WIX Photo Contest #1 - Maintenance and Restoration Photos

[RyanShort1]

Ok folks, this contest is officially open for business. We had a tremendous offer from Sabremech for a prize of a REAL gunsight! That will be the top prize for this category.

Every contest needs rules, so here they are:

1. Because I'm organizing the contest - no vulgarity, nudity, or really skimpy clothing (ie. bikini style stuff) should be showing. If there's nose art on the aircraft in that category, it will be accepted if it's tastefully hidden - like by an engine or such. I know that I cannot control the message board, so I'd ask the moderators to help me keep the thread clean - otherwise I will close the contest and run it over at my site at http://lbirds.forumotion.com/

2. Image editing issues. No CGI or 3d modelling images should be used. Composite photos are allowed (ie. clever Photoshop jobs from images), but must be labeled as such with a copy of the original shown. I don't mind if colors are tweaked or scratches, dust, etc... is cleaned up.

3. Vintage style photographs should be posted in color and in black and white. This is NOT hard to do. You can do this very simply by using Google's Picasa software. Extra points for taking a real vintage photo and duplicating it!

4. Image must have been taken AFTER Jan. 1, 2005 (change made due to a certain soft spot in my heart, knowing that mechanics may not always shoot as often as they'd like, or have opportunities they once had).

5. No more than 4 (four) submissions per category (we intend to have other contest categories as well) per person.

6. Photo must include caption. Stories are welcome as usual here on WIX, but please feel free to start another thread about the photo elsewhere to discuss it so we don't clog up this thread.

7. I am specifically ineligible for this contest.

8. Contest ending: All submissions must be entered by July 31, 2009.

9. Photos MUST be your own, or used WITH PERMISSION.

10. Judging: Basically, I only have one or two other volunteers right now, so I think we'll rely some on feedback from other WIXers, though the contest sponsor(s) reserve the right to make the final decision. Basically, it should be a compelling photograph of maintenance or restoration on a warbird, and should convey the caption well. The artistic nature of the photograph will also be strongly considered !

Prize(s):

So far we have this:

1st place: A gunsight being donated by Sabremech.

2nd place: IF Jack Cook still agrees, the winner's choice of some form of photos from his collection (subject to his approval).

3rd place: Recognition of your fabulous photography skills from fellow WIXers.

The best of these shots may be eligible for an end-of-the-year finale with a WIX poll - if we can get it all to work out.

The next round (one of the other categories here: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=30124) is coming soon, so keep shooting!

Ryan

[NathanT24]

Here is my contribution to phase 1 of the photo contest. I took this at Wings Over Houston 2008 on Saturday, was walking through the warbirds and took this photo, the Cavanaugh Gang was working on the P-40, but I just had to laugh at how many mechanics were working on it and I cannot believe 3 ppl were under the P-40! I dont know what they were working on but it did fly that day.


Here is my 2nd shot, taken at LSFM Spirit of Flight 2006, and a rare shot now Special Delivery getting an engine changed, well the engine was on the lift no one working on her but glad no one got in the shot.


3rd shot taken at LSFM Spirit of Flight 2006, Thunderbird getting worked on, got scared that both the B-25 and B-17 were down but they got the Flying Fort done just in time.


4 Shot again taken at LSFM, PB4Y-2/LB-30 in a restored state, still waiting for this bird to get air under its wings, hopefully Ike wont stop that or any storms (knocking on wood).

Glad to be part of this contest.

Last edited by NathanT24 on Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RyanShort1]

All right folks! We have our first entry! Now let's have some friendly competition.

Ryan

[evanflys]

OK, here are my entries ...




Steve Hinton Jr. at Reno



Sopwith Snipe at Antique Aero



Me upside down in Eddie Andreinis' Super Stearman cleaning oil off the window in the floor


Me removing accessories off the back of an R2000 in a Yak so the engine can be pulled.

My dad took the last two but he says he'll share the prize with me if he wins!

