The RA5C you pictured from the USS Kennedy is a plane I worked on in real life!! Only difference, RVAH-14 was on the Independence when I worked on it!!!! Thanks bringing up the memories of a time so long ago!
Thank you for the "rest of the story". During these troubled times your back story is inspirational. The word elegance is very appropriate in aircraft design, and artwork. Great job!
Mr Mike .As an RC Visionary. I see the an example of this coming out of my shop!! Via an old F-15 model that's seen better days.. because the similarities are too obvious to ignore.. when I was a much younger man I had a model of the Vig hanging from my childhood ceiling. Your videos made up my mind.. thanks buddy!
I have always liked the proportions on this aircraft, the long fuselage, the boxy upper surface and the edges of the wings tail assembly. Interesting video.
I mention the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) currently docked at Philadelphia, and show photos of the ship when it was previously docked in Norfolk, VA.
With the RA-5C, I'm struck by how much the engine intake on that design resembles the engine intake of the F-14 Tomcat externally an on the interior. There's an internal air ramp right on the inside of the Vigilante's intake that's in about the same position as a ramp on the F-14. There was a little over 12 years separation in first flight between the prototypes of these two planes but the engine intakes, at least externally, were very similar. The F-14 had 3 air ramps on the inside of the intake; 2 on top and 1 on the bottom of the intake's interior. It's also been noted the the MiG-25 probably resembles the A-5 more than any other American type as far as general layout except for having twin vertical tails. The Foxbat is much heavier and less maneuverable than the A-5.
Wonderful story! You made reference to the smaller scale model with box art by Jack Linwood. I built that kit at 14, stayed up all night, never went to bed so as I could get it finished for a model competition. A few years ago I snagged another copy of that kit for myself. Removable engines and two position canopies that worked. Cool. My "What If" brain has inspired me to build an Air Force version of the Vigilante. H.D. landing gear borrowed from a Russian SU-24 Fencer, and twin canted tails like the original proposal to the Navy. It will be powered by Alison TF-40 (RR Speys) with afterburning, like Boeing's proposed TFX.
An excellent presentation, Mike. I'm a San Diegan, and have spent countless hours aboard Midway. I recommend this experience to all who visit San Diego. The aircraft are gorgeous!
Good stuff, Mike. So many thoughts and feelings about techniques and styles of creating art here. Can you imagine if Chip Foose had gone Aero instead of Auto? We'll never know. Thank you for these inspiring posts. Good on you!
I love the reflected image of the markings on the lowered flaps. Incredible work. Beautiful plane, one of my favorites. I have my copy of the Revel box top for then A3 saved somewhere along with my John Steel Nautilus, both were printed with a faux canvas imprint. Of all the kits I built those were the only two box top "prints" that I saved. I am really enjoying your step by step discussions of your research process and techniques you use for actually making the painting. I had no idea it was THAT complicated. Only makes me appreciate the final product all that more. Thanks, Chuck
Appreciate the comment Chuck, thanks, and I've saved my favorite model boxtops as well. As mentioned, Jack Leynnwood, Ray Gaedke, Jo Kotula, and all the rest were my first art teachers without ever having actually met them. And yes, researching the airplane can be an involved process. Total time on this project was eight months, but the painting itself was produced in 10 working days.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 It was very refreshing to see someone using old school skills in combination with new technologies (e.g. PhotoShop) to get the job done. Too often it's one or the other. Thanks again.
I had a friend who was a planes captain on the USS Forrestal (CVA 59). He told me a story of when they were on Yankee Station of a Vigilante that returned to the ship with most of the livery missing. He said that he yelled at the pilot "What did you do to my brand newly serviced and painted airplane?" The pilot told him that they were over Hanoi when the pilot saw 2 SAM's n the air coming to him. The pilot said that he kicked in the afterburners to outrun the SAM's. The fresh paint literally slid off the air frame.
Incredible work, one of my favorite ever aircraft. Sadly have never seen one (30 years old and from the Netherlands) Definitely gonna try to check one out when i visit the usa again.
