HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The Bonnie and Clyde figures are finished for now.When I finally install them in the diorama under proper lighting, I will continue shading them with pastels where necessary.
The Clyde figure is shown holding a rope loosely in his hands to give you an idea of his final pose at the rear of the truck unloading the rope.(when finished the rope will be given weight and secured firmly to his hands)I didnt work a lot on this figure because most of his front will be hidden from view between the truck rear doors.I thought about removing the shirt and tie and replacing it with a work type shirt but this would only be a waste of time under the circumstances.
Next its on to finishing the weathering of the Model T truck.

[JohnReid]

For excellent illustrations of aircraft and aero engines go to http://www.griffwason.com click on Aerospace.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

When I put the cylinders and engine block together I found that the contrast in values of color too great so in order to bring the colors closer together I finished off the cylinders with the same raw umber-matte medium -silver wash as I used on the block.Hope this makes sense. to be cont......

[JohnReid]

Painting-Exhaust manifold got the copperish, heat scorched look I described earlier.
All the other parts were left as they were from the kit except for deburring,laquering,and several coats of matte medium.There is no point in gessoing and then spraypainting these parts back to the silver-grey color.Matte medium thinned with water gives these parts a nice dull sheen.
Further weathering of the engine will be done after assembly with pastels.

[JohnReid]

I have been thinking more and more lately about my next diorama.It will be a Wrightflyer 2 based upon the 1/16th Model Expo Wrightflyer 1 kit.The kit will require a few mods to adapt it into the 1 version.
This time I think that I will do something simple for a change.Just the airplane and a pilot figure at the controls.Maybe I will carve from wood a nice simple base.I would love to find a big plastic bubble of some kind to house it in.I plan to do the usual skeleton version with no fabric but in flight with a pilot aboard.I got the idea from the Griffwason site and I dont think that this has been done before as a model.Doing the Flyer 2 would also be different and a bit more of a challenge.

[JohnReid]