New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Recently I have had the good fortune to acquire a lot of aviation books at insanely good prices (in fact the shipping from the UK has been twice as much as the books themselves cost). Included within the over 30 titles is George w Cearley's History of Atlanta Airport. Cearley's books are always amazing - chocked full of detailed information and black and white photos. I have four of his airline titles and now this one which cost me less than $10.
Anyway I have always loved Atlanta airport and its two major encumbents Eastern and Delta. I have already created a 1960s era airport diorama and was on the lookout for a new project when the book arrived. My 1960s diorama is great but it is hard for it to pass for a 1950s airport even when the airbridges are removed. Within Cearley's book a series of amazing photos of Atlanta in the late 1950s caught my attention and led me to decide to try an Atlanta inspired 1950s airport model.
Atlanta itself has been really 4 different airports all built adjacent to each other. The original was replaced in 1948 by a temporary terminal called the Quonset hut and in the 50s the ramp space was massively expanded with two oddly shaped piers. In 1959 they even gained a pair of early airbridged gates for Delta's new DC-8s. This facility was replaced in 1961 by a new facility which itself would make a lovely (and large) model. That airport was outgrown within a decade and in 1980 the current facility opened with its famous and trendsetting parallel piers.
Anyway it is the Quonset 1948-1961 airport I want to emulate though with a space of only 4x2 (120x60cm) I would have to modify the layout and make it quite a bit smaller.
Key features gleaned from the photos that I also want to have in my model are:
- Propliners were parked insanely close together by modern standards, often blocking each other in their gates especially when double lines of aircraft were parked. This was standard behaviour and not unusual at ATL. See this amazing photo from the book:
- The airfield was very complicated in terms of apron types. This was a legacy of continuous building over a period of time so that as ramps were expanded old runways and taxiways were partially built over giving the field a patchwork effect.
- Apron markings are very sparse with little in the way of detailed gate positions for aircraft or taxiway lines.
- Most of the apron space is made up of asphalt / tarmac and doesn't have the usual concrete blockwork look all over.
- The props often park parallel to the terminal piers whilst many gates don't seem to have standard parking positions.
Starting my design I decided to incorporate a single L shaped pier similar to the Delta pier ATL had in the late 50s. Additionally I wanted to keep the multi-line parking along the terminal front though I'd have to straighten the terminal itself to fit. I also have decided to add a space for a hangar (for two DC-6 size props) which is a bit of a departure from the original ATL layout where the hangars were elsewhere.
I also decided to include the unusual early jetbridge area that ATL had which allowed a pair of DC-8s to park nose-in to jetways very close but at right angles to each other. These are pretty unique and I haven't seen similar at other old airports. They are pretty cool though.
Thanks to the packed in way piston engined props were parked despite the small 4x2 space and significant areas of taxiway there are gate positions for well over 20 aircraft which can be varied depending on the plane types present. I'm lucky enough to have lots of 1950s props and will have to get buying more!
I have got a lot of experience building model airports (mainly in 1:600) and though my recent 1:400 Dowse National had been largely an IT project in terms of the groundfoils this time I wanted to return to my original methods of using paint and traditional methods which give more flexibility and make a grittier experience. The terminal spaces will use wood as a base and probably have cardboard structures added to them. A search under the house found suitable wood for the major terminal pieces.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Next I started looking at the tarmac layout to try and emulate the patchwork look of ATL in 1958/59. This was achieved using different paint colours (Humbrol 31, 32, 140, Tamiya XF22, XF53) and also leaving a portion of the MDF bare to simulate concrete.
White taxiway outers were added using colouring pencil and grass added using water-based green paint stippled on with a big brush to give a non-uniform look. I much prefer this to painting uniform green areas or using out of scale railway grass matting.