Hey Mike, you got me thinking about things in photos that I never had before. Such as when you showed the vigilante from underneath the aircraft right after it had taken off on the front of the carrier. That would have been a completely impossible viewing angle because with the aircraft taking off to ship would have been going into the wind as fast as he could basically. The person witnessing the same would have had to be hovering in midair in front of a speeding carrier during flight operations. LOL you have my mind working anyways I didn't intend it to. Thanks a lot 👀👍🏻
It seems like the preparation for each project requires more time and effort than the final step of painting the picture. Your are obviously attentive to documenting the journey so that the overall experience can be related to us viewers as more than just a memory of how it happened. That is what really makes the presentation, essentially like a mini art class. On a different topic, how about a video describing the indoctrination you had to complete to fly in the military aircraft related to your art projects, which aircraft you flew in, and your impressions of each? Thanks again.
Thanks for the great comment, and what a super idea for a video on my military flights! I'd been thinking about that, and will post on Friday night. I was most fortunate to experience each type of aircraft pretty much in chronological order, from my first jet flight in the T-33 to my final in the F-18. Same with the bombers from B-25 to B-1B. Stay tuned...
Great to hear the back story behind the research for the painting. An opportunity to learn more on so many levels. Carrier JFK is only 1 hour from me. USS America is in the same shipyard.
Err--- The carrier USS America (CV-66) was sunk after live-weapons tests in 2005. The only decommissioned carrier on the East Coast is the JFK (CV-67) in the Philly Naval Yards but it will be towed to Brownsville, TX and scrapped some day. The same will happen to the Kitty Hawk (CV-63) which is currently in Bremerton, WA. Neither ship is being brought back because their service lives are virtually exhausted and the Navy hasn't trained sailor how to safely operate and maintain the boiler systems their powerplants use for about the last 20 years. That kind of powerplant is out of use in the US Navy and they use turbines in modern ships with the exception of nuclear-powered submarines and supercarriers. There is a USS America in service (LHA-6) but it's a far smaller amphibious assault ship (basically a mini-carrier if you can call a 45,000 ton that's only 45 ft shorter than the Titanic a mini-carrier!) that carries 20 V/STOL aircraft maximum.
Imagine this: The longest and greatest air-raid OF ALL TIME occurred during the UK-Argentine Falkland Islands war using the most visually-imposing and impressive jet bomber OF ALL TIME, the Valkyries with Vulcan tanker accompaniment to boot in spectacular airmanship of an aerially deployed task force involving 10-12 aircraft all coming down to a single Valkyrie delivering a single bomb that knocked out a single runway; mission sorta accomplished; the runway used for anti-ship Exocet-carrying Argentine A-4's or Typhoons. My point here is that's spectacular (precision and logistically) airmanship, entirely visually astounding and appealing, but pretty mediocre, yet peerlessly wonderful to imagine visually. What does that have to do with the A-5 Vigilante's?!? Now imagine everything the same, but instead, 2 squadrons aboard apiece of Vigilantes and two American carriers tasked with immediately controlling all air space in the warzone - as was the UK's war aim here with the (land-based) Valkyrie raid. In this imagined scenario, all manner of aircraft coulda been deployed and recovered too, as necessary, for every/any role, e.g., recon, ECM, diversionary attacks, . . . but to deliver strategic bombing as the Valkyries was designed to do, the seaborne Vigilante's are capable of multiple raids 24/7/365 by scores of these even more capable than the Valkyries Vigilantes hitting everything that even just looked like a runway - at will, indefinitely.
You are very talented, and I really appreciate you sharing your videos, it really boosts my appreciation for these sorts of skills. I cant imagine how you paint all those straight lines, understand perspective that way, and master all the shadows. I'd be lucky to create a top view with a drawing board and a T square! Very impressive.
This may have been covered in the narration, but the piece of cable between the Vigilante's wheels is a bridle, hence the painting's title. Having never served on an aircraft carrier it seems like something to pass along to other viewers who didn't serve aboard either.
