Frankie & Betty Went Flying

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Frankie & Betty Went Flying

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 8:04 AM

Here's the latest, #5, in the series "A Line in the Sky."
The 2 Hasegawa Ki 84s pick up a stricken Tamiya Betty.
Hope you like it, & thanks for letting me share !

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maddafinga

Member since
March 2003
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Posted by maddafinga on Friday, September 26, 2003 8:17 AM

Looks great pix! Your props are looking better and better.

madda

Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga

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leemitcheltree

Member since
January 2003
From: Washington State

Posted by leemitcheltree on Friday, September 26, 2003 8:23 AM

Pixilator -
You're getting better and better - very nice
I especially like the way you've done the props - very realistic and a great improvement on a month ago.
Good work
LeeTree

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, September 26, 2003 8:29 AM

I heartily concur with the distinguished gentlemen!
Excellent!
Betty looks appropriately lonely struggling along there, waiting for her escorts.

~Brian

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 9:12 AM

As the skills comtinue to increase, so does the pic quality. Great job, pix! Pretty soon, you'll be doing stuff for the movies!

demono69

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 10:08 AM

Thanks so much, maddafinga, Lee Tree, J-Hulk, & demon !
I'm getting more satisfied with the props, myself, too. It is very difficult to generate a realistic-looking one. I don't even use the kit props in the images anymore - they are all computer-generated. I have to create a round shape, & then "bend" it to an oblique angle, matching the span of the removed prop. I'm glad that you like them, as they ARE a lot of work.
J-Hulk ! Glad to hear from you ! I was wondering if the quake in Japan was anywhere near you. I hope none of your GREAT models were shaken to the floor.
Thanks, again !
Here's how the story is shaping up so far.

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coldwar68

Member since
February 2003
From: Zanesville, OH USA

Posted by coldwar68 on Friday, September 26, 2003 12:30 PM

Pix, your pictures are looking awesome.

Jerry

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it. -Jack Handy

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 4:53 PM

Pix

Wow Smile [:)]

Very Impressive Big Smile [:D]

Very Sharp and Crisp Cool [8D]

Practice makes perfect Tongue [:P]

Keep it up

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 7:35 PM

Thanks, coldwar & Sled !
I plan on doing about 12 images to the series, so I don't quite know when it will be complete. I only know what will happen & how it will end, but you have to stay tuned to find out !

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, September 26, 2003 8:52 PM

Keep it up, Pix!

By the way, no quake troubles down here in Osaka. Thanks for your concern! That was waaaaay up in Hokkaido, more than 1,000 miles from Osaka.
Amazingly, although there were injuries, no one was killed. And it was magnitude 8!!

Looking forward to picture #6!

~Brian

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 9:14 PM

Pix!
Kudos on a great job! (Although I zoomed in ghere thinking from the title it might be dirty!)
Looking forward to the rest!

J-Hulk, also glad to hear you are all ok after the quake.
Bruce

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 7:39 AM

Thanks, J-Hulk & B. LeCren !
J-Hulk _ I saw video on CNN of an office where things were being tossed around like people on a ride at an amusement park. All I could see in my head was models being thrown from the shelves ! And some unfortunate person looking at the aftermath, all the hard work reduced to pieces again.
B. LeCren - I took the name from the old song "Frankie & Johnny." (I'm still trying to figure out what you thought may be dirty . . .) Oh, well. I'm old (48), so I don't think about that every 15 seconds, as I did in my 20s !
Thanks again !

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Butz

Member since
February 2003
From: Niagara Falls NY

Posted by Butz on Saturday, September 27, 2003 12:47 PM

Hey Pix,
Looking good my friend!! One question, have you ever thought of doing a pix from the inside of a cockpit lookin out?
Say lookin out of a Frank onto a Betty? At any rate a great job well done!!
Looking forward to your future series
Flaps up, Mike

If you would listen to everybody about the inaccuracies, most of the kits on your shelf would not have been built Too Close For Guns, Switching To Finger

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gregers

Member since
February 2003
From: UK

Posted by gregers on Saturday, September 27, 2003 3:34 PM

Hi Pix as always your pictures are amazing. thanks for sharing your skills with us......Greg

Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?

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berny13

Member since
February 2003
From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley

Posted by berny13 on Saturday, September 27, 2003 5:18 PM

A small suggestion if you don't mind. A banking aircraft will leave vapor trails from the wingtip. A lot of moisture collects under the wing and is held there by wind pressure as long as the aircraft is flying straight and level. As a plane banks the moisture is directed toward the wing tips and pressure will cause the moisture to trail behind causing vapor trails. I am sure you have seen it in a lot of pictures of aircraft banking. I hope you will take this comment as a helpful suggestion.

