Episode 128 – WOA – Juanita Franzi

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Guest: Aviation artist Juanita Franzi

Hosts: Dave Homewood and James Kightly

Recorded: 27th of November 2015

Duration:  29 minutes 42 seconds

In this final episode in the Wings Over Australia sub-series, Dave and James discuss aviation profile art with Juanita Franzi of Sydney. Juanita has a background in engineering and graphic design, and she is nowadays one of the world’s more well known aircraft profile artists. Her work appears in many books and magazines, and she’s also worked with model companies in the past to produce accurate model colour schemes and shapes.

Quick Links:

•  Juanita Franzi Aero Illustrations Website

•  Juanita Franzi Aero Illustration Facebook Page

Above: Juanita with one of her artworks, an RAAF McDonnell Douglas FA-18 Hornet
(Photo: Dave Homewood)

Here are some examples of Juanita’s work
This detail artwork of a Polish Air Force Ansaldo A.1 Balilla was prepared for the upcoming Aviattic model kit. In the background is an infographic depicting the final minutes of the British airship R101.

Juanita researches her subjects in great depth. For this Mirage IIID drawing Juanita utilised photos and measurements she’d taken from the Fighter World example along with original Dassault drawings and information from various manuals. For some aircraft types, particularly extinct RAF types, it’s not possible to obtain this quality of technical information. This profile represents A3-105 in the temporary brown camouflage it was wearing at the time of its loss, April 1984.

RAAF Lockheed C-130E Hercules and McDonnell Douglas FA-18A Hornet – Juanita has produced a series of prints featuring RAAF aircraft. There are available from the RAAF Museum Pt Cook Online Shop and DefenceGifts.com.au. Keep an eye on her Facebook page for announcements of future print releases.

A mix bag of WWII heavies: Martin B-26 ‘Flak-Bait’ toward the end of its combat life; RCAF Lancaster that was converted to a firebomber in the 1960’s; Handley Page Halifax from No. 462 Squadron.

The Meteor F.8 is one of Juanita’s personal favourites. Also included is a Dutch Fairey Firefly and an example of Juanita’s scale drawing work… in this case a Peruvian Douglas O-38.

WW2 theme is continued with a RNZAF Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk training aircraft and a RCAF Avro Anson. In the background is an infographic explaining to operation of the USN’s anti-submarine Retrobomb.