MAGIC: San Ysidro, Dromedarius, and St. Francis - Page 22

uncle beat · 07-27-2020, 07:59 PM

I took some time off from posting so as to improve the final appearance of the rocky / desert landscape east of Dromedarius Int'l Airport. I felt the original was too red in color--although this is seen sometimes in nature, like in parts of Utah, looking at it every day was distracting to me! So, I fiddled with the color of the rocks, added turf, gravel, bushes, and a few more cacti to get a less Disney-esque vibe. I think it is prettier now. So, enjoy the results, seen here with a venerable Delta DC-10 going through some landing exercises back in the 1970's.

First, a Delta DC-10 coming in from Atlanta, flying downwind from runway 27 as it prepares to land in Dromedarius.

Next, a view of the DC-10 just seconds from landing, as seen from atop Mount Baldy:

Finally, a different perspective of the beautiful, rugged 'Ten' completing the signature turn to runway 27, as a rival Tri-Star awaits clearance to take off:

uncle beat · 07-27-2020, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoMuse747

These Aerosur models are wonderful. Such an exotic airline with great liveries. Really sad to know they ceased operations

I fully understand! We've lost some great ones over the years; meanwhile Herpa neglects us in the Americas in 1:500
Pete

uncle beat · 07-27-2020, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchCollector

Great shots of the 747-400 and 743 flying over the bay! The layout might be impracitcal, but it does give a stunning shot!

Impractical is almost my middle name!!

However this has made it all the more fun to photograph this airport. Follow along for more!
Pete

uncle beat · 07-27-2020, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal1736

Nice to see you back on the forum Pete! Great job on the mountain, your scenery is definitely a highlight of this thread!

- Cal.

Thank-you for the compliments! All of the upcoming scenes will feature the improved scenery. As mentioned in the DC-10 section above, I felt the overall tone was too red and so I was compelled to make changes to the hue and also added vegetation. Hope you like it, and stay tuned for more. I am working on the airport buildings now and another plane order is due for delivery soon.

Pete

uncle beat · 07-27-2020, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charter

What a diorama Pete, almost perfect in all details. I love the lake before the runway.

Thank-you for the compliments! The details are time-consuming but make for a great distraction after a hard day at work

--quite stressful environment in the hospital these days! At any rate, this airport shows extreme diversity with regards to the landscapes at the runway ends--one is urban with tall buildings and water, the other is rural with desert and rocks. Hopefully something for everyone, nonetheless much fun to set up photos. Soon I will have some airport structures completed, ready for ramp action.

Pete

Cal1736 · 07-28-2020, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle beat

Thank-you for the compliments! All of the upcoming scenes will feature the improved scenery. As mentioned in the DC-10 section above, I felt the overall tone was too red and so I was compelled to make changes to the hue and also added vegetation. Hope you like it, and stay tuned for more. I am working on the airport buildings now and another plane order is due for delivery soon.

Pete

The improved scenery looks really good Pete and the added vegetation really completes the overall scene. The classic Delta DC-10 is definitely an interesting subject for these first photographs of the new scenery, but I can't help noticing the beautiful Delta L-1011 holding short of Runway 27! I'll be hoping to see this bird featuring more prominently in future updates!

- Cal.

uncle beat · 07-29-2020, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal1736

The improved scenery looks really good Pete and the added vegetation really completes the overall scene. The classic Delta DC-10 is definitely an interesting subject for these first photographs of the new scenery, but I can't help noticing the beautiful Delta L-1011 holding short of Runway 27! I'll be hoping to see this bird featuring more prominently in future updates!

- Cal.

I agree--the DL L1011 is truly a beauty and I purposely put her in as a contrast to the DC-10. It has always amazed me that two planes, built by different manufacturers but during the same time frame and with a similar mission in mind, would appear so different. The L1011 being curvaceous and pretty, whilst the DC-10 is robust and handsome. No matter what, I loved the widebody trijet era!!
Pete

uncle beat · 07-29-2020, 09:32 PM

Today felt like Christmas--some long-awaited Herpa releases arrived for me at the post office! And, these model planes arrived just in time for me to begin finalizing airplane parking positions with due respect to the radically-changing operating conditions affecting both airlines and the airports that they use. I see two emerging trends: widespread use of narrow-body planes like the A321 Neo on longer range routes, and the continued introduction of the new generation wide-body planes that have correspondingly extra-large wingspans.