Great painting! it makes me think "what would I ask Mike to paint?" Since Charlie O already convinced you to do a TWA 767 over the pyramids, my thoughts turned to an aircraft i can only DREAM of flying: the Graf Zeppelin! Perhaps trying to clear those pesky power lines while departing Los Angeles on its 1929 round the world flight. Well, i can dream, can't I? Have you painted any dirigibles?
Thanks for the great comment and question Ian, and neat that you know Charlie - his TWA 767 painting was a fabulous project! As for dirigibles, I did a profile of the Hindenburg for a book on Lufthansa, but never actually painted a scene with one.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 have you ever heard of a painter, Sam Lyons. He painted a Piper Cub I still fly. Haven’t seen him for years but I enjoy his work
@@P61guy61 Yes, I knew Sam - fellow charter member of the American Society of Aviation Artists. Haven't had any contact wsith him in many years, however.
Ooh yeah. I dable a bit in painting as well but could never do this. I would never dare to actually. The RA5C is much too beautifull for that. My main problem are my bad motor skills. I couldn't draw a straight line or circle by hand if my life depended on it. I'll take all of this in with glee anyway though.
I wonder what the Vigilante would look like painted in the Blue Angels colors. Or the navy blue colors with white undersides like the WW2 carrier aircraft. Or like the Panthers and Cougars of the Korean War vintage.
How do you photograph the model aircraft? I've tried to use a similar technique but I only have a modern day smart phone available which has a considerable amount of distortion in its camera lenses. Taking a picture from further away results in a grainy image not at all useful for purpose. Also, if at all possible, could you perhaps delve into your process of converting the chosen picture into the first detail drawing? I've tried a few methods over the years and about every method ends up with some compromise in the final shape somehow with proportions ending up off as tolerance errors stack up on one another. 99% of people won't even see it, but I usually catch it straight away on the final product. Thanks for the wonderful channel, Mike. I do pencil sketches so I'm not a painter but the stories and techniques for tricking the human mind to see speed between two objects etc are really interesting and I will certainly try to implement these learning from a true master!
Great question Martin. I've been planning a video on this exact topic, and 'will post it for you Wednesday morning. There are many different aspects to photographing models - from setting the models up to achieve optimum light and shadows to re-creating an exact moment in time down to aircraft heading, time of day, and even weather conditions. I've been using a Canon A-1 35mm SLR camera with 50mm lense, and will explain in detail such factors as camera distortion, telephoto compression, and integrating aircraft into the backgrounds, plus how to develop comps and final detail drawings . 'Appreciate your suggestion and kind words, thanks!
Thanks for the question Steve, and that's a tough one. Despite having a fantastic team of talent when I bought the magazine in 2001, we were unable to bring that 1970s-era publication into the digital age. Too many reasons to list here, but in 2007, after producing 62 issues, our global distributor ultimately shut the magazine down for not producing enough revenue for them. (They went out of business three years ago, by the way.)
MiG25 was supposedly based upon stolen designs of the Vigilante. Soviets/Russian Feds have denied this. But there's conflicting reports that it was actually very true. The Foxbat has very similar design cues that can not be dismissed as false
When in doubt, just ask yourself, what would Jack Leynnwood do? 😊 Another great one Mike. I forgot to send you an alert that I did a podcast yesturday which featured Craig's book. czcams.com/video/JkACQGY_mP0/video.html
You drew an A3J/A-5, not an RA-5C ... The RA-5C had strakes from the tip of the intakes back to the wings about a foot down the wing root where it joined the wing ... Plus an attached belly centerline pod for cameras and sensors... see the image at the link below: www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-RA-5C-Vigilante/1151646/L
An address with "CAG" sounds like you were a Commander Air Group. Well done, Skipper, even though that is what squadron commanders are nicknamed. Maybe I was once part of your air group.
Appreciate your comment, and interesting points. The centerline pod is visible in the painting just aft of the nosewheel and below the fuselage below the word "NAVY." My client actually had me remove the intake strake from my original drawing, as those were not on this RVAH-14 airplane when it was photographed at a Belgian airshow in 1969. Thanks for watching!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Yes, thank you for the information and its a gorgeous drawing, just like all your work. Also instead of strakes I should have called them LERXs... (leading edge wing root extensions). Sorry for the failed terminology. My bad...
