Ol' Scrapiron

I know there are a lot of images readily available online, but I'll share some examples that I have personally photographed over the years. Of course these most likely have undergone some level of restoration for display, so bear that in mind. Anyway, here is a small sampling of photos of some of the A-10 airframes I have pointed a camera at... use as reference or inspiration. I'll try to limit the pics per plane, but I have more if there's something that would help on a build. A-10 699 NMoUSAF Restoration Hangar - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10A 75-0270 McChord AFB - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10A 77-0259 IWM Duxford - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10C 80-0186 Evergreen Museum - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10A 78-0681 NMoUSAF - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX OA-10A 78-0624 McChord AFB - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10C 80-0244 OshKosh 2024, billed as the last Thunderbolt II demonstrator - - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10C 78-0651 OshKosh - - - - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10A 75-0305 Robins AFB - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10A 75-0288 Air Force Armory Museum; Eglin AFB - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10 Pima XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX A-10 Warthog Trainer module Robins AFB I could swear there should be more than these 11 planes and the trainer module... maybe I have some museum visits or air shows that I am missing. Hmmmmmm... Use these for reference or inspiration. I have others highlighting details like the landing gear and armament pylons, etc., but those types of pics are readily available with a simple search.

I know there are a lot of images readily available online (as already demonstrated above) but all I feel I can offer are photos of the 11 examples (plus a tail section) I have personally photographed over the years. Of course these most likely have undergone some level of restoration for display, so bear that in mind. Anyway, here is a small sampling of photos of some of the Satrfighters I have seen... use as reference or inspiration. F-104A 56-0785 Yanks Air Museum, Chino - - ########################################################################################## F-104A 55-2961 (NASA N818NA) Smithsonian NASM - - ########################################################################################## F-104A 56-0754 NMoUSAF ########################################################################################## F-104B 57-1296 Valiant Warbirds Museum - - ########################################################################################## F-104C 56-914 NMoUSAF - - ########################################################################################## F-104C 56-0934 (NASA N820NA) Museum of Flight - - ########################################################################################## F-104D 57-1314 (#5026) Castle AFB, Atwater CA - ########################################################################################## F-104D 57-1331 Air Force Armory Museum; Eglin AFB - ########################################################################################## F-14D 57-1323 Pima Air Museum - - ########################################################################################## F-104G 683-9142 (FX84 as NASA N813NA) Evergreen Aviation Museum - - ########################################################################################## F-104G FX82 (#683D-9140) Belgium – Air Force Planes of Fame, Chino - ########################################################################################## F-104G 7081 (tail section) Withdrawn from the Turkish Air Force in 1994. Tillamook Air Museum - - I have other shots with details, but tried to limit this post to a few images per airframe. As I said earlier, I hope these will be helpful as either reference or merely inspiration.

I have pointed my camera at a few that might be an inspiration for some of your builds. I'll limit my post to 1-2 images per airframe, but have more detail shots if they would be helpful. I know there are many online photos available, but these are planes I have personally photographed so it's what I can offer... YF-16 72-01568A Fort Worth Aviation Museum 2024 This is the #2 prototype for the F-16 program >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 75-0750 NMoUSAF 2018 Used by NASA and the USAF during ATFI testing >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 81-0663 Thunderbird NMoUSAF 2018 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 80-0573 Air Force Armory Museum; Eglin AFB 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 90-0946 (Naval Strike Air Warfare Center) McChord AFB 2010 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 79-0334 USS Alabama Memorial 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 78-0025 Valiant Warbirds Museum 2024 78-0025 was assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard that flew protective cover over Manhattan after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GF-16A 81-0676 #61-357 Robins AFB 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16A 80-0543 Castle AFB, Atwater CA 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16B 80-0633 Yanks Air Museum, Chino 2018 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16B 75-0752 Frontiers of Flight, Dallas 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16C 83-0142 McChord AFB 2008 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16C 83-0154 McChord AFB 2008 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16C Falcon Willow Run, Detroit 2010 - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16C 91-0395 Viper Demo OshKosh 2024 - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16C 90-0831 OshKosh 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16CM 91-0421 OshKosh 2024 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16CM 92-3906 OshKosh 2024 - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16D 78-9160 McChord AFB 2010 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16D #8 USAF Thunderbirds OshKosh 2024 This plane #8 made a solo appearance during the 2024 AirVenture in OshKosh en route to a different show by the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16N Viper 163572 Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola 2024 This F-16 Viper was for the US Navy and includes a tailhook for carrier landings. - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> F-16N Viper 163277 Palm Springs Air Museum 2018 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And of course a tiny sampling of the Thunderbirds in action... McChord AFB 2008 - McChord AFB 2016 - McChord AFB 2023 - - F-16 (Cockpit Display) South Dakota Air Museum 2021 - Use these for reference or inspiration. I have others highlighting details like the wheel bays, etc., but those types of pics are readily available with a simple search. I look forward to seeing the projects (and may see if I have a Falcon kit in the stash that needs to be built)

