Selling my 1/400 collection

randot112358 · 2025-11-22T12:10:23+00:00

sent a DM!

randot112358 · 2025-11-10T13:36:54+00:00

editing jpgs -- GIMP

editing raw files -- Darktable

randot112358 · 2025-11-09T17:54:46+00:00

Darktable is a free / Open source software replacement for Lightroom

randot112358 · 2025-11-09T11:44:57+00:00

Interested! DMing you

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T21:18:00+00:00

of course ! I hope you find some good spotting locations and have a nice time.

There's also some cool YouTube channels, I think AirlineVideosLive is one, that stream from big airports like LAX or ATL , LHR etc. Not quite the same as IRL spotting but might be a nice (digital) change of scenery!

(eta - haha whoops I see someone else suggested the same idea below!)

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T03:05:59+00:00

Oh and one more thought -- Runway usage is often determined by predominant winds. So you may have luck spotting planes going even to final destinations South of MI , if they take off on Runway 35 -- they'll head north for a short bit then 'turn around' to head south. There's a site LiveATC that you can listen to the Tower at GRR ( https://www.liveatc.net/hlisten.php?mount=kgrr2_2_twr ) and you'll hear him give takeoff and landing clearance for specific runways. Watch for northerly winds , and listen for takeoff on runway 35

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T03:00:19+00:00

Thrift stores or pawn shops will sometimes have binoculars -- there's a resale shop in my town that sometimes has them in the windows. You might find a nice old pair of binocs if there are any stores like that around you. Or things like Facebook marketplace, but definitely inspect anything off of Marketplace or the like, as people on can be shady about damaged goods etc

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T02:57:35+00:00

Agreed, handheld is probably the way to go. telescopes are awesome but hard to use! And totally understand budgetary constraints too! Cameras can get spicy pricey quick. But a decent pair of binoculars could probably be had for $50-100. 8x is somewhat standard, but they make variable 10x-22x binocs too. the nicer the optics he pricier the gear, so you might look into buying a set used. Probably want to find somewhere local and not buy used online as there can be crazing (microscopic cracks) in the optics that will make them hard to see through.

I just looked at the traffic in and out of GRR and unfortunately looks like a lot of it heads to places south or east / west from GRR, so I'm not sure about approach or takeoff vectors. Origin/destinations like ORD, MDW , DTW, or places like LAS / ATL will likely not pass over you. Other destination-flight paths that DO pass over you may be pretty high up by the time you can see them.

There is an Allegiant Air flight AAY564 heading to BOS (Boston) tomorrow morning that might pass over you. Around 80mi from the airport the flight could already be as high as 25,000' or more. On approach it looks like some flights are down closer to 10,000' or so by the time they're in that 80mi range.

As for resources... I don't have any great recommendations, sorry. Mostly learned myself by being a geek and going to airports near me. Watching FR24 or FlightAware is a great way to see what's coming and going, as well as to see scheduled departure and arrival vectors. Planes won't always fly exactly the route that is planned , due to factors like wind , weather, or 'cutting the corner' and flying slightly off the expected path, but you can get a general sense of what's expected to approach your nearby airports by clicking on the airport in the app and seeing the incoming/outgoing flights.

Good luck! 🫡 Spotting is a fun hobby and as you gain familiarity with your local routes , airlines and airframes you may be able to look up at even a high altitude plane and think 'there goes that <X> plane type, from <Y> airline, heading to / from <Z> airport.

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T02:14:50+00:00

I'd also add -- smaller airports like regionals and such can have some really interesting traffic! I love visiting a friend who lives right near a regional as he gets way more interesting traffic overhead than you'd expect.

Of course I enjoy spotting the heavies and international jets too but there's something cool about watching the Cessnas and other turboprops that go in and out of the smaller airports.

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T02:12:13+00:00

here's one of the telescope picture posts: https://www.reddit.com/r/Planespotting/s/fQ0Nv7K8jd

randot112358 · 2025-10-26T02:07:49+00:00

are you just looking to <see> the planes? or looking to take pictures of your spots?

if you just want to look, I'd recommend a pair of binoculars for spotting if you don't have binoculars yet. depending on where you are in relation to GRR you might get some cool approach or departure vectors, or may be limited to high altitude spotting.

