HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The pics of the main wheel installation are pretty much self-explanatory .
I had forgotten about the wingtip skids that I had made awhile ago ,so I think that I will use these to secure the wings ,rather than the wing brace idea.The aircraft's wingspan is less obstructed and the screwjack sort of suggests something going on, maybe a repair of the wing skid itself.The other skid only has blocks to support it ,but there will eventually be a grouping of four pilot figures standing in this area ,so it will hardly be noticeable.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I have only temporarily installed a somewhat crude looking screw jack to the wing tip skids.After I finalize the exact angle that I want the airplane to be in the hangar,I will fasten down the tail skid to the tow bar and then work on the wing supports.With everything then stabilized I can finally tighten up the rigging for the last time without any annoying movement.Prior to this,if you tightened up a landing wire,a flying wire would come loose or maybe even and interplane cross brace wire.I guess that you can now see why I had to take everything apart down to the bare hangar floor,just to have enough room to work on all this stuff.
I don't plan to put a lot of junk lying around the main hangar floor for two reasons.One, I want the main focus to be on the airplane and related main storyline.Two ,being a day of remembrance and management having invited all these dignitaries to the hangar for a get together,I figure that a small clean-up campaign would be in order,especially for military men.
If anyone has any suggestions for some subtle eye candy it could still be added now.I thought of maybe a sand filled fire pail or two but what it really needs is something unexpected ,like the spilled nuts and bolts on the floor idea ,that I accidentally came up with to put in the Nieuport diorama.Or the washing on the line in the up coming "Backyard Flyer" diorama but of course something just a little more subtle than that!

[JohnReid]

Hey, I got an idea! How about doing just the outline of a few things such as pails,boxes or whatever using pastels.That would also suggest a clean-up of some kind had been carried out.Any others?

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Rather than resting the tail skid on the towbar I decided use the tailpost for the same purpose as I prefer the lower tail position.The aircraft is now secured down at 5 different points with fine wire.Later I will wind the wire around a screw that will be placed under the floor.

[JohnReid]