HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 29 July 2006, 08:27 AM

JohnReid · 29 July 2006, 09:10 AM

The Bonnie figure now has her arms.Her left arm was used as is but her right one required a little surgery.Neither arm has been permanently glued at this point.
As you can see ,I cut the right arm at the elbow and extended it .I sanded the joint and shaped it to conform to this new position.Because this arm was twisted as well as bent,I have had to change the musculature a bit.This new joint was drilled and pinned and then crazy glued together.Same procedure for the hand.
Now ,in order to sculpt the musculature I will use 2 part epoxy paste.I will over-build the areas that I want to sculpt and leave it to set for 24 hours.Because the arm is still free from the body this should not be too difficult.Also the hand requies some final shaping .
I will post a new pic after I have applied the 2 part epoxy .
Cheers! John.
The modeling is going a little slow these days as my 11 year old next door neighbour (he is like an adopted grandchild) is helping (?) me .He is a fast learner at modeling and flying computer games.He is already flying the Flight Simulator 2000,Concorde and all!
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JohnReid · 29 July 2006, 01:22 PM

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 07:23 AM

I see Model Celler has joined our group.As you know I have used their figures extensively in my latest diorama.As I have mentioned before on this thread they are of really high quality mostly in very lifelike, relaxed poses which suits my purposes very well.The facial expressions are some of the best that I have seen.They are very clean with no flash and only require a soap and water wash before painting.And no I don't own any shares in the company !

Cheers! John.

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 07:40 AM

Clyde now has his head!

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 08:26 AM

Thumbs up Thanks Guys!
Paul Ondeck, I dont know who the artist is that developed your Billy B. and Eddie R. figures but he may like to know that those two figures were what inspired me to do the "Memories of Flight School " diorama.When I saw the Billy B "thumbs up" and the laughing Eddie R figures I just had to build a storyline around them.
As a dioramist I owe so much to those mostly unsung artists who contribute so greatly to my dioramas.Without them I wouln't be able to do what I do ,as miniature sculpting of the human figure is an artistic challenge that I have yet to take up.After I get this diorama thing out of my blood (if ever) I hope to join the ranks of miniature figures carvers using wood as my medium as that is the material that I am most familiar with.Anyway thanks again and keep those great figures coming as we dioramists need all the help we can get!
Cheers! John.

StephenLawson · 30 July 2006, 08:28 AM

As always John, most impressive.

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 02:30 PM

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 02:50 PM

Bonnie's arm after initial shaping of the epoxy.Now I will paint the whole thing with white gesso in order to find the hi and low spots and file again.
I am sure that she will feel much more like smiling after I remove the arrow from her arm!

I plan to put goggles or binoculars, left over from other kits,in her hand.

JohnReid · 30 July 2006, 05:09 PM

I have been toying with the idea of adding these two pilots to my diorama.Before this goes too far does anyone know if they were both still alive in 1925 ?

Now that was a stupid question to ask wasn't it?I found that info right here on this forum.Geez,I am getting old!
Believe it or not I only discovered the Aces section today!
Narrow minded dioramist or what?