HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

I disassembled the cylinders and block and painted the cylinders black gesso above and silver with a little black gesso added below.I reassembled the engine for the picture and now I can disassemble it again and begin the plumbing between each cylinder starting with #6 at the rear.This plumbing is a small piece of aluminium tubing.The more detail builders may want to replace the tubes with a scratchbuilt part.I plan to build this engine as it came in the kit, as my engine will not be handheld but in a diorama viewed through a window, so too much detail would be just wasting my time.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The pic above is somewhat distorted due to my scanner. The plumbing between the cylinders is finished.I made new aluminium sleeves that are slightly larger than those supplied for ease of fitting on to the resin stubs.Everything was touched up with black gesso.
The next step is to install the 4 stirrups at the base of each cylinder which securely fasten the cylinders to the block.
The bottom row of holes in the side of the cylinder is where the fibre support tube will be installed.The top row is for the spark plugs.Note: on the right side of the engine the spark plugs are not on the center line of the cylinder but more towards the rear.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I decided to install the L&R fibre support tubes next.The holes in cylinders 1 and 6 side were drilled deeper to accomodate pins that hold the fibre tube to the side.I also drilled the holes deeper in the fibre tube where the sparke plug leads will enter into the fibre tube.Larger holes were also drilled into the end of each tube for the 6 wire leads to the distributor.
I will now paint this assembly and permanently install it.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Now back to the big picture for a moment!
This pic basically encompasses Phase 1 of the "Memories of Flight School" diorama.The main hangar ,the outbuildings and attached modules.The red roof building is the future radio shack/dispatch area.The attached building on the L/H side of the hangar is actually now a garage door/ramp area that allows better viewing into the main structure.Phase 2 (if I decide to do it)will be a 2nd hangar,garage and tool shed as seen in the larger pic to follow.At present I have 2 airplanes,14 figures and 8 cars and trucks planned for installation.The figures are finished,as are 2 cars and 1 truck and 90% of the 2 Jenny airplanes.
I don't want to have a huge front ramp area, as I want the main hangar doors to act like a stage for the diorama and the central uniformed WW1 pilot group ,with little outside distraction when viewing from this angle.I feel that both sides and back of the main hangar can be developed into parking lots with a junk yard out back.(lots of great possibilities for weathering) I am not a great lover of a lot of flora and fauna in my dioramas(or even in my bird sculptures for that matter)but being an airport I don't feel that I need a lot of that anyway.
I have made some minor changes to the storyline as I now will have 2 parade cars in the dio.The original Ford model T and a RR touring car to accomodate all the passengers.In the parking lot there will be various airshow cars as well as trucks(all modified from various 1/16th model diecasts and plastic kits)
I will finish the main hangar and modules first and then the rest on an add-on basis.
That's the plan so far.Should be fun!
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Phase 2