Windshear

Hello,

I have some questions with regards to building a model airport.

First, I have been collecting 1/400 Gemini's for about 4 years now. I have approximately 100+ displayed in 3 curio's in my study. While I am not new to collecting, I am brand-spanking new to the model airport scene. I was wondering if I can throw some questions/ideas to everyone out there and get some info. I am still a long way from starting my project and I am in a "fact-finding" mode right now. I'm planning on spending quite a bit of time researching before I begin construction.

MY IDEA
I am interested in building a 1/500 scale airport. Seems like the airplanes are cheaper. I would like to create my own rather than model it on a specific airport. I would like a model which serves a lot of international flights, as well as domestic and a good-sized cargo ramp. As far as space, I have a front room in my house which could easily handle a table/platform of 8'x4'. I'm not sure how big it will be, but this just gives an idea as to how much room I have.

QUESTIONS:

Available Kits:
What do you think of them?
Are they a good place to start?
How easy is it to incorporate a lot of detail into my layout?
Internet sources? i.e., hobby shops, websites, etc..

Homemade Construction:

I am also interested in kit-bashing or building stuff from scratch too.

Ratios? i.e., 1/500 = how many inches when building a structure?
Integration: can I integrate pre-existing kits and homebuilt stuff fairly easily?
Plans? Are there any plans available online which could help me design?
Materials? What do you rec I use and where can I purchase materials?

Aircraft:
What do you recommend? I am currently looking at stocking my model airport with Herpa's, but I am open to combining more than one model manufacturer as long as the detail isn't compromised between one and the other.

I'm sure I will have many more questions as I continue my research. I enjoy building models, and I am a very detail-oriented type person.

I also wanted to say that I have been lurking on this site for some time, mostly just admiring other's photos. I would like to take the opportunity to say that I am very impressed with a lot of your models, and I have certainly enjoyed viewing your pics. I feel that this forum is an excellent place to gather some very good information from many talented individuals. The idea to plan and construct my own model airport is something that I have recently really begun to seriously think about.

Thank-you very much in advance for any and all info.

- Windshear

LOT 737-300

Hello to you too! Welcome to DA.C Lets see what I can advice. The more experienced ones should give you way better advice than I can.
Check out www.wings900.com. They have some good resources (FAA .pdfs) on how taxiways should look like and so on. Also advice you look at model airports.net and W900 (wings900) Photo gallery.
As for aircraft, herpa is ok, but for the best quality and price, I would recommend you check out StarJets, they are often said to be almost like 1:400 GJs whren it comes to quality. There is also our unlicnesed guys, Big Bird who makes models similar to SJ's quailty, but are made in small numbers and can cost as much as a usual GJ model would in 1:400. Same goes for Netmodels, but the quality seems to match herpa and usually starts to go below. They offer some airlines that the licnesed guys can't make for various reasons.
Personally, I'm more towards scratch built stuff, for a basic look, you can make something similar to mine by using a pencil, a few paint markers, ruler, some round edges and a board (plenty out there to choose!)

Now for the kit stuff. herpa makes them aswell, just check out www.airlinemuseum.com (best if in the US) or aviation center berlin ACB (best if in the EU, can someone get the adress for that one?). You will find a bunch of stuff ranging from buildings to foils to GSE (Ground Service Equipment).

For ground foil, you can go for herpa, or try pixelport. Pixelport usually makes some nice stuff (a bit pricy, but sometimes they have huge sales, right now they have a nice sale, all foils are 80% off ) they also have a CD where you can make your own layout, their website is www.modelairports.com. Andy Anderson here is the man who runs it. I'm expecting he'll come in here and tell you some more about it. Also, if you feel like it you can always combine the foil and your own work too.
Hope that helps a bit.

__________________

Windshear

LOT 737-300,

Thank-you for the info, I appreciate it. I'm going to check out those websites later this afternoon. Also, I have heard of StarJets, but I haven't really looked at them thus far. I'm going to check them out as well.

GYMEEE

If you have any specific questions about building a 500 scale model airport diorama send me an e-mail at GYMEEE@MSN.COM and I will try to help.

regards,

GYMEEE
Somerset Int'l Airport Operations Manager
http://mysite.verizon.net/4zepd4cu/