[A-109E]

JustPlaneNuttz has asked me in a PM to explain more regarding the ground support equipment seen at Corgi Field (Stillwater International Airport).
I beg the indulgence of those of you who have seen this before while I honor Christopher's request.

First, the inclusion of ground support equipment makes your airfield scene come alive, making photographs that much more believeable, such as
this scene with Corgi's 1/144 Bristol Britannia in BOAC markings.



These vehicles are resin-cast pieces from FLYT, but I can't really recommend them unless you have advanced modeling skills and are willing to greatly
modify, detail, fill casting flaws and bubble holes, and the like. Me? I'm not really very bright,

.......so I invested the effort since I had started building them and have dogged determination despite all logic. For one example, the glassed-in cab on the Delta tug
was scratch-built using Evergreen sheet & strip styrene, clearacetate, plus some photoetch parts robbed from the spares box. Doing a search for FLYT was
unsuccessful, so perhaps they're no longer in business. Here's one hit I found for a different source of GSE: http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/m...gsepreview.htm





The USAF Ground Power Unit was scratch-built from Evergreen sheet & strip styrene. The maintenance ladder was also scratch-built
using a brass photoetch ship's ladder in 1/192 scale as a base.



These vehicles are all from Classic Metal Works: http://www.classicmetalworks.com/
They're in N Gauge which makes them 1/160 scale, a bit small for Corgi 1/144 scale aircraft. Still, the difference is not that great,
they add a lot to the scene, and I thought...what the hey: I'm big now and I can do what I want.
I've added aviation decals from the spares box to some of them to make them more appropriate to an airfield.





These trucks are also N Gauge from Athearn. (http://www.athearn.com) The yellow stake body truck has a number of 55 gallon
oil and hydraulic fluid drums added (made from styrene rod), while the white van has had an application of TWA decals and became
my catering truck.




These semi-trucks are from Con-Cor in N Gauge (http://www.con-cor.com), and have been repainted and decaled to represent Federal Express
trucks positioned at Corgi Field's air freight terminal.



Corgi Field's air freight terminal is a beehive of activity.....





The air freight terminal processes a lot of Newcastle Brown Ale for national distribution, so a tractor/trailer combination is
often required.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

OK. First off, I have to say thank you very much and WOW! What an immense amount of work. I certainly agree with the choice of the Britannias, as I do have a number of them myself -- including the BOAC polished 100 series one in your first shot. Super, isn't it?

I have to thank you for your scratch-build insight, as I suspected there would be a fair amount of it involved. As an ex-model airplane kit guy from childhood, this should pose no problems for me. The links to the various outlets are greatly appreciated. Since I contacted you, I found a few myself that carry resin GSE and 1:144 figures. One is Airline Hobby Supplies in Arizona, and the other is Flying Fish Models who is in Berlin (Ouch - shipping charges!). I also have a model train shop in my neighbourhood, so I will revisit that for the N guage items (George's Trains in Toronto -- well stocked!).

I concur with your justification of a slight mixing of scales. Yup -- we're grown-ups and can do what we want alright. Thanks for reminding me! Truthfully, if you hadn't of mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed the diff in scales.

You have given me lots to think about here and have fired my imagination, so again, I thank you for that. Now time to dust off my over 50 eyesight (and perhaps a magnifying glass!) and get to work!!

When I have something worth sharing, image-wise, I'll post it here!

(Oh yeah, you might want to load a FULL Newcastle onto a C5A and set the flight plan to here )

[JustPlaneNuttz]

A-109E,
Thanks to your inspiration, I have been able to find additional 'bits' to add some detail to my CPA Britannia. Over the weekend, I was able to obtain the White Canadian Pacific Express box truck (N scale) from the Classic Metal line and was able to order a set of Preiser Civil Pilots & Passengers in 1:144 scale. But one item that has eluded me (and apparently you as well!) is a refueling truck . . . til now.

A continued search on the web turned up a link of unpainted N scale metal trucks circa the 50s that have 2 different White 3000 fuel trucks. One a tandem tanker and one a single chassis. And priced fairly. You can see (and/or order) these at Brooklyn Locomotive Works ('Vehicles-N scale' --> click on the 'GHQ logo').

Or -- if you would prefer to order from Walther's, just search under 'GHQ'. You will find all the vehicles that GHQ makes. Apparently all are in stock regardless where you go. Currently I have these on order from my local shop, George's Trains, here in Toronto.

Thanks again for being patient with me!