Progress on Phoenix Sky Harbor terminal 3

PHX69 · 06-22-2009, 03:26 AM

I have a few new photos of the progress. I have been working on this daily for awhile now and I still don't have a whole lot of pictures to show. Determining the proper size for everything in 1/400 and then actually building everything from scratch is very time consuming! I have almost completed the control tower, I still need to add the antennas on top. For those not familiar with the tower in Phoenix I attached a photo of the real tower for comparison. I have finally completed the sides of the four concourses and assembled them. I still need to make the rooftops. I have painted the tarmac and started adding the sealer grid lines.
I need to build the center buildings which include the ticket counter and parking garage, add the streets, cars, gse, etc, etc.
I will post more pictures of the progress as I complete things.
I decided to set up a plane and jetway on one of the concourses to get an idea how things would look. I took a photo out of the window from inside the terminal of the nose of a Continental 757. Enjoy!

airbro · 06-22-2009, 05:21 AM

Nice work.

Airbus Boy14 · 06-22-2009, 05:57 AM

Very detailed; Well done

AmericanEagle667 · 06-22-2009, 10:19 AM

Very nice!! Very nice neat work! I fly to Sky Harbor every other year for xmas and your replica looks perfect! I'm currently building a fantasy airport in Mesa lol. Keep up the good work!

dylan · 06-22-2009, 11:19 AM

To me, this is what the model airport section is all about: Good custom work.

This is off to a great start! LOVE the circular columns....a very important feature of T3. Can't wait to see this one as time goes by....maybe a T2 will accompany it someday?

Is this rendition going to be modern day? Or you gonna take us back a few years? Maybe put the "Bob's Rent-A-Concourse" that America West built after their explosive growth at PHX during the mid eighties?

BoeingFlyer11 · 06-22-2009, 11:38 AM

Great job so far...Keep us posted, I can't wait to see what you do next.

jonatan47 · 06-22-2009, 02:28 PM

nice work! what's the tower made of?

PHX69 · 06-23-2009, 03:46 PM

Jonathan 47,
Thanks for the compliment!
The tower supports are basswood beams that were painted and then I scribed the lines in with an exacto knife and highlighted them with a pencil to represent the separations between the panels on the real tower supports. The base for the top of the tower is a wood disc I was able to find at Michaels craft store in the size I needed. The windows in the top of the tower are six separate pieces cut in a trianglular shape from a clear plastic sheet. The window frames were painted on with a semigloss paint. The roof of the tower was cut from a sheet of basswood. To finish the tower I need to add the antennas on the rooftop which I will make out of wire and mount them into a small piece of foam core board.

AirTran Airways 717 · 06-23-2009, 03:52 PM

Wow that is one of the best looking model airports I have ever seen!!!

PHX69 · 06-23-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylan

To me, this is what the model airport section is all about: Good custom work.

This is off to a great start! LOVE the circular columns....a very important feature of T3. Can't wait to see this one as time goes by....maybe a T2 will accompany it someday?

Is this rendition going to be modern day? Or you gonna take us back a few years? Maybe put the "Bob's Rent-A-Concourse" that America West built after their explosive growth at PHX during the mid eighties?

Dylan,
I really appreciate the compliments! It really helps motivate me to continue working on the project, especially when the compliment is from a superb builder such as yourself. I have been looking at the photos of your layout and it is really amazing. It looks very real and having started building my airport I can really appreciate what it takes to get to that level. What is the length and width of your airport layout?
I was originally going to build terminal 2 as it was in the mid 70's and into the early 80's along with terminal 3. I remember visiting terminal 2 in the mid 70's before terminal 3 was built and seeing the Hughes Air West F-27 and DC-9's as well as the American and TWA 707's. However after I started drawing the buildings in their actual 1/400 size I began to realize that with the way the terminal 2 parking lot is situated on the north side of the terminal I would loose a lot of aircraft parking space. I wanted to fit the buildings into a 4'x4' area and to build terminal 2 and 3 I would need a 6'x4' layout. After much agonizing I decided that the best way to go would be to build terminal 3 as it looked shortly after it opened. The one change Iam making is that I am adding two additional concourses. This gives me 32 aircraft gates and since the parking garage for terminal 3 is in the center of the airport between the gate concourses it doesn't take up as much space as the terminal 2 parking lot would. I like the look of terminal 3 as it really fits into the southwest style of the Phoenix area. Terminal 2 as it was in the mid 70's and into the early 80's did not have much architectural style. I still wouldn't mind building just terminal 2 by itself someday but I will need more space than I have now. This layout takes up pretty much a whole bedroom by the time you leave space to walk around all four sides.
I have a large number of America West models and I thought about adding the temporary terminal that was built inbetween terminal 2 and 3. If I would have had the room to build terminal 2 and 3 as I originally planned I would have added the rent-A-concourse. I have several of the America West 737's (Gemini and Green Box) in the original paint scheme that would look really good sitting at the gates!

