Aircraft photographers, I need your help...

[Sebastian]

If any of you have any shots of the RAH-66 Comanche from pretty much any angle, I would love it if you could post them. I am looking for references for a project: http://forums.luxology.com/discussio....aspx?id=28745

I don't have much hope, but I thought I'd throw it out there...

Thanks!

[gahspidy]

Seb, your 3D work on this aircraft looks very good so far.
An awesome looking craft it was made by two of the greatest aircraft manufacturers in the world in a joint effort.
I'm sure you googled some info on it and found various pics to start, but hopefully some members here can supply with greater images for references.
I found this link, http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ah-66-pics.htm
with some different angles photos, but none too great in resolution.
Looking forward to seeing your final rendering of it.

[Sebastian]

Gary,

Thanks for that link. Unfortunately, I already have every single one of those images.

I spent days collecting references for this bird and I'm pretty sure I have the best of what's publicly available. The difficulty is that the shots I would need (tail section and landing gear) are likely to be photos that hold little value to anyone except for someone needing them for reference, so they don't get posted or they get deleted.

The hardest part has been consolidating all the different versions and the crappy references available. It took several iterations of the fuselage mesh to get close to the blend of flat angles and curvature that comprise the real aircraft's engine housing. The flat drab paint does a great job at hiding the shape as well, while simultaneously giving me fits.

Looking forward to seeing your final rendering of it.

Ha! Me too!

[gahspidy]

I was pretty sure you did have those images and more. I'm surprised there are none too much available on it and all that are out there are poor quality images.

There was a YouTube video of a 3D animation of one that was pretty good.

That is one cool looking bird. I have heard some buzz that there will a continuation of the Comanche aircraft with hopes of completion by 2011. Seems someone on one of the military aircraft forums heard of this on the History channel a little while back . . .

[Toot]

Seb...I will be attending and working out at the Reno Air Races for the next 7 days and I will look around and see if there are any out there. If I do see one...which angle are you looking for the most?

[Sebastian]

Toot, thanks so much for the offer! Primarily I'd love shots of the tail assembly (as many angles as possible) as well as the landing gear. The landing gear on that thing is really weird and I'm having a very hard time making sense of the drawings I found online.

[Addies Granddaddy]

Seb.....can't help with a Comanche, but if you ever need a Sea Cobra........
John

[Sebastian]

John,

Not at this point in time, but thanks! I am curious though, if I created a Flickr group for this sort of reference material, would you be willing to post some of your work there?