HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

This is where it will go!

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

After much encouragement from my RR friends,I have started the groundwork.
I am doing it in modules so if I screw one up I can toss it in the dumpster and try again.
My modeling friend Ken Hamilton (and others)have been encouraging me to make this step for a long time.It involves a very steep learning curve for me and makes me feel as though I am learning a whole new hobby again.Well here goes!!!!!!!!!!

I was lucky enough to purchase Ken Hamilton's book "How to Build Creative Dioramas" a few years ago.Unfortunately it is out of print now ,which in my opinion is a very short sighted decision on their part in a era of growing interest in dioramas.Be that as it may ,I will be using mostly his methodology here as is described in his book.
In the 1st pic above I took a pattern using cardboard and transferred that to 1/4" plywood and cut it out.I sealed the wood using Laquer mixed with thinner about 2/3 to 1/3.When this was dry ,I took carpenters glue and spread an even coat over the entire surface.I poured a pile of sifted sand in the middle and spread it with a soft brush over the entire topside of the plywood board and let the whole thing dry overnite.(which is where I am right now)
Today ,it is off to the hobby store for ground materials and then the fun really begins............

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

For this my 1st shot ,I thought that I better keep things simple,so I added a rough board sidewalk and a crushed stone type surface to the rest.After gluing down the boards I took some sifted sand and poured it on the rest of the module.I used waxed paper to protect the barn siding and pushed the sand around with a soft brush until I got the look I wanted.
I then used Ken's method of wetting down the entire area with a spray bottle filled with water and a drop of detergent.I then mixed up a 75/25 water/carpenters glue mix and saturated the whole area drop by drop and this I let set overnite until it was rock hard.
I haven't yet figured out where to go next ...........Any suggestions?

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Here at the opposite side of the hangar ,behind the other set of hangar doors, I think that I will steal Ken's idea and add a lean- to type structure and the airshow car being readied for winter storage.