PHX69 · 06-23-2009, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the kind words American Eagle667!
What made you decide to choose Mesa as the site for your fantasy airport?
The former Williams Air Force base in Mesa is actually starting to develop into a passenger airport. Currently Allegiant airlines flies to several cities(Fargo ND, Billings MT, Missoula MT) from there using MD-80's. Vision airlines out of Las Vegas was flying to Laughlin Nevada a couple of times a week but I think they dropped that service.
Do you fly to Phoenix on Southwest? They certainly have a large operation here now. I remember when they first started service to Phoenix wiht just a few flights a day. Now I think Phoenix is their second busiest city and they have maintenance here now as well.

americawest77 · 06-23-2009, 06:16 PM

Nice The Tower Looks So Realstic!

Retroguy · 06-23-2009, 07:27 PM

I love the "see-through" detail....keep going

its very promising....

dylan · 06-23-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX69

Dylan,
I really appreciate the compliments! It really helps motivate me to continue working on the project, especially when the compliment is from a superb builder such as yourself. I have been looking at the photos of your layout and it is really amazing. It looks very real and having started building my airport I can really appreciate what it takes to get to that level. What is the length and width of your airport layout?
I was originally going to build terminal 2 as it was in the mid 70's and into the early 80's along with terminal 3. I remember visiting terminal 2 in the mid 70's before terminal 3 was built and seeing the Hughes Air West F-27 and DC-9's as well as the American and TWA 707's. However after I started drawing the buildings in their actual 1/400 size I began to realize that with the way the terminal 2 parking lot is situated on the north side of the terminal I would loose a lot of aircraft parking space. I wanted to fit the buildings into a 4'x4' area and to build terminal 2 and 3 I would need a 6'x4' layout. After much agonizing I decided that the best way to go would be to build terminal 3 as it looked shortly after it opened. The one change Iam making is that I am adding two additional concourses. This gives me 32 aircraft gates and since the parking garage for terminal 3 is in the center of the airport between the gate concourses it doesn't take up as much space as the terminal 2 parking lot would. I like the look of terminal 3 as it really fits into the southwest style of the Phoenix area. Terminal 2 as it was in the mid 70's and into the early 80's did not have much architectural style. I still wouldn't mind building just terminal 2 by itself someday but I will need more space than I have now. This layout takes up pretty much a whole bedroom by the time you leave space to walk around all four sides.
I have a large number of America West models and I thought about adding the temporary terminal that was built inbetween terminal 2 and 3. If I would have had the room to build terminal 2 and 3 as I originally planned I would have added the rent-A-concourse. I have several of the America West 737's (Gemini and Green Box) in the original paint scheme that would look really good sitting at the gates!

My SAN diorama is on a 4'x8' piece of MFD. I now concentrate on smaller dioramas. Your 4'x4' plan sounds smart. Adding two additional concourses? So you're really making T4.

Can't wait to see how this comes along....it's airports like these that really make it worth coming here! And thanks for the compliments on mine.

One tiny bit of constructive criticism: The tower, although beautifully rendered (Especially that cab!) has some skinny twigs holding her up! Maybe make the legs a tad bit fatter and it would be 100% nailed. Good luck man! it's great to have you here!

Here is a similar (Las Vegas style) version I did in 1:600 7 years ago:

PHX69 · 06-24-2009, 11:59 AM

Dylan,
I guess you could call my layout a terminal 3/4 hybrid. Terminal 4 is very similar in construction to 3 but it has those distinctive cylinders on the end of the parking garage, those would be a pain to reproduce! I wanted to be as accurate as possible to terminal 3 but I couldnt justify not adding the two additional concourses to allow for more gate space. I have all four concourses built so now its on to the buildings in the center of the airport(ticket counter area and parking garage). I am trying to figure out how best to reproduce that southwest design on the edge of the roof line. Due to the size it would be in 400 scale it is going to be a challenge. I guess thats really what its all about though. Thanks for the suggestion on the tower supports. I think I will take your advice and remake the supports with a little larger beam. That will also give me a chance to rescribe the seperation lines which I was not real happy with. I really like the Las Vegas airport! It looks like you have basically built the same tower before in 1/600 scale. How did you do the cab? I would really like to see more photos of this layout if you have them. The detail looks amazing especially when you consider that it is even a smaller building being it is 600 scale! For me the smaller the scale the harder it is to construct. What airport or airports might you be in the middle of constructing currently? Are you building your smaller layouts in 400 scale?

PHX69 · 07-16-2009, 03:36 PM

I finally have made enough progress that I could take some photos! I have finished all four concourse buildings and the passenger bridges that link them to the main terminal. The tarmac seal lines are complete on one half of the layout and as a result two of the concourse buildings have been positioned in their proper locations. I installed some jet ways on one of the concourses to get an idea how things are going to look. I still need to do some touch up painting on the buildings and paint the taxiway lines on the tarmac. I am also going to do some staining to simulate oil and fuel spills. After that is complete I will begin work on the main terminal structure which includes the parking garage.

fly Frontier · 07-16-2009, 03:47 PM

Looks fantastic, i like the frontier you got there. Although COA is at T2 you got NWA and frontier right. Do you live in PHX?

Flyin' Hawaiian · 07-16-2009, 03:53 PM

Looks great! Cant wait to see more!

dylan · 07-16-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly Frontier

Looks fantastic, i like the frontier you got there. Although COA is at T2 you got NWA and frontier right. Do you live in PHX?

Kid, before you go tellin' somebody what they did or didn't do right, you may wanna conduct a little research. COA operated from T3 for MANY years until their move to T2. But then, judging from your post history, we wouldn't expect anything less.

@PHX69: Thanks for the updates! It's looking great!

fly Frontier · 07-16-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylan

Kid, before you go tellin' somebody what they did or didn't do right, you may wanna conduct a little research. COA operated from T3 for MANY years until their move to T2. But then, judging from your post history, we wouldn't expect anything less.

@PHX69: Thanks for the updates! It's looking great!

Please don't call me kid, I am 15 and in high school.

I guess you are right. I didn't notice he made it look 10-15 years ago.

You don't have to be jerk about it (putting it kindly). You coulda said "I think he is going for the older t3 looks and the original airlines".

I know that you are a forum leader or what ever but kindness goes along way.

-Daniel

Bill-ay · 07-16-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylan

But then, judging from your post history, we wouldn't expect anything less.

Ouch, you got Drunkardized

lol, I hope I dont get in trouble for not finishing his models quicker (sorry Dylan)!

PHX69 · 07-17-2009, 04:05 PM

Daniel,
The planes that I have sitting at the terminal are just some that I am using to check the fit of planes to the terminals and to figure out the exact location of the jetways. They do happen to be airlines that are located in terminal 3. Continental originally flew out of terminal 1 until terminal 3 was built in 1979/80. They then flew out of the north side of T3 for along time, then moved briefly to T4 when they had code sharing with America West. They do now fly out of TWA's old gates in T2. I was born here in the Phoenix area and still live here in Chandler.

Bill-ay · 07-17-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

live here in Chandler

Great city! I know of a neat model shop there too...

Lovely airport PHX69!

PHX69 · 07-17-2009, 07:47 PM

Thanks!
What is the name of the model shop? Where is it located?

Bill-ay · 07-18-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX69

Thanks!
What is the name of the model shop? Where is it located?