Lastly I added the blockwork to the concrete areas (measuring 1.5x1cm so rectangular as at Atlanta). Here's a comparison of the model to Atlanta in 1958:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Here are some more progress shots from last week with some aircraft laid out. I've been doing more work today so will update the thread later this week:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Yesterday I had a start at creating some of the new buildings needed for the model. I began with the double width hangar capable of handling 2 DC-6s side by side. Construction material is cardboard and balsa wood. Here are some in progress shots:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Putting the roof on. I can see I'll have to look at more permanent sealant than blu-tack but for the time being its handy to be able to take the roof off:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
The next step following the hangar structure was to work on the pier fulcrum where the two jetway gates are to be located. This is supposed to bear a resemblance to this structure on the Delta concourse constructed in 1959 for Delta's new DC-8s:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Onto the weathering. Piston engine airliners were dirty machines and if you look in the photos of Atlanta you can see lots of ramp staining at the gates no doubt from frequent oil leaks and smokey engine starts:
To replicate this scruffy appearance I used a 3B pencil which is very soft and so easy to smudge with the finger. I am very pleased with the results which work well on the relatively rough painted board surface. Here are some shots:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Ok so work has moved on and painting of some of the terminal elements has begun. The sides of the piers will be papered not painted but the tops of them and the hangar have been painted.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Work has not stopped on the diorama and in fact these photos are now way behind where progress has taken me. Anyway the next step was too look at fitting the 2 airbridged DC-8 gates in place. Not also the beginnings of a small ramp control tower on the pier top.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
I like your project, this pioneer aera with so many different aircraft types and US domestic airlines. The two DC-8 are looking at that time like the A380 on airports today: the future, bigger and better.
__________________ Airport Zurich ZRH in Switzerland in 1:600
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Dock E of Zurich ZRH in 1:600
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kabasch
I like your project, this pioneer aera with so many different aircraft types and US domestic airlines. The two DC-8 are looking at that time like the A380 on airports today: the future, bigger and better.
Thanks. I've changed scale but I'm still building model airports!
Here are some more in progress shots. Work has started on the main terminal building - being made out of cardboard with balsa wood legs.
Note also that I have painted the lateral piers and worked out the paper decals for the pier sides - complete with doors (airline logos and some gate numbering is yet to be done). These were in fact a test and have been replaced by slightly larger decals since this:
Lastly my airport now has a name. I wanted it to sound like a very 1950s kind of place but also generic so it's going to be named after the Wright Brothers and called:
Wright Field Municipal Airport
__________________
Richard
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
It's just as well that I don't post these threads to get attention! Anyway regardless I assume a few people are enjoying the journey so I'll continue.
Next steps have been to work on the hangar some more adding wall detailing and some windows. I also got rid of the ugly spaces between the roof and main body. All that remains is the airline logo and I may look into creating some doors somehow too:
I also redid the pier fronts and all now have their gate markings attached. Plus I have begun to decal the unfinished main terminal building. I'm planning on adding another storey and a viewing deck to the main terminal:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Indeed I cannot believe these threads don't get more attention. However I shouldn't really be talking as I hardly comment anymore, but seeing your message I had to say something! Excellent job going off that photo and creating a realistic model. I am really impressed with how you duplicated the shapes and proportions of all the terminals. It's fascinating to see how airliners used to park for loading/unloading. What a contrast from Atlanta today! Please keep threads like these going, I really enjoy them.
Lastly, love your cabinet with your fleets in the background! I think I will start displaying my models that way as well rather than the chaos in my current cabinet.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Thank you all very much for replying. I appreciate your comments and am very glad you enjoy my work. I'm not much of a model maker to be honest as I just don't have the patience but hopefully what I have done shows how little skill is really required!
Since the last photos I've been working on the main terminal. Using half a paper towel roll I have tried to recreate the curve of the old style Quonset hut and have hopefully left enough space in front for a viewing terrace. These shots are in progress and it is not finished but hopefully give you an idea of what I'm going for:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
I've been working nearly non-stop on 1:400 scale related shenanigans recently and Wright Field hasn't been neglected. Several parts are approaching completion now.
I have worked on the main terminal building which now looks a lot tidier and has its open air viewing terrace in place. There's still some detailing to be done on the legs and some titles to be put on but I think its looking good:
It has been great fun to build the airport and I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I've been up to. For the future I plan on doing lots more photos showing specific dates in the airport's past.
__________________
Richard
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
It's been a while since Wright Field has seen much action but I've been playing with aperture priority and I rather liked the shots. here it's 1958 and lots of tourists and passengers are on the viewing area at Wright Field to wave off TWA L-1649 Starliner N7306C, about to depart for Milan via Paris, and the L-749 N6018C heading to Chicago. Note the extra detailing and Eduard figures:
Re: New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Wow, what a project!! Sincere respect to your energy and effort!! Congrats!!
__________________
BENJAMIN
Please visit "Other Scales & Antique Models" forum for my 1/100 models! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
New Atlanta Airport Inspired 1950s 1:400 Airport Model
Your Privacy Choices
