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I just recently completed an illustration of an A-10 (see below) and was thinking of making some prints from it. I was wondering if there were any veteran Tigers of the first Gulf War out there who would be interested in signing a handful of prints if I did...?

If nothing else, some knowledgable feedback on the artwork would be welcome.

BTW, I have wallpaper of this one that you can download from http://www.spanishcastle.com/justplanefun/warthog_wallpaper1024x768.jpg

<img src="http://www.spanishcastle.com/justplanefun/plink350.jpg" border=0>

Cool pic, Fritz! You might want to consider having a maintainer sign, too. I have a Signals print I was able have signed by the pilot...and asking the crewchief to sign too made his day. Just a thought. Welcome to the forum!!

"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together...." - Carl Zwanzig

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
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I've always thought the tank barrel was way to long, prespective seems off to me. Also the tank is exploding but all the racks are full on the aircraft...what did he use the gun? If this is a gun kill I have never seen a turret fly off like that after being hit by the gun...a mav maybe.

Ugly But Well Hung

OK, after a considerable gnashing of teeth, I was forced to concede that the barrel indeed looked far too long, so I've shortened it (I updated the picture that this thread links to, so you will see the shortened version now)

Does that look better to you?

Regarding the weapons, I guess I could pickle off one of the mavs, but I always thought of it as a gun kill that touched off a secondary explosion. I plead artistic license here, as the picture would be far less dramatic otherwise.



Edited by - Fritz the Fox on Aug 07 2005 09:27 AM

I don't see one with a shortened barrel (one posted or the link) and I did refresh...am I missing something?

It's your picture I was just giving feedback like you requested. <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

Could be your browser is being stubborn about caching it, or it may be that it still looks long to you. Here is a side by side comparison...

<img src="http://www.spanishcastle.com/justplanefun/plink_compare.jpg" border=0>

And, yeah, it's my picture, but if no one likes it, then I'm wasting my time. That's why I like message board feedback. (Actually, I HATE message board feedback, because it is often brutal...but it is far more useful than family or friends mumbling platitudes because they don't want to hurt your feelings.)

If a bunch of hog experts like it, then I've won over my toughest audience and I have a winner. That's what I want. So, if it isn't something you'd want to hang on your wall, and you think you know how it could be better, don't hesitate to speak up...



Edited by - Fritz the Fox on Aug 07 2005 09:57 AM

I still think it's to long, I don't think it should come even with the vert. stab, in fact I belive the very last segment could be removed.

I also feel the turret is to high, it looks like it's above the altitude of the aircraft itself, either the aircraft is <b>very low</b> or the turret is <b>very high</b>. I know the A-10 is famous for it's low level flying but again, the prespective seems...off, anyone else think so or is it just me?

Ugly But Well Hung

I updated the art yet again just after your last post, Dice-man, so it may seem better now. (I shortened the barrel yet again). Hit reload and see if you can see the change.

I'll have to agree with dice on the fact that the barrel of the tank looks to long, additionaly either that hog is flying way to low or that turret blew up over 500 ft in the air.

Love the work you've done though...

capche-capche da - we go forward together

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way-

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Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

Respect to Dice.....you tell it how it is!
Good artwork though, lose the turret altogether I say.

I think some people are being put off by the compressed perspective of the picture (which is forced because of the neccesity to fit everything in the frame). Does anyone prefer the below layout to the other one?

<img src="http://www.spanishcastle.com/justplanefun/plink_alt.jpg" border=0>

I like this prospective better because it give the impression the A-10 is a little higher and has traveled further passed the tank. Again the problem with the peice is the tank turrert, it's to large and close to the aircraft giving the impression it has flown a few hundered feet into the air and in the direction of the A-10.

You say we are being "put off" by the "compressed perspective" but that's a big part of art.... perspective. IMHO the turret needs to be down in, or near, the flames of the exploding tank. The way it looks now you have a couple of ton turret flying a few hundered feet into the air.