Evan

[Ztex]

Here's my first feeble entry...
Taken at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum during winter maintenance.


Look Ma! No wheel!

[retroaviation]

Well, since Ryan graciously allowed pictures from 2005 and newer, I thought I'd go ahead an enter four pictures. I really don't reckon they'll be winners, but they might bring back some memories for anyone who used to keep up with a semi-daily thread that became somewhat popular on WIX...........


Although this isn't the very first thing that was tackled on the reconfiguration of the old Diamond Lil into Ol' 927, it was certainly one of the first and subsequently one of the last projects to get finished. Additionally, it ended up being the one project during that reconfiguration that makes me the proudest. The tailgunner's section on the B-24A.

Here is the old tailcone on the ground.............




Making structure for the tailgunner's section, from scratch, with only a few grainy pictures and one poor drawing as a reference.........




This picture was taken upon the completion of the lower portion of the tailgunner's section. This became somewhat controversial as I had cut up and modified an old beat up spinner for this portion of the project. I received a few "nasty-grams" saying things such as "How dare you destroy a Lancaster spinner like that," or "The next time you insist on utterly demolishing a Mosquito spinner, please inform me prior to the attrocity!" The original intent during my updates was to eventually let everyone know just what type aircraft that ol' spinner came from, but after the entertainment I was getting from folks guessing...and guessing wrong (no, it wasn't a Lancaster or Mossie spinner), I decided to just let it remain a mystery.....which it does today, with the exception of a few folks I told personally.




And finally, I think the look says it all.

One B-24A tailgunner's section.........8 months labor
Parts, materials, and gun.......donations from WIXers
One fat boy being the first person to sit in a B-24A tailgunner's sling during flight for the first time in around 67 years.........PRICELESS!!!




So WIXers, thanks for making that project so memorable to me! I'll never forget it.

Gary

[mustangdriver]

B-17F Memphis Belle next to B-17D Swoose in restoration shop of the NMUSAF

Starting point on the restoration of the Northrop A-17A dive bomber at the NMUSAF


Finishing point How that Northrop A-17A looks today.



Preserving the past

[RyanShort1]

Just a suggestion folks, there's plenty of time between now and the end of the contest. Remember that the artistic merit will also be considered, so go ahead and throw up an entry, but don't feel that you have to use up all four entries today or tomorrow! This is not directed in ANY direction, but to give ideas...

Ryan

[retroaviation]

Just a suggestion folks, there's plenty of time between now and the end of the contest. Remember that the artistic merit will also be considered, so go ahead and throw up an entry, but don't feel that you have to use up all four entries today or tomorrow! This is not directed in ANY direction, but to give ideas...

Ryan

Yeah, I understood that Ryan. I just wanted to go ahead and throw all four of my entries out there, just because I know they're not going to be winners. Hopefully, they'll get some folks interested in posting their pictures though.

Gary

[spookythecat]

Both shots taken in the Boeing 2-40 Hangar, April 2, 2009. For a kid who grew up in Oshkosh i'm glad I moved out to Seattle because there is some cool stuff going on out here.

[mustangdriver]

Man Al, I really love that B-17 shot. Gary, cool stuff as well.

[Jeff Hunt]

Here is one of Movie Memphis Belle taken last year at TOM. They had filled the tire Friday night and found her flat again Saturday morning. A quick change and she was good to go.






Cheers,

Jeff

[Trey Carroll]

Group Pic: Frank Strickler supervises Wayne Hershman and Jim Winings hang the cowl on Tom Wood's P-51 Mustang in Indianapolis, Indiana.



For the backlit picture: Wayne Hershman fastens the cowling down on Tom Wood's P-51 Mustang in preparation for the 2009 Indianapolis Airshow.

Last edited by Trey Carroll on Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[retroaviation]

bump

[Second Air Force]

Here's my first entry.


"Hey, wife--I dropped a socket in the cockpit--think you could go on up there and find it for me?"

Scott