HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

Control column assembly.
No complaints here! Nice castings,very little cleanup,clear instructions and easy to install.I only wish it was all like this.

[JohnReid]

I am at a stage now with the Camel build where I have to finally decide whether to add the guns or not to the model.Up until now I was of the opinion that they would have been long removed from the aircraft but now I am having second thoughts.
The story is that it is being transported by road to a university in southern Ontario where it will be used for study and research purposes.(this actually happened after the war).
A asked a young friend of mine(13)what he thought and he said that it would be more attractive to the kids if I left them on. The Camel aircraft after all got its name from the hump created by the machine guns and they are a big part of its overall design.
Something tells me that in all likelihood the guns would have been removed ,but then again I am doing this diorama for the kids and I want to please them first and foremost.What do you guys think on or off?

[JohnReid]

Well I guess no one here has an opinion! On the other websites it seems to be 90% in favor of leaving the guns on.Someone even suggested using fake guns as they did in air shows and movies of the 20's.For now I will install the fuselage fittings for the guns.
The left over photo etch from the 2nd Jenny's fuselage I was able to adapt to use on the Camel.It is small fussy work but it sure looks good.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Wow! at this level of magnification every flaw sure shows.The things you never see at 1/16th.
The copper fittings were heated red hot with a butane lighter and then dunked in cold water to get the aged patina.Where the nails or screws go I just colored the holes black.With successive coats it will look better.
The lower wing root area is another figment of the kit designers imagination,so I attempted to make it look a little better using some extra fittings I had left over from Jenny(in the end however I will somehow cover this area)I added some extra brace wire fittings for the internal wires.
Some areas were weathered now while they are easily accessible .
Next will be the rudder bar and the installation of the main fuel tank.

[JohnReid]

The Camel as an air show or movie airplane would fit right into my storyline.(thanks Stephen Lawson)It could have been donated by Reid and Sons to a museum or university when it became too beaten up to fly.If anyone has any info on this airplane being used in air shows or movies here in Canada please let me know!

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Rudder bar assembly

Pretty straight forward build here( once you figure it out as you really have to dig for the info)
I like to show a little wear and tear on things in the cockpit especially the controls.The following method works very well on metal.
After preparation of the object, paint a thin coat of black gesso on and rub a little (or more) of the dry paint off with your finger or a very fine sandpaper (600 plus) till some of the metal shows through.As a final coat put on matte medium which will seal and tone down the bare metal as well as the remaining gesso.Over this use some black pastels dusted on with a fine brush.

[JohnReid]