mudrat

Neu, Thank you, I am still doing both but the profiles are all I have time for at the moment, what with my day job and all. Kind of frustrating, too. Stephen

Questions for you; When were you in '33? What was your rate/rank? I was with VF-33 from April '79 to Dec '84 (2nd Class AQ) F-4Js thru 1st cruise with Tomcats (5 different skippers) I'm working on the complete history of '33s color schemes in profile form. Apologies for being nosey. Regards, Stephen

Clave, likewise to your Furys. Apologies for the low resolution. At present I dont have high res web site capabilities (or images wider than 595 pixels). Technically, these should be Sea Furys Stephen

This is just gorgeous! You do fine work Russell. Each painting better than the previous, in terms of execution, IMHO (the way it should be). I was under the impression that the CLIV was a significant improvement over the CLII. Wish I had the cash... Regards, Stephen

Hey, they are Furys.

Col., I did this back in 1998. It started out as a digital color study for an oil painting (its still drawn out on a 24" x 36" canvas) this was a digital video capture of the canvas drawing (did'nt have a digital camera then.) Perspective corrected the drawing in photoshop, then masked and airbrushed in Photoshop. It is loosly based on a small b/w photo in a 1965 Naval Aviation News of a KA-3B. I changed the A/C to an EA-3B, changed everything in the background as well as modernizing the 2 deck crew (at least to 70-80's standards), I still need to do lots of work. This would be m

It worked! kew-el. ...Test complete.

I'll be here, waiting patiently. Seeing others' helps aleviate the tension between projects. 'Allows one to refocus on new ideas, refine old ones, become inspired. Regards, Stephen

Russell, Your color study fails miserably in its efforts to conceal the truly elegant conceptual layout, highlighting the graceful lines of the CL-II against a swiftly yet effectively rendered dramatic copper skyscape. I'd be interested in seeing the refined rendering of this. I'm a big fan of the CL-IV as well. Regards, Stephen

Yury, It just goes to show you that there many ways to skin a cat. I create profiles using a completely different approach from your techniques. I mask and airbrush but don't use gradients. I do use dodge & burn tools as well. Really, really nice profiles. Regards, Stephen

T., This was a nice peice of work. 2 questions, was the P-47 a composite photo/remark or a mask & digital airbrush? Did the 78th fly D-30s? Nice concept, too. Regards, Stephen

Gene, If I ever get that 17"x 22" Epson printer, I'll be giving you a shout Let me know how it goes with Jerry Stalnaker. Ken Thank you for the kind words, F-4s are exceptionally difficult not to enjoy doing the artwork thereof Regards, Stephen

Gregg, We should find out soon, as he should be getting the prints today. Regards, Stephen

Koen, Col., Thanks guys. Watching you guys work is a treat, here, too. :D

And the print layout. Originally there was to be photos of both aircrew to be digitally placed on either side of the text, but there was an issue of acquiring the GIB's photo, so the customer opted to place them manually at a later date. Gene, you had a nice lookin' bird there, keep a watch on that mailbox (Note: the large copyright is not on the actual print) Regards, Stephen

I'm sure that some of you tire of viewing this with minute changes hardly noticable and all, but here is the final version of the F-4C. I've removed the gloss from the radome and added the static discharge port and related stenciling to the radome.

Way to go Russell! 425/17 being picked over, nice composition. I was wondering if anyone else was going to remember today for its historical significance. Regards, Stephen

Don, Thanks, yes my dad flew EA-3Bs, as well as A-4s, predominantly. He started with the Demon as far as fleet service goes. Whales were a tight fit on even the bigger boats, too;) On the Indy and America, they always seemed to trap last (even after the Hummer) for some reason. not sure if that was intentional or not. They did have some nice lines though. Regards, Stephen

Don, I saw this when you first posted it over on HS. Really great work of a really great subject, the A-4! I look forward to seeing more from you in the future. Regards, Stephen

The Christensen Profile Prints are available for sale and are signed by Fred Christensen. There is a certificate of authenticity that comes with each print that has a photograph showing Fred signing the print (one of him signing the D-10 and one him signing of the D-25). We did 100 of each a/c. At present there are very few, signed Razorbacks left but I still have quite a few Bubble tops. I do have plenty of unsigned of each, available at $30.00 per print. See my web site for details; WWW.STEPHENMUDGETT.COM

M'Dog Thanks, they are not my best efforts, but the nose art and markings are accurate. Viewing hours for Fred Christensen Jr are 4-7PM, today at the Hays Funeral Home on Main St. (Rt. 20) in Northborough, MA. Not far from the Spare Time Shop in Marlboro, MA if that helps anyone. He'll be burried w/ full Military Honors on Monday in Bourne, MA. Just FYI, Regards, Stephen

His P-47D-25RE

Fred J. Christensen Jr. passed away Tuesday April 3, 2006. Col. Christensen was a pilot with the 62nd FS/56th FG. Christensen left the 56th with a score of 21.5 planes to his credit. He had the distinction of being the 1st pilot in the Eight AF (and 1st of 2 in the ETO, Preddy being the other) to shoot down 6 planes in one mission. Until yesterday morning, he was America's highest scoring WWII 'living' Ace (a title that he never liked nor wanted). He was a friend of mine and I did profiles prints of his birds back in 2000. They are a bit primative as they were rushed into production base

My only complaint about the painting thus far; not enough USN F-4J in it :) Otherwise, it is coming along quite nicely. Regards, Stephen

I'm using a cobalt pixel drier, it should excellerate the process, -oop, looks like it's done. Well, there you go. Personally, I like the P2, a bird with nice lines. A few color scheme options are available to do, too. Especially the Reserve and DP-2 birds. What's next on your plate, to do? Stephen