Starboard and Port Side Profile Drawings - Late CAF

UPDATE: Posters of the late CAF Mark 1 and 2 should be available for sale very shortly. The current (albeit fluid) plan is to produce (at least) 11 x 17 inch posters, but I'm open to suggestions. I am preparing a small questionnaire for potential buyers. I'll be asking you things like what details you would like on your Argus print (tail number, port or starboard side, Squadron markings, prop spinner color, date of the Argus scheme... you know...all the stuff that will make YOUR custom image special to YOU).

The cost isn't finalized yet but it will be very reasonable. So far, I have invested several hundred hours into this project and it's just the tip of the iceberg. I'm planning to make ANY Argus available from 1957 thru to 1981 available as an open edition (signed?), custom poster for you.

If this project interests you, please send me an e-mail (my address is embedded in the image) with "ARGUS PROFILE DRAWING" in the subject line. Once all the details are known, I'll send a mass mailing to all Argus nuts who I've heard from. Your responses and encouragement are important to keep this project alive. Pass it on!!!

Mark 1 sample now posted above with a detail view of that interesting countoured APS-20 Chin radome! Thanks for visiting. I hope you like the samples.

Stay tuned for more interesting posts in the near future!

~Rob

Getting very close....

That's it for now. Here's a very low resolution draft for your perusal. Hope you like it (yes...I corrected the propeller spinners to be Red vice Blue for this VP415 Aircraft). Christina is tiring of being an Argus "widow" so that's all for now. Gonna take a rest now and revisit later to see if anything major is still missing from the master file. Comments from the Argus experts out there?????

~Rob

Argus Profile - Update 30 Jul 2009

...more work done this morning. Mad stinger, numerous antennae, engine details, rudder, markings, windows ... and more. Also worked on the RCAF variant (you'll have to come back for that later ... ). Here's a draft teaser. Hope you like it. Nose details are next...followed by sun glint etc.

NOTE: For those of you, and I'm sure there are many, that feel the Argus as I have drawn is too clean...I will offer customization of this too. I'll make your copy of the old girl as dirty and grimy as you want!
~Rob

Did a little more work today. The master file is getting BIG. I created proper numerals and the Mark 2 radome. Accordingly, here is a draft rendition of 10732 as I saw her in 1979 in my hometown of Summerside PEI. This aircraft served with VP415 from about 1961 thru to 1981 and is a CP-107, Mark 2. The key spotting feature of the Mark 2 Argus is the smaller chin radome housing the ASV-21 radar system. Aircraft serials in the 10723 thru 10742 series were all Mark 2 aircraft. The Mark 1 (depicted below) sported the larger chin radome to house the APS-20 radar. Those aircraft were numbered in the 10710 through 10722 series. More little details are now being added to the aircraft (various antennae, nose bubble details, bomb bay door lines, etc). Keep watching!

~Rob

Argus Profile!

Updated drawing...engines, radome shadows, antennae, etc...28 Jul 09. Also...now have made a nice VP415 Swordfish (AKA "Sydney") in Vector format for my hometown birds...keep watching!

I admit it. I'm finished waiting for a half-decent CP-107 full color profile drawing so I'm DOING something about it...I'm making them myself! These drawings are long overdue in my opinion. Ultimately, I plan on producing EVERY color scheme throughout the Argus lifespan. EVERY Squadron and ANY tail number will be available (Ugh...I guess ya gotta die from something!). ..any color spinners and any special markings (I know those nasty 'Aussies" put a Kangaroo on an Argus one year!). Anyone have "Slargus" photos from MPEU??? Might as well be complete! For those Argus lovers out there who want a reasonably priced piece of my artwork I have a plan. If all goes according to said plan, and we all know that plans seldom survive initial contact with the enemy, I will gladly make these renderings available for sale as signed and open ended posters. Click on the image above for a larger version. NOTE: It isn't complete yet but I'm having fun adding some little 'bling' (check out those nacelles! LOL). The initial release should be available within the next 30 days. I welcome any ideas you have on this issue. I'm making very close use of prototype photos to ensure I make the most accurate drawing I can. As always, thanks for visiting.

~Rob

VP415 in the Early Days of Argus (20736)

A cool Winter scene at the rear of 8 Hgr at RCAF Station Summerside finds Argus Mark 2, 20736 dropping off a passenger before heading back out on patrol over the North Atlantic in January, 1963. This one was made waaaay back in 1990! At that time, the Argus fleet had been retired for 8 years. Seems like yesterday. Humph...

~Rob

Argus 20733 Early RCAF

Had fun with this one. It's late 1964, I'm a newborn and 415 Sqn is busy patrolling in Canadair Argus Mark 2 20733 (note the quad reversing flashes on the fuselage). I wanted to try something really dramatic with a square canvas so I went for it. Needed a tight crop for this rather 'in your face' painting too. Hope you like it.

~Rob (www.airforceart.com)

Out of the Murk

The year was 1973 and 10725 is enroute home to Greenwood from Gibraltar...almost...there's a problem. NATO has been tracking the USSR's newest ASW Helicopter platform...and they've lost her in the fog! No trouble for VP404 and Argus 725! After locating the aircraft and completing a classic low photo pass, the Leningrad's crew has decided that Argus is too close for comfort. Leningrad is firing some Red flares to try to discourage the 404 Argus from performing the task at hand! This painting is about 4 feet wide and I really enjoyed making it. The art hangs in the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing, Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

~Rob