I KNOW! They ARE JP tip tanks.

Its Global Aviation. They service Jet Provosts in that hangar…. and the owner has an amazing private collection of cars and aviation related articles… not necessarily in that hangar (before you think of breaking in).

Model making?.. been a bit of that happening on Duxford’s Mossie (2007)

One of the theories is that it is to do with light refraction. Apparently there is a magnifying effect if the viewing angle is quite shallow, ie looking through more atmosphere.

A good theory (thanks QI) is that as a result of this refraction, the sun appears to move slower as it sets, and ACTUALLy sinks below the horizon before the viewer perceives it. In short, this means that you can still see the complete sun AFTER it has sunk below the geometric horizon.

proctor? Low wing training aircraft, 1950s – 60s…. similar to a chipmunk

Here’s one from RAF Leeming back in the early 1990s

Robert Taylor also builds models to gain an apprecation of how the real aircraft looks from all angles… and paints them for colour scheme guidance.

David Shepard’s books contain small tutorials on his use of light, perspective and oil paint layers – really useful stuff.

One thing that all artists advocate is getting to paint from real life. Take your painting kit to a local museum and set up camp in a well-lit corner (with their permission of course) and paint everything from full aircraft to tiny details of light relected in perspex. Take photos of the subject from the pallete and refer to both the paint-sketches and the photographs when composing the final piece. That doesn’t directly help flying scenes, but the knowledge gained will help vastly! Photograph cloud formations at various times of the year and day, but above all, HAVE FUN!

Something I’ve had fun with in the last couple of years is getting a digital art image from t’internet and reproducing it in oils… (for personal benefit only)

And finally, something for you, Rich… 🙂

The guild is the only professional body for hand applied media of aviation subjects, however, you’re well aware of that. My advice as an aspiring artist is to practice ALOT. Even when other peole say that you’re great, more practice is needed. Without the assistance of the professional body, you will find it difficult to sell your work but it is possible.

Practice, research, try new techniques and exibit whenever possible – from community centres to local art exhibitions….. oh and post regularly on this forum’s art thread.

Remember that only a handful of aviation artists make their sole living from aviation art…….

Newcastle Aviation Academy’s initiative to get the current ‘yoof’ interested in old stuff is going from strength to strength. See here:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=104417

Expansion will follow…. 😀