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Channel: Stories and Illustrations of combat airplanes, missiles and the people that flew them
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Profile 67: BEGINNING - "5?" as flown by Joe Foss

Here it is - the starting sketch of Joe Foss's F4F-4 Wildcat circa Fall of 1942, on Guadalcanal.This particular commission is a especially weighty - not just because it represents one of America's...

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Profile 67 - UPDATE "5?" as flown by Joe Foss

Here you go - it's about 50% done and the obvious parts need to be masked in... but I'm on schedule!  Two more posts after this one and this might be the most accurate rendering of Joe's F4F.  At least...

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Profile 67 - UPDATE "5?" as flown by Joe Foss, VMF-121

So.  It looks like all I have to do is add the rudder, tweak some shadows and add final markings.  I'm still on the fence of what aircraft number to use - 50?  53?  84?I remember in 2001 (or 2000?)...

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Profile 67: FINAL - "50" F4F-4 Wildcat as flown by Joe Foss, VMF-121

DONE!  I presented it to the Commissioner last Wednesday and...they like it!At almost 30" long, this Wildcat is impressive on size alone and because of its size, was a real stretch for me.  For my...

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Profile 68: BEGINNING "xxx" as flown by the 334th TFS

Here it is - my newest project - an F-4E Phantom as flown by the 334th TFS.This sketch - done with a fantastic ballpoint pen swiped from a Hyatt  -  surprised me with its ease.  Some people call the...

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Profile 68: UPDATE - F-4E as flown by the 334th TFS

Ok.  You can look but don't expect to see much.  This thing is a long way from reality.   But, it's moving in the right direction.   The exhaust area was giving me fits a couple nights ago until I...

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Profile 68: UPDATE - F-4E Phantom as flown by the 334th TFS

Here she is, as she was about 2 nights ago but be warned - THERE ARE TWO MAJOR FLAWS in this rendition!  They will be corrected, but since they're going away, I'll leave it to you to find...

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Profile 68: UPDATE - F-4E Phantom as flown by the 334th TFS

Now it's finally starting to look like something!   And we're so close to finishing that the next post will be the final.In the meantime, there's something I'd like you to notice. It's the "Fighting...

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Profile 68: FINAL - F-4E Phantom as flown by the 334th TFS

Done! I'm surprised, too as I never really wanted to jump into the Vietnam era on account of this particular airplane;  the F-4 was too complex, too big to really look good on paper and too ubiquitous...

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Profile 70: BEGINNING - B-52G of the 77th BS (sort of)

It's begun, (gulp)...If you've never seen one take off and fly, it's an awesome sight.Gangly, huge and wickedly lined, the thing smokes its way across the sky;  a defiant, angry pterodactyl soaring for...

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PROFILES 71-77: BEGINNING - The Missileer Project

To regular readers - I have a little explaining to do.You've noticed that this isn't an "airplane." It's a missile. And not the kind that people launch at Cub Scout meetings - this is the kind that...

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Profile 71: FINISHED - LGM-30F Minuteman II missile

The missile above is the LGM-30F, "Minuteman II" ICBM.And it is...amazing. No. Not just amazing. It's OMG!What?  Not getting the vibe? Hearing crickets chirp in the background?I get it.  No one...

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Profile 72: FINISHED - LGM-25C Titan II missile

It's..."The Titan II."Having just re-watched the bizarrely hilarious movie, "Raising Arizona," Tex Cobb's character of the Apocalyptic Motorcycle Rider came to mind.If missiles were people, The Titan...

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Final Flight: George McGovern, 455th BG

Today, the world lost "One of the Good Ones."George McGovern - U.S. politician, social servant and WW2 bomber pilot has died.Undoubtedly, prominent people around the world will weigh in.  George had a...

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Profile 73: "870" as flown by Hank Snow, 173rd Airborne

Behold the Cessna 0-1 "Bird Dog."  I've skipped the pencil-to-print progress shots because I've simply had no time.  This particular opportunity popped up on the radar and I had to move. It's a long...

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Profile 74: "Francie" as flown by Lt. Harold Snow

To my regular readers:  I'm still here.54 days ago, I took on a weighty project of writing and publishing the bio of Hank Snow.  It was a surprise, really - I never expected to do it, even though I've...

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Profile 70: UPDATE - B-52G of the 77th BS

Stop, start, stop, start...Four and a half months later, I'm back at it; the B-52 I started last August is finally getting some attention.  Specifically, a B-52G from Andersen AFB in Guam, 1973.Which...

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Profile 70: UPDATE - B-52G of the 77th BS

She's taking shape and about half way there.  My guess?  Two more posts.  In the meantime, things are going to get really boring.  Or terrifying, depending upon...So.The B-52 is one of the most storied...

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Profile 70: FINAL - B-52G of the 77th BS

Finished!  There's a teeny bit to be done with the engines, but I'll handle that with a pencil on the final prints. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  Her pilot, Dave Berkland, is really happy...

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Profile 75: BEGINNING: "Sweet Marlene" as flown by Rich Hall 602nd FS

It's begun!  The A-1E Skyraider flown by Rich Hall of the 602nd Fighter Squadron, circa 1969, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.  Her name is Sweet Marlene.Who's Marlene?  Ha. You're going to have to wait for...

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