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Scale Modeling and Photography

PROPELLERS - If your prop is moveable, position the blades so they are silhouetted against the backdrop and not against the wing or fuselage. This makes it much easier for us to make the props look like their turning, otherwise we have to recreate the area behind the propeller in the computer and it is much more time consuming. The ideal way is to have just the hub with no blades as we can do our best and fastest work in making the big fan look good. However if your prop is already fixed and non-movable, shoot it anyway and will work with it. RC modelers should put their show props on and position the blades against the backdrop.

LANDING GEAR, HOOKS, FLAPS AND DIVE BRAKES - The only rule to follow in these areas is to look at a picture of the actual a/c in level flight. If you imagine erasing the gear and gear doors or anything else hanging down, and it doesn’t take away from the natural look and lines of the fuselage then don’t worry about the photography aspect, just shoot it with the gear down. Or if you have the a/c banking gently towards the imagined camera plane and none of the bottom can be seen then don’t worry about it, just shoot it. If on the other hand the a/c is like the F-4E Phantom where the nose gear door is an essential part of the front fuselage, then you will have to close the door for photography and you’ll want to do that before installing the landing gear.

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR MODEL

The following suggestions are made assuming you know your way around a 35MM SLR or a digital camera. If not, just find a friend who knows and ask for help. It will be worth it and you might find yourself becoming inspired to learn more. We at American Flight Visions highly encourage you to try model photography for yourself as it adds to the excitement of the hobby. Don’t be intimated by “experts”. Just like in modeling, everybody starts somewhere and you get better as you go along. Read some books on it and practice. What’s great about the new digital cameras is that you get instant feedback to what your shooting, however the old saying , “film is cheap” still stands.

TAKE IT OUTDOORS - I know all the arguments for in-door photography, so take it outside anyway because I never saw a fighter photographed flying through a hanger. You can’t beat natural light, especially with aluminum finishes where the metal finish reflects the blue sky.

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