Postwar Era – Gaëtan Marie's Aviation Profiles

TB-30 “Zébulon” commission

Gaëtan Marie — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:00:25 +0000

The Socata TB-30 Epsilon primarily served with the French air force, which ordered 150 aircraft that entered service in 1984. In French service, it acquired the nickname “Zébulon”. It became a public favourite thanks to the Cartouche Doré aerobatics team, which performed at numerous air shows between 1989 and 2016. The French air force retired the type in 2019. Many TB-30 found their way to the civilian market, including this aircraft, registrered F-AYLM. It still carries the colours of the Cartouche Doré team.

This was created as a commission for a custom gift. If you would also like a custom-made profile, feel free to contact me. The cost depends on the amount of work required but for an aircraft type that I’ve already represented the cost is typically 70€ or less, making it a great option for custom prints or gifts !

New type created : MD Helicopters MD 500

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:40:44 +0000

While helicopters aren’t my strong suit, I’ve done a few helo illustrations here and there. I recently had the opportunity to create an MD 500 illustration for a special project, and decided to make a profile of G-CIMJ as well. It was quite interesting to discover the history of the Hughes 369 / MD 500 / OH-6 family, which is quite varied. More than 4,700 examples have been built, making it one of the most popular helicopter models in existence.

The TB-30 Epsilon, a little late !

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 22:52:07 +0000

Last summer, I presented a work in progress of the SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon, but never got around to showing the finished work. I’ll correct this omission now, with a series depicting the Epsilon in French air force service. France operated 150 of these nice-looking trainers from 1983 to 2019. They were a crowd favorite at airshows due to the well-known aerobatics team “Cartouche Doré”, which flew the type.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 69, EPAA 00.315, BA 709 Cognac-Châteaubernard, 2013. This is the early French AF paint scheme for the Epsilon.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 144, EPAA 00.315, BA 709 Cognac-Châteaubernard, 2018. Late in the Epsilon’s career, the white paint scheme was replaced by this blue-grey paint scheme.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 90, F-SEXG, Cartouche Doré, 2011. From 1989 to 2016, the Cartouche Doré team sported several paint schemes, this one being the longest-lasting and best-known.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 141, F-SEZF, Cartouche Doré, 2012. For the last five years of its existence, this was the paint scheme sported by Cartouche Doré Epsilons.

Armée de l’Air, TB-30 No 118, special retirement scheme, 2019. When the Epsilon was retired from service in 2019 and replaced by the Pilatus PC-21, this special scheme commemorating the various operational and Cartouche Doré schemes was created by designer Régis Rocca.

Work in Progress – Bristol Brigand

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 14:36:06 +0000

I’m currently working on an aircraft that is more impressive than it looks : the Bristol Brigand. Designed as a replacement for the Beaufighter, some 174 were built as anti-shipping, ground attack or dive bomber aircraft and served from 1946 to 1955. Despite its size and maximum take-off weight of 39,000 lbs, it could reach a speed of 362 mph and a range of 2,800 miles.

Work in progress : TB-30 Epsilon

Gaëtan Marie — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 10:38:27 +0000

I haven’t been posting much recently as I’ve been very busy with work. The latest work in progress is the Socata TB-30 Epsilon, a French light military trainer that first flew on 22 December 1979 and entered service in the French air force in 1983. It also served with the Portuguese, Togolese and Senegalese air forces and is now being found increasingly in civilian hands.

The template should be finished in a few days, and will be followed by other projects and illustrations, including a certain American racer of the 1930s which never won a race in its career. Can you guess what it is ?

Irish Historic Flight’s Chipmunk “169”

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:04:30 +0000

The Irish Historic Flight operates three DHC-1 Chipmunks, including “169”, a Chipmunk T.10 which originally served in the Royal Air Force as WD305 until 1962. More information on 169, and the other aircraft operated by the Irish Historic Flight can be found on their website.

Click on the image for the full-resolution illustration (Warning: heavy file!)

Work in progress / Coming soon : the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk

Gaëtan Marie — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 20:37:30 +0000

I’ve been working on the classic Chipmunk – a personal favourite that has proven trickier to do than I thought ! The template is about 95% done, but there are still some details to be added. Stay tuned for more !

Rafale Heavy

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 14:13:12 +0000

Here is a heavily-loaded Rafale B from EC 1/4 “Gascogne”, wearing the “wolf’s head” of escadrille SPA 79 and carrying GBU-12s and the Damoclès pod. It carries multiple strike markings beneath the cockpit.

The Roaring Three

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 13 May 2019 14:49:33 +0000

Just as last year with Bandit Nightmare, I’ve had the honour and the pleasure of working with 3/3 Squadron “Les Félins” to represent their latest NATO Tiger Meet entry: the Gazelle named “The Roaring Three”. The paint scheme is once again the child of designer Régis Rocca, and was painted by Seb “Harry” Bault.

Visit 3/3 Squadron’s Facebook page for more pictures and information.

Click the image for full detail.

New template: Beechcraft Bonanza

Gaëtan Marie — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:30:14 +0000

The Beechcraft saga continues with the Bonanza. In this case it is the F-33 aerobatic variant, with side, top and bottom views created. Despite being a rather sleek and clean aircraft, this was also a fairly challenging set of templates to create. With over 17,000 Bonanza/Debonair produced since 1947, the type ranks as one of the most produced aircraft in history and holds the record for the longest continuous production of any airplane in history.

Click on the images for high-definition views of the templates: