TomcatFanatic123

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TTried to do a little detailing of the speedbrake wells, not perfect, but the best I could do off of the reference pics that I got off of HS. The doors are going to be barely open, so I just want to have a little bit of detail. BTW, if anybody knows of any more good places for reference pics, please, do share .

Sitting in my workshop working on my U-2 kit, I hear this hum of a prop...thought it was a C-130, so I didn't pay much attention, then I decided it didn't really sound like a 130, so I stepped outside to have a look. Good thing I did! It was an E-2 on final to Vandenberg AFB, only the second one I've ever seen out here. Unfortunately, no camera handy :). Hey...I wonder if it could've been our own ARC buddy Spongebob ???

As of 1951 GMT on 4 October, the launch has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns with the rocket . Hopefully it's not a long delay, but better to be safe than sorry, that's a lot of money to be throwing away if something FUBARs.

I can't wait for THIS ONE! It's not scheduled until Wednesday, but I've already staked out my viewing spot about 8 miles from the pad next to the south entrance of Vandenberg AFB. As far as viewing goes, weather's supposed to cooperate, but violating high wind rules, well, that's another story. Hopefull I'll have some good pics to post.

Absolutely beautiful !

And last one for now (my laptop battery's running low <_<)

hopefully a little easier to see...

With my BUFF waitin' for decals, I figured I'd go ahead and jump into this thing. I've decided to rescribe the kit's raised panel lines (tedious work, BTW :blink: :wacko:), and, due to the kit's detail, or lack thereof <_<, I'm going to try and do a bit of scratchbuilding in the wheel wells, speed brakes and cockpit. Anyway, what do you guys think of my re-scribing job so far? From my reference pics, the U-2's panel lines are very subtle against the black paint, so I'm trying to create the effect that the panel lines are not readily noticeable, but are there if you really look clos

David, Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it's quite the oversize bird :blink:. I will be taking some more pictures of it, and I'll be sure to include some shots to give you a size perspective ;).

Last one...until after I decal her.

overview shot

another...

OK, now for the (almost) finished product. Windscreen is just dry-fit, and all it needs is to be prepped for decals and then decaled.

What a view!! That must be awesome when they launch! At least I get to see them shooting by at 200,000 ft over the Pacific!! :lol: Yeah, it's one hell of a show, especially when you go out to the public viewing site on the base, which is only about 7 miles from the pad. The little guys (Peacekeeper, Minuteman, etc.) are fun to watch, but you haven't seen nothin' until you see liftoff of a big-*** Titan or Atlas B). Also, I remember the days back in the '80s where the Air Force would put in the newspaper that there was going to be a launch, and they'd give you like a 12 hour launch win

Sorry you missed it, Andy I consider myself very fortunate to live in an area where I can step out in my backyard and watch the launches, and where I can walk to the end of my street and see the Atlas and Titan pads on the horizon in the distance !

That is TERRIBLE...most awful job I've ever seen done on a kit. It's an insult to Tomcats :o :lol: :lol: JUST KIDDING Darren, you sure do have a way with Tomcats. If only my kits would turn out half that good. BEAUTIFUL work :D ;).

Wow that's pretty impressive! Looks like you had a really good view down there! Like I said, I read that it was visible as far away Arizona and Nevada. It'd be interesting to see some pics from there to see what it looked like from that far away.

Hey, I would LOVE to see the pics if you are able to post them. I was reading in the paper today that Minotaur's "light show" was visible as far away as Arizona and Nevada.

As of 0240 GMT (1940 local time), operators had not heard from the satellite . Read a play by play account of the launch HERE. They'll probably post video a little later on, but unfortunately you have to pay for it.

Here's some (crappy quality) pics I took of tonight's Minotaur rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It put on a pretty neat light show called "twilight phenomenon". This effect only happens when a launch occurs at either dusk or dawn, and I have read reports that this is visible as far away as New Mexico. Enjoy...

Just a quick question - what'll happen to the aircraft? They'll obviously try to find out what went wrong, but after the investigation will they scrap the aircraft or rip out the nose gear and install a replacement?

That pilot deserves a medal ;) !!! SWEET landing !

Thanks a lot, those pictures really help !!

Where can I get 'em? I've already looked here on ARC and printed them out, and I've also visited ARC's gallery. I'm just wondering if there's any good cockpit and seat pics, and I'm especially trying to hunt down close-ups of the gear bays. Thanks in advance :) :blink:.