Bad models in crash dioramas

QUOTE: Originally posted by Haksaw I've got Hasagawa's 48th scale pilot and ground crew set so some of them are about to change serviice branches, methinks.

Doesn't Fujimi make 2 sets of 1/48 scale flight deck crews??

Think they were even 'Name era, but since I am not Wingy guy might be wrong.

About this deck strike dio I'm into.

Anyone know of a decent photo reference source for The Ticonderoga (CVA-14) as it appeared in the mid 1960s? It started life as a WW II Essex class and I've got some decent early shots but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of 'Nam era pics. All I'm really interested in is from about the two wire back to the fantail and down about hanger deck level. Some good detail photos of the meatball and LSO stations would be nice, since it's gonna be 48th scale to match the F-8 E that bites the big one. I think the plane's attitude will be kinda left side oriented since the scene is an attempted go around after a flame out. If I get the LSO in the diorama he's gonna have to be playing "duck and cover" and hoping he has a clean uniform handy. Oh yeah, what about 1/48th figures? I don't do them as a rule, but this might require it. I've got Hasagawa's 48th scale pilot and ground crew set so some of them are about to change serviice branches, methinks.

Oh, B25Raider. So far best test results have been with expandable foam (Great Stuff Brand) and synthetic cushion batting from the fabric store. The big deal is getting the shape you want when it comes out of the can. Once you shoot it you absolutely cannot touch it in any way until it is fully cured. I airbrush and hand paint with acrylics but not normal model acrylics, art stuff out of the tubes and thinned as if you were painting on a canvas with artists additives for the right finish. i seem to have better luck with them for some reason. They don't distort the foam and I can control the effect easier. Might be from using them for about 30 years painting on canvas. I know how they're gonna act. Still, there's something missing that I haven't been able to put my finger on. Soon come.

B25Raider,
I have been very lucky this year and was able to buy a few of the modern kits produced by Tamiya and Hasegawa (Fw 190s and Bf 109s) so it is no great loss if I really screw up one of my older kits trying to build one of them in a battle damaged condition.
Working in 1/48 scale will allow better looking ''battle damage'' to the models, 1/72 scale bullet holes are almost to small to see in the smaller scale.

I will post some pics when the Fw 190 is finished.


Matrixone

Excellent, Phil....Love it!

Regards, Dan

Hmm...I think the next diorama i will build will be some type of crash and it will be in 1/48 scale. I just don't know what i'll use for the victim yet. What you have so far of your dio, Matrixone, looks good.

B25Raider,
I have several older airplane kits that are being built as crashed or battle damaged a/c to be used in my airfield pics for next year.

Below is pic of a Testors 1/72 scale Fw 190 that I am now working on, it is painted and decaled but not any weathering or much battle damage has been done yet.





Next year there are more old kits that I will build as crashed or shot up a/c, a few of them are in 1/48 scale.


Matrixone

Wow! I'm really interested in what you will use to do that! And at least you don't have to worry about cleaning up after the dog anymore.

YukYukYuk!
Actually, that was my first thought, but no, not an explosion fireball, a jet fuel (gasoline type) fireball. I don't want to do an "after the crash" scene, that's too easy, but just far enough into it for the ejection of the pilot to still be mechanically attached to the dio by the fireball and seat propulsion exhaust interacting to support the pilot and seat and the F-8 about half engulfed and slamming the deck with parts flying and the airframe just starting to break up and shed wings, etc. It's gonna be 1/48th, with a Hasegawa F-8 E off , or should I say into, the Ticonderoga (CVA-14) on Yankee Station ,and one of them Squid Squadrons' bird (Hey, A Former Marine Rotary wing air crewman here CH-46 B&D models, ex Navy and ragged out when we got 'em. I couldn't have one of my guys doing something like that!).

I been thinking about and experimenting with realistic fuel type impact explosions for a few years, and I just about got it down, I think! We'll see. You should see the gasoline bomb craters in my driveway! The dog don't hardly come around any more!

Exacty philp.

Thats great.

Haksaw, just build it, set off a firecracker or two and take the picture fast! Then simply throw the model away! Just kidding buddy!

How 'bout models in bad crash dioramas? I once saw a clip of an F-8 deck strike after a flame out on short final as viewed from the Air Boss' camera. I've always wanted to do that one, I just haven't quite figured out the fireball. Anyone shed some light for one who's been away from the workbench for a few years?

I actually have a model of a 1/72 scale Pz I whose tracks disintegrated. Since I don't forsee the possibility of replacing such small rubber band tracks from any aftermarket source, I may well use it in a dio as a tank that 'brewed up'. It may be awhile though, so don' expect pics anytime soon.

LOL

Now that is a funny vignette

Mike, you mean like this?

Or any kit gone wrong for that matter. I have a Heller Willy's jeep that I am going to give one more try at fixing. If it doesn't go well it will become a casualty of war. I will probobly put it in a diorama or vignette of a jeep that has fallen through the ice or been run over by a tank. Whats interesting is there are a few modelers out there that have done a wonderful job of showing blown out tanks and vehicles and have used new kits to do it. Mig productions has a couple of products in their line that facilitate this rather nicely.