In recognition of the ‘new reality,’ I am making the two remote gates of Dromedarius International Airport "Flexi-Gates," namely each gate being capable of handling either one large-wingspan widebody airplane, or two A321 Neo jets. The first picture shows the assembly of the requisite design tools for this exercise—assigning parking positions is always one of the most enjoyable things about airport diorama modeling:

Four of my new American Airlines A321 Neos--they can park together at gates D-1-A, D-1-C, D-2-A, and D-3:

Next, a view of two large wingspan widebodies occupying gates D-1-B and D-2-B. Note that D-1-B will be equipped to hold an A380--the plane will be around for some time albeit with just a few carriers, despite the imminent closure of the assembly line. As a side note, one wonders that years down the road (in hindsight) maybe they should have kept them around, like the way we feel about the 757? Time will tell, but I sure will miss her!! (One of the most comfortable passenger experiences, this side of the Concorde):

Finally, a look at the hangar area: parking positions H-96 and H-98 display my two new jetBlue A321 "Balloons":

DutchCollector · 07-30-2020, 12:41 PM

Congrats on all the new arrivals Pete! I'm sure the American A321neos will make agreat addition to your already very lively diorama. The pair of Jetblue A321neos also look very pretty, I think the jetblue livery suits the plane very well!

uncle beat · 08-01-2020, 11:13 AM

I am super thrilled with the latest model airplane arrivals that I received in the middle of the week—the shipment was very A321 – centric, an aircraft type which I currently have a crush on!! This being the case, much of today’s thread focuses on that lovely plane (with an A350 thrown in for good measure—my other ‘new love!’).
First of all, an American A321 Neo is shown in the final stages of landing at Dromedarius:

The final turn onto DRX’s runway 27 is a ‘signature’ move at the airport—it looks tricky, but pilots report having a lot of fun doing it!

A side perspective of ‘the turn.’ Just another day in paradise!!

The lovely African wildlife seen in the background of this picture are descendants of some beautiful creatures that were stranded on Dromedarius when a vessel transporting exotic animals between Cape Town and London was blown off course and eventually disabled by a storm back in the 1800’s. The happy ending is seen here, whereby the offspring of those original animals have peacefully coexisted and thrived on the island for centuries. In the foreground is the tail of an AA A321, whizzing by on departure for Washington, D.C. from runway 9:

A Lufthansa A350-900 finishes its landing roll on runway 27, arriving from Frankfurt. Meanwhile, “Bubbles” the happy hippopotamus is oblivious to the presence of this beautiful plane, as she splashes about in the pond:

This jetBlue A321 aborts its landing at Dromedarius, due to gusty winds coming from the offshore storm of Hurricane Isaias. The pilots have decided to divert the flight to the neighboring island of San Ysidro:

After some hasty preparations for a potential impact on the island from today’s Hurricane Isaias, another AA A321 takes off from runway 9, this one headed for New York. Living in coastal Palm Beach County, Florida, I will now make some storm preparations of my own right now. Stay safe everyone!!
Pete

uncle beat · 08-01-2020, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchCollector

Congrats on all the new arrivals Pete! I'm sure the American A321neos will make agreat addition to your already very lively diorama. The pair of Jetblue A321neos also look very pretty, I think the jetblue livery suits the plane very well!

I love the A321--it seems to look really good dressed in the liveries of most airlines--and I agree with you, the jetBlue "Balloons" wears it especially well! More A321 pictures are posted immediately above. Enjoy!
Pete

Cal1736 · 08-01-2020, 03:04 PM

Really nice Airbus arrivals Pete! I have both the American A321NEO and jetBlue A321NEO in my 1:400 collection and they're both very nice models. The livery of American Airlines looks great amongst the scenery (and wildlife!), of Dromedarius! Your Lufthansa A350 is also very sleek - I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of mine in 1:400!

- Cal.

Charter · 08-01-2020, 03:31 PM

Beautiful scenery with the jetBlue A321 my friend.

DutchCollector · 08-01-2020, 04:07 PM

Great touch with the wildlife Pete, although I'm sure I wouldn't be so confident seeing a hippo next to a runway. Those mighty animals could tear the fence down with ease!

Stay safe during the hurricane Pete, best of luck.

uncle beat · 08-03-2020, 05:53 AM

Thanks to the efficient night-lighting and microwave landing system at Dromedarius Airport, evening operations have taken on a more important role for American Airlines at the facility. This gives the carrier numerous scheduling options, including the ability to promote 2- and 3-night getaways from U.S. east coast cities. Using these flights, passengers can work a full day at their jobs, and then depart afterwards, arriving in Dromedarius around 11:00 p.m. After a good night’s sleep at one of its many fine resorts, these lucky passengers wake up the next morning to an enjoyable long weekend on the island.

An example is American’s nighttime flight from Charlotte, flown by the trustworthy A319 aircraft and seen here arriving on runway 27:

Another prime evening flight is operated by AA from JFK, also with A319 equipment. Here is the flight coming in to DRX, with the church of San Pedro and the medieval town in the foreground: