The base plate is custom made in PS. It's a high res file (600pdi – you can actually see the grates of the drainage openings) and was some work to finish. Right now, the file size with all layers is about 7 GB...
I wanted to have a photo base to match the detailed models. Commercially available stuff is mostly gray plastic with some yellow lines printed on it – no details and no realistic weathering, but expensive for a single piece of plastic...
Dimensions are 30 to 20 inches, so it should fit a B747. I will test that the next few days.
I'm still working on the coloring. IMO it's too vivid and the cracks are too black.
Once finished, I will have it printed professionally, laminated with a matte protection coating and mounted on a plastic foam board. My version here is an inkjet printing.
The backgrounds are PS magic – just some pics I found via Google.
When using real, physical backdrops, getting the right coloring for them is hard to achive. The simulated haze etc. makes it complicated to match the base plate.
It all depends on the viewing angle. Some degrees up or down can throw the color matching out very fast due to reflection etc.
Additionally, the backdrops need to be huge when using wide angle lenses...PS is sooo much better here!
Cheers!
Bonus time – Bird's eye view:
Lockheed L1011 LTU JC Wings
