HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 21 October 2006, 07:07 AM

JohnReid · 21 October 2006, 07:43 AM

This is the last of the Figure posing ideas based upon the Walkaround.I think I finally found the artists name ; A.G. Magstrom on the last drawing that I had somehow overlooked before.I think he really did a good job in capturing poses that would also be good for dioramas depicting maintenance procedures.
On the Jenny dio,the windows in the engine shop are finished and the windows in the doors are now being worked on.I have decided ,after much wavering back and forth ,to put a small hole (one 4"X4" roof checkerboard size) in the engine shop roof depicting an open ventilation type trap door.Although there are 5 windows in the shop some views were really restricted.The plan is to have the Mercedes in kind of a storage area and the 2nd engine another OX5 being worked on, so good viewing angles really are a priority.Besides Reid & Sons are a good bunch of owners and skylights for the workers is essential.

JohnReid · 21 October 2006, 08:07 AM

I feel bad that I don't get a chance to particpate more in the day to day Forums.What with building this diorama and maintaining the How to... threads,helping with the Honey do's and looking after "Belle" the Model A ,I really am busy.Sometimes I notice my private mail only well after it has been sent to me,for this I apoligize.In years gone by my energy level would have allowed me to do a better job!
Cheers ! John.

JohnReid · 22 October 2006, 07:37 AM

For those who may have missed it ,the french artist Philippe Jourdan is planning a series of WW1 pilots to be available soon.Great work Philippe!

JohnReid · 23 October 2006, 06:05 AM

JohnReid · 23 October 2006, 06:39 AM

This is a Tamiya figure that I picked up the other day of aWW2 Japanese fighter pilot.It is in 1/16th scale but a little shorter in stature than my other 1/16th figures.
It has all the makings of a nice modified WW1 (or as in my case ) a 20's barnstormer.Normally ,I would just make some mods to the flying suit and use it pretty much as is ,but in this case I think that I will try another seated figure(my 1st was the guy seated in the model A in the Nieuport diorama)He may look good seated in one of the airshow cars.
The last time that I tried this I didnt have a mannequin to work with and it turned out OK but this time it should be a lot easier.This is a hollow plastic figure so I plan to use lots of A+B epoxy as a filler in certain areas.I like to overbuild areas of the figure and then carve it down with rotary tools much like you would to carve wood.Another for my to do list......

JohnReid · 24 October 2006, 10:16 AM

JohnReid · 24 October 2006, 12:27 PM

I am getting a little bored with woodwork right now ,so maybe it is time to at least start on the above figure.I think as a first step I will put the newly acquired mannequin together and work on a few poses.
Then I will begin the figure by removing some unwanted parts of the uniform and lifejacket ,as well as whatever that thing is on the front of his pants.(built in relief tube for those extra long flights?)

JohnReid · 24 October 2006, 04:38 PM

JohnReid · 24 October 2006, 05:13 PM

I used my rotary tool and a ruby carver to remove some of the uniform.Use a medium speed as you dont want to melt the plastic and clog up the bit.
Remove only small amounts at a time.You can hold your finger on the inside where you are working and if you feel any heat stop and hold it up to a light, to make sure that you dont carve right through.Wear a mask and eye protection.Remove all unwanted detail and if possible try to retain as many of the folds as you can.
I left my figure a little paunchy around the middle until I figure out exactly how he will look when seated.Actually he looks a little like me with what I call the "porky pilot" look.The grooves on the back of the figure were a little too deep so I decided to build it up a bit with 2 part ,5minute, epoxy paste.Once this sets overnite(or 24 hours ,to be really safe )I will then continue the carving process.

The next pic will show where I used the same epoxy paste to beef up the inside of the figure ,where the light showed me where things were getting a little thin and there was a danger of breaking through the plastic.

Right now I don't have any idea how this will work out so it is a bit of an adventure for you and me both.If I screw it up well at least it would have been fun trying something different.