Ugly But Well Hung

corny

Coach

Well, this is where reality and art are starting to collide a bit, I'm afraid. Realistically, yeah, the hog would be hundreds of feet higher and the tank consequently much smaller...but I don't think it would make as dramatic a composition. For the same reason hollywood directors have flights of aircraft flying wingtip to wingtip instead of a true combat spread in order to fit them all in the camera shot, I feel compelled to bend the rules a bit here. In any event, I've hit a wall as far as just how much alteration I can make to the original art.

In my own defense, I have read of tanks having their turrets blown at least a hundred feet into the air, which is something that could conceivably happen to to a T-72, whose ammo stowage is placed in the right spot to do so should a penetrating hit cook it off. I don't know how LIKELY it is, or if it ever really did happen, but as long as I'm not straying too far into the realm of fantasy, I'm happy.

I DO appreciate your (and everyone else's) candor, though, which has already resulted in a significant improvement of my picture, turret notwithstanding. Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think (and giving me a great place to seek feedback) S!






Edited by - Fritz the Fox on Aug 07 2005 2:01 PM

Edited by - Fritz the Fox on Aug 07 2005 2:03 PM

Fritz, as long as you are happy with it bro then, it's all good. Your work does remind me of a "famous" A-10 painting called "one a tirger, always a tirger." Good work and good luck with it.

<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

Fritz - that latest image looks a better, it's funny how just moving it (the A-10) a little closer changes the perspctive.

I have a feeling several people who visit this forum will have a new wallpaper on their computer Monday morning.


Keep up the good work and I hope you stay around the board.



capche-capche da - we go forward together

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way-

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Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

I remember reading many times about 'flying turrets', I just don't think it works in that picture.
The Hog itself is beautifully rendered though........but maybe I would have had the Hog pulling off the target to present more of the exploding target in the shot....but what do I know, I've only ever painted a door.
Bet you wished you hadnt mentioned it now eh Fritz?

A really cool picture what you made Fritz the Fox.

Salute
Dutchy

Termites do it in the dark!
(47FS Barksdale afb)

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Fritz, very cool pic! Now, I'm not a driver, mender, or have any kind of "position" in the real hog community, but I do some of my own graphics work. In my humble opinion, for an artistic picture, it all works, but the turret is a little off. But read on!! I think an easy way to fix it is to simply make the whole turret smaller. This may require slight repositioning as well, to keep it obviously part of the explosion. But even if it was smaller, it would still be easy to tell what it is. And yes, it would put the hog further away from the explosion, but if it is a secondary explosion sending it up, that would be ok. If you did that, I think you may get a little better reception of the print.

Another thought, if you are after the "slightly cooked" hog look, like the explosion happened in very close proximity of the hog and he is barely pulling out of the smoke in time to make it out alive, maybe extend the smoke to slightly envelope the hog, especially around the tail area and maybe the wings. Maybe it wouldn't be so realistic, but would make a cool print. I understand that realism doesn't ALWAYS make cool prints for the general public. Even Dru Blair, who EXCELS in realistic avaiation art, has taken some unrealistic approaches for dramatic effect. (i.e. "foundations of freedom", "power", and his F-111 print, "timing is everthing" I believe the name is.) So I wouldn't worry TOO much about TOTAL realism if the targeted audience involves the general public. However, selling it to this crowd may be tougher.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Hope this helps, not hinders.... Keep up the good work, you have a good painting there...<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8A at your side, kid...--Hawg Solo

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\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo

Ahhh teh furriness!

Much funness, though Flash doesn't seem to be best there. You have any other archives?

"Some pup"
Nickname by Fenderstrat72

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Evil is evil, no matter how small.

I'd take the turret out altogether...

ATTACK!!!!!!!

And the Hawg in the background is too big...

ATTACK!!!!!!!

Well, you would have to have SOME part of the tank visible, I would think.

And how do you figure the background hog is too big? In relation to what? You mean following too close to the other one?<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8A at your side, kid...--Hawg Solo

_________________
\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo

There's already a burning hulk in the background...and yes, the other Hawg appears to be like 500 feet away...far too close to look realistic

ATTACK!!!!!!!

Well, again, he would have a hard time selling it to this crowd, but for the general public it helps make a cool picture....<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8A at your side, kid...--Hawg Solo

_________________
\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo