Model making was my way of keeping my dysphoria at bay. I built cars, aircraft and star trek models. Eventually I ran out of room for them. Now, I can have all the models I want because I use Lightwave, a computer model and rendering program which was also used to do the VFX in some of the star trek shows.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on December 29, 2012, 03:55:30 PM
My next project is going to be a 1/72 F-111a, with a full load of bombs...8 pylons with six 500 lbs'ers on each...the max designed load.

In reality, only the Aussies ever actually flew with this load, but that's because...well, they're Aussies. ;-) The rest of the 111 world (ok, just the USAF) only used the two inner pylons so the wings could be fully swept.

Anyone know of a good source for the extra pylons etc? I've googled, and have a place or two, but if you know any really neato place to get stuff, let me know please...thx!

(yes, pics when finished)

I might be misunderstanding the question, the easiest source for the pylons is a second kit? Since I like to be helpful, I poked around the internet and found this. Not at all helpful, but pretty cool.

http://mahogonymodels.com/f111.htm

Most of the 111 models I've seen have one, maybe two pairs of pylons...and they have a single bomb (looks like a 2k'er). I'm going to present four pairs of pylons, each with a MER and 6 500 lbs'ers...it should create a visually "busy" wing area.

I just bought two hasawaga weapons kits on EBay last night ($18 for both, including postage!) so I'm halfway there.



Keaira, those are beautiful! 

Photo etched parts can add realizium to any model.

Quote from: Ms. OBrien on December 30, 2012, 10:49:22 AM
Photo etched parts can add realizium to any model.

Never done that...maybe show me next time I'm there?

I can show what they look like.  Unfortunately none of my models survived.

^^This is what I'm seeing. As I get the kits, I'll build and weigh (a/c empty, a/c + full load) and have pics.

The real one has Terrain Following Radar, and can be set to fly 200' off the ground.  That'd be about 33 1/3" in scale...and it'll go at 600 mph while there...YIKES!

That is sweet! Things can go wrong fast at 200' and six hundred MPH, add eight pylons and you get a big, smoking crater.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on December 30, 2012, 10:36:37 AM
Most of the 111 models I've seen have one, maybe two pairs of pylons...and they have a single bomb (looks like a 2k'er). I'm going to present four pairs of pylons, each with a MER and 6 500 lbs'ers...it should create a visually "busy" wing area.

I just bought two hasawaga weapons kits on EBay last night ($18 for both, including postage!) so I'm halfway there.



Keaira, those are beautiful! 

Thank you. ^_^ the only down side is that I can't physically hold the models.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 30, 2012, 07:41:16 PM
That is sweet! Things can go wrong fast at 200' and six hundred MPH, add eight pylons and you get a big, smoking crater.

Can't do 8 pylons and 600mph...the two outboard pairs don't swing when the wings are swept back for high-speed), they are fixed to the wing, so it has a limit built in, I forget what the angle was...the two inboard rotate, so they're always pointing to the forward movement of the aircraft.

iirc, the speed is limited because of the lack of wing sweep...maybe 400mph? Makes for a very heavy, very slow, and relatively large "target".

My favorite real aircraft of all time is the SR-71 Blackbird.



But, my favorite fictional aircraft is the YF-19 from Macross Plus

Do you draw those "from the ground up", or is there like a blank shape you start with? I know nothing about graphics unless it's in MSPaint...

It depends. Sometimes I have plans to go by. Other times I have to just eyeball it based on photos. and other times I just see what I want to build in my minds eye. Sometimes someone has a model available that looks great and I'll use theirs in a scene.


This is one I designed from my minds eye:

with some of my vfx magic:
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and another that was actually built by a friend:


And this is my Fursona, Miri Tekker:


But if I'm building a model, it looks like this to me:

if I am in the middle of a build I will do a quick render:

  I did the large USS Enterprise aircraft carrier while I was in the Navy.  This one was floatable and it had a basic motor in it.  I managed to put in two R/C servos in it for steering and speed.  Only one test trial after I got out of the Navy but I had to put it away and it got damaged in the crush.  I didn't get back into model making because of the eruption of my GID and lack of money followed by too much overtime when I did get a job.  I still look through the plastic model and R/C selections at my closest hobby shop. 

  Joelene

Ok so it is decided..... in every girl, there is still a little boy that wants to make models

Might explain a bit about my sister. I was never able to understand why she joined the army cadets with me.

But it is nice to see I have no shortage of interest in my one 'guy' like hobby here. I think it is the inherent creative aspect that saves it for me. Mothers are the ultimate creators after all, and thus, I equate creation with feminine.

I just need to maybe give some equal time to making things that are not entirely engines of destruction.
I keep telling myself, master history so I can prevent it returning again. But it is never easy being so focused on death.

Hence my current attempts to build a train layout at all costs. And trains helps me to sort of be with my father who I still miss a lot. He was so utterly everything trains

I finished the 111 model a few weeks ago, some minor glitches which required putty, but overall I think it's pretty darn cool!!

This is how I aligned the pylons...got the distances by using the pic of the real thing, noted pixel locations wingtip to wing root fairing, and made marks at each of the four pylons...did the same for the other side, any differences were only about 1-2mm off, so I averaged them.

Drew a straight line with the marks, and glued on the pylons. Checked from the outboard to the fuselage and rear-to-front to make sure they're aligned on all 3 axis...



Overhead view showing the wing angle...



...And "flying" under the 1/72nd scale B-52 I have. The Fokker DR-1 tri-plane is trying to get out of the way...

That little Fokker is in trouble! The 111 looks great, and I love the nail polish, Beth! Hugs, Devlyn

Looks great Beth.

I get to scratch build my models.



This is actually what I'm working on currently. I'm trying to take my mind off of things.

You name it & i've probably built a kit of it, cars, planes, bikes, ships & spaceships.
My real love was railway modelling, in 5 or 6 years I built 4 railways, 2 were OO gauge & 2 were N gauge, I would lose myself for days on end working on them, If I put my eye to track level & could believe it was real then I was satisfied.

I bought a spitfire model last year to see if the interest was still there & a few weeks ago I gave away the unopened kit to a friend, i've lost my interest in kits. I saw a Voyager kit & thought it would look great if I did it like the wrecked Voyager from the episode where Voyager rams the time ship to reset the timeline but as soon as I thought about the effort that would take I lost interest.