Inspiration

Sounds like a fun day.

I live a short distance from Marine Corps Airstation Miramar (MCAS) - the old topgun base when it was navy.  I see and hear V-22s almost daily and whenever we're out and about Highway 163 runs right under the glide path at the east end of the runway for final approach and we see F-18s etc just a few 100 feet overhead.

We also have the San Diego Air & Space Museum - haven't been in years but we used to hold  our IPMS meetings there.  Fun just to browse around. 

There's also the Midway carrier/Museum

Finally we have the US Navy all over San Diego bay so there's just about every type of warship around including nuclear carriers and subs.  

I'm a little over an hour away from the Strategic Air Command Museum.  Lots of Cold War and Viet Nam era stuff, and plenty of planes!  Ever been inside a B-36?

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Nice keavdog. Sounds like you just have to look out a window. I visited San Diego a couple of times many years ago but unfortunately never got the opportunity to see Fightertown or the museums.

The only bomber I've ever been inside was a Lancaster as a kid.

Really love the Midway,it was the best ship museum,really well done.I have also been on:

Intrepid,New Jesey,Constitution,Constellation,and Nautilus.

Was also able to go thru the B-29 Fifi while they were ar Tri-Cities in Tennessee could have flown on her too if I forked over $600

The Patuxent Naval Air Station and museum is about 40 miles away.  With about 30 aircraft in the outdoor display provides  plenty of inspiration.  Most of these planes are dirty and just glorious.  I often try and produces the same finish in some of my models.

BTW, October 2023 my modeling club is putting on PAXCON a modeling show just minutes away from the museum in Hollywood, MD (the next town over is California, MD) no kidding.  If you live or plan on being in the mid-Atlantic come to the show and check out the museum.