HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

The final positioning of Fritz will depend upon what looks best when the wrecked airplane is finished.The Albatros is broken at the cockpit seat area with the pilots seat belts hanging out.Having Fritz looking directly at this area may help in understanding the storyline for the average viewer.These little things can be so helpful in getting your story across ,which is after all the whole point in doing a diorama.It is sometimes quite difficult to find the balance between subtlety and the obvious.Too obvious and the whole thing looks contrived ,too subtle and the viewer misses the point.Usually subtlety is the way to go as the impact on the viewer is greater once it is discovered.In this case a lot depends upon the knowledge of the viewer,WW1 fans will get it right away but then again the relationship between dog and man is well known to the general viewer.Anyway I still have a while to think about it.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I spread the sand on slowly using the green topped toothpick dispenser with large size holes in the top.The middle one is used for the spraying on of the 70% alcohol in a fine mist.This one was originally used for eyeglasses.The yellow bottle on the left contains the 25/75, glue/water mix ,it is a squeeze bottle that allows for drip-by-drip application.
You can see by the edge just how soaked the sand gets but when dry it is like cement.This is why I am so careful about sealing the raw plywood with 2-3 coats of lacquer especially the edges.To be on the safe side the panels can be clamped down while drying.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This may sound a bit extreme but I find that the best way to apply the dirt over the sand is to pinch it on bit by bit.It leaves a nice natural wavy surface that you can't get any other way but it does take time.
I do about a 4X4 inch square at a time.I pinch on the dirt in a uneven coat,apply the glue/water mix and immediately apply a second coat of dirt until
it soaks up all of the moisture.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I plan to do my Albatros wreck as a trainer like the aircraft shown in the picture above, any idea as to the color scheme I should use?

[JohnReid]

This is a better picture of Stephen Lawson's prize winning Albatros diorama.I plan to do my wreck much the same.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I sprinkled on a mix of 75% green and 25% yellow fine grass.Then sprayed it with a 50/50 water -alcohol mix and dripped some 75/25 water/glue over that.The dirt is dark because it is still wet.