HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

Just after completing my post this morning my doorbell rang and there was the postman with my new model T kit.There has to be a good omen in there somewhere!
I posted the above pics of what I now realize was a modification of an Academy kit.In this case the mods were quite easy to do.This time I plan something a little more complicated.
Right now the only thing that I am painting is the garage doors of my house.Ugh....

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The 1st sketch above is the Academy kit and the 2nd the Lindberg version.I used the academy kit for the Neiuport diorama which was a fairley easy mod as I just had to add the wooden box in the back.The lindberg kit will be a bit more of a challenge as the body is of earlier design.For one thing the running board is a lot shorter and the body is curved fore and aft.
The cab will be made from wood like in the pic.I am not planning to build it any time soon ,only after I finish the main hangar and yet to be built engine shop is finished, will I finally decide on what goes where in the parking lot.
When I am not actively building something as I am now(doing honey do's)I like to keep the old brain busy planning future builds.
There is another really nice kit out there of a 1913 Model T Van by Entex that is very different from what I have seen so far. Hmmm.......
I wish that I could find something other than Fords, especially family type cars.The way it is now you would swear that the Reid Brothers owned a Ford dealership.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Model Expos next offering in 1/16th will be the Sopwith Camel kit due out in a few months.I sure hope it is as good as their Jenny kit!

[JohnReid]

I really enjoyed the Mercedes build so while I am still in that frame of mind I think that I will continue and start to build the Curtiss OX5 engine that came with the 2nd Model Airways Jenny kit.This time ,now that I know how to use my scanner for pics ,I will be able to do a more step by step build of this engine.I even got permission from them to use some sketches from their instruction manual.Having already built this engine once before I can tell you up front that it is a very good quality piece and in my opinion well worth the expense.That is something that I could not say before about some of their other engines.
For those who may be wondering ,my relationship with this company is the same as always , all of their kits that I have built have been courtesy
of my own pocketbook, and will continue to be in the future.That way I can remain totally objective and give you guys my honest opinion.
Now on to the build...............
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]