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Modeling Soundz... :: by Steve-O
Then it's time for the Shadow..."Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knooows!" Then that maniacal laugh and the story begins. Heaven help those who dare challenge the Shadow, whom no man has ever seen. Those Blue Coal commercials make you feel warm and cozy...
Up next, it's the Moonlight Serenade. "Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, coming to you from the Glen Island Casino, overlooking Long Island Sound just off the Shore Road at New Rochelle New York..." Glenn opens the program with "The Lady's in Love With You", a tasty number with a Tex Beneke vocal (and some help from Glenn himself). Next up, Ray Eberle singing a sweet tune called "Indian Summer" followed by Marion Hutton and Tex on a hot tune, "The Rhumba Jumps". The program ends with a rousing rendition of "The One O'clock Jump", another hot number. Now for another news update, looks like Poland is in for it. What's next...?
AH! "Lux presents Hollywood! The Lux Radio Theatre brings you George Brent, Olivia DeHavilland and John Payne in "Wings of the Navy". Ladies and Gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille..."
Can you imagine what it would have been like to sit around the radio back then and hear all this stuff? Back then it was just another day, another bad news bulletin, another hysterical Jack Benny program with it's bevvy of running gags, another fifteen minutes of music by the nations's foremost proponent of the swing trombone and another radio dramatization of a hit from the Silver Screen on Lux Radio Theatre. Today it all serves to give us insight as to what our world was like back then. It also serves to inspire one, in this case, in his model building.
I listen to Lux's "Wings of the Navy" and I want to build that Accurate Miniatures F3F-3 and put that flashy 30's Navy paint scheme on it. Natural metal or silver painted fuselage, Chrome Yellow wings and a bright red, green, blue or even a black tail.
I listen to any episode of the Shadow and what comes to mind? The program where he took flight in an autogyro to find the gang of bad guys that had a device that would disable an aircraft's engines, forcing it to crash land so it's passengers could be robbed and the wreckage looted. With the autogyro, of course, even if the engine went out the Shadow could make it down safely. Even as I write this, I find myself looking over at that 1/48 Williams Brothers Pitcairn Autogyro. The possibilities are running through my mind as I type.
Whenever I hear any Glenn Miller tune, I think of his last broadcast before entry into the AAF, V-discs and his many shows and programs for the fighting men overseas. I then inevitably wind up thinking, with a heavy heart, of his last flight over the English Channel in a Norseman. Little is known of this last flight, including the markings of the UC-64 in which it was taken. But just in case I ever find out what markings that aircraft carried, you can be sure that the Modelcraft UC-64 I have will carry them as well.
Command Performance, Bob Hope and Frances Langford... I think of the USO tours Bob & Frances made, especially in the MTO and his visits to such flying units as the 79th and 325th Fighter Groups. Miss Langford's extended use of the Checkertail Clan's shower facilities is legendary, and the photos of the two entertainers with LtCol. Baseler in front of Baseler's Warhawk named "Stud - Mortimer Snerd" have me looking through the workshop for a specific Aeromaster decal sheet. I think I have some AMT P-40F's around here somewhere...
Like Dan said, sometimes you have to listen to something 'cuz IT JUST FITS. Heck, if I'm gonna do a Vietnam-era project, out comes the Stones' "Paint it Black" and the soundtrack to "Goooooood Morning Vietnaaaaam". If I'm gonna build armor, I sport the devil's horns and break out the HEAVY METAL! (lmao) Not really...
Those of you who know me well may know who my favorite modern musician/singer/songwriter is. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits has done many a song that has either inspired me, in one way or another, in my model building or evoked an interest in a particular modeling subject. "Single Handed Sailor" is a song about the Cutty Sark. Then there's "Ride Across the River" which tells a tale of mercenaries fighting in a war that isn't theirs. "The Man's Too Strong" is a portrait of a lawless former drummer boy after the Civil War, "Brothers in Arms" is about a soldier's last moments on the battlefield, "Iron Hand" is actually about a miners' strike in England but evokes visions of knights and heavy cavalry in days of yore, "Done With Bonaparte" is the story of a French soldier from the Napoleonic era and "Speedway at Nazareth" follows an Indy Car driver through a season of racing. There are others that have an air about them which put a picture or two in one's mind. I use those pictures in many ways, including as a catalyst for model building.
I have to say that, as of late, OTR and Big Band Swing music have become favorites of mine. It's only natural, my main modeling interests are WWII aircraft and military vehicles. It's a case of my modeling inspiring an interest in something which further inspires my modeling! It also helps to have some cool people who share this interest as friends. After all, what is all this stuff we have; the models, the music and everything else, if we don't share it? As Dan offered in his article, I shall do the same. If you think you may have an interest in OTR or music of the 30's & 40's, give either one of us a shout. We'll be happy to help you out. I leave you now with an appropriate line from a song of the same name...
Fade to Black...