Argus for FS2004 - Update - Rudder and hinges

New rudder parts! ~Rob

Raw ... Wet .... POWER!

CP-107 from VP415 "Swordfish" Squadron (CFB Summerside) claws at the sky on a typically rainy night en route to an Atlantic patrol. This 18x30 inch piece would look great in your Den wouldn't it? Trouble is...it belongs to my wife!
So...isn't it time you ordered one for yourself?

Rob
MightyArgus@gmail.com

More work on Argus nose section and seat

Take #2 --- Sunday 24 Oct 2010


Hi folks,

Yes, it's been awhile but the weather is getting chilly so...I'm back at at again. This time it's the plexiglass nose and seat, etc. I'm also finishing up the Polar Bear motif that some argus aircraft received when assigned to Northern Patrols (NORPATS). Feel free to let me know what you think. Anyone have any Argus pics to share?

Send to planesandtrains@gmail.com if you do.

I also welcome any comments you have on the nose section to make it better.

Thanks for visiting!


Rob

RCAF Mark 1 - 20720

Click on image for larger version

Here's a look at an RCAF Mk 1. This was the first Argus aircraft flown by 415 Squadron upon re-formation in 1961 at RCAF Station Summerside, PEI. Not doing much profile work these days...busy at the office...but I'll be back!

~Rob

10738 ... nose section details

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Here's a look at the front end, featuring the famous greenhouse nose of the CP-107.

~Rob

10738

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This one is a VP415 machine. Not quite as clean as the 407 machine below...but still loveable...right??? This depicts 738 as I saw her at an airshow in the late 1970's at CFB Summerside while serving with the Swordfish Squadron. She retired out of Summerside in 1981.
I hope you like her.

~Rob

Back in action!

Click on the image for a larger version

Well, I finally have my new machine back from the shop (I needed 4Gb more RAM!) and I'm ready to create.

Here's one of 2 prints I have made for my new friend, Tom Hildreth. Thanks to Tom, I have been able to make accurate vector graphics of the 415 Sydney Swordfish, the 407 Sqn Winged Trident, and the 14 Wing Eagle diving motif.

Here's 10721 from VP407, Comox, British Columbia. They really kept their machines clean...according to Pte Dan McIsaac at least! LOL

~Rob

Greenwood Wing Aircraft Tail Markings

Here's the 404/405 Squadron Tail markings. (Once again, thanks to Tom H for the great photo assistance!)

~Rob

One good Tern deserves another...

Here's my latest little sub-project...the MPEU Arctic Tern. Once again, thanks to Tom for the help! 10728 is now available with this tail insignia as well.

~Rob

Reworked items on a 407 Argus

Reworked the prop spinners to beef them up. Thanks to Geoff Bennett for the constructive feedback. I actually have a 407 spinner in my possession, so I thought I'd better take a closer look. Yup...Geoff was 100% correct. My spinners WERE "anorexic!" I took a photo of the real deal and traced over the image in Adobe. Looking OK? What do you think?

~Rob
rob_dot_a_atsymbol_airforceart_dot_com

10711 - Argus Mark 1 - 407 Demons!

Here's one for the West Coast Patrollers! 10711 sporting the snazzy 407 Demons winged trident. Like all the profiles, this one is custom made with very light weathering.

Rob

CP-107 Argus 10717 - 449 Squadron

Here's a rare bird indeed. It is a representation of 717 in 449 (Unicorn) Markings. This Squadron was responsible to train new CP-107 crews on the Argus from 1968 until about 1975(?). This unit's Heraldic Crest featured a Unicorn's head against a Forest Green circular background. The propeller spinners were painted dark green to match the Green in the Heraldic Crest. I believe that Mark2 Argus 10740 also had this marking scheme...but I'm not 100% sure. I have seen a photo of 717 painted this way.

Special thanks to Bill at CanMilAir decals for the Canadian Armed Forces Block lettering. BTW - If you have one of the 1/144 Welsh Models' Argus, CanMilAir decals has excellent decal sets to make your aircraft look it's very best!

~Rob

The one that started it all ... Argus 733

Click on the image for a larger version

I was about 5 when I remember seeing 20733 painted like this in the Summerside Journal-Pioneer newspaper advertising the Summerside Air Force day. I was HOOKED! Who wouldn't be? A lot of neat visual stuff is featured on this profile depicting 20733 in about 1964. It was still new...and so was I!

~Rob

415 (MP) Sqn - Late RCAF Argus 719

Here's a bit of an oddball scheme. For the curious...yes...I do have a photo of this aircraft in this paint scheme. Circa 1967(?).

~Rob

Argus Update - New nose and more accurate details

Click on the photo for a larger image.

OK...if you're like me, the empty glass nose section has been bugging you. The above shot features the latest round of updates. We have the clear nose lookout position occupied by your favoride crew member! Check it out against the inset older nose for reference. Corrections have been made to all drawings.

I also just realized the fuselage flash was 33 degrees vice 30 degrees...that too is now corrected. The Routine Nav window has been moved slightly forward as well.

When I started this project, I knew it would be time consuming but I never realized just how much! In for a penny...in for a pound I guess 'cause I'm not turning back now! Damn the torpedoes!

Rob

Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MPEU)

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Here's an example from MPEU. This unit was tasked to evaluate new systems proposed for the Argus.

Taken from a 1976 photo (courtesy William Burns of the EXCELLENT CanMilAir decals), this aircraft has had the Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) gear removed. Notice the tail stinger is absent on the aircraft. Also noteworthy is the temporary fairings on the 18 foot weapons bays and the MPEU symbol on the tail (an Arctic Tern).

I waited all YEAR as a young boy to see the Argus up close at the annual CFB Summerside Open House and Airshow. One year in particular found MPEU tasked to support the Open House with a Static bird. No tail stinger? I was shocked...but I got over it! LOL

~Rob

How do I make these profile drawings????

So...people are wondering just how I do this. Well, it's not really rocket science, but it DOES take a LOT of time, research and patience (none of which I have these days). The image above tells all. It's a matter of:

1. taking several good quality photographs as far away from the subject as you can.
2. Inserting said photos into a high quality 2-D drafting program that supports layers and
3. Creating vector shapes over top of the photo. (see image above).

The trick is to know how to manipulate the photos to correct for perspective distortion and other abberations. Yes, there's some good ol' fashioned winging it as well, but that gets kept to a minimum.

I have simplified the process because a magician never shows ALL the secrets to his tricks but, really, that's it in a nutshell! Bottom Line: You must know as much as you can about the subject and you must be ready to redo bad work over...and over...and over....you get the idea.

~Rob