HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The top pic of the woodworkers shop is a lot like I plan for the engine shop except it will have an engine stand on the floor with benches and parts shelves surrounding.Note:the black cat sleeping on top of the blue box on the floor!
The bottom pic(taken before I weathered the truck this summer)are the doors that will lead to the future engine shop.The hangar window is hinged for ventilation.The piece of tape on top of the left hand door is the outer edge of one of the shop's walls.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

If I decide to add the Camel to this diorama this is something like I plan to do.The airplane is being prepared to be towed to the RCAF for use as an airframe teaching tool.The airframe will be uncovered so that all of the inner structure will be seen.This will not be the most beautiful representation of this aircraft but you must admit that it is a different way of showing a model!
Historically the RCAF did purchase some old Camels around 1925 for the specific purposes of demonstation and airframe constuction .
Meanwhile,the floorplan and general arrangement drawings for the engine shop are underway and actual construction should begin soon.
Cheers! John.

[StephenLawson]

It is an exciting prospect. Since there were Fokker D.VII types in Canada post war It would be great to have an airframe to go with that Mercedes.

One other note. This thread has so much useful information. I for one would like to see a functionable table of contents. Possibly by items with in the diorama and their page location. That way future modelers could go right to the areas they want to study rather than become frustrated with looking for it.

[JohnReid]

That sounds like a great idea Stephen! When I finish Phase 1 of this diorama I will do just that.Even I become frustrated sometimes trying to find an old post that I may want to refer to.

[JohnReid]

I don't know about you guys but I really enjoy this modular approach to building dioramas.I find that the most exciting ,creative time I spend in modeling is in the research and initial building stages when your ideas begin to take shape.On a long project such as this,the modular approach leaves a lot of room for changes and the ability to spread your creative ideas over time.It also adds to the excitment of not knowing in advance how the project will finally look.As you guys know I take a lot of liberties and fantasy is a big part of what I do.I just enjoy the sense of freedom that it allows me.I enjoy being as accurate as I can in building the aircraft,cars,trucks etc.. but when it comes to storytelling I believe that if it could have happened in the historical era that I am depicting ,then go for it.Two things are going on here ,a great love of history and a need to tell a creative story.I guess that you could call it the Hollywood approach to diorama making.Sort of the difference between a documentary and a drama.
I could think of nothing more boring than being asked to build a diorama of something that already exists .In some former artwork of mine I have had people approach me and say "I really like that ,make me one." I know that they think that they are giving you a compliment but......Luckily ,I have never had to live off of my artwork so I have always been free to do my own thing,occasionally even slipping from artform to artform whenever I felt like it.
Dioramas are a lot of fun to do.Bringing to life your creative ideas is very rewarding but I sure would not want a 2-3 year project all laid out before me before I even start.
That is why I find the modular idea so rewarding as you can spread out your creative ideas throughout the project. The fact of not knowing exactly where you are heading can be very exciting.Not even you know how it will look when finished and that is half the fun.
Cheers! John.

[buzz1941]

Better yet, perhaps the contents could be recycled into an Osprey modelling manual...

[JohnReid]

I am using the same basic method for building as I did for the other modules.Plywood floor covered with popsicle sticks and foamboard core walls covered with wood strips.Having the Mercedes engine already built is a real plus when working out the floorplan to get an idea of the space required.
I plan to put an oildrum type heating stove in the shop as well as workbenches and an engine dolly of some kind.Due to space requirements some of the engine parts may have to be stored on shelves in the main hangar just outside the engine room doors.The plans for the actual test stand have yet to be worked out but for obvious reasons it will be in a more outdoor enviroment.
(Question? does anyone know if shortened props would be used on the engines ,when they were tested on these test stands?)
The sloping roof of the engine room will be of joist and beam type construction with a black and white checkerboard pattern covering.I have not yet finally decided on a viewing hole in the roof.Only the main hangar has one as of now.
At the present time I am about to lay the pre-weathered floorboards and erect the foamboard walls.
For you OX5 fans out there I also will be slowly finishing off this engine as well.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Scratchbuilt figures.
The modified figures painted with acrylics and shaded with pastels really work well for the indoor lighted type diorama.I would however really like to sculpt my own figures to be placed outside of the lighted hangar enviroment ,and learn to paint them as "stand alone ,viewed up close type figures."I have always admired artists who could sculpt the human body in miniature,especially when they could make it look like a certain individual.This is a personal goal that I set myself when I first began to sculpt ,and it would be the perfect time to learn as these figures could be added anytime in the future ,even after I deliver the diorama to the museum.It is all very exciting and a big step for me.I find myself repeating to myself the same things that I used to tell my woodcarving students "the hardest part is getting over the fear of failure and being a beginner all over again.It ain't easy!!!!