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Dioramas
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1/35th AC130H !!!
CARFACE
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 09:16 AM UTC
Hi Guys,
This is something which struck me out of the blue last month. A friend is a M/Sgt in the Marine Corps Reserve and he finishes with his Armed Forces Journal magazines, He give them to me. So, I'm checking one out last month and there's a photo in there showing the inside of an AC130H with the gun crew manning the 105mm howitzer. The idea is of a shadow-box dio featuring a length of 8inch PVC pipewith the inside details of an AC130H gun-deck in 1/35th scale. The 105mm How. could, I assume be modified from a US field artilery piece and the 7.62mm mini-guns,20mm Vulcans and 40mm Bofors are all available in one form or another
Any thoughts???
Chuck/CARFACE
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Posted: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 09:52 AM UTC
Sorry to hijack the thread, but whats a "shadow box" dio?
ARENGCA
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 02:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Guys,
This is something which struck me out of the blue last month. A friend is a M/Sgt in the Marine Corps Reserve and he finishes with his Armed Forces Journal magazines, He give them to me. So, I'm checking one out last month and there's a photo in there showing the inside of an AC130H with the gun crew manning the 105mm howitzer. The idea is of a shadow-box dio featuring a length of 8inch PVC pipewith the inside details of an AC130H gun-deck in 1/35th scale. The 105mm How. could, I assume be modified from a US field artilery piece and the 7.62mm mini-guns,20mm Vulcans and 40mm Bofors are all available in one form or another
Any thoughts???
Chuck/CARFACE


My understanding is that the weapons are all pretty standard, and are placed in modified carriages for use in the aircraft. That would be a very neat dio if you can pull it off. Add a few lights and fiber-optic gizmos, and it would be awesome. Good luck.


Quoted Text

Sorry to hijack the thread, but whats a "shadow box" dio?


A shadow box is a way to force the viewer to look from a particular perspective. Think of it as a hole in the wall that you look through to see what is inside. Shadow boxes are a good way to replicate a photgraphic image, without having to build the entire 360-degree scene. A shadow box allows the builder to restrict the line of sight of the viewer, and allows him to eliminate parts of a scene that are out of that line of sight. So, rather than having to build the entire interior of the C130, he can choose his perspective to eliminate large parts that can't be seen, and focus the viewer on the particular section he is interested in.

Also, as you might guess, shadow boxes allow control of the lighting on the scene. This can allow you to simulate darkness, moonlight, or sunset/sunrise, by controlling the angle and level of the light on the scene. In the case above, I suspect he intends to use very low lighting, mostly red, with little indicator lights on control panels, and possibly a bright orangish glow from through the weapons ports and windows. :-)
SS-74
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 03:04 AM UTC
[quote]
Quoted Text

shadow box is a way to force the viewer to look from a particular perspective. Think of it as a hole in the wall that you look through to see what is inside. Shadow boxes are a good way to replicate a photgraphic image, without having to build the entire 360-degree scene. A shadow box allows the builder to restrict the line of sight of the viewer, and allows him to eliminate parts of a scene that are out of that line of sight. So, rather than having to build the entire interior of the C130, he can choose his perspective to eliminate large parts that can't be seen, and focus the viewer on the particular section he is interested in.

Also, as you might guess, shadow boxes allow control of the lighting on the scene. This can allow you to simulate darkness, moonlight, or sunset/sunrise, by controlling the angle and level of the light on the scene. In the case above, I suspect he intends to use very low lighting, mostly red, with little indicator lights on control panels, and possibly a bright orangish glow from through the weapons ports and windows. :-)


A couple white LED with timed control near or around where the muzzle of the guns are should simulate quite nicely the muzzle flash. Must be something nice to see!

