Harrier at Cottesmore, 1600 today.
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Hi Pops, welcome.
Let me get this right. You create and 'paint' an aeroplane which can then be programmed in for use in Flight Sim games? Do you start from scratch or do you adapt an existing image?
SMT,
I'd love to see some more if thats ok. They were brilliant.
Let me get this right. You create and 'paint' an aeroplane which can then be programmed in for use in Flight Sim games? Do you start from scratch or do you adapt an existing image?
SMT,
I'd love to see some more if thats ok. They were brilliant.
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Flightsim.com repaints and links
Al R. I do the 'relatively' easy bit in repainting models for MS Flightsim. The hard work is done by the modellers. There's a whole army of people who upload this stuff as freeware for folk who enjoy FS9 and FSX. Flightsim.com is one such site where folk can upload for others to aquire. I am a member of a freeware group called UKMIL. We're a mixed bunch of serving and civvy types. We've released virtual UK and US aircraft and UK flying stations like Cottesmore. take a look and see what you think. Links and photos below, plus a film from another site of what can be achieved in online multiplayer here: http://www.simteevee.com/watch.php?mdid=405
http://www.ukmil.org.uk/news.php
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?Hts...main/forum.htm
http://www7.plala.or.jp/minakata/FS/ (This chap is a genius repainter and my adopted mentor)
This first screenshot is of a Hunter 'painted' by a UKMIL member and shown flying in MS FS9.
This is one of my repaints with the UKMIL Cottesmore as a background...
I love repainting the JASDF F15's..
And these are done by my 'Mentor' called POM in Japan...pure genius...
And finally another Herc and a few of our harrier repaints...
http://www.ukmil.org.uk/news.php
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?Hts...main/forum.htm
http://www7.plala.or.jp/minakata/FS/ (This chap is a genius repainter and my adopted mentor)
This first screenshot is of a Hunter 'painted' by a UKMIL member and shown flying in MS FS9.
This is one of my repaints with the UKMIL Cottesmore as a background...
I love repainting the JASDF F15's..
And these are done by my 'Mentor' called POM in Japan...pure genius...
And finally another Herc and a few of our harrier repaints...
AI R,
Lovely pics made all the better by that lovely golden light.
Pops,
Thanks for the links and images. The JASDF F-15s have had some stunning paint schemes over the years.
Some low-level Harrier pics from the last few months.
15 Jan 08 - Harrier GR.9A - Serial ZD380 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
15 Jan 08 - Harrier GR.7A - Serial ZG471 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
11 Dec 07 - Harrier GR.9 - Serial ZG480 - Thirlmere - Lake District
11 Dec 07 - Harrier GR.9 - Serial ZG480 - Thirlmere - Lake District
On the subject of waves from friendly crew. Wave from the rear of a Hawk.
16 Jan 08 - Hawk T.1A - Serial XX189 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
Cheers
TJ
Lovely pics made all the better by that lovely golden light.
Pops,
Thanks for the links and images. The JASDF F-15s have had some stunning paint schemes over the years.
Some low-level Harrier pics from the last few months.
15 Jan 08 - Harrier GR.9A - Serial ZD380 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
15 Jan 08 - Harrier GR.7A - Serial ZG471 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
11 Dec 07 - Harrier GR.9 - Serial ZG480 - Thirlmere - Lake District
11 Dec 07 - Harrier GR.9 - Serial ZG480 - Thirlmere - Lake District
On the subject of waves from friendly crew. Wave from the rear of a Hawk.
16 Jan 08 - Hawk T.1A - Serial XX189 - Cad Pass (Talyllyn Pass) - Wales
Cheers
TJ
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TEEJ,
As usual, brilliant shots. My cackhanded efforts are amateurish by comparison. Can I ask you a question.. one that involves your motivation? Why do you do it? Is photography the means to an end, or is it the end itself? Do you like hillwalking too? Why do you shoot from the same position? I know m'sports snappers who are the same - they'll take the same bend everytime, because they know how the car will approach, how it'll move, the line that it'll take and because its going to be a dead cert money earner. Are you the same because you are cataloging as many shots of as many aeroplanes in the same place, are you endlessly seeking 'that' perfect shot, are you always comparing your shots with your contemporaries, are you always practising and improving or do you 'just' enjoy the satisfaction of the repetition of getting it right every single time? Do you ever shoot elsewhere? I am fascinated and impressed beyond belief by your work, and I'm not being at all snooty or dismissive. I won't be offended if you ignore me or tell me to mind my own business - sometimes hobbies don't need explaining or justifying.
Pops,
Thanks for your reply - I had no idea that this hobby existed, although I suppose it had to. I imagine that Gran Turismo has similar afficiendos. That Herc in particular, in your first post, had me doing a double take. I take my hat off to you. I'm surprised that there hasn't been a commercial application. A company like Virgin would probably gladly pay an enthusiast to do a corporate version of MS FS. When they wanted to buy Concorde (or said that they did), a virally marketed freeware version of MS FS with a Concorde in Virgin colours would have been fantastic for them, and so cheap to do. Does anyone do this?
