1:144 RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, United Kingdom, 1950's-1970's. 438mm(W) x 225mm(H)

Display Base for a 1:144 Model: RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, the 1950s to the 1970s

This is a large-format printed sheet on which a finished model is stood. It is neither a kit nor a decal; the base forms the surface on which the machine stands in a display case or in a photograph. The print captures the surface of RAF Coltishall air base in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom in the period from the 1950s to the 1970s. The format given is 438 x 225 mm, that is a rectangle rather than a square.

A tie to one base and one period

This base is not a universal surface. It is bound to one airfield and to one window of time, and that is decisive when choosing a model. For the scene to hold together, the machine standing on it should fall within the span of the 1950s to the 1970s and carry a paint scheme and national insignia matching the same period. A model two decades younger looks alien on this surface before a viewer has had time to study the details.

How to work with the base

• Stand the model so that its lengthwise axis follows the direction of the areas in the print; the rectangular format lends itself to that.
• The longer side gives room either for two smaller machines or for one aircraft with clearance ahead of the nose and behind the tail.
• Add to the scene only what suits the period; ground vehicles and crew figures must respect the same time frame as the model.
• Before photographing, check that the model's shadow does not fall exactly into a prominent joint in the print; a shift of a few centimeters is usually enough.

Who it is for

For modelers who build in 1:144 scale and want to stand a finished machine on a surface with a definite place and time rather than on neutral paper. It suits a display case, a club show and also as a base for photographing a model.

The base is a printed sheet intended for use under a model. The model, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.