[?][:)] Mine is live static displays I’m lucky to have a good one close. The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tuscon Arizona. They have a B29, B17 and SR71 Blackbird to name a few. I also have several aircraft books which are a great source for correct paint schemes.
I like you have a great resource nearby Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum…and not to far away is Battleship Park in Mobile which is Home to the USS Alabama, the USS Drum a B52,SR-71, aslew of other A/c, even a few tanks…but if I have something I cant find I usually google it…ask here or try to find books on the subject.
I’ve found so many excellent sources for research…
The web, museums, books, online forums…I guess it depends on the subject.
Having access to places like Pima and Pensacola would drive my wife to distraction - the costs of developing the photographs would be HUGE!!
I’m envious.
Cheers
LeeTree
The internet has become something I can’t do without, even if it can take ages before I can find the right stuff…
Other than that, mags, books, museums…
Because of my location its the internet or photos taken by friends at events or museums. I also take my camera to the odd event I get to. My best day was at Donnington Park Museum where I was allowed behind the ropes and spent about 4 hours and 5 rolls of film photographing the cars from inside and out - and I’ve subsequently discovered I still missed that specific shot needed for a particular detail! As race/rally cars are my main focus web sites with race car “walk arounds” are a significant research source, failing that books/magazines.
The Internet, I should say is the primary source. Of course it’s good to go on trips to the museums & visit military installations but as LeeTree pointed out the cost of developing photos would top the monthly budget as what happened to me, & it still happens, when we went to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.[:D]
Books are usually my #1 source. I try to buy at least one book for each kit I build. If I need more photos then I go to the net.
The internet has become my primary source of research. I also have a myriad of museums and static displays in a 75 mile radius of Providence, RI but most of it is outside of my modelling interest.
For warbird modeling, I currently subscribe to two mags: Aviation History and Flight Journal, both are excellent. Scale Aviation Modeller is so-so. I use the web and I have a tome entitled The Complete Book of Fighters which covers the entire gambit.
Over and out.
Since the only thing close to a reference near here is the Blackhawks flying over the tree tops from the local Ranger camp, the web is my only real source with here being the primary place.
google,altavista and you all guys!!! plus my books of course and museum correspondance.
I have a collection of Detail & Scale, Walk around, and In Action books that I use for reference. The digital camera I have uses the 120 MB Super Floppy disk which can hold around 1,400 pictures per disk. I just pop it into my Super Floppy drive on my computer and use one of my photo programs to bring it up. I have used it for air shows and plan on using it at P-cola for the convention.
Some of my reference is stored in my head from being around aircraft for so many years. Of course, it doesn’t have the capacity of my digital camera. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
The internet is for me one of the top research tools. And of course reference books and photos that I have collected through the years.
I see I have to go back and edit everyone’s post to include the FineScale forums and magazine. [;)]
Personally, my favorite sources are the Internet (reference sites and forums) and reference books.
I have several dozen A/C books I go to and the odd navy and army subect books. I then head to the internet for the resr. If it is a mater of technique I go to the forum and past FSM. I only have back to 97 though.
We do have a local Air Park at CFB Comox with a few A/C, CF 104, F101,CF100, DC3, Mig16 I think and a helicopter. Thety are working on a spitfire as we speek. Cant wait to see it finished.
I think if possible there’s nothing like the real thing to get the most detail information. Using a digital camera you can share this information with all our friends at this forum.
Fine Scale Modeler is close to the top of my list for reference and learning material. The best publication I have seen for this hobby.
How could I not have mentioned that wonderful, action packed, deepest well of information … none other than (fanfare please) Fine Scale Modeler [bow]
Anything I think will help. Internet, Books, Magazines, etc.
Save for my F-105 Thunderchief, and my A-6E Intruder books, the only research tools I have are Jane’s Aircraft Recognition Guide(MAGNIFICIENT three-views in there!), and FSM and the FSM Forums! But mostly, I just trust the model companies. I mean, they wouldn’t stay in business long if they were’nt making accurate models, right? So I just go with the instruction manual, mostly. Besides, most of my detail is not only scratchbuilt, but imaginary(ever seen a Bradley IFV with a flagpole and cargo box behind the turret? Didn’t think so…)!
Speaking of imaginary, I LOVE that Cessna 150HS in this month’s Reader Gallery, the one with the Jolly Rogers markings and the Pheonix missiles! WOW! That’s one AMAZING conversion/mindjob!!
Did I mention that all-inclusinve invaluable reference, FineScale Modeler, as well as other periodicals by Kalmbach? I would be remiss if I didn’t [:D][:-^]