Ways to do a concrete runway

[thecornflake]

I've recently got back into modelling after a good few years, now I have kids and after a trip to Duxford my daughter wanted to build a Spitfire together. It looks pretty good now it's painted and I'm thinking about doing a nice little base\diorama for it to sit on, maybe with a couple of crew figures etc. I'd like to have it sitting on a concrete runway, so I'm wondering what the best way is to represent the concrete. I'm guessing you can probably buy some some of matting like you can get the basic green scenery matting for model railways, or is there a good way to do it from scratch? I'll probaby just have basic grass effect beside the runway to have the support crew and maybe a small support vehicle or something as well.

[Black Knight]

Have a look at this one;

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968864-airfield-base-for-photographic-purposes/

simple and effective

[Mitch K]

Have a look at this one;

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968864-airfield-base-for-photographic-purposes/

simple and effective

I was just about to suggest that myself

[2wheels]

Not in the business of plugging products, but to plug a product....if your short of time the Noy's Minatures pre printed bases are very effective. You could add grass for a more 3D effect.

Ifyou e.mail them through their e.bay sales they can usually list what you require :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/noypines/m.html?item=221642869350&hash=item339af1ca66&pt=Model_Kit_US&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

In a similar theme Uschi do nice stuff although more european and modern than WW2 RAF:

http://www.uschivdr.com/shopping-categories/shop-display-diorama/

[charley420]

There's a chap who has a website with lots of printable ground textures.

I'll find the Web address out when I get home unless someone beats me to it.

[thecornflake]

Thanks for the replies so far. Might go with the printed option for a nice small base for the Spitfire, I'm getting a Lancaster for xmas so may do something more involved for that

[charley420]

There we are

http://www.scalemodelscenery.com

[Alpha Delta 210]

There we are

http://www.scalemodelscenery.com

Great scenery and very reasonable prices. I like the fact that you download once and can print as many times as you like.

[charley420]

I've had a few of his carrier decks and slab apron sheets. And as long as the printer is behaving they come out rather nicely. Those with a beady eye may have seen some in my rfi threads.

[bzn20]

I use a splatter cap on my airbrush.Depending on what shade I want I use a couple,maybe three Greys,Brown and Don't go mad,let it build slowly fine dots.Finish with a fine coat of Grey or Brown depending on required shade. I've done brick too with pointing and it looked like it would file your finger nails? Masking that took ages,cutting out the brick shapes and finish on the pointing spraying the whole lot with grey. I use acrylic inks for this. White Bristol board and that can glued to anything.

[bzn20]

One more thing....Runways are Tarmac topped Concrete,Black in colour. Although wayback they could have been Concrete and no Tarmac.Concrete taxi ways and pans. Tarmac isn't good for doing LOX/Oxy charges and is illegal . Big bang!.Refuels..... spillages melt Tarmac too.Those places, Concrete is king!

[Black Knight]

One more thing....Runways are Tarmac topped Concrete,Black in colour. Although wayback they could have been Concrete and no Tarmac.Concrete taxi ways and pans. Tarmac isn't good for doing LOX/Oxy charges and is illegal . Big bang!.Refuels..... spillages melt Tarmac too.Those places, Concrete is king!

That does depend on time and place. We have lots of main and satellite WW2 airfield remains which had concrete runways. Old ones still in use are tarmac'd

[bzn20]

Thats what I said...in the Although wayback bit. Satellite airfields? Weren't they there just to confuse,not real? Brize Norton's Sat wasn't a real airfield,just looked like it was supposed to be, a real one.

[Black Knight]

Satellite airfields in N.I. often had detachments from the main squadrons, were used as emergency or over-load landing fields for cross-Atlantic ferry flights, convoy patrol flights etcetera. Some satellites are no more than a main runway and a couple of buildings, but they were used.

Near where I live there are/were 3 main fields each with two satellites.