HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

StephenLawson · 18 November 2004, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnReid

'I havent been able to finally resolve the engine height on the engine bearers problem.It looks to my eye that my engine maybe sitting a couple of mm high.I checked my references but I cannot find anything obvious.I know that there are two different types of cylinders used on the OX5.What I dont know, are they the same height and does the exhaust exit at the same level on each cylinder? For now I will have to live with it...'

If they cylinders were a diiferent height it might indicate a higher horse power variant. But my info on the engine types for the Jenny is very limited.

JohnReid · 19 November 2004, 07:32 AM

Thanks Stephen,you could be right.I may just take a trip to Ottawa(Aviation Museum) and take some measurements for myself.It just bothers me, in that the error would be in such an obvious location ,that it would stick out like a sore thumb. Cheers! John.

JohnReid · 19 November 2004, 04:16 PM

One of the main problems with both the Albatross and Nieuport 1/16th kits, was the poor quality of the landing gear struts, that could not support the weight of the airplane over time, due to their very soft nature.If I had built these kits as free standing models I would have had to modify these struts by inserting a hard wood or metal core.In my dioramas I either put the weight on saw horses, or in the case of the Nieuport a screwjack under the fuselage.

The Jenny struts are made from wood which must be carved to a streamlined cross section, with metal castings fit to the ends, where the U/C meets the airplane.This requires a lot of cutting and fitting and making sure that the castings are put on correctly.Warning! be sure to use detail 4K on the drawing for the correct lengths of the struts. The landing gear profile drawing is not to scale.

I would recommend that in putting the U/C together ,that you use metal or hardwood dowels to keep everythig together.When the engine is installed this is somewhat of a heavy model and would be vulerable to breaking, especially as a free standing model.In my diorama I will have many options in making the model secure when attaching it to the hangar floor.I am getting anxious to see it on its gear and in the diorama to get rough idea of how it will look when finished. to be cont..... I will try to have some new pics up next week.

StephenLawson · 19 November 2004, 05:39 PM

I wonder John do you think Stewart K. Taylor would know?

DonnyW · 20 November 2004, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnReid

I am getting so little feed back on this build that I am wondering if it is worth continuing on with this thread? Cheers! John.

Of course it worth continuing John.. you are having fun doing it and I for one still watch your thread. I cant give feedback on the Jenny build as Im not familiar with the kit you are doing.. but here is a little feed back for you from my comments at the start of the thread. Inspired by you, Im trying to make my R/C Caproni "tell a story". I have a long way to go yet but two figures are almost finished. The front gunner (not yet painted) is pointing out the target for the bomber and also watching an enemy aircraft coming in at 5 o'clock. The rear gunner / engineer already has the enemy in his sights (gun not made yet) and holding it at bay with bursts of machine gun fire. Ive a few ideas on on a "story line" for the bomber and driver..but you will have to wait a bit to find out what that is

Keep up the good work.
PS I thought your ship was astounding

StephenLawson · 20 November 2004, 07:24 AM

JohnReid; The great thing about the Aerodrome is that when you know what your talking about, people listen. Even with my modest experience I have had a great time just learning from you and your work. Model on!!!

JohnReid · 20 November 2004, 08:19 AM

Donny ,hi ,Yeah I now feel a little embarrassed about posting that comment .I never really thought about abandoning the thread,I guess I was feeling a little sorry for myself suffering with that darn tooth.

I realize that the audience is limited for 1/16th wood and metal models but if someone out there enjoys following along while I complete this project then that is great.

It sounds like your Caproni is coming along well.I like your creative ideas with the crew.It will add a lot of interest and color to the model.WW1 airplanes leave a lot of room for creativity with figures doing interesting things.I was watching a great TV show last nite on the Red Baron and did you know that when he first started flying he flew as observer with a pistol in hand as it was considered below his station in life to fly the airplane.It was only when the guns started firing forward that the aristocity of the day considered flying as socially acceptable.Now there got to be a great diorama in there somewhere !

Glad you liked the ship. Cheers ! John.

Hi Stephen,I may sound ignorant but who is Stuart K. Taylor?

Thank you for your kind comments on this thread,I sure am having fun doing it,it is just that I dont want you guys to think that I am just off on some kind of ego trip posting a lot of stuff of little interest.It is just that I want to give back to a hobby that has given me so much.Nuf said.Wont mention it again. Cheers! John.

StephenLawson · 20 November 2004, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnReid

Hi Stephen,I may sound ignorant but who is Stuart K. Taylor?

I'll contact you offline. Former sec. to the Can Av. His. Soc. Very Knowlegable and in Ontario me thinks. Helped Geo. Williams in his treatise on Canadian an American training program in OtF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnReid

Thank you for your kind comments on this thread,I sure am having fun doing it,it is just that I dont want you guys to think that I am just off on some kind of ego trip posting a lot of stuff of little interest.It is just that I want to give back to a hobby that has given me so much.Nuf said.Wont mention it again. Cheers! John.

No worries mate! Here's a bit of something for you 1/48 diorama fiends.

JohnReid · 22 November 2004, 08:51 AM

I know this is not WW1 but it is a wonderful example of thinking outside the box.Take a look at the Monday Nov22 update on www.aircraftresourcecenter.com I think Qc Tan should be given congrats on breaking an artistic barrier as well. Cheers! John.

Jenny cont: Still working on the gear.

JohnReid · 22 November 2004, 09:51 AM

As mentioned before the plans show carb heat being bleed off the exhaust manifold and I was wondering how this was accomlished on the short exhaust stack Ox 5 as I am depicting on my Canuck

Wolfenbill has kindly checked this out for me and it seems that there originally was no carb heat on the engine, or if there was, it was on all the time.I therefore will eliminate carb heat all together on my model.It is difficult sometimes when you are dealing with an aircraft that was flying over such an extended period of time and playing so many different roles, in an era before air regs standardized everything, to pin down exactly what is what.However it does leave lots of room for artistic licence(which I like) when dealing with a barnstormer of the 20s.I understand that some pilots even adjusted the airplanes stagger to suit there own tastes.It was a wonderful era in aviation when pilots were free to do just about anything.Unfortunately,we will never see an era like that again.Cheers! John.