Your art looks great. I could swear they were actual photographs.

Berny

Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale.

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale. F-4 Phantom Group Build.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 6:02 PM

Thanks, Butz, gregers, & berny !
Butz - I've been trying to think of a way to do that, actually. Its difficult to get a convincing angle of a wing from a cockpit perspective (putting the lens in the pilot's seat). Painting a canopy frame is an option, but if you zoom in on a digital image, you'll notice its not a solid color. To be consistent, I would need to recreate pixels of varying colors. Its very time-consuming (I've done it).
An alternative I may be able to recreate is a view from a bomber's waist window. I have unbuilt B-24, B-17, & B-26, along with 50 cal. & P.E. gunsights. That could be a dramatic shot.
Who knows - maybe you'll see a pic of that from me one day !
Thanks, again, all !

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ardy299

Member since
March 2003
From: USA

Posted by ardy299 on Saturday, September 27, 2003 7:51 PM

Nice work again, Pix. What a talent. cant wait for more.

Bob

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 5:57 AM

Great job man..

A very well "made" story so far... Keep 'em flying...

Cheers,
Nandakumar

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 1:00 PM

Thanks, Bob & nandman !
Well, I didn't have time to finish another pic this weekend. I'll see if I can get one out this week, though.
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words !

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Sunday, September 28, 2003 4:13 PM

Pix, I am thoroughly enjoying the story as you develop it. You skill with the a/c manipulationand perspective has really improved. Can't wait to see the next installment. - Ed

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 6:01 PM

Thanks, Keyworth !
Unfortunately, I didn't get around to adding #6 to the series today. Instead, I had some FUN with my airbrush !

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 8:24 PM

Pix:
Regarding Butz's suggestion; would photos from cockpits of museum aircraft work for you?
Just an idea,
Bruce

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 8:59 PM

Its a good idea. However, the published pics (the only ones to which I have access) are probably copyrighted. I know that if I were fortunate enough to be published, seeing another person using my work would be upsetting. There are no museums near me & I don't drive (I dislike cars), so I would be dependant on a contribution from someone. If someone were to offer, I would accept, but I cannot take what is not mine.
Its a great idea, I only wish I could use it. Thanks for the suggestion !

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 29, 2003 3:50 PM

OK, well, the museums near me do not have a lot of WW2 fighters/bombers, but there are others up here that do. When I was involved with musseums I had opportunity, but not now. I know from my experience that if you were to Email a museum that had the type of aircraft you were looking for there is a good chance they would look kindly on a request to take a photo through the cockpit and Email it back; especially if they were to see an example of your work.

Sometimes museums will go into partnership with artists as a way to raise funds, so there might be an opportunity for you there as well.

Regards,
Bruce

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 29, 2003 4:34 PM

That's some wonderful information, Bruce. I was not aware of those oppourtunities.
I am flattered and somewhat humbled that you look that way upon my work. Creating images is a lot like building models, in many ways. The person that creates the work KNOWS where ALL the flaws are ! Others look at your work in a different way. (although there are some people that only look for flaws - in kits, builds, & presentations !) Its ironic that a person sees their work more clearly through the eyes of another.
I'm going to find which museums exhibit the planes I want to incorporate in my work, and send them examples of the things which I seek.
Thanks, again, Bruce, for the idea. I owe you an image. What would you like to see ?

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oldhooker

Member since
July 2003
From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)

Posted by oldhooker on Monday, September 29, 2003 5:48 PM

Pix,

Frankie & Betty never looked better! Enjoy your contrubutions as always.

Say.... back before I ever came around here, I saw a picture in FSM one time of an Bf-109 just after it had a mid-air with a B-25 I think? Your work resembles that, so I thought I'd ask.

Take care,
Frank

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 29, 2003 7:17 PM

Thanks, Frank !
I remember that pic. It was a 1/48 Fujimi Bf 109 & a B-17. He did that in 3D on different levels, mounted on separate layers of (plexi ?) glass. Very dramatic. He even had the German pilot pushing the canopy open ! It was a wonderful job. I've thought of doing bomber/ fighter pics, but I gotta build the bombers first ! (B-17, 24, 25, & 26. I got my work cut out for me to do one of those pics. The only completed bomber I have is the Betty. She has served me well (& will continue to do so - hint of next pic in series !)
Talk to you later,
Bill.

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