Is the 8" tube in right scale with the body of the C-130 in 1/35 scale?
Chief
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Joined: February 07, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 03:12 AM UTC
As a former C-130/EC-130 Aircrew, I'd love to see it! The only problem I see is the depth of the diorama box, I'm guessing at least 24" deep to get all the weapons and radar positions in it. Good Luck, and some where in my garage is my NATOPS manual if you need help.
CARFACE
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 128 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 01:15 PM UTC
Chief,
Yes, please ! Anything at all would be MOST helpfull . Right now the only reference I have is the photo from the magazine and the Squadron book,"Spooky" The manual should have the interior dimensions in it somewhere. I'm not sure if 8 inch inside diameter pipe will be right or not, but it'll be close.
If this works out maybe an AC-47 and an AC-119 would work as well.Email me at
[email protected]
Chuck/CARFACE
GeneralFailure
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European Union
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 03:33 PM UTC
Chuck,
I dunno if the 18" tube would be the right size, but I suggest you cut it lengthwise in two halves to do the modeling (top and bottom or lieft/right ?) , and assemble it all in the end. Working with a closed tube seems like a nightmare to spray-paint and to see what you're doing in general.

Furthermore, if you want it perfect... I'm not at all sure that the cut-through of the C-130 hull would be a perfect circle. Maybe you need to adapt that a bit. You could check that on the manufacturer's website.

PS : sounds like a GREAT idea for a model !!!

Jan
SS-74
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Vatican City
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 07:21 PM UTC
This reminds me of something I saw I think maybe a year or two ago, in HK some guy was making a dio with 12" Hi/Lo jumpers, and he did a cross section of the C-130, very huge project. And I am not sure how accurate it was, but I mean, the sheer size would just overwhelm you. I wish I can find the page or the magazine again, so I can scan a picture to send to you, but don't hold your breath though.

Anyway, it's a great idea of the AC-130 thing.

Let us know how it go.
Whiskey
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Joined: May 30, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 12:39 PM UTC
That would be sweet dio.I really like that additional fiber-optics suggestions.Another cool image to think of is(and dont quote me if Im wrong on this if they dont have one)is have the dio pitch black except for a red light simulating the gunners permission to fire.Then have the timed muzzel flash.That would be freakin awseome!



Oh BTW,my grandfather use to fly C-130s for about 20 years........If you'd like anything I can ask him about the plane I would be glad to help.....................
GeneralFailure
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Posted: Friday, November 22, 2002 - 10:35 AM UTC
OK, carface, how's the C130 project going ? Did you start it and will you surprise us with pics any day soon now, or did other models (scale- or other ) get priority ?
Plasticbattle
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Posted: Friday, November 22, 2002 - 10:46 AM UTC
There has been a lot of talk about the shadow-box dio lately, but nobody has attempted it yet ..... well shown the finished example yet. Make a name for yourself and be the first!
I think whoever comes up with the first good shadowbox dio will be an overnight star here!
GeneralFailure
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Posted: Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 02:56 AM UTC
PB, there's a very nice example in the dio contest submissions. Look for the German train coupé !

Jan
SGT.Busche
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Joined: March 22, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 03:18 PM UTC
just make sure that when you do it you do not forget the chute rigging that goes alog with it. seems that when I have seen pic's of any airborne dio's or just drawings they always forget the riggers job. Which is the chute's that go with it.
CARFACE
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2003 - 06:47 AM UTC
Hi,
Nothing started yet (job and family turmoil taking precedence again) But I think I found my modelling hat this weekend. So I'll be gettin' started on a few projects soon!

Thanks for the interest and I'll try to keep you all posted
Chuck
Whiskey
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Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 07:52 AM UTC
I saw this today on Modelling Madness.com and thought you may want to look at it.


Nug
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Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 05:27 PM UTC
Just wanted to add a few cents. This is a great idea! One thing you might want to do is decide what era Spectre you want to build. The "modern" ones have ditched the miniguns and just go with the 105mm and the 40mms. I don't remember red light (the gunners actually don't fire unless using a master blaster override) because the pilot is the one who actually fires the weapons and all crew coordination is carried out via interphone. if you want to do an OEF or OIF gun deck scene w/out the mini's that might help keep the length of it down to a more managable scale. I can't wait to see pics!
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