Taking your XD outdoors

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:16 pm

>>> I don't have any pics to share but ,. I've noticed ,.. which I'm sure some of you have ,.. that when I take my XD outdoors in natural daylight ,... but not to be left outside unguarded or for any lengthy duration ,.. that the paint ,.. camo ,.. weathering ,.. etc., looks so much more realistic. ... Especially armor ,.. not to mention just the planes.

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:13 am

I'll agree with that. I much prefer to take my photos outside in the back yard with the sun in the west sky. It just brings out the realism that flourescent kitchen lights or a camera flash won't. Here's an example of one of my better outdoor photos.

<a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 023ea6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1284 ... ea6.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

der Vogelfänger · Post by **der Vogelfänger** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:54 am

pokeyjtc wrote:I'll agree with that. I much prefer to take my photos outside in the back yard with the sun in the west sky. It just brings out the realism that flourescent kitchen lights or a camera flash won't. Here's an example of one of my better outdoor photos.

<a href="http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 023ea6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1284 ... ea6.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

Very nice shot.....excellent idea and input. Will try to do the same for my photo offerings. MG, I'll try an airplane-outside-to see how it weathers; here in FL I will be more careful, too.

dV

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:02 am

UV light has a decidely negative effect on many plastics. Leaving your models in the great outdoors for relatively short periods of time is probably not going to hurt them all that much, but for extended periods it may cause damage. It might be best for the long term to do your weathering with an airbrush or hand brushing.

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:26 am

Taking them outside to take pics is alot better. They look better in natural sunlight.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:37 am

I keep meaning to take some stuff outside and take a few pics but haven't gotten around to it yet. Lots of sand out there, to bad we don't have any DAK stuff out yet! The BoB troops and the winter Sherman and Tiger would make for some nice shots for any of you guys with snow.

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:02 am

I might just have to do something about that--we just got about an inch last night, which would be a nice scale amount. As opposed to the recreation of a secret mission to Antarctica that could be done with the snowfall out in WA state! Now if the sun would only come out...

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:48 am

>>> Nice pic "pokeyjtc" ..... I just don't have the camara or capability to post pics yet. .... There's alot of neat stuff you can do with your stuff outdoors. ... It gives them new life when you bring them outside ,.. in a different light ,.. natural light. ... I think "tman" posted a neat BoB winter display with his Sherman ,.. Panther and BoB figures in the snow once. ..... Again I'm not saying to leave your XD outside for any lengthy duration or especially ,.. left unguarded. Just long enough to take some nice shots and have some fun experimenting with it outdoors.

=

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:34 pm

MG-42 wrote: I think "tman" posted a neat BoB winter display with his Sherman ,.. Panther and BoB figures in the snow once. ..... Again I'm not saying to leave your XD outside for any lengthy duration or especially ,.. left unguarded. Just long enough to take some nice shots and have some fun experimenting with it outdoors. =

I'll post them again:

Totally agreed! XD is most fun being setup outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, but one just doesn't leave it out there

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:10 pm

That is nice! I have all sorts of color options on my Sony cam. The B&W is really nice as is the sepia. I have Photoshop as well. Now if I could only get the chance. It would give the neighbors more to gossip about anyhow.

scope uk · Post by **scope uk** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:26 pm

I don't get moch of a chance to take my stuff outside but i must admit the daylight shows stuff off alot better then in doors.

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:24 pm

i agree that natural light does really benefit these large models. Smaller models not so much because the shadows don't look as realistic.

The only major problems with leaving xd outdoors for long periods of time is sun and insects. The sun will bleach the plastic a bit and make it more brittle and bugs could take up residence. Things like rain, cold, heat etc will have no adverse affect on the plastics used in modern toys.

I would recommend that you cover your xd that you plan to leave outside to keep the sun off it and discourage bugs. But otherwise i can attest that scorching summer heat and frigid winter cold will not hurt the models at all. I store much of my stuff on my balcony; in the summer it can hit 110 degrees in the afternoon sun and winter can be minus 20 or colder and even items i've had out there for years have no adverse wear. Some have even gotten soaked with water with no adverse problems, just dry it off, give it a wipe and it's fine.

Direct sun and bugs are the enemy though.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:06 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:
MG-42 wrote: I think "tman" posted a neat BoB winter display with his Sherman ,.. Panther and BoB figures in the snow once. ..... Again I'm not saying to leave your XD outside for any lengthy duration or especially ,.. left unguarded. Just long enough to take some nice shots and have some fun experimenting with it outdoors. =
I'll post them again:

Totally agreed! XD is most fun being setup outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, but one just doesn't leave it out there

I like the B&W sepia it looks so real. I wonder how the "winter" versions of the Sherman, Tiger, and Panther might look taken like this?

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:10 pm

Thanks

That is the winter version of the Panther. I didn't have a winterized Sherman at the time, but have since gotten the S1 BBI version, which is in winter cammo.

Using the sepia function is one of my favorite techniques when photographing my XD dioramas. It hides the toyishness of the models and fudges things enough to just look real. Here's a couple more recent ones taken during the summer. The same tank is pictured

[

dcmacharlie · Post by **dcmacharlie** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:33 pm

These jets just parked for a airshow, more to come!!! scheduled inbound of F-16 and F-18

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:19 pm

has anyone got a good way of posing 1/18 aircraft outside as if they are flying?

The only ideas i have is to try and hang them from a tree branch, which is impractical and has too much clutter in the backround plus they will swing and sway like crazy in even a light breeze, or to use an old floor lamp, with the lamp removed and attach the plane to the top of it, which is a bit labour intensive to set up and kinda ugly, although i plan to paint the floor lamp a light grey which should help to make it less noticable.

Anyone have better ideas? I was thinking of setting up a strafing run outside, where i can get more realistic distances between plane and target.

Krevix44 · Post by **Krevix44** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:24 pm

Maybe try a couple of Fishing poles with line and stick them in the ground anywhere you want. Never tried it but might work.

RED · Post by **RED** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:36 pm

Hey AFERG!!! I took this pic of a 1:144 Hellcat on wire!!! All I did was photoshop the wire out of the pic!!!This might work for 1:18 planes too!!!The best would be the fishing string ideal---just photoshop it out as well!!!---RED---

snake · Post by **snake** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:53 pm

That looks great Red.

Hope you are enjoying The Pacific.

la817291 · Post by **la817291** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:10 pm

Outstanding, Red. :blueangel:

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Taking your XD outdoors

Taking your XD outdoors

xd

XD Outdoors ! (in a different light)

Re: XD Outdoors ! (in a different light)

Re: XD Outdoors ! (in a different light)

(outside) F-86s just parked