Like you, I also prefer to use my own photos for reference whenever possible. I saw and photographed P-51D Y2-C #122-39922 during AirVenture at Oshkosh this summer, in flight and at rest in Warbird Alley. I imagine you have more photos than what you shared above, but if not I hope you can glean some detailing or color info from my pics. - - - - Having seen C-Y2 in action, I look forward to watching progress on your build.

There's an M5 in those same markings just a few miles north of me among Paul Allen's collection at the FHC. I took a look at some of my photos of the real thing and your project definitely captures it nicely. Very well done!

Here are the only two shots of that rear end box that I see in my pics... all the other Stuarts don't have it. I expect to find at least a couple more Stuarts in the photos I have left to work through, so maybe I'll get a better look. - If you are scratchbuilding the box, these should give you a better sense of the shape and you can estimate the width based on the space between the lights. Hope these help.

Digging further into my road trip photos, I found this M5 Stuart on display at the Camp Shelby museum in Mississippi. As I mentioned before, maybe something will help with if you are doing some scratchbuilding or superdtailing on your projects. As always... Warning: Image heavy! M5 Stuart Camp Shelby, Mississippi 2024 - - - - If I find others I'll share.

I saw this M3 Stuart parked by itself at Ft Novosel during my swing through Alabama about three weeks ago, and walked all the way around snapping pics. Maybe something will help with if you are doing some scratchbuilding or superdtailing on your projects. As always... Warning: Image heavy! M3 Stuart Fort Novosel 2024 - - - - - - I'm pretty sure there are still other M3 / M5 pics from that road trip that I've yet to get to. I will share more when I find them... but I'm still sorting through it all (happily!)

I know there's a lot of images and information online, but I can only offer some pics I have personally taken of various M3 and M5 tanks in hopes they will be of use. Use them as reference as you like, but bear in mind that they are (of course) modern displays and most likely have had some level of restoration done over the years. And as always... Warning: Image heavy! M3 Stuart NMMV Dubois - ******************************************** M3A1 Stuart Paine Field - - - ******************************************** M3A1 Stuart Fort Lewis - - ******************************************** M3 Stuart Camp Murray - - ******************************************** M5A1 Stuart “Carol” Arlington Airport - - - - ******************************************** M5A1 Stuart Willows Run airfield ******************************************** M5A1 Stuart NMMV Dubois - - ******************************************** and for the Stuart-ish project M5 Kangaroo artillery tractor Imperial War Museum, Duxford - Hope these are helpful -- either as reference for your builds, or at least inspiration. Dang, I know I got some others on my recent road trip, but haven't got to the files yet. I'll add more here soon. And if you need other angles/descriptions, take a look at: https://447bg.org/tanks-vehicles/m3-stuart/ https://447bg.org/tanks-vehicles/m5-stuart/ https://447bg.org/tanks-vehicles/m5-kangaroo/

I hope my shots of the real thing displayed in the Udvar-Hazy can serve as reference/inspiration as yo approach the finish line - - - - - - - Hope these help in some way. Looking forward to seeing more of your build

I pointed my camera at a few of them in the past week (OshKosh and Seafair) so if these will help inspire a project or answer some little detail question, great. If not, then enjoy them for what they're worth. F-35A Lightning II 20-5620 AF-380 OshKosh 2024 - - - - - F-35A Lightning II 20-5585 AF-345 OshKosh 2024 - - - - - - - - - - - - F-35A Lightning II 18-5363 AF-254 OshKosh 2024 - F-35A Lightning II 20-5609 AF-369 Seafair 2024 - - - F-35B Lightning II 16-9164 BF-44 Seafair 2024 The upper hatch was almost closed by the time the plane was close enough to get a clear shot - - - On the day I went to see the planes at Seafair, the heat over Boeing Field caused a lot of my photos to be unusable due to rippling. I hope these will be of use/inspiration for anyone building an A- of B-model. I almost forgot. I did see the X-35B STOVL prototype at the Smithsonian a few years back... in case they are of interest. X-35B STOVL Udvar-Hazy 2015 - - - -

