Hi Everyone,
Anyone know of a good website for pictures of the Blues? I need good close up shots of the aircraft. This project is getting out of hand[ just kidding], but it is driving me alittle nutz. I need the photos for my reference materials.
Thank you all,
Evolution
I can’t help, but I can second the motion. I have a very involved build that has to be started soon, and finished by a deadline. I have to do a 1/48 Hasegawa two-seat F-18B, which is really just their F-18D with decals with a bu.no. for a B from Pax River. They didn’t even change the instruction sheet from the D kit. Just raised the price by a lot and aded some really nice metal gear legs.
I’m doing this build with every conceivable AM part hung on it somewhere. But I’m having trouble finding the more subtle changes made to the Blues a/c (not to mention trying to make sure I make every change from a late D to an early B model). I don’t know why the Blues’ PR machine is so, well…not exactly dishonest, but disingenuous, when they tell reporters, and I’ve even heard it told to crowds at air shows, that these planes can be converted back to combat readiness “in a matter of hours.” Well, yeah, if you are talking about man hours in the hundreds, I suppose you could say hours.
But back to the point, I need closeup photos showing the changes, in the cockpit and out. For these things, the Public Information Office has been of practically no help, and I’m even media credentialed with their office. They’ll shower you with color photos of the type you’ve seen on every screen saver and airshow program, but nothing up close and technical. And living where I do, they aren’t going to be anywhere near so I can actually go and photograph the aircraft myself in a walkaround.
Anyone who could help with info about the less well-known changes made to the performing birds, after the gun is removed, will make my Christmas list forever. I do know they take high-time or war weary birds, most of the time, and put them through a strict IRAN to make them performance-ready, and never use new birds right off the production line.
TOM
well i can tell ya that if you really wanted to get close to the Blues there is no way you can with out knowing someone they are always in areas where you will not be able to see them. i would say your best bet is to just take pic of normal f-18s and make everything close to that.
Not bad: http://www.blueangels.org/
One of their pictures was the first I’d seen of the Hellcats with the markings on the bottom of the wing…
They flew over my house a coupla times today and Im gonna see thier show tomorrow. Im gonna go see the static display at the airport. My brother works at the airport as a firefighter/security dude. Ill get as close as I can an take some pics for you.
Over and out
Shultz
there ain’t nothin on the angels website. although i’m curious as to why they still have such large radars. I feel really gyped because once at Rickenbacker Airport the Angels were supposed to show and someone said they had washed the paint off and went to war. Now I know that isn’t possible. BooHoo.
Try the Blues image gallery on the US Navy site…
http://www.navy.mil/view_galleries.asp
There’s a few good closeups although there’s nothing like a walkaround, if that’s what you’re looking for.
You can also try doing a search for ‘Blue Angels’ at airliners.net…
http://www.airliners.net/search/?
Fade to Black…
The Blue Angels, like the Thunderbirds, fly stock versions of combat aircraft. So if you want detail pictures of the aircraft, just look up pictures for the same version combat plane and the only thing different should be just the paint scheme. The smoke oil is carried in an aux tank.
T.Young [8-]