Gisborne appears to have a control tower, easing the situation somewhat. Notably, there is only one paved taxiway, the rest (and the other three runways) are grass. I wonder which service has right of way?
Due to storm damage, the line is currently out of service, although IIRC there are efforts to force KiwiRail to resume service.
NorthWestDue to storm damage, the line is currently out of service, although IIRC there are efforts to force KiwiRail to resume service.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
In the very late 60's when I was in grade school I remember seeing Super Constellations in some sort of regional service (Reading PA area). I want to get one in 1/144 scale and place it above the layout. I have an 11 ft vaulted ceiling, with that...1/144 should work well over HO. Also want to find an approprite sized Bell Jet Ranger.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Bear,
I'd say that fixing the RR is a no-brainer, but sounds like politcians are involved...
crhostler61want to find an approprite sized Bell Jet Ranger.
Mark,
Yeah, that's gonna be a tough one. I was thinking someone (Roco?) did a OH-58 model, but was unable to locate that...may have been thinking of their UH-1???
Meanwhile, my aircraft fleet was supplemented by purchase of a used Lockheed Electra. This a real classic, one of the first successful two-engine, all metal passenger aircraft. It didn't get Amelia Earhart safely home, but otherwise compiled an impressive record.
It's a bit on the large size for HO, being somewhere between S and O scale, but seems to work OK at eye level above Durango.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
For what it's worth, Monogram used to make a DC-3 that was smaller than 1/72 scale. It would be fairly proportional to a lo altitude plane in flight over a layout. And for those stalled out engines with no spin propellers, might I suggest a corcle of acetate or clear styrene the diameter of the propellers and a hole in the center to fit over the propeller hub.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
crhostler61 I remember seeing Super Constellations
Are you sure one of those Electra's isn't Amelia's? For all we know, she could've taken a turn towards NZ and decided to start a new, quiet life away from all thay nosy press attention...
It was MATS until 1966, so that may help indicate when you saw the big Connie...
up831 For what it's worth, Monogram used to make a DC-3 that was smaller than 1/72 scale. It would be fairly proportional to a lo altitude plane in flight over a layout. And for those stalled out engines with no spin propellers, might I suggest a corcle of acetate or clear styrene the diameter of the propellers and a hole in the center to fit over the propeller hub.
Bear and up831,
Yes, definitely need a Gooney Bird, just haven't come across the model yet, as I'm looking for one of the Walthers HO scale ones. But yeah, will probably go with a C-47 when I can get one at a reasonable cost.
up831,
I am considering doing the disc thing on the Electra, as it disaasembles easily enough to get to the back of the engines to pull the props off. I've done it on some of my aircraft, but it kinda depends on the model, haven't done it for all. I'm thinking the Lockheed may get a new paint job if I can find suitable decals.
Thanks, Bear. I hope the line is restored.
Appologies for taking so long to get back to you.
I have a 787 model hanging in my bedroom. I hung it from a vent using fishing line that I wrapped around the wings and slung under the nose. That way I didn't modify/damage the model.
Just got a Lockheed Electra 188 in 1/144 scale and plan on tucking it about 9' in the 11' apex of my vaulted ceiling and also bank it inward to the veiwing area of the layout. The Lockheed fits nicely into the late 70's to very early 80's timeframe of my layout.
I'll be going after a military version of a Super Constellation somewhere down the road.
I had a little fun with this 1/100th scale aircraft by suspending it over a train on my layout and photoshoping the string out and giving a spin to the prop.
Several times I've thought about putting it in the air somewhere in the background, maybe over some trees.
Kyle,
Sounds good with a 747. I know there are some kits out there that are about 1:300. What scale is yours?
Also, I can sympathize with not damaging the aircraft. I will note that the drill I use to "implant" the single line suspension is a tiny #80, so there's little chance of leaving a big ugly scab. Sometimes I don't hit quite the right spot to get the angle of attack/climb/bank and turn the first time and have to try twice or more. You can't hardly see the boo-boo.
Neat, the L-188 "modern" Electra is one sharp looking airliner. I can't say no to a Connie, unless you wanted me to actually fly on one. Never flew in one, but I'm pretty sure my dad (retired AF) may have, as he was stationed in Saudi Arabia when I was born back in the 50s, when they were a mainstay of MATS. I still might, if ever given the opportunity. I always thought they were one neat plane, then I learned about those iffy tail structures...
jacon12,
Outstanding action shot! That pilot better hope no one got his tail number or his commander may be waiting on the flight line when he lands...
The aircraft on my portable layout are smaller than scale to provide a forced perspective effect. They are painted on the background. Of course, they are not moving. But there is a prototype for them remaining motionless or almost so in the air.
Leighant,
Yep, those blimps would be kinda tough to do in scale. I really like lighter than air, as it's so energy efficient and just plain kewl
I've read several of the classics on the Navy's lighter than air efforts, so well versed in all the advantages and aware of the several disasters. A very interesting history.
Nicely themed layout you have there.
I added some most unlikely German ww2 planes as my nephew is a fan of them. Unfortunately my cat loved to play with them also. I have been trying to figure out a good way to make them circle the layout. I saw a layout with a balloon circling but not sure how h3 did it? Any ideas?
There's used to be mobiles intended to visually stimulate infants in their cribs. These has some sort of drive and rotated. Maybe one of those repurposed?
Amyone remember more? Could be done.
***Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL***
I hope you do a model of Major *Bazooka Charlie* Carpenter's L4 Piper Cub with the 6 rocket launchers. Leaving an assortment of burning Tiger tanks and armored cars on your layout would be optional, but I wonder if anyone around Urbana still remembers him. He taught history at Urbana High School, was born in Edgington, IL, a few miles from the Iowa state line near Bettendorf, and that's where he's buried.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Carpenter_(lieutenant_colonel)
Something involving a reworked mirrored disco ball with the mirrors and lights, maybe?