Airline Hobby Supplies by Russell!! Some where in Chandler at his house. Hes a nice guy, you can just call/e-mail him and he will give you a "tour" of his inventory. Daniel knows the exact coordinates of it.

centaur747 · 07-18-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dylan

My SAN diorama is on a 4'x8' piece of MFD. I now concentrate on smaller dioramas. Your 4'x4' plan sounds smart. Adding two additional concourses? So you're really making T4.

Can't wait to see how this comes along....it's airports like these that really make it worth coming here! And thanks for the compliments on mine.

One tiny bit of constructive criticism: The tower, although beautifully rendered (Especially that cab!) has some skinny twigs holding her up! Maybe make the legs a tad bit fatter and it would be 100% nailed. Good luck man! it's great to have you here!

Here is a similar (Las Vegas style) version I did in 1:600 7 years ago:

ACHTUNG: SCHABAK

Still the best scale for large projects!

PHX69 · 08-18-2009, 11:09 AM

Its been awhile since I have posted but that is because I was not to a place where I was ready to take some update photos. I decided that I will try to create the west end of terminal 4 since I have the space for two additional concourses. The only problem is one of the concourses I am trying to replicate has not been built yet. The area where the last concourse of terminal 4 will be built is still dirt so I do not have an actual building to replicate. I just decided to make that building match the other buildings as most of the terminal buildings have the same style. I have been working on the street detail, getting the size of the lanes and painting the lines has been time consuming. Once I have the main terminal building and parking garage built I will add the crosswalks that go from the building to the bus stop island. I have placed a bus in the photo to illustrate the island. I also created the taxiway between terminals 3 and 4 and constructed the taxiway bridge. I have added the gravel and grass as well. I still need to add palm trees and plants. I will continue to update as things get completed.

Dennis

airbro · 08-19-2009, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly Frontier

Please don't call me kid, I am 15 and in high school.

I guess you are right. I didn't notice he made it look 10-15 years ago.

You don't have to be jerk about it (putting it kindly). You coulda said "I think he is going for the older t3 looks and the original airlines".

I know that you are a forum leader or what ever but kindness goes along way.

-Daniel

Yeah I agree we all make mistakes nobody's perfect.

BoeingFlyer11 · 08-19-2009, 09:39 AM

wow, that is some awesome work! I love the roads and the terminal design. Very nice job, keep up the good work.

jonatan47 · 08-19-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly Frontier

Please don't call me kid, I am 15 and in high school.

I guess you are right. I didn't notice he made it look 10-15 years ago.

You don't have to be jerk about it (putting it kindly). You coulda said "I think he is going for the older t3 looks and the original airlines".

I know that you are a forum leader or what ever but kindness goes along way.

-Daniel

Forum leader? ha! he's just an old jerk

, but who cares? he's funny.
No offense Dylan.

smoothjazz · 08-20-2009, 12:08 AM

Looking great so far. Keep them coming!

dylan · 08-20-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonatan47

Forum leader? ha! he's just an old jerk

, but who cares? he's funny.
No offense Dylan.

Ya'll should know by now that nothing offends me. AirBro, in his posting style he's known all too well for, didn't bother reading that it had been over a month since the exchange between me and Daniel (fly frontier) and threw in his .02. Both of these children are fine examples of the majority of the forum members these days. They don't bother actually reading the content of the thread...just "PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES!" They ask the same questions over and over "how did you make this? how did you make that?"...yet their questions, had they bothered to READ the thread, have already been answered. No, it's NOT the end of the world, but ya'll know I will say something. Forum leader? That's laughable....

I, like alot of other members, have migrated over to the Buzz. Someone like me fits in a little better over there. You probably haven't noticed, but my postings here at DAC have dwindled, and will continue to do so until I just don't post here anymore. (much to the kiddies' delight!)

BACK ON TOPIC!

Dennis, adding the "sunken" roadway is a major detail...it looks friggin great, as do your roadway markings! Thanks for keeping us updated...this is the ONLY thread I've subscribed to at DAC and it makes it worth coming back to once in a while!

*EDIT* WOW! I didn't even notice the "Native style" concrete work on the walls and overhangs that PHX is so known for! This just keeps getting better and better!

