I was wondering if the aircraft models we build and the markings used are all based on aircraft that have existed in real life and if so what would i search for using google to find pictures of the real life counterpart.
Cheers for any help.
most aircraft will have a serial number on them somewhere. so for example, one of my recent projects was the golden scooter. so i searched for “TA-4K NZ6256” “golden skyhawk” etc etc. sometimes the markings have no real life counterpart, or theyre so unrealistic its no longer recognisable.
Generally they are based on “real” aircraft.
The term “scale model” would imply the miniature produced is based on a larger real prototype. If you build a “fantasy model” it can be based on anything you like.
As for Googling for info, input the type, the type and a unit, a Carrier name, a base name, a pilot’s name and see what images come up. Google is handy, but it doesn’t have all the answers.
Most of the time, the answer’s “yes”… As for searching, first see if the painting and decaling instructions call out the unit, and even better, the pilot…
One of the best sites to research 8th USAAF fighter aircraft for squadron, group, individual aircraft codes and serial numbers, with pilot names is http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/
You can google- search by using Luftwaffe numbers as well, like using “Me 109F Yellow 14”: http://www.google.com/search?q=Me+109F+Yellow+14&btnG=Search&hl=en&source=hp&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
Or possibly, “B-17G serial numbers” : http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=b-17g+serial+numbers&aq=0l&aqi=g-l1&aql=&oq=B-17G+serail+numbers
If you know the name of an aircraft, you can find pictures rather easily (if they exist), like using Google-Image and the keywords, “B-25 Ruptured Duck” http://www.google.com/search?q=b-25+Ruptured+Duck&btnG=Search&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=
or “Saburo Sakai Zero” http://www.google.com/search?q=Saburo+Sakai+Zero&btnG=Search&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=f&aqi=g1g-v2&aql=&oq=
Or just pilot’s names:
Gabby Gabreski http://www.google.com/search?btnG=Search&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=f&aqi=g1g-v9&oq=&q=Gabby%20Gabreski
Hans-Ulrich Rudel http://www.google.com/search?q=hans-ulrich+rudel&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=Hans-
Adolf “Sailor” Malan: http://www.google.com/search?q=adolph+sailor+malan&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=0sv&aqi=g-sv1&aql=&oq=Adolf+Sailor+Ma
4th Figher Group markings: http://www.google.com/search?q=4th+Fighter+group+markings&btnG=Search&hl=en&um=1&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
JG 52 Bf 109 markings: http://www.google.com/search?q=JG-52+Bf+109+markings&btnG=Search&tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
So on and so forth…
It’s all in the search keywords and just takes some practice…
Thanks for the help just managed to find the pic i wanted over on f-16.net. It was great to hold my finished plane up against a pic of the real thing before i realised all the flaws id made, lol lesson learnt reasearch first next time.
You’re asking a “how high is ‘up’?” type question. WHICH aircraft? Historic aircraft — e.g., Lindbergh’s Lockheed Sirius Tingmissartoq (an old favorite of mine) — can be viewed in museums.
You can visit this gem at the Smithsonian or see it in oodles of photos on the Internet. There’s no great difficulty in building an accurate model of One Who Flies Like a Big Bird.
Now if you’re talking about some generic aircraft, say a natural metal finish P-38 without any clear identification, rotsaruck. [Just watch; somebody is going to post a ton of info about these particular Lightnings:]
What are you trying to do?