When the History Matters
Some stories require more than an illustration.
Over the years, Craig has worked with museums, historical organizations, veterans, restoration groups, and families to help preserve significant people, aircraft, vehicles, and events through art.
Every project is different. Some begin with extensive archives and established research. Others begin with a handful of photographs, documents, or memories that need to be pieced together. Craig works with the people who know the history best to determine how that story should be represented.
History Preserved in Different Ways
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial
Craig created the historical artwork and designed the marble memorial honoring the Tuskegee Airmen who trained at Walterboro Army Airfield. Completed in 2023, the project transformed historical illustration into a permanent memorial created to preserve the legacy of the 332nd Fighter Group for future generations.
CAF Spooky - Full-Scale AC-47 Paint Scheme
Craig developed the complete historical paint and markings package for the Gulf Coast Wing's Douglas R4D-6 conversion to represent the Vietnam-era AC-47 gunship Spooky. The project required translating historical research into full-scale specifications for camouflage, national insignia, aircraft markings, nose art, stenciling, colors, and placement across the aircraft.
Veterans Fundraising Gala · 2025
In 2025, Aces In Action was invited to support the National Veterans Parade Foundation through a fundraising gala benefiting the National Veterans Parade in Washington, D.C. Two Craig Tinder artworks were selected for the live auction, using historical art to help support an organization dedicated to honoring America's veterans.
Moonlit Nemesis — PBY-5A Catalina
Produced in partnership with the Military Aviation Museum, Moonlit Nemesis was developed around the museum's airworthy PBY-5A Catalina, BuNo. 48294. Craig paired the aircraft's wartime history with original artwork and authentic control-surface fabric removed from the Catalina, creating a limited edition directly connected to the museum's aircraft.
The First Victory — Nieuport 28
Created with support from the Collings Foundation and The Hangar at 743, The First Victory commemorates Douglas Campbell's first aerial victory and America's oldest airworthy fighter. Craig worked with Rob Collings, who provided access to the original WWI barracks layout and personal accounts from Campbell and his parents, while original linen removed during restoration of Nieuport No. 512 became part of the finished relic edition.
Beach City Baby — C-53 Skytrooper
Working with Vintage Wings, Craig created Beach City Baby around C-53 Skytrooper 41-20095 and the remarkable restoration that returned the historic transport to flight. Vintage Wings supplied original fuselage aluminum removed during the restoration, and print No. 1 of the completed limited edition resides with the organization alongside the aircraft.
Old Glory — B-25 Mitchell
Created in conjunction with The Hangar at 743 and the Prescott Foundation during the restoration of combat-veteran B-25J Old Glory, Craig's artwork commemorates the aircraft and the men of the 310th Bombardment Group. Original material removed from Old Glory's engine cowling during restoration was preserved within the resulting limited-edition artwork and collectibles.
Thunderhead of Precision
Created for the New England Air Museum, Thunderhead of Precision honors the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and the crews who flew these formidable aircraft. The collaboration paired Craig Tinder's historical artwork with authentic aluminum from B-29 44-61975, preserving a tangible piece of the aircraft within the finished relic edition and creating a direct connection between the artwork and the history it represents.
Every Project Starts With the Story
Institutional projects often involve much more than producing a finished image.
Craig may work from archival photographs, restoration records, firsthand accounts, aircraft documentation, museum research, surviving artifacts, or information provided by veterans and their families.
Depending on the project, that research can become a historical illustration, commemorative collectible, exhibit element, memorial, donor piece, museum-store edition, or another presentation designed around the organization's goals.
Ways We Can Work Together
HISTORICAL ARTWORK
Original artwork developed around a specific aircraft, vehicle, person, mission, event, or piece of organizational history.
RELIC EDITIONS
Limited-edition artwork and collectibles incorporating authentic material connected to the history being represented.
EXHIBITS & MEMORIALS
Artwork and visual concepts developed for permanent displays, commemorative installations, memorials, and historical presentations.
MUSEUM & ORGANIZATION COLLECTIONS
Collaborative products and editions developed for museum stores, fundraising initiatives, special events, anniversaries, and collector programs.
Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen at Walterboro
Craig was selected by the Hiram E. Mann Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen to help create a permanent memorial honoring the Tuskegee Airmen who trained at Walterboro Army Airfield in South Carolina.
Craig created the historical illustration and designed the artwork for the marble monument, working with those connected to the Tuskegee Airmen legacy to ensure the finished memorial appropriately represented their story.
Installed at the Walterboro Army Airfield Memorial Park, the project represents something central to Craig's work: using art not simply to depict history, but to help preserve it for the people who come next.
Let's Talk About Your Project
Whether you're planning an exhibit, commemorating an anniversary, preserving the story of an aircraft or vehicle, developing a museum-store collectible, or exploring an idea that doesn't fit neatly into a category, we'd be glad to hear about it.