing-cards/posts