Finally, with regards to that low level Hawk shot, I thought that visors were worn down at low level in the event of bird strike? Sorry for the dullard question, and perhaps the guy in the front does have his/her visor down and perhaps I'm just blind.
As usual, brilliant shots. My cackhanded efforts are amateurish by comparison. Can I ask you a question.. one that involves your motivation? Why do you do it? Is photography the means to an end, or is it the end itself? Do you like hillwalking too? Why do you shoot from the same position? I know m'sports snappers who are the same - they'll take the same bend everytime, because they know how the car will approach, how it'll move, the line that it'll take and because its going to be a dead cert money earner. Are you the same because you are cataloging as many shots of as many aeroplanes in the same place, are you endlessly seeking 'that' perfect shot, are you always comparing your shots with your contemporaries, are you always practising and improving or do you 'just' enjoy the satisfaction of the repetition of getting it right every single time? Do you ever shoot elsewhere? I am fascinated and impressed beyond belief by your work, and I'm not being at all snooty or dismissive. I won't be offended if you ignore me or tell me to mind my own business - sometimes hobbies don't need explaining or justifying.
Pops,
Thanks for your reply - I had no idea that this hobby existed, although I suppose it had to. I imagine that Gran Turismo has similar afficiendos. That Herc in particular, in your first post, had me doing a double take. I take my hat off to you. I'm surprised that there hasn't been a commercial application. A company like Virgin would probably gladly pay an enthusiast to do a corporate version of MS FS. When they wanted to buy Concorde (or said that they did), a virally marketed freeware version of MS FS with a Concorde in Virgin colours would have been fantastic for them, and so cheap to do. Does anyone do this?
Finally, with regards to that low level Hawk shot, I thought that visors were worn down at low level in the event of bird strike? Sorry for the dullard question, and perhaps the guy in the front does have his/her visor down and perhaps I'm just blind.
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The first Herc shot is a repaint of the JASDF Komatsu airbase type commemorating one of their Sqn's 40th anniversary.
They sell a commercial version of 'fat Albert' (amongst other gorgeous aircraft) but the majority of the repaints (also hosted on their site) are by amateurs like me. Mind you, their paint shop pro files really help make the repainting process a doddle. the Herc by Captainsim was also released for off the shelf purchase and included a very realistic, virtual RAF Lyneham. There's no end of addons to the MS FS9/FSX experience which folk like me will spend on to play with at home. I'm in the mob but with feet firmly grounded. I only get to fly on the occasional aeromed evacuation. I've had a single back seater in a Jag trainer which was awesome. Transiting down Loch Ness at something like 250ft off the water was unforgettable...
The group I normally paint for do it all for free.
They sell a commercial version of 'fat Albert' (amongst other gorgeous aircraft) but the majority of the repaints (also hosted on their site) are by amateurs like me. Mind you, their paint shop pro files really help make the repainting process a doddle. the Herc by Captainsim was also released for off the shelf purchase and included a very realistic, virtual RAF Lyneham. There's no end of addons to the MS FS9/FSX experience which folk like me will spend on to play with at home. I'm in the mob but with feet firmly grounded. I only get to fly on the occasional aeromed evacuation. I've had a single back seater in a Jag trainer which was awesome. Transiting down Loch Ness at something like 250ft off the water was unforgettable...
The group I normally paint for do it all for free.
Thanks for the comments.
AI R,
No probs. I never had the time whilst serving in the RAF to check-out the low-fly routes. Since retiring last year I've now got the time on my hands to do so. Being badly colour-blind I never got a chance to work with aircraft in any capacity.
My passion has always been aviation, photography and hillwalking, so now combining all three works out quite well! I grew up in Scotland and used to marvel at all the aircraft flying at low-level whilst I was roaming the hills in the early 80s. Really amazing to see Tonkas, Buccs and F-111s from high vantage points, but never quite close enough to capture them on film with the equipment I had back then.
I only started the low-level snapping last summer, so I'm still working my way around the routes and vantage points. I started off in Wales and recently checked out a few positions in the Lake District. For myself the Mach Loop in Wales provides the traffic and the up-close vantage points. The entrance to the Talyllyn Pass is amazing for close-up shots and currently my favourite location. For me it is capturing that moment in time. I just like to turn up and wait for whatever heads for my chosen location. You never know what is going to come around the corner!
The light and weather conditions provide an interesting challenge too. If I can get light and vapour then I'm a happy bunny! What the aircraft do is also an interesting challenge in itself. From that initial detection things move fast. You clock one aircraft and think has he got a wingman? Can I get both aircraft with terrain in the same shot? Are the condition right for vapour? Will it just be a flash of vapour gone in a second along the spine or will it last longer? Will the aircraft bank or just fly straight through? Has a cloud just taken away that light, etc? All part of the challenge in capturing that moment in time for me.
