Memorial guitar....

[corsair5517]

Rightio, fellas..... I'm going to do an solidbody guitar up with a NZ/Australia pacific aviation scheme as a tribute to my father and his mate, a Boomerang pilot.
My thoughts are to have silhouettes of a Corsair and a Boomerang on the front of the guitar but the trouble is I can't find any really sharp silhouettes on the web. I'd like the Corsair to be pictured in a steeply banked turn towards the camera, and the Boomerang the same. So my question is, does anyone have such a picture they would be willing to let me have a digital copy of? I'd be very grateful and would document progress here if anyone expressed an interest.
I thought that perhaps the headstock of the guitar could perhaps show the ribbon bar that Dad wears? Would there be any ethical objection to such a portrayal, do you think?

Thanks for any and all help, people

John

[ngatimozart]

As far as the headstock goes in my opinion there is no ethical problems because it is about respecting and honouring what your father did. I think that that is very highly commendable and an honourable thing. To put it in a Māori term (coz I am one) you are respecting, acknowledging and honouring your dads mana and you are adding to it. That is a very good and awesome thing that you are doing for your dad & his mate. The guitar as whole sounds an extremely awesome concept. Will follow this with much interest. Good luck and best wishes.

[corsair5517]

OK.... here's mock up or two...







Preferences, people?? To all those who posted pix of a/c in a banked turn, thank you, but I couldn't get them right for the project! Sorry...
The Corsair will probably be airbushed by a local magician, but the headstock will be waterslide decals.

[Dave Homewood]

You could paint the ribbon colours along the whole fingerboard perhaps, or would that be too garish?

[corsair5517]

I have the body back from the painter, and am well pleased....



... and the headstock, while not 100%, is OK for a while!!



... note that the idiot engraver engraved the headstock with Dads name at 90° to how he was instructed!! I've had issues with the decals reacting with the clear I'm using... anybody care to jump in here with some welcome advice?!

Just a few finishing touches and she'll be a runner!!

[flyjoe180]

Wow that looks great!

[corsair5517]

Rightio, troops... I'm gonna do another guitar, this one being a memorial to the Australian ground forces in Bougainville in 1945. However, to tie it in with my Corsair guitar, I'd like a representation of a flying helmet such as the kiwis wore to go along with the slouch hat motif I'm planning: does anyone have a good clear photo of such an item I can use, please??

Thanks gang!!