ewahl Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 While searching for some Monogram model photos, I came across where I had stored most of my oldest photos of my models. In 1956 I was a sophomore in high school, and my camera of choice (the only one I had) was a Kodak Brownie Bulls-Eye. In 1961 I was a college junior, and my camera was a Minolta Autocord twin-lens reflex. Check these out: I lived near O'Hare Airport, and aircraft on takeoff and landing had a flight path over my house. I use that fact to explain this Aurora F-86D flying low overhead. I had no good explanation for the rocket rack being extended at the same time that the landing gear was down. Photographed outdoors, the round cardboard drum supported the edge of a large piece of glass with the dark edge lined up with nearby telephone wires. The model is placed on the glass and not moving. Here is a night shot taken outdoors with a flashbulb. I had two Revell Douglas D558-2 Skyrockets and a Revell Lockheed F-94C Starfire on the sidewalk with some grass in the background. The Revell Boeing B-52A with the North American X-15 is resting on a piece of glass with edges outside the picture's edges. This was done outdoors. I do not recall having trouble with unwanted reflections on the glass I very carefully cleaned first. This is the follow-on setup from the previous photo. The X-15 has been dropped (at a very low altitude if the clouds mean anything). Actually, the X-15 is positioned on the glass between the engines, having been aligned there through the camera's viewfinder to appear that it is below the B-52A mother ship. This is one of my all-time favorite model shots. The camera has caught me pointing up to the sky just as a Lockheed F-104A Starfighter passes over the roof of my house. Remember: I lived near O'Hare, and the military base was still active. The closest object to the camera is the Revell F-104A. Everything you see is on the far side of the piece of glass and was lined up in the camera's viewfinder. Coming up soon: models go into combat; models go to the Moon; models crash and burn; models in flight. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayMesawitz Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 photo genius well before its time ! ! ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidF Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Very cool, especially the last pic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonL Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 LOVE IT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adfogel Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Terrific photography! And the models look pretty darn good as well...the B-52 shots would have fooled me no question. Thanks for sharing! Later, Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewahl Posted June 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Thanks, guys, All of these images today could be assembled in Photoshop in minutes. Back then, we had one shot to get it right on film on post-WWII mass-produced cameras that used roll film on spools that you hoped you loaded into the camera without exposing the film accidentally. I have no clue where the original negatives might be, but I'm glad I still have the prints. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty White Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 GREAT photos! Taken just after my birth (1955). I love this stuff. Please post more!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Filippone Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Ed, I confess I jumped immediately to the photo of the F-86 and was jealous that you had lived so close to an Air Force base growing up. Remarkable work. The B-52/X-15 shots are amazing! Nice work in the technological stone age. Nick Filippone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimHortman Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Good Stuff Ed - Thanks for sharing. I though the BUFF was real, until I read the caption! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamsof51 Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 You where building some nice stuff way back in the day. I agree, without the explaination you could have easily passed these off as the real thing. Fun stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campingramps Posted May 23, 2011 Report Share Posted May 23, 2011 Ed, great pics. I used to live in Des Plaines and our house was directly under the flight path to Ohare. When the 707s started arriving and flew over they looked just like your last photo. We felt we could touch them. And the Noise!! I like the way you used that glass. Innovative back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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