As a low-level snapper I'm always chuffed if a crew or passenger requests a copy of one of my images. That moment in time might be a half-decent snap of a piece of hardware in my opinion, but when you put the human factor into it, it becomes a different perspective.
AI R,
No probs. I never had the time whilst serving in the RAF to check-out the low-fly routes. Since retiring last year I've now got the time on my hands to do so. Being badly colour-blind I never got a chance to work with aircraft in any capacity.
My passion has always been aviation, photography and hillwalking, so now combining all three works out quite well! I grew up in Scotland and used to marvel at all the aircraft flying at low-level whilst I was roaming the hills in the early 80s. Really amazing to see Tonkas, Buccs and F-111s from high vantage points, but never quite close enough to capture them on film with the equipment I had back then.
I only started the low-level snapping last summer, so I'm still working my way around the routes and vantage points. I started off in Wales and recently checked out a few positions in the Lake District. For myself the Mach Loop in Wales provides the traffic and the up-close vantage points. The entrance to the Talyllyn Pass is amazing for close-up shots and currently my favourite location. For me it is capturing that moment in time. I just like to turn up and wait for whatever heads for my chosen location. You never know what is going to come around the corner!
The light and weather conditions provide an interesting challenge too. If I can get light and vapour then I'm a happy bunny! What the aircraft do is also an interesting challenge in itself. From that initial detection things move fast. You clock one aircraft and think has he got a wingman? Can I get both aircraft with terrain in the same shot? Are the condition right for vapour? Will it just be a flash of vapour gone in a second along the spine or will it last longer? Will the aircraft bank or just fly straight through? Has a cloud just taken away that light, etc? All part of the challenge in capturing that moment in time for me.
As a low-level snapper I'm always chuffed if a crew or passenger requests a copy of one of my images. That moment in time might be a half-decent snap of a piece of hardware in my opinion, but when you put the human factor into it, it becomes a different perspective.
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Its been weeks since I looked at this thread and had no idea I had caused such a commotion. The "weirdy" comment was meant very much tongue in cheek! (Unless you do count standing in a farmers field for hours on end in all weathers a little bit strange!)
Everyone who works with aircraft in whatever field has to have a bit of a spotter in them - it's what keeps the job interesting and what normally manifests as a bit of professional pride!
The low-level over the oggin Sea Harrier picture is fantastic. I've spent ages leaning over the edges of a CVS and have come no-where close to getting such a good shot.
Karls sunset harriers are also very good and as I leave Cott v.soon & am unlikely to return, I may have to contact him for one or two (& yes, they will go on the wall!).
Everyone who works with aircraft in whatever field has to have a bit of a spotter in them - it's what keeps the job interesting and what normally manifests as a bit of professional pride!
The low-level over the oggin Sea Harrier picture is fantastic. I've spent ages leaning over the edges of a CVS and have come no-where close to getting such a good shot.
Karls sunset harriers are also very good and as I leave Cott v.soon & am unlikely to return, I may have to contact him for one or two (& yes, they will go on the wall!).
Well done Corporal Steve Cambers.
'Plane Spotters help protect RAF Base'
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...ectRafBase.htm
TJ
'Plane Spotters help protect RAF Base'
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...ectRafBase.htm
TJ
Glad Rag,
That would be the "Shaka" in pic 3. A friendship greeting gesture. Possibly a U.S. pilot? I know of at least one U.S. pilot on Typhoons at Coningsby.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign
That would be the "Shaka" in pic 3. A friendship greeting gesture. Possibly a U.S. pilot? I know of at least one U.S. pilot on Typhoons at Coningsby.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign
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A couple of days ago, one flew lowish over Oakham and I thought little of it. Now though, sites like some of these will soon be a thing of the past. Just as we have Lighnting and Bucc misty eyed threads; in 2020, I'm sure we'll be seeing Harrier ones.
I've always looked on Harrier with huge affection and as being more than just a bunch of metal and wires and wiggly amps. It was unique, ungainly, typically British, persevered with and it has done us proud (and it has helped me out once or twice too).
Have they stopped flying with immediate effect? If so, its a sad day. As limited as my experiences with it are as, I can only sympathise with how those who have spent an entire career with it, might be feeling. I'm not sure what John F (sp?) might be thinking today, he must have the biggest snapshot of all.
I've always looked on Harrier with huge affection and as being more than just a bunch of metal and wires and wiggly amps. It was unique, ungainly, typically British, persevered with and it has done us proud (and it has helped me out once or twice too).
Have they stopped flying with immediate effect? If so, its a sad day. As limited as my experiences with it are as, I can only sympathise with how those who have spent an entire career with it, might be feeling. I'm not sure what John F (sp?) might be thinking today, he must have the biggest snapshot of all.