Oh, the humanity!
I'
archy***Mike Lehman Urbana, IL*** I hope you do a model of Major *Bazooka Charlie* Carpenter's L4 Piper Cub with the 6 rocket launchers. Leaving an assortment of burning Tiger tanks and armored cars on your layout would be optional, but I wonder if anyone around Urbana still remembers him. He taught history at Urbana High School...
I'm old, but not that old. And didn't attend U High, but in Germany thanks to Dad's most expenses paid world tour with Uncle Sam. I'd heard the story before somewhere, never knew it was tied to Urbana. The only armor I'm aware of in Silverton is a half-track that is often parked outside what was once the miner's union hall and is now a bar/restaurant, so no flaming tanks. They have enough environmental issues thereabouts lately to deal with anyway...
Would be interested in more HO scale planes, though. Am I vaguely remembering maybe Roco or someone offered a L4?
As an old aircraft modeler (First World War types) let me suggest for aircraft on the ground try 1/72 scale airplanes. Slightly larger than HO but close enough to get away with. Airborne, given distance perspective you can go smaller.
Years ago I read a letter to MR where a modeler was trying to do a Civil War layout in HO but couldn't find any Civil War soldiers in HO scale. MR suggested he go the 1/72 scale route, it was more than close enough to work.
The responder also said if anyone gave him any grief concerning the slight size difference, tell him to "shove off!"
mlehmanWould be interested in more HO scale planes, though. Am I vaguely remembering maybe Roco or someone offered a L4?
Finally found a 1:72 L4, made by a Czech company called KR (#31). I decorated it for the Blackstripe Brwery, because sometimes you need a little beer in a hurry, I suppose, and the D-Day stripes on the kit decal could be easily cut to the Blackstripe logo. Left the rockets off, because I don't have any small enough. Maybe it's Bazooka Charlie's plane after being sold at surplus?
The miner's militia does have a lot of keen surplus equipment that they somehow manage to get ahold of despite usually being at loggerheads with the gubmint on various matters. Here are some examples, mostly smaller planes that work well flying above HO scale, despite being 1:72.
A T-28D Nomad
An OH-58D
An OV-1 Mohawk
I mentioned my 1/72 Grumman Goslng in this week's WPF that transforms into a pretty darn close to HO scale Goose.
This one's literally as big as a flying bus, so I stuck my MH-53J PAVE LOW with the other Green Giant separate from the rest. I hacked a MPC HH-53C's nose, added miniguns made from the landing gear off an old Walthers semi-trailer, and put a 50 cal in the tail position I robbed off a Roco tank.
BTW, the PAVE LOW is prototypical for the area. The AF crashed one on a training mission a few years back between Durango and Silverton and had to truck it out, not enough lift to simply grab and go with the hulk as they tend to do at lower altitudes.
http://pavelow.us/piwigo/index.php?/category/163
mlehman NorthWest That said, I hope KiwiRail reopens the line through Gisbourne again. I have heard conflicting information about whether there is tourist service (or none at all) over the runway. A rail line across an active runway? I'll bet that made for some interesting dispatching Did the aircraft side of things involve crossing gates or were light signals considered sufficient? That and the common sense of not landing if you see a train approaching... Could be a problem when landing from IFR conditions, though.
NorthWest That said, I hope KiwiRail reopens the line through Gisbourne again. I have heard conflicting information about whether there is tourist service (or none at all) over the runway.
A rail line across an active runway? I'll bet that made for some interesting dispatching
Did the aircraft side of things involve crossing gates or were light signals considered sufficient? That and the common sense of not landing if you see a train approaching...
Could be a problem when landing from IFR conditions, though.
well this is one of the airport that does have an active rail line near the end of the runway ... displace threshold come to mind
Mike, Always enjoy seeing your aircraft modeling and the fun way you incorporate those models into your layout. Feeling better today, but still resting up and digging around in my photo libary. Been quite a few years since I snapped this shot during a visit to the Walnut Creek model railroad club layout.
Thanks and regards, Peter
Peter,
Thanks, great shot! I remember that kit, but not who made it.
I like your idea of incorporating aircraft above your layout. I was thinking of doing a restoration factory and having a stub line leading into it Utilizing flatcars and some unique nice loads. When I first started to fly someone had a shop near the airport. He had some cool stuff coming in all the time. Once seen a ME262 with bullet holes riddled all over arrive on a flatbed.
I have always hung my models and my son's using 2# test, drill a very small hole in the top of the fuselage and use a very small fishing hook fed into the hole. Ceilings were always covered with models.
I've been using 4# test line, as that's the smallest I found when I went shopping. I drill a tiny hole, then apply a small spot of AC to the line, then thread it into the hole. Once it sets, you're good to go. The tiny hole also helps if you end up needing to do several to get the favored balance point.
This is surely Kismet. I was reading about the B-45 yesterday: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-45_Tornado, and I looked up models, and this thread reappeared. Unfortunately, 1:87 will be a problem. Mach 2 makes a 1:72 model: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mach-2-Models-1-72-NORTH-AMERICAN-B-45-TORNADO-Bomber-/361602725509 I believe Airfix made a model many years ago as well, but I have no idea what scale it is:
Gary
Gary,
Thanks, great looking model. I wouldn't mind having one, as I like the little-known stuff. Plus it adds to the neat pic of this rarebird earlier in the thread
1/72 is OK, too, as many of my models are. Given perspective that is from above the layout high enough to allow it, having aircraft somewhat larger than HO actually works pretty well. Once you get them on the ground in HO, then it's better to go with the limited selection of HO aircraft (and is anyone knows of any not already mentioned in the thread, please add those!) that are available.