Willow Grove NAS Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum

[blakeh1]

It has been decades since I had been to this museum (last time I was there they had that german WWII jet)

At any rate, over time thy rotate or trade out old and receive new aircraft for the displays.

Also lots of really cool models inside as well

This is what they currently had starting off with the Sea Dart

 

[blakeh1]

F-4
(found some nice areas to reference for weathering purposes)


like the streaking on the bottom of the nose cone here

and the exposed metal in the engine exhaust area

 

[blakeh1]

 

[blakeh1]

A-10

 

[blakeh1]

Tried color matching Vallejo Dark Ghost Grey with the appropriate area. Seems way too dark, but then again most aircraft pics of seem much lighter and greyer than the model paint colors I have seen. Of course this bird has also sitting out in the sun for years

 

[blakeh1]

A-4




Tried color matching Vallejo Light Gull Grey FS36440 against the actual paint. Of course this thing has been sitting out in the sun and weathering for many years, but not too far off?

 

[blakeh1]

F-8 unfortunately is on the other side of the fenced in area and you can't get close to it/walk around it



Same with the F-84 ? Thunderstreak and P3 Orion

 

[blakeh1]

FJ-4B Fury




F-9F Panther

 

[blakeh1]

No engines in the F-18 A but some nice examples of weathering in some areas

 

[the Baron]

Thanks for sharing your photos, Blake!
I grew up not far from Willow Grove, in Harleysville. We were close to one of the approaches to the field, and I used to get to see the Orions returning. And later, the A-10s on their approaches.

 

[the Baron]

No engines in the F-18 A but some nice examples of weathering in some areas


View attachment 106218

It's like an old-school kit from the early days! Gotta block that off with some plastic card.

 

[blakeh1]

And some cool indoor model displays
Sorry the pics are not the greatest. I was using my crappy phone instead of the good camera.

Will be going back later to get some better pics. If anyone is interested in a particular area/aircraft I can also get some better pics then

 

[blakeh1]

Thanks for sharing your photos, Blake!
I grew up not far from Willow Grove, in Harleysville. We were close to one of the approaches to the field, and I used to get to see the Orions returning. And later, the A-10s on their approaches.

Lived a couple miles away off County Line Rd in Warminster from the late 90's up until 2015, then moved out a bit further up to Jamison in 2015. I miss watching the A-10s

 

[blakeh1]

It's like an old-school kit from the early days! Gotta block that off with some plastic card.

that is exactly what I thought

 

[blakeh1]

They had a really cool model of the Enterprise. I am guessing this is the Tamiya 1/350 one. Hard to get good pics of it due to where it was sitting





and what I assume is a Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet

 

[blakeh1]

 

[blakeh1]

 

[the Baron]

The fella who built the TBF without a base, Joe Wagner, is a member of our Delaware Valley Scale Modelers club. The last time the Region 2 show was held in the area (Cherry Hill), he headed a club project for a build that we would all enter as a club. We used the Eduard P-39Q kit in 1/48. Joe held a seminar each month, on techniques to improve our building skills. Sure, the intent was to place in the contest, but the techniques are just good modeling techniques, too. I don't think any of us won anything, but I know mine was the best airplane model I built, and the techniques really did help me.
The old-timers in the club tell the story, too, that back in the day (early 80s), DVSM met at Willow Grove. Someone knew one of the officers in the administration there, who arranged for it. It was apparently a great venue. Till that gentleman retired, and so our contact evaporated, heh.

 

[blakeh1]

It's a great build!