What he drew IS an RA5C. The leading edge at the intakes was added sometime in 1971-1973 for Hvy-14. I can remember sending a plane out for the retro fit and having it come back prior to boarding the Indy in 1973. This was a time when we were still stationed at NAS Albany, GA. Hvy-14 at the end of that cruise in 1974 was sent to Key West were it was decommissioned. I was able to get an "early out" and left the squadron in December 1973 so I didnt have to make the trek back to home base.
The RA5C you pictured from the USS Kennedy is a plane I worked on in real life!! Only difference, RVAH-14 was on the Independence when I worked on it!!!! Thanks bringing up the memories of a time so long ago!
You about have me ready to learn to paint.
Next to the F-11F Tiger, the Vigilante is without any doubt the most elegant US Navy plane.
Agreed 100%!
Thank you for the "rest of the story". During these troubled times your back story is inspirational. The word elegance is very appropriate in aircraft design, and artwork. Great job!
Appreciate the nice comment, thank you Kent!
Mr Mike .As an RC Visionary. I see the an example of this coming out of my shop!! Via an old F-15 model that's seen better days.. because the similarities are too obvious to ignore.. when I was a much younger man I had a model of the Vig hanging from my childhood ceiling. Your videos made up my mind.. thanks buddy!
I really enjoy your detailed explanations--thanks for the "behind the scene" details.
Glad you're enjoying the series David, and thanks for the comment.
I have always liked the proportions on this aircraft, the long fuselage, the boxy upper surface and the edges of the wings tail assembly. Interesting video.
I mention the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) currently docked at Philadelphia, and show photos of the ship when it was previously docked in Norfolk, VA.
Great step by step walk through for an amazing painting and subject matter. .Navy Planes are great,!
With the RA-5C, I'm struck by how much the engine intake on that design resembles the engine intake of the F-14 Tomcat externally an on the interior. There's an internal air ramp right on the inside of the Vigilante's intake that's in about the same position as a ramp on the F-14. There was a little over 12 years separation in first flight between the prototypes of these two planes but the engine intakes, at least externally, were very similar. The F-14 had 3 air ramps on the inside of the intake; 2 on top and 1 on the bottom of the intake's interior.
It's also been noted the the MiG-25 probably resembles the A-5 more than any other American type as far as general layout except for having twin vertical tails. The Foxbat is much heavier and less maneuverable than the A-5.
Great comment, thanks!
Thanks Mike, Great backstory and what a great result!
I plan to share this with one of my artistically-inclined Aerolab students.
What a brilliant video, can't believe I haven't seen it until now, RA-5C is a gorgeous aircraft and your painting of one is gorgeous too
Appreciate the comment, thanks, and 'glad you enjoyed the video!
What a fantastic presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Thank Mike. Kudos!
Wonderful story! You made reference to the smaller scale model with box art by Jack Linwood. I built that kit at 14, stayed up all night, never went to bed so as I could get it finished for a model competition. A few years ago I snagged another copy of that kit for myself. Removable engines and two position canopies that worked. Cool. My "What If" brain has inspired me to build an Air Force version of the Vigilante. H.D. landing gear borrowed from a Russian SU-24 Fencer, and twin canted tails like the original proposal to the Navy. It will be powered by Alison TF-40 (RR Speys) with afterburning, like Boeing's proposed TFX.
Great comment, thanks!
Very nice painting Mike! I could almost hear the jet, feel a ocean breeze, and smell the refreshing ocean! A realistic painting indeed!
Thanks Alan, 'appreciate the nice comment.
An excellent presentation, Mike. I'm a San Diegan, and have spent countless hours aboard Midway. I recommend this experience to all who visit San Diego. The aircraft are gorgeous!
Thanks Bert, and I agree 100% on the Midway!
Good stuff, Mike.
So many thoughts and feelings about techniques and styles of creating art here.
Can you imagine if Chip Foose had gone Aero instead of Auto?
We'll never know.
Thank you for these inspiring posts.
Good on you!
Thanks, and great question re: cars vs. airplanes. Some amazing parallels there, however!
You can feel the heat from the afterburners! Beautiful rendering of a remarkable aircraft.
Thanks James - appreciate the comment. Happy Holidays!
Great feature! Love the details!
Many thanks!
I love the reflected image of the markings on the lowered flaps. Incredible work. Beautiful plane, one of my favorites.
I have my copy of the Revel box top for then A3 saved somewhere along with my John Steel Nautilus, both were printed with a faux canvas imprint. Of all the kits I built those were the only two box top "prints" that I saved.
I am really enjoying your step by step discussions of your research process and techniques you use for actually making the painting. I had no idea it was THAT complicated. Only makes me appreciate the final product all that more.
Thanks, Chuck
Appreciate the comment Chuck, thanks, and I've saved my favorite model boxtops as well. As mentioned, Jack Leynnwood, Ray Gaedke, Jo Kotula, and all the rest were my first art teachers without ever having actually met them. And yes, researching the airplane can be an involved process. Total time on this project was eight months, but the painting itself was produced in 10 working days.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 It was very refreshing to see someone using old school skills in combination with new technologies (e.g. PhotoShop) to get the job done. Too often it's one or the other. Thanks again.
I had a friend who was a planes captain on the USS Forrestal (CVA 59). He told me a story of when they were on Yankee Station of a Vigilante that returned to the ship with most of the livery missing. He said that he yelled at the pilot "What did you do to my brand newly serviced and painted airplane?" The pilot told him that they were over Hanoi when the pilot saw 2 SAM's n the air coming to him. The pilot said that he kicked in the afterburners to outrun the SAM's. The fresh paint literally slid off the air frame.
Great story, thanks!
Incredible work, one of my favorite ever aircraft. Sadly have never seen one (30 years old and from the Netherlands) Definitely gonna try to check one out when i visit the usa again.
Many thanks!
Hey Mike, you got me thinking about things in photos that I never had before.
Such as when you showed the vigilante from underneath the aircraft right after it had taken off on the front of the carrier. That would have been a completely impossible viewing angle because with the aircraft taking off to ship would have been going into the wind as fast as he could basically. The person witnessing the same would have had to be hovering in midair in front of a speeding carrier during flight operations. LOL you have my mind working anyways I didn't intend it to. Thanks a lot 👀👍🏻
There is a Vigilante in Glenville, NY at a museum. It came from the USS Intrepid in NYC.
The first model kit I painted, a white plastic 1/72 Airfix Vigilante with my moms red oil paint in the cans...
This is the first aircraft I worked on out of AE “A” school.
A beautiful painting......and a beautiful aircraft.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
It seems like the preparation for each project requires more time and effort than the final step of painting the picture. Your are obviously attentive to documenting the journey so that the overall experience can be related to us viewers as more than just a memory of how it happened. That is what really makes the presentation, essentially like a mini art class. On a different topic, how about a video describing the indoctrination you had to complete to fly in the military aircraft related to your art projects, which aircraft you flew in, and your impressions of each? Thanks again.
Thanks for the great comment, and what a super idea for a video on my military flights! I'd been thinking about that, and will post on Friday night. I was most fortunate to experience each type of aircraft pretty much in chronological order, from my first jet flight in the T-33 to my final in the F-18. Same with the bombers from B-25 to B-1B. Stay tuned...
A design ahead of its time!
Agreed!
Great to hear the back story behind the research for the painting. An opportunity to learn more on so many levels. Carrier JFK is only 1 hour from me. USS America is in the same shipyard.
Err--- The carrier USS America (CV-66) was sunk after live-weapons tests in 2005. The only decommissioned carrier on the East Coast is the JFK (CV-67) in the Philly Naval Yards but it will be towed to Brownsville, TX and scrapped some day. The same will happen to the Kitty Hawk (CV-63) which is currently in Bremerton, WA. Neither ship is being brought back because their service lives are virtually exhausted and the Navy hasn't trained sailor how to safely operate and maintain the boiler systems their powerplants use for about the last 20 years. That kind of powerplant is out of use in the US Navy and they use turbines in modern ships with the exception of nuclear-powered submarines and supercarriers.