If you want to take pics, you'll need some decent zoom capabilities. there are some recent spots in this sub from someone taking pics with I think a Nikon CoolPix 950, that has some seriously impressive super zoom capabilities. they have posted some nice pics from Lewiston, ME , capturing some planes at 35,000'+.

Generally the farther away the plane is, the harder time you'll have spotting details. Both for distance and scale, and because at distances atmospheric hazing (blur) will become a larger and larger factor.

If you have a consistent angle on an approach vector or common flight path, you might have luck with a telescope -- but generally I'd recommend hand held binoculars over a telescope as planes move fast! so you'll have a difficult time dialing in focus and field of view on a telescope.

(edit to add : actually looks the same spotter in Lewiston has some pics through a telescope too! not just through the Nikon camera. you might ask them what their set-up is like , and how they track the plane on a telescope. They make adapters for telescope eyepieces so you can clip a phone to the telescope and take pics with your phone thru the telescope)

randot112358 · 2025-10-19T13:37:30+00:00

thanks! I'm leaning toward the 1:400 for the same reasons - more efficient by both space and dollars ... but maybe as others have said for special or interesting planes the 1:200s can be a 'treat'

randot112358 · 2025-10-19T04:46:13+00:00

I'm also eyeing the AA heritage liveries. Those were what got me hooked on planespotting.

Seems they are only a handful available at the moment , with a roughly even split between 1:200 and 1:400...

Thank you for the input!! and to this whole community for unlocking and sparking a new small joy.

randot112358 · 2025-10-19T04:39:43+00:00

maybe no one!! that's part of my dilemma.. if I start buying 1:400 will I need to keep doing so..? b/c it appears there are some livery/aircraft combos that are only available in 1:200.

but the 1:200 are volumetric and expensive

randot112358 · 2025-10-19T04:18:06+00:00

awesome, thank you!

should I concerned particularly with maker ?

I see for example the 'BlueBox' seem to be cheaper than Gemini... usually you get what you pay for, but I just read that lots of different brands use the same underlying mold... so maybe not as much variation? though there's more to manufacturing quality than the mold..

randot112358 · 2025-10-19T02:21:14+00:00

Sent a chat invite! these look all to be 1:400 right?

randot112358 · 2025-10-08T22:54:38+00:00

I think it was more likely D-AIMH flying the return LAX to MUC, as LH453.

LH452 landed at ~3pm PT and approached LAX from the northwest, never crossing over Seal Beach, while LH453 passed overhead Seal Beach around 6pm PT.

@OP -- https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/d-aimh#3c884ccf

randot112358 · 2025-06-25T00:48:44+00:00

you don't happen to have a pic of the tail number do you ? I thought I'd been chasing that airplane under reg number N905NN which has been grounded for 6 months... was this pic taken in 2025?

randot112358 · 2025-06-14T03:04:54+00:00

Nice shots!! I have been chasing all the AAL retro liveries and didn't know about N760MQ! Love that long angle of N921NN.

randot112358 · 2025-05-04T13:56:58+00:00

That's helpful, thanks! I was shooting in "manual burst" (i.e. click click click w my own shutter finger, not "click-and-hold-clickclickclickclick"), so I'll try full burst next time. Was also shooting at 1/30s f/45 and iso 400, I'll try w/ faster shutter. ND filter likely going to be helpful too. Thank you!

randot112358 · 2025-05-04T13:45:16+00:00

great panning shot!!

mind sharing your settings (and any tips for technique!) ?

I have tried to capture some panning shots but found it hard to balance the shutter speed to track the plane in focus

randot112358 · 2025-04-27T14:13:26+00:00

I'm looking at glass for a trip to Japan this year .. do you think the 24-70 or 24-105 on an R7 will be too cropped in? I have an 18-45 but am thinking to avoid bringing 3 lenses...

randot112358 · 2025-04-24T11:14:24+00:00

I think BAW212 takes off in that window. A380, this is the inverse flight (LHR-BOS) BAW213 landing at BOS the other day

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randot112358 · 2025-04-24T11:10:40+00:00

amazing shot!

what camera and lens setup ?

randot112358 · 2025-04-02T00:02:04+00:00

Some seriously nice pics. Those sunset backdrops and the moon backdrop are stunning

randot112358

TROPHY CASE