Using AI to create realistic backgrounds for your models

[tomprobert]

Afternoon all,

 

I've been having a play with ChatGPT and using this AI programme to create realistic backgrounds for my models. I've often wanted to make my builds look more realistic when photographing them but do not have the knowledge or the skill set to effectively do this. However, I put a few of my completed model pictures into ChatGPT and was pleasantly surprised at how it created backgrounds which are really quite passable as the real thing. 

 

For this shot of a 1/48 Halifax, I simply asked it to make my model look as if it was parked on grass and it came up with this:

 

 

There's some distortion of the propeller blades and the nose looks a little bloated, but overall I thought it pretty good!

 

I next asked it to do the same with an Airfix 1/24 Spitfire:

 

 

Again not bad, but the grass looks a little out of scale.

 

This one I particularly liked - here I asked it to make the model look as if it was flying at high altitude above an undercast and it came up with this from AMT's 1/72 XB-35:

 

 

For this Welsh Models' 1/72nd Boeing 737, I simply asked it to make my model look as if it was taxiing at a modern day airport:

 

 

If I'm being picky, the taxi way line runs straight onto the grass, but otherwise not bad. Likewise for this 1/144th Eastern Express MD-11:

 

 

Here's the Revell 1/32nd Hunter after being asked to park it on a 1970s British Airfield - here the angles are not quite perfect and the Hunter's fuselage has been slightly distorted and the angle of the pitot out:

 

 

It did a much better job with this Trumpeter 1/32 Lightning though!

 

 

AI works particularly well when a model is photographed from slightly above and you ask it to park your model on a concrete hardstanding. Check out this 1/48 Aeroclub Vulcan:

 

 

Airfix 1/72nd Shackleton:

 

 

Tamiya 1/32nd Phantom:

 

 

Mach2 1/72nd Boeing 727:

 

 

I had a go with a couple of flying shots - here's the 1/48th scale Monogram B-17G and another I converted to a B-17C:

 

 

 

Gaining in confidence in how it all works, I asked it to park my 1/32 Sunderland on a slipway at a WWII flying boat base and it came up with this!

 

 

I've discovered the key is have your pictures taken on a plain background, and keep the instructions you give concise and to the point. If not, things can go awry - as seen here with one of the my first efforts with the Halifax picture above and asking ChatGPT to make it look as if it was landing at a WWII RAF base!

 

 

I'm sharing this as I thought others might find it useful and to be honest, its great fun! I've got a bit excited and have many more images of my completed models over the years converted as such, some more successfully than others. 

 

Anyway, perhaps have some fun with your own, and feel free to share them here!

 

Tom

[dennismcc]

They look great, I will have to investigate further.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[BiggTim]

Very cool idea!!

[LSP_Kevin]

Fascinating stuff, Tom! I've been following your posts about this on Facebook. Have you seen the stuff James Mellor is posting? Incredibly realistic!

 

Kev

[geedubelyer]

Hi Tom.

I've just spotted this topic and quite by chance began a related thread earlier this evening. 

I asked if anyone had used an AI platform called Grok or similar to animate their models. 

Your topic is roughly along the same lines. 

 

Interesting that you mention to keep instructions short and sweet. 

I misguidedly believed you had to be very descriptive to get good results. 

Happy that you've proven otherwise. 

Well done. 

 

Cheers,

Guy

[Gazzas]

I've been considering doing just this.  But alas...   some of the facebook sites where I post are banning AI generated materials.