There is a USS America in service (LHA-6) but it's a far smaller amphibious assault ship (basically a mini-carrier if you can call a 45,000 ton that's only 45 ft shorter than the Titanic a mini-carrier!) that carries 20 V/STOL aircraft maximum.
USS America, passenger vessel in Philly shipyard
SS America. Aviation guy learning the naval lines. (Note absence of ropes!) 👍🏼
A great painting. And another great video. Keep them coming.
Thanks John, and looking forward to seeing you soon!
PHANTASTIC!
This is excellent. Thank you Sir. I love your illustrations.
Thanks Tom - appreciate the comment. What type of aircraft are you flying in your icon photo?
Confession:
For my comic strip, I've been tracing photos of planes and feeling guilty about it.
Now, I don't feel so guilty anymore! Fantistic work!
Imagine this: The longest and greatest air-raid OF ALL TIME occurred during the UK-Argentine Falkland Islands war using the most visually-imposing and impressive jet bomber OF ALL TIME, the Valkyries with Vulcan tanker accompaniment to boot in spectacular airmanship of an aerially deployed task force involving 10-12 aircraft all coming down to a single Valkyrie delivering a single bomb that knocked out a single runway; mission sorta accomplished; the runway used for anti-ship Exocet-carrying Argentine A-4's or Typhoons. My point here is that's spectacular (precision and logistically) airmanship, entirely visually astounding and appealing, but pretty mediocre, yet peerlessly wonderful to imagine visually.
What does that have to do with the A-5 Vigilante's?!? Now imagine everything the same, but instead, 2 squadrons aboard apiece of Vigilantes and two American carriers tasked with immediately controlling all air space in the warzone - as was the UK's war aim here with the (land-based) Valkyrie raid. In this imagined scenario, all manner of aircraft coulda been deployed and recovered too, as necessary, for every/any role, e.g., recon, ECM, diversionary attacks, . . . but to deliver strategic bombing as the Valkyries was designed to do, the seaborne Vigilante's are capable of multiple raids 24/7/365 by scores of these even more capable than the Valkyries Vigilantes hitting everything that even just looked like a runway - at will, indefinitely.
Nice build! But I wouldn’t expect anything less from an artist of your caliber.
You are very talented, and I really appreciate you sharing your videos, it really boosts my appreciation for these sorts of skills. I cant imagine how you paint all those straight lines, understand perspective that way, and master all the shadows. I'd be lucky to create a top view with a drawing board and a T square! Very impressive.
'Really appreciate the nice comment, thanks, and glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for that, Mike. It was fascinating seeing your process and workflow. Was this painting oil or acrylic?
Appreciate the comment Marc, and the painting was done in Windsor & Newton oils.
An airplane from the time where there were seemingly no limits on technology or performance, and where those things mattered more than just the price.
This may have been covered in the narration, but the piece of cable between the Vigilante's wheels is a bridle, hence the painting's title. Having never served on an aircraft carrier it seems like something to pass along to other viewers who didn't serve aboard either.
Many thanks!
Great painting! it makes me think "what would I ask Mike to paint?" Since Charlie O already convinced you to do a TWA 767 over the pyramids, my thoughts turned to an aircraft i can only DREAM of flying: the Graf Zeppelin! Perhaps trying to clear those pesky power lines while departing Los Angeles on its 1929 round the world flight. Well, i can dream, can't I? Have you painted any dirigibles?
Thanks for the great comment and question Ian, and neat that you know Charlie - his TWA 767 painting was a fabulous project! As for dirigibles, I did a profile of the Hindenburg for a book on Lufthansa, but never actually painted a scene with one.
I can’t draw a stick man so a painter I am not. This is interesting though. Thank you for posting.
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 have you ever heard of a painter, Sam Lyons. He painted a Piper Cub I still fly. Haven’t seen him for years but I enjoy his work
@@P61guy61 Yes, I knew Sam - fellow charter member of the American Society of Aviation Artists. Haven't had any contact wsith him in many years, however.