PHX69 · 08-20-2009, 07:07 PM

Thank you for the kind words Dylan!
Updates are slow but I like to wait to post until I have a noticeable amount of progress. I am getting ready to start the main terminal and parking garage structures now.

Dennis

PHX69 · 08-20-2009, 07:08 PM

Thank you Benjamin!

car15 · 08-20-2009, 09:50 PM

Hey I am in Chandler also! Are you giving tours of the airport model?

Master Shake747 · 08-22-2009, 02:17 AM

sphincter .

Prestwick Pioneer · 08-22-2009, 04:22 PM

Freakin brilliand Dennis, you are clearly rather talented!!!

oliJFK · 08-22-2009, 04:36 PM

This is looking fantastic I must say!

I've been waiting for someone to make a taxiway bridge, and here you have one! Can't wait to see the completed project - I'm sure the photos it will produce will be some of the best we've ever seen in this hobby.

Do you have any plans to place anything inside the terminal?

Great work!

PHX69 · 08-24-2009, 11:33 AM

Brian,
Wow, that is a very nice compliment especially coming from someone with an airport like yours. Your JFK terminal is certainly on a level all its own! I have finished the taxiway bridge now I will try to post a photo of it for you, hopefully I can take a picture this evening. The first photo did not turn out that well as it was fairly dark.
I do plan on adding the carpet on the floors and some people inside the buildings as well. I might add some ticket counters too. The inside of the roof has a square grid pattern to replicate the ceiling tiles. I plan on finishing all of the exterior first before I do any interior work. This way I can display my planes sooner.

Dennis

PHX69 · 08-24-2009, 11:34 AM

Thank you Prestwick Pioneer!

PHX69 · 08-24-2009, 08:44 PM

Car15,
What part of Chandler do you live? I am out in the southeast part of town, Riggs and Gilbert area.

Dennis

car15 · 08-24-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX69

Car15,
What part of Chandler do you live? I am out in the southeast part of town, Riggs and Gilbert area.

Dennis

101 and Ray road!

fly Frontier · 08-24-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX69

Car15,
What part of Chandler do you live? I am out in the southeast part of town, Riggs and Gilbert area.

Dennis

WOWOWOWOWOWowowowow,

woah!!!

I used to live on Gilbert rd and Riggs road, infact we still own the house there. now im at 28th ave and chandler blvrd

PHX69 · 08-26-2009, 01:45 AM

I have finished the taxiway bridge between terminals 3 and 4 so I thought I would post a couple photos. I have all the sides of the main terminal building for terminal 3 cut to size and now I am applying all of the detail such as window frames and trim. I will have photos of this work soon.

Dennis

PHX69 · 08-26-2009, 01:46 AM

Fly Frontier,
I guess it is a small world! I live in Sun River, did you live in Cooper Commons?

Dennis

Prestwick Pioneer · 08-26-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX69

Brian,
Wow, that is a very nice compliment especially coming from someone with an airport like yours. Your JFK terminal is certainly on a level all its own! I have finished the taxiway bridge now I will try to post a photo of it for you, hopefully I can take a picture this evening. The first photo did not turn out that well as it was fairly dark.
I do plan on adding the carpet on the floors and some people inside the buildings as well. I might add some ticket counters too. The inside of the roof has a square grid pattern to replicate the ceiling tiles. I plan on finishing all of the exterior first before I do any interior work. This way I can display my planes sooner.

Dennis

Omigod! This is gna b amazin, were gna av to breed u 2 and get a race of super diorama builders!!!
Sorry bout the text speak, been on my mobile phone and facebook!

fly Frontier · 08-26-2009, 06:21 PM

Close I lived across gilbert rd from Cooper commons, the neighborhood is called spring field lakes, to be exact it was Dorell and Dragoon court.

nanduneto · 09-03-2009, 08:05 AM

Nice airport model. I like a lot the control tower!!!
SDs,...

Jao · 09-04-2009, 06:09 AM

Just saw this thread now and I can say this should be a very magnificent build in the making. Looking forward to see more pictures of your model airport. It's been awhile since we last saw works like these. Keep up the great work.

Commuter · 09-04-2009, 09:37 AM

Fantastic work! Looking forward to seeing more of your progress pictures as time permits you to post.