HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This figure required only minor modification.I took the basic Legends and Lore figure of a Vegas mobster and added an arm from Tamiya's tank crewman.
I wanted a civilian figure dressed in a suit and tie that I could use standing alone and leaning up against a car or whatever I finally decide.The minor differences in suit styles of the different eras is really unimportant when viewed at a distance in this diorama.The only change to the tank members arm was to remove the cuff at the wrist.
With his clenched fist and frown he looks like an impatient driver waiting to get the show on the road.
As you can see only a small modification such as this can make for a completely different figure and help to add to the telling of the story.His relaxed pose means I can put him just about anywhere in the diorama as a supporting player.
Fun eh!
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

This figure required only minor modification.I took the basic Legends and Lore figure of a Vegas mobster and added an arm from Tamiya's tank crewman.
I wanted a civilian figure dressed in a suit and tie that I could use standing alone and leaning up against a car or whatever I finally decide.The minor differences in suit styles of the different eras is really unimportant when viewed at a distance in this diorama.The only change to the tank members arm was to remove the cuff at the wrist.
With his clenched fist and frown he looks like an impatient driver waiting to get the show on the road.
As you can see only a small modification such as this can make for a completely different figure and help to add to the telling of the story.His relaxed pose means I can put him just about anywhere in the diorama as a supporting player.
Fun eh!
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

In the above scanner print I used the standing Tamiya tank figure(the kit contains 2 figures)and the other arm from the turret guy and the head from I not know from where.Although I do think that it was maybe from a WW2 figure of some kind.
I took the high peak off of the cap and removed any emblems.The body is wearing your basic set of coveralls so no changes here.His right arm I moved slightly forward and I lowered his head.I will be positioning him standing in the the fuselages rear hole and removing instruments from the Jenny's instrument panel.Only the upper portion of his body and his feet sticking thru the the bottom will be easily visible.This figure will give a nice sense of scale to the fuselage assembly.His right gloved hand will not be seen.

[JohnReid]

This is a scanned pic of the unfinished gas/water portable pump unit.

[JohnReid]

Unfinished towbar assembly.

[JohnReid]

Unfinished fuse of the JN4A (basketcase)

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Hey,using this scanner for taking in progress pics is fun.
The above 2 pics when joined together are the L/H side of the JN4A fuselage which is being robbed for parts for the Canuck.I have left the sides pretty much completely covered with fabric, with the fuselage metal cowling on.I cheated a bit here as I really didnt want to install all the wires and fittings on the fuselage as I had done on the Canuck.It also gives the viewer an idea of how the airplane would look covered with its fabric and cockpit cowling.(anyway that is my story and I am sticking to it.
The cockpit combing is real aged leather from an old purse.The tarps are modified Kleenex .The grommet holes in the fuselage sides are where the control wires would pass through and the half moon is the pilots step.The original military insignia has been painted over with blue paint and you can see a few fabric patches here and there.
The weathering is not yet completed.This fuselage section will rest on the hangar floor on wooden blocks.There will be a mechanic working in the rear hole removing instruments from the instrument panel which should bring everything nicely into scale.