I picked up a great book at the Ottawa museum called "On Miniature Wings." by Thomas J. Dietz.It contains some really beautiful pics of model aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum.Published in 1995 I picked up mine for less than 10 bucks Canadian.
I was surpised but in amoung all the mostly 1/16th scratchbuilt models there was one diorama.It is a great diorama but the interesting thing is the diorama is 1/72 scale and contains 4 plastic aircraft models of the Douglas World Cruiser.In addition there are building and other elements from model RR scenery.
Most casual observers would not recognize the significance of this but as a dioramist it means acceptance of our artform by one of the worlds great institutions, The Smithsonian. Plastic airplanes in diorama settings are acceptable as works of art even though they may contain commercially available models.
I dont know about you but I would consider it a great honor to have one of my works accepted there.So my diorama modeling friends, who amoung you (especially Americans) will be the next to elevate their plastic models to the Smithsonian .Like someone said you might as well shoot for the moon because if you fail you will only land amoung the stars.
Cheers! John.
