HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

I have been fooling around a bit with photoshop and for some reason the last pic came out a little large(now you can see all the mistakes better)I added the casters and weathered the stand a little.I will finish it just before final installation.
The following pic is of the type of block and tackle assembly (Chain fall and Rope sling)that I want to hang from a rail on the engine shop roof joists.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I forgot to mention that if you look closely at the last pic of the engine stand , notice that the casters are weathered.If you want to weather with chaulk pastels over a bare metal shiney surface here is what I do.Take some 600 grit sandpaper and tone down the shine and create some tooth in the metal surface .Then take some acrylic matte medium and spray or brush on and let dry.The matte medium will create some tooth for the chaulk pastels to stick to.Apply the pastels to a newly dried surface as they seem to stick better if you don't wait too long.Don't be afraid to use lots of pastel color in your soft application brush.I scrape off some pastel from the stick using an Xacto blade and dunk my brush into the pile of powder.Try to imagine where crud and rust may gather on the piece you are weathering or where human activity would create wear and tear.Be creative.Have fun,you can't make a mistake,there are none!

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

How would you like to buy a Fokker D.VII ,one of only three in the world? Well the good folks at the Knowlton Historical Society here in Quebec,in their great wisdom, may just have a deal for you.Seems like they would like to great rid of this priceless gem in order to make room for some nice local folk art.
First it was the Avro Arrow and now the Fokker D.VII .Have Canadians no pride in their aviation history? Guys if it has to go at least lets keep it in the G.W.N.!!!
Maybe the German people would like to have it returned to them if we just can't find the room!!

[JohnReid]

You know it is a good thing that I deleted the idea of 2 engines in the engine shop.With one engine and the stove space is already a concern.The 2nd Ox5 will probably look better out on the floor of the main hangar anyway.There is so much interesting detail on that little engine that I want it to be readily seen by the viewer but not be too distracting from the main subject matter.Another option would be to show it on the truck loading dock being crated for shipment or uncrated for use.Any suggestions?
I will take some 35mm pics of this new addition when I am a little further on in the process and it is a little more interesting.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

A big Happy Birthday John.... If we could we would buy you that D.VII.

[JohnReid]

Well thank you Ross,like they say if I knew I was going to live so long,I would have taken better care of myself.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Well thank you guys for your birthday wishes.I guess that I am rapidly reaching old fart status now.I in turn would like to thank all you guys for making my later years so much fun.It is very rewarding for me to think that my modeling friends out there take the time to read my sometimes rambling monologues.I am still blessed with a steady hand and keen eye and for this I am very thankful.

Speaking of which,I am now in the middle of the somewhat boring but essential job of weathering the interior of the engine shop.Starting with the floor and simulating the nailing pattern.I know that I have mentioned this before but I will review my technique here again.
The popsicle stik floorboards have already been prepared with washes of nimbus grey with a touch of raw umber.They are then glued to the underlay, which in this case is plywood ,with carpenters glue in a random or a pattern that follows what in 1:1 scale would be the floor joists.After it is thoughly dry,I take a sharp pin and simulate a nail pattern of my liking by punching small holes in the wood.I then take a sharp grahite pencil and twist it into the pinholes leaving a mark simulating a nail head.I then take a very thin wash of raw umber and brush or spray over the whole thing which will swell the pinholes level again but leave behind a permanent nailhead mark.Your floor should now look greyish in color with the underlying wood pattern showing through.You can now continue weathering as need be with a toothbrush spray and pastels.

[JohnReid]