MINIATURE AIRCRAFT MUSEUM

[Airframes]

Your right Matt, to do this justice, the photography needs to be spot on. As far as any efforts on my part are concerned, this shouldn't be a problem, although for some of the work, it would be better if I used my 35mm SLR equipment, even though that means film processing, scanning etc. But it will provide more control and versatility. However, most of the 'general' shots i can do with my digital 'hybrid' SLR.
The biggest job for the whole project will be assembling a decent collection in constant, and accurate scale, which will need to be very well produced and finished models. The actual scales are not that important, as long as any pics of more than one type together are the same scale of course. But, it is better to employ a large, or intermediate scale, the former being 1/32nd (or 1/24th) whilst the latter would be 1/48th, in order to allow a more authentic appearance on the smaller types, such as fighters, paricularly in areas such as canopies, guns, antennas etc. Bombers and similar - sized types would be fine in 1/72nd of course.
Whichever way it's done, it's going to take a lot of time and effort, and some work on post - production too!

[Sweb]

I've been trying to figure out the "comparative" aspect of this museum project. A thread of succeeding photographs of models with the purpose of showing each model and giving its specific size information as contrasted to another model's specifics is simple enough when they are illustrated adjacent to each other. One picture tells that story. But, when all the various types and scales must be photo-documented it can become burdensome.

One idea that comes to mind is the slideshow. This would necessitate imposing photographic guidelines on the submitters regarding angles (as with the GB guidelines) with background colors and lighting suggestions added. One additional aspect would be a linear scale laid down and visible in the photographs incremented in scale feet or centimeters to get an idea of actual span and length of the full sized aircraft. Height would not be an essential dimension to represent photographically but could be captioned. The notion of photographing models adjacent to each other for comparisons seems impractical considering sheer numbers and various scales.

Another method might be a dual-window (side-by-side) thread-starter each with a drop-down menu for selecting aircraft from differing scales. Selecting a Spitfire in the left window and a P-47 in the right would be kind of cool. Once the aircraft have been selected another button cueing a slide-show of similar views of each aircraft in its respective window would be the shite. Selecting a fighter to contrast against a 4-engine type would be difficult with regard to showing relative sizes of each so it may become difficult to get a dual-window true representation of that aspect. I'm just thinking in print here. I have zero computer skills and am simply recollecting various features I've experienced as a peruser.

[Airframes]

Some good points there Joe. Some of the ideas I've possibly broached upon briefly, but I too am somewhat naive when it comes to computer imaging and the possibilities and/or limitations. I am, however, well versed in (photographic) audio - visual production, so hopefully I'll be able to understand some of the terms, and the requirements, if put across in 'simple, basic' form.
Although I agree with you that some side by side comparisons would not be feasible, or at best somewhat cumbersome, there are certain possibilities, and I think I need to put together an illustrated example of the type of thing I had in mind for at least part of this project. The key is the word 'Museum'; my thinking on this is that the presentations would literally be a virtual museum, with the images presented as if viewing the real thing from a gallery, and at normal eye-level also. Keeping this in mind, it should be possibel to produce at least the basic 'collection' in photographs, just as if the models were the exhibits in a 1:1 museum, and then construct modules which can be selected to view, for example, a 'walk around' of individual types, with a 'menu' page or drop-down list displaying the data relevant to the type being viewed.
But, as I mentioned previously, it will take a lot of thought, and even more work, but should be able to be modified, improved and enhanced as the project progresses.

[Maglar]

Well hopefully I can contribute. Today my half finished p61 was sitting next to my cruddy 1/48 B25 Mitch and suprisingly the widow was a wee bit larger. Didn't know that!

[GrauGeist]

Just a thought, but does anyone ever remember the Lobby and/or Museum from the combat sim "Jane's WWII Fighters"?

If not, I'll see if I can find a video of it. The museum hangar was interactive, you click the Kiosk in front of each aircraft (fighters that were available in the sim) and the viewer would get a brief commentary about the aircraft's engine(s), armament, performance or a breif overview of the aircraft's general information, depending on the viewer's selection. The setting was like being in a hangar, and there were other artifacts in the area that both added atmosphere and a good perspective to the aircraft's scale.

I'll post an overhead screenshot of the museum. This should give everyone an idea of what I'm referring to. You'll notice the yellow kiosks in front of each aircraft, hose are the info kiosks that offer the viewer information for that particular machine.

I'll post the main entrance info area too...that had kiosks that allowed the visitor to get an overveiw of the ground equipment, areas of battles during the winter of 1944-45, etc.

Perhaps something like this might work?

[Sweb]

Just a thought, but does anyone ever remember the Lobby and/or Museum from the combat sim "Jane's WWII Fighters"?

If not, I'll see if I can find a video of it. The museum hangar was interactive, you click the Kiosk in front of each aircraft (fighters that were available in the sim) and the viewer would get a brief commentary about the aircraft's engine(s), armament, performance or a breif overview of the aircraft's general information, depending on the viewer's selection. The setting was like being in a hangar, and there were other artifacts in the area that both added atmosphere and a good perspective to the aircraft's scale.

I'll post an overhead screenshot of the museum. This should give everyone an idea of what I'm referring to. You'll notice the yellow kiosks in front of each aircraft, hose are the info kiosks that offer the viewer information for that particular machine.

I'll post the main entrance info area too...that had kiosks that allowed the visitor to get an overveiw of the ground equipment, areas of battles during the winter of 1944-45, etc.

Perhaps something like this might work?

I still have this game and play it on occasion. Great idea. Once inside the museum placing the curser on different areas of each airplane popped up info such as engine and armament. Plus, there is a short video describing each aircraft from its development through its combat history. This would be a very good idea for something to model the museum on.