Ooh yeah. I dable a bit in painting as well but could never do this. I would never dare to actually. The RA5C is much too beautifull for that. My main problem are my bad motor skills. I couldn't draw a straight line or circle by hand if my life depended on it. I'll take all of this in with glee anyway though.
Appreciate the comment, thanks Marc!
I wonder what the Vigilante would look like painted in the Blue Angels colors. Or the navy blue colors with white undersides like the WW2 carrier aircraft. Or like the Panthers and Cougars of the Korean War vintage.
Good question,, thanks!
How do you photograph the model aircraft? I've tried to use a similar technique but I only have a modern day smart phone available which has a considerable amount of distortion in its camera lenses. Taking a picture from further away results in a grainy image not at all useful for purpose.
Also, if at all possible, could you perhaps delve into your process of converting the chosen picture into the first detail drawing? I've tried a few methods over the years and about every method ends up with some compromise in the final shape somehow with proportions ending up off as tolerance errors stack up on one another. 99% of people won't even see it, but I usually catch it straight away on the final product.
Thanks for the wonderful channel, Mike. I do pencil sketches so I'm not a painter but the stories and techniques for tricking the human mind to see speed between two objects etc are really interesting and I will certainly try to implement these learning from a true master!
Great question Martin. I've been planning a video on this exact topic, and 'will post it for you Wednesday morning. There are many different aspects to photographing models - from setting the models up to achieve optimum light and shadows to re-creating an exact moment in time down to aircraft heading, time of day, and even weather conditions. I've been using a Canon A-1 35mm SLR camera with 50mm lense, and will explain in detail such factors as camera distortion, telephoto compression, and integrating aircraft into the backgrounds, plus how to develop comps and final detail drawings . 'Appreciate your suggestion and kind words, thanks!
Mike,
Any plans to discuss your involvement with Wings and Airpower magazines?...
Thanks for the question Steve, and that's a tough one. Despite having a fantastic team of talent when I bought the magazine in 2001, we were unable to bring that 1970s-era publication into the digital age. Too many reasons to list here, but in 2007, after producing 62 issues, our global distributor ultimately shut the magazine down for not producing enough revenue for them. (They went out of business three years ago, by the way.)
Belgium. Wow
Its got a Russian vibe to it,Big and Fast.
MiG25 was supposedly based upon stolen designs of the Vigilante. Soviets/Russian Feds have denied this. But there's conflicting reports that it was actually very true. The Foxbat has very similar design cues that can not be dismissed as false
When in doubt, just ask yourself, what would Jack Leynnwood do? 😊 Another great one Mike. I forgot to send you an alert that I did a podcast yesturday which featured Craig's book. czcams.com/video/JkACQGY_mP0/video.html
I personally prefer the A3J.....
Understood, thanks!
You drew an A3J/A-5, not an RA-5C ... The RA-5C had strakes from the tip of the intakes back to the wings about a foot down the wing root where it joined the wing ... Plus an attached belly centerline pod for cameras and sensors... see the image at the link below:
www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-RA-5C-Vigilante/1151646/L
An address with "CAG" sounds like you were a Commander Air Group. Well done, Skipper, even though that is what squadron commanders are nicknamed. Maybe I was once part of your air group.
Appreciate your comment, and interesting points. The centerline pod is visible in the painting just aft of the nosewheel and below the fuselage below the word "NAVY." My client actually had me remove the intake strake from my original drawing, as those were not on this RVAH-14 airplane when it was photographed at a Belgian airshow in 1969. Thanks for watching!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Yes, thank you for the information and its a gorgeous drawing, just like all your work. Also instead of strakes I should have called them LERXs... (leading edge wing root extensions). Sorry for the failed terminology. My bad...
What he drew IS an RA5C. The leading edge at the intakes was added sometime in 1971-1973 for Hvy-14. I can remember sending a plane out for the retro fit and having it come back prior to boarding the Indy in 1973. This was a time when we were still stationed at NAS Albany, GA. Hvy-14 at the end of that cruise in 1974 was sent to Key West were it was decommissioned. I was able to get an "early out" and left the squadron in December 1973 so I didnt have to make the trek back to home base.