HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Although I really don't have a lot of room to play with,it is what I wanted for the front of this diorama.Sort of a stage like setting with the hangar doors acting as curtains and a minimum amount of distractions for the eye.I wanted it so that it is almost like 2 dioramas in one.One ,a sort of shadow box/stage when viewed close up from the front, and the other ,a more traditional diorama when viewed from the other 3 sides.
There is only about 1/2 inch of landscaping to be done in the front and a total of 11/2 inches to the dioramas edge.The frame and case will add another few inches but the viewer should still be able to get up close and personal with the main story line which is the WW1 fighter pilots grouping and of course the Jenny.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Now that was a boring job!
The ramp right now is too long and will be gut where the individual boards end.I left it oversize so that I could temporarily screw it down to the base to prevent warpage ,as I apply the watery landscaping material.I think that I will use the same glue/sand mix as I used at the office and color it with pastels to look more earthlike.From pictures that I have seen of old airports and hangar areas it looks like they used earth,sand and compacted gravel .Cement or blacktop was just too expensive I guess. The metal tips on the leading edge of the props were there for a good purpose to prevent dings on the prop due to stones etc....
I have applied a first coat of sand over a glue base and will let dry overnight .Next I will lay down a real goopy mix a sand and glue and let that dry thoughly to a rock hard finish.I will then cut off the ends of the ramp and blend the ramp into the landscape.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]