[Airframes]

That's exactly the sort of thing I envisaged Dave! Perhaps not in the same layout, but certainly a similar 'setting' or 'surroundings'. I see it as, literally, a museum layout, with various 'Halls', covering perhaps periods (of aviation), or maybe types of aircraft - for example, bombers, or fighters.
If those here who are intending to get involved 'know' about this type of 'screen' design and display, and how to set-up a prototype system, the I'd suggest it's something like the set-up posted above.
Thanks Dave!

[GrauGeist]

That's exactly the sort of thing I envisaged Dave! Perhaps not in the same layout, but certainly a similar 'setting' or 'surroundings'. I see it as, literally, a museum layout, with various 'Halls', covering perhaps periods (of aviation), or maybe types of aircraft - for example, bombers, or fighters.
If those here who are intending to get involved 'know' about this type of 'screen' design and display, and how to set-up a prototype system, the I'd suggest it's something like the set-up posted above.
Thanks Dave!

You're welcome, Terry!

I liked the idea from the start, and it finally occured to me that this might be something to consider.

Personally, I don't think it would be too involved of a project if you have a good team, perhaps a bit time consuming, but the end result would be worth it's weight in gold.

[Airframes]

Glad you agree Dave. I'm ok with visualisation, photography and a bit of design 'ideas' input, but not so hot on the 'computer side' of things. In fact, I'm not even warm on the computer side, being at the equivalent stage of the 'Janet & John' books!!
So, if anyone here thinks they'd like to get involved on that side of things, we might have a goer here.

[Maglar]

I'm not that advanced, but I would love it if anyone is able to pull it off. Looks like this museum might be easier then pic compilation Terry.

[Catch22]

I can pull it off, or can try to. It may not look exactly like that, but I'm thinking maybe have a layout like that, and then you click on a plane and it goes into slideshow view.

Does ANYONE else know how to use flash? I know we have some people (like Chris, myself, and Wojtek) that are good with Photoshop, but Flash is where it's iffy. It's really the only suitable program with which to make it, as it allows all of the interactivity we need. It will also be huge file-size wise though, so it may be fun trying to upload it anywhere.

Basically here's what I'm thinking. We do a hanger or museum type layout as the menu, as suggested. This would require cutouts of all of the planes at various angles. From there you can either enter a different hall, either by clicking on a door or some other form of button, or choose a plane to look at. I'm thinking what would happen is the person would click on the plane, and from there it would take them into the original slide-show idea, where they can cycle through each photo, and I think these should also be cutouts so they can be on the main hanger background.

It won't take THAT long to get the Flash set up, it's just getting it so it works without errors. What WILL take a long time is:

1. The background graphics. I do not suggest we make these in Flash, but instead in Photoshop so it will look more realistic.

2. The cutouts. We're going to have many, many, many cutouts of each plane, and a good cutout takes (me anyways) at least half an hour. It's not difficult, and like I said, we have a few people here who can do that, so we'll be able to tag-team it, but it will still take a while.

3. Getting the photos right! We need them to all be in similar lighting. The background doesn't matter at all really if we're just cutting them out, however, it would be very helpful to those cutting them out if they were on a background of a completely different than that of the plane so there's as much contrast as possible.

I'm more than willing to try and get the Flash part set up, and the way I explained it is really the only way I know how to do it, and as it seems I'm the only one who knows Flash, it may have to be done that way!

[GrauGeist]

I can pull it off, or can try to. It may not look exactly like that, but I'm thinking maybe have a layout like that, and then you click on a plane and it goes into slideshow view.

Does ANYONE else know how to use flash? I know we have some people (like Chris, myself, and Wojtek) that are good with Photoshop, but Flash is where it's iffy. It's really the only suitable program with which to make it, as it allows all of the interactivity we need. It will also be huge file-size wise though, so it may be fun trying to upload it anywhere.

Basically here's what I'm thinking. We do a hanger or museum type layout as the menu, as suggested. This would require cutouts of all of the planes at various angles. From there you can either enter a different hall, either by clicking on a door or some other form of button, or choose a plane to look at. I'm thinking what would happen is the person would click on the plane, and from there it would take them into the original slide-show idea, where they can cycle through each photo, and I think these should also be cutouts so they can be on the main hanger background.

It won't take THAT long to get the Flash set up, it's just getting it so it works without errors. What WILL take a long time is:

1. The background graphics. I do not suggest we make these in Flash, but instead in Photoshop so it will look more realistic.

2. The cutouts. We're going to have many, many, many cutouts of each plane, and a good cutout takes (me anyways) at least half an hour. It's not difficult, and like I said, we have a few people here who can do that, so we'll be able to tag-team it, but it will still take a while.

3. Getting the photos right! We need them to all be in similar lighting. The background doesn't matter at all really if we're just cutting them out, however, it would be very helpful to those cutting them out if they were on a background of a completely different than that of the plane so there's as much contrast as possible.

I'm more than willing to try and get the Flash part set up, and the way I explained it is really the only way I know how to do it, and as it seems I'm the only one who knows Flash, it may have to be done that way!

I was thinking of a flash based client-side medium when I posted the screenshots, Catch...I have the macromedia & shockwave studios, but must admit that I just don't have the time to commit to such a project at the moment

IF at all possible, could the models be shot in a "blue-screen" background to allow insertion into a museum style background?

[Catch22]

Not that I know of, though I'd have to look into that. It WOULD make things a lot easier. However something like that wouldn't work on say and F4U.

[GrauGeist]

True...the blue would have to be a standard, and close to #0000FF (0, 0, 255) to work...

Perhaps then, if there could be a white BG, you could get a decent border definition, regardless of the aircraft's camo and/or finish and that would still allow the photos to be worked into a default "museum" setting.

[Catch22]

It doesn't matter really, though it should be white or close to, depending on the plane or course.