Sweethome from the air

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all.

I’ve been busy doing other stuff for the last few months - work, decorating the house, etc… but am back now.

I fancied doing something a little different recently and got the itch to build a Revel model of a Sopwith Camel biplane in 1/28 scale, that the mother in law had bought me for my birthday last year.

Once finished, I had a cunning plan to shoot some arial shots over Sweethome. Most were deleted, as the camera focused on either the wing or the layout, but not both.

Here are the best of the photos that did come out

I’ll have to retake some b/w shots as none of the originals came out.

Jon

2

Interesting pics, how’d you set up the plane and camera?

3

I held the plane in my left hand, placed the tripod, at its highest setting, on a box and pressed the button.

I scrapped many more photos than came out, but that’s the beauty of digital cameras.

Jon

4

Curse you, Red Baron!

Seriously, that’s a very clever photographic idea. I like the shot with the wing in focus and the ground slightly blurry. It gives an illusion of greater altitude with some light haze between the plane and the ground.

5

Yeah, it does. and then also the plane being 1/28th scale adds a bit more to the illusion as well.

Sounds pretty simple Jon, might need to get a model of an airplane myself to do this on my next layout.

6

I really like pictures No. 3 and 4.

7

Jon–

That is very cool. I was reminded of some shots in an old Errol Flynn movie called THE DAWN PATROL, where Flynn takes a Camel over a German muitions factory and railyard. Of course, in the movie, he BOMBED them–trains and buildings blowing up all over the place–so I don’t think you’d want to do that.

Neat photos. I like [:P]

Tom [:D]

8

Jon: I love these ones[bow][bow] —now you got me thinking about doing something similar—except that I’m more into Cessna 150’s----or summat[:-^]

9

A unique bunch of photos! It was loads of fun seeing these. Thanks, Jon.

10

A most cunning plan, indeed [:D]

It looks great! I’d like to see some more pictures like this.

Btw - did you see the aerial pictures of forum poster Dr Wayne’s layout? Wayne had daredevil local pilot Barney Secord follow the tracks of his railroad and get pictures all along the length of the railroad. Can be seen here: http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1107- unlike in your photos, you don’t actually see Barney’s plane, but you see how close to buildings he got to take some of the pictures :slight_smile:

Smile,
Stein

11

A few more photos, this time in ‘Ye Olde Worlde’ sepia

Jon

12

A photo of the plane a Revel 1/28 scale kit of a Sopwith Camel, circa 1918 - the rigging took longer than the rest of the kit, including the painting.

and finally, our intrepid pilot…

…I always thought Snoopy should have been flying a Sopwith Pup, not a Sopwith Camel.

Jon

13

Very creative! Especially the sepia shots.

14

Doggone good pilot there!

15

Nice pictures, Jon, and the partial wing showing in the photos is a nice touch.

Some years ago I created a character for my model railroad who was an ex-fighter pilot from WWI. Whenever I need to show a layout scene from other than eye-level, I attribute it to Barney Secord, of Secord Air Services. I didn’t try the effect with the wing, though, as his plane is HO scale.

Here’s a link to his latest exploit Barney Secord flies the Grand Valley…, which is basically an aerial tour of my layout.

Barney is more than a bit of a daredevil, and shortly after his latest 'plane was delivered, a railfan waiting for some train action at the Maitland River bridge caught this action instead:

Wayne

16

Excellent shots, Wayne

Jon

17

Snoopy is not only a fighter ace, he’s a darn fine photographer to boot.

Jon, did the Revell kit come with a motor, or did you add that?

18

Let’s hope Barney is a good swimmer…[:O]

Enjoyed these unique perspectives. [tup]

19

Very nice pics there Jon, i really like the old timey look of the sepia tone ones, and to doctorwayne please tell Barney to be more careful, unless of course he is trying for underwater shots!

Chuck & Heather

20

No motor - I blew on the propellor just before the camera shutter was due to go off using a 2 second delay - who needs technology?

Jon