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Saturday, 3 July 2021

MIRROR MIRROR

Further to the recent comments on light, and whether light reflected from a mirror can illuminate things, here are a couple of photos of a friction-powered Lockheed P-38 Lightning toy that I just picked up. Unfortunately, the starboard propeller has lost its blades, but everything else seems OK. The oddest thing about the toy are the rockets (?) flanking the cockpit - those must have made it difficult for the pilot to get in and out.

Photo 1 - top - was taken only with the light coming in from the right hand side, leaving the left side of the P-38 in shadow. 

For Photo 2 - bottom - a mirror was used to reflect the light coming from the right, back on to the left side of the toy.

Hope that helps to clear things up. Mirrors reflect light as well as images, and can be used to reduce shadows, at least in model photography.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

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5 comments:

  1. Unknown7/03/2021 4:09 am

    Oops. The top photo shows the model with a mirror illuminating the left side; the bottom photo shows the model without the mirror and the left side in shadow. Using a mirror to bounce light back in to the shadow areas does make a difference.
    Paul Adams from New Zealand

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    Replies
    1. WOODSY7/03/2021 8:37 am

      Sorry Paul. My bad. I think I was in a rush that day!

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  2. WOTAN7/03/2021 10:38 am

    A reflector or a mirror is extremely useful in photographing models, especially when the natural or available light is restricted. Tin foil is also useful for lighting by reflection, its uneven surface increases the specularity of the light, making it uneven and diffuse, so the model looks that little bit less bright and pointedly lit.

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  3. WOTAN7/03/2021 10:41 am

    The Lightning is a great aircraft, but I dont think it ever had wing mounted rockets! I used to love poring over the old Aitfix catalogues looking for the more unusual models like this or the Black Widow, Blohm and Voss BV 141 or the fabulous English Electric Lightning.

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  4. Paul Adams from New Zealand7/03/2021 8:07 pm

    The Lightning could carry rockets under the wings, but not flanking the cockpit. That was something the toy designer just threw in to make the model more exciting. I assume mounting them on top of the aircraft rather than below would make them more visible during play ? Still a fun toy, and a good addition to the collection. I did build the Airfix BV-141, what a weird aircraft. Never built a Black Widow.

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