HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[wolfenbill]

John just wanted to know if you were aware that the engine was mounted at a different angle in the Canuck compared to the standard Jenny. Could this account for your height problem?

[JohnReid]

Yes,thank you wolfenbill,I am aware of the downthrust on the Jn4Dwhile the Canucks engine is level.The problem is, was the engine leveled around its center axis or was the complete engine lower or raised to compensate for the tilt.My referneces are not clear on this point however it is a little late for me to change it now.I wanted to point this out for future modelers of the Canuck.If mine is too hi or too low on the engine bearers I am hoping it will not be too noticable when completed.I like to keep artistic licence to a minimum when it comes to the overall design of the airplane.Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Getting the gear on this airplane is turning out to be a real challenge.The instructions in the booklet and drawings are minimum.
I am very glad that I waited to install anything on the fuselage until this step is completed.No matter what the booklet says get the gear on before installing the engine etc..I have spent many hours trying to figure out how to get everything lined up and yet not commit myself to glueing anything permanently until all the various angles are checked out. It is good that the fuselage is still just a basic square box as that will simplfy the jig that I will be required to build.(Math was never my strong suit)
Once the gear is on I think the next stage will be to install the center section and its struts while everything is held square in the jig. Wish me luck,I think I will need it. to be cont.....

[StephenLawson]

Working on the 1/16 Albatros D.Va from the same company I can echo JohnReid's statements. (He did a fine job on a hangar dio with one of these.) Both subjects building materials (laser cut micro plywood) is sturdy but when it comes to the engine installation the first thing to do is clean up the white metal engine parts. The second is getting it plumb and straight. If you have done a good job on both the airframe and the engine by this point, then you still have the linkage between the cockpit controls and the various engine components. This is the very reason I have left the wings for last. My secondary concern it the long term effect of the weight of the white metal Mercedes inline six within the airframe.

[JohnReid]

I would just like to reinforce what I said about getting the gear on before in stalling any parts that protrube beyond the basic sqaure box of the fuselage ,including seats,inst panels,turtle decks ,fuel tank or even throttle levers.Believe me it will make your build a lot easier.

I was reading Dan Sans thread on 1/18th already built aircraft.I know that this is not ww1, but there are many possibilities for a nice diorama build here,that may appeal to those who have only limited time to build models in this very busy world of ours.I dont know if I mentioned it before but one of my other hobbies is collecting 1/18th classic cars of the 20s thru 50s.I just recieved a Horch limo of 1937 of the type used by the Luftwaffe general staff in WW2.Combine this with a 109 or FW 190 and a little creative weathering and diorama making ,and bingo your 75% there. I understand that they even make 1/18th figures.Many cars are made from that period from Fords to Mercedes Benz(for that hot shot fighter pilot)With a little imagination ,the average diorama maker, could with not to much time involved, create a very interesting piece.Maybe someday they will produce some 1/18th WW1 stuff. Cheers! John.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

May not be WWI but it sure is a great Dio...
http://www.network54.com/Forum/messa...eid=1101321922

[JohnReid]

Love those Sabres on Mig Alley!Very nice diorama.I had a friend who was a Canadian fighter pilot who became an ace flying with the USAF during the Korean conflict.He also test flew the 104 Starfighters out of Canadair in the 1960s. Sure wish he could see that dio.He has since passed away.Tally Ho Bruce! Cheers.John.

[JohnReid]

Check out www.hobbiesguinea.com for 1/72 WW1 pilot figures.48 different figures in 24 poses #DDS72003 Cheers! John

[JohnReid]

The gear should finally be on today.(I slacked off a bit over Thanksgiving)I will sent in pics of the airplane and the jig that I came up with, in a few days. to be cont....

[Ross_Moorhouse]

Here are John's latest pics of this great build.