OK, the F-84 family (Thunderjet, Thunderstreak, Thunderflash) has crossed in front of my camera lens a few times, so hopefully I can provide some reference/inspiration for those in this GB. Warning: Photo Heavy I'll just add a sampling here in case they are of some benefit... and there may be some interiors or other areas that might assist in super detailing. These are my photos taken during my travels to air museums around the US and England -- please use your own judgment on the reference value for any museum display or restoration. F-84C 47-1433 Pima Air Museum - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84C 47-1595 March AFB - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84E 49-2155 Yanks Air Museum, Chino - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84E 50-1143 NMoUSAF - - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ RF-84F Thunderflash 51-1944 Pima Air Museum - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 52-9432 March AFB - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 51-9531 “Thunder Struck” Palm Springs Air Museum - - - - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 51-1378 Planes of Fame, Chino ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 52-6563 Pima Air Museum - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 0-19522 Evergreen Aviation Museum - - - - - - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ YRF-84F 49-2430 FICON NMoUSAF - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 52-6526 NMoUSAF - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84F 52-8886 South Dakota Air Museum - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ F-84G 52-2978 Warhawk Air Museum; Nampa, Idaho - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7259 NMoUSAF - - - Hope these help. As I mentioned earlier, please use your own judgment on reference value for any museum display or restoration.

Looks like two sets of engines... any preference between the cream resin ones and the gray ones? I look forward to seeing your progress on this.

And the real question is can you shake the plane in such a way that the cover magically appears on your work surface before the radio operator's chair (or worse). Good luck.

Perilous indeed. The crappy less-than-desired result I was left with almost killed the project for me. Almost. I told my son that I was ready to bin the whole thing. He suggested I just build a different model I wasn't overly invested in, but just FINISH something... then I realized this one actually fit that bill. I pinched the wing tops from the abandoned "trainer" project (back in B-17 STGB #1) and decided to set aside my ambitious plans and just finish this one as a "simple" project. No cutting out the rudder and elevators. No lowering the flaps. No hacking holes in the fuselage to expose the complete superdetailed interior. I'll just plod along on this as a 50% effort but much more likely to get it done if only for mojo restoration purposes. Soooooooooo.... "Gearing up" for Phase II Last time I chopped up the plate that the gear legs mount to so I could depict the interior of nacelles 2 and 3 with the oil tanks and stuff... this time the only detail I added was some brake lines. Also painted on some stripes to represent the markings that indicate tire slippage. Brake lines added... - You can see the simple plates that the gear legs and supports attach to. Nowhere near the real deal, but good enough to keep the project moving along. Added a little paint on the piping to the superchargers... The wheels fit so snugly on the gear legs that there really is no need to glue them. So snugly, in fact, that it was tough to get them on without jeopardizing the fragile brake lines. Obviously need a little putty to clean up the join on the nacelles, but the wheels are looking OK - I'm obviously going to save the Lucky Stehley Boy inspiration for a future build, as that plane is very special to me. I'll probably make this a generic Fortress with a Square K on the tail ... unless I warm up to the idea of a non-447th BG plane (gasp!) and use the Chow Hound decals in the box. Anyway, saved from the scrap heap at least for the moment. I know almost everyone is finishing up, but it wouldn't be like me not to post some reference shots that I have taken at airshows and museums in case they are of some benefit. B-17F 42-29782 Boeing Bee - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-85784 Sally B -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-85828 I’ll Be Around -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-8543 Madras Maiden / Ye Olde Pub - - - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 42-32076 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-6393 Starduster -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83563 Fuddy Duddy -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83684 Picadilly Lilly II - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83735 Mary Alice -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83785 Shady Lady -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83814 City of Savannah - -------------------------------------------------------------- B-17G 44-83868 (RAF Museum) - This one won't meet the extended deadline, but at least she's back in motion.