HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The above 2 pics show some of the plastic brass painted parts from the kit.The first pic of various parts are as they come out of the box.To age brass I simply airbrush a fine mist of thin black gesso on the bare parts.I use gesso because it sticks to about anything and dries to a flat finish.I wouln't attempt doing this with anything else other than gesso.
The bottom pic shows the windshield/firewall assembly weathered in this manner.The firewall has been aged more than the windshield frame.You will have to experiment a bit here to please yourself.If you put on too much take a wet paper towel and remove it and try again.
For those of you who do not have an airbrush,take an old toothbrush at dunk it in a thin mix of Gesso and distilled water and finger flick(my term) a fine spray of this mix onto the part.Start by finger spraying onto a plain piece of paper and when the spray is fine enough start spraying the part.If you are careful and patient this will do the job as well as any airbrush.It will just take a little longer. biggrin.gif

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Well it's back to figures for awhile.The first of the above 2 pics is a figure of John Dillenger by Legends and Lore.The 2nd pic is of Mr. Dillon my office manager.
As you can see the machine gun was replaced with a large ledger(a little distorted by the scanner but you get the idea)His other hand holding the hand gun was cut at the elbow and dropped to his side and the gun was removed.Very little else had to be modified other than colors.
The next pic that I will put up will be of Bonnie and Clyde the famous bank robbers.I will try to explain how I will go about modifing them .Clyde and Bonnie will have split up and she has become the barnstormers girlfriend.(Ah, those dashing pilots always get the girl don't they) Clyde will become the truck driver unloading a rope or chain from the back of the truck.I am doing these figures now as they will be placed in or around the red truck that I am presently weathering.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Well I can understand Clyde being a little ticked off at Bonnie's sudden departure but the scowl on Bonnie's face and especially the cigar will have to go.
I already have a rough idea of how I want to position them in the diorama but nothing is final yet.
I have already worked on Clyde's body and have begun painting it.I will simply replace the gun with a rope or chain that he will be unloading from the back of the truck.
Bonnie on the other hand is going to require a little work.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]