HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JimLandon]

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

JohnReid; Bob Ross the deceased landscape artist used to call them "happy accidents."

I watched and video taped many of his shows over the years. I learned how to take $150 worth of premium grade oil painting supplies and turn them into a $25 painting. Back on the subject: on the very few models I've built I have to admit that accidents have sometimes produced a result that I was otherwise unable to achieve. Like sanding something to try again on the finish, and deciding it looks perfect sanded. - Jim

[JimLandon]

Originally Posted by JohnReid

Wright Flier;
From what I can see looking in the box and handling the various parts this looks like a good one.The castings,photoetch and raw materials seem to be of the same quality as the Jenny.I have briefly looked over the plans and instruction booklet and they seem ok but your can never really tell until you actually start the build.This probably will be my next project.

What!! They make a Wright Flyer?!?! Model Expo? Oh man. I can't wait to watch you build it. Jim, wading through a bazillion messages.

[JohnReid]

Hey Jim,sure glad to have you over here on the drome. We have a great group of very knowledgable people on this site.I am sure you will enjoy the forums. One of the best sites on the web for WW1 fans.Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Today I finally finished the airshow towcar.Now I have to decide whats next.
Now that I have the Canuck and towcar temporarely positoned in the diorama,space is starting to become a consideration.Where do I put the 2nd Jenny?I think that I will put it on its gear in the tail down position with the center section only installed.The 2nd set of wings will probably be put in wing racks along with the tail planes.I want the wings and tail planes to be in such a position that you can readily tell that they belong to a JN4D.
The workshop takes up a lot of room but I think that is where I will put the 2nd OX5 engine being worked on.THere will be workbenches and a heating stove to build.I plan to have a glowing fire in the stove (as it is armistic day here in Canada & can be cold by November 11.)I want to light the workshop so that the lights can be left on or off .There should be lots of nice effects with the workshop lights shining onto the hangar floor.
If there is room I would like to have a billboard on wheels being towed by an old Harley.Then there is where to put the 5-7 figures? Another consideration is , I was going to cover the fuse but I think that other than a few tattered remnants, I will have to leave it bare ,otherwise the 2nd fuse will block the view to the rear of the hangar and make things look too crowded.The wings on the other hand will be stored up against a sidewall and can be covered and not obstruct the view.
to be cont.....

[JimLandon]

Originally Posted by JohnReid

We must ask ourselves:why would an otherwise reasonably normal person forsake the pleasures of family,garden,TV,bowling,hunting,fishing,sailing,b arhopping,vacationing,fixing faucets,and playing poker to sit for years at a time,hunched over a cluttered workbench,squinting through an Optivisor,fashioning tiny bits of plastic(or wood)into what eventually emerges as a miniture representation of a long-extinct piece of machinery which few still recall and about which fewer give a damn?

The most rewarding goal is psychic satisfaction:knowledge that the finished product really is good-reflecting the best you had within you.Sure,it was an epic struggle,but it came out well,and now you can rest upon your laurels for awhile.You go out and lie on the hammock all afternoon(or until the bugs find you);rent a few old movies(Test Pilot,Men With Wings,Dawn Patrol-the usual fare);go to the zoo.But before long,the old urge begins to return(no,not that one,this one)and pretty soon you are back at the workbench,happily wailing away on your next masterpiece.

John Alcorn from his book ,Scratchbuilt! A Celebration of the Static Scale Airplane Modellers Craft. Cheers! John.

I was wading through your webside reading messages and downloading all the Jenny pix for ref when I build mine, when I came to this quote. I have both of John Alcorn's Scratch Built books and don't think I ever noticed this quote (or else my Alzheimers is worse than I thought). Boy does it ever say it all!!! I've got to show it to my long-suffering wife. - Jim

[JimLandon]

Originally Posted by JohnReid

I just got word from the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa that they will be acquiring my Albatros,Nieuport and Jenny Canuck dioramas for their collection.They will be used in the educational services department of the museum, to educate kids on school tours and summer model/diorama making projects.I couldnt be happier that they have found a good home where kids can appreciate them.That is really why I built them in the first place ,not to be sitting in a basement somewhere gathering dust, or in some museum that doesnt really know what they are or what to do with them.

I just had to share this news with you guys, as it is only my peers who really understand why we do what we do.Makes an old guy happy.Cheers! John.

John this is wonderful!!! I am in violent agreement with your beliefs. Congratulations!!! - Jim

(How come my profile photo didn't show up on my last post? I uploaded one and it shows ok when I go to my profile.)

[JimLandon]

Originally Posted by JohnReid

I think that a number of people might assume that the wood in these kits is balsa as that has been the traditional material used in building wooden model airplane kits.The wood here is basswood or linden(in Europe) traditionally used by woodcarvers(toothpicks are basswood)Basswood is strong and highly workable,has little grain and carves beautifully .If it has a fault ,it is that it can be hard to finish.If you find it fuzzy try sanding with finer and finer sandpaper and spraying with a fine mist of acolhol between sandings.Sanding after laquering also helps.Cheers! John.

I use Minwax Sanding Sealer, clear, available in quart cans at paint and hardware type stores. Sand the wood with 220 grit to correct the size and get rid of surface defects, apply SS straight out of the can, dry 4 hrs, sand again, coat again (repeat depending on how smooth you want it). This produces a high gloss varnished wood appearance if that's what you want. A final coat of satin polyurethane or flat varnish or Dullcoat if you don't want gloss.

[JohnReid]

Thanks Jim,Iwill try your method on the 2nd Jenny.Cheers! John

[JohnReid]

I decided to move the Canuck more towards the front of the diorama and put the 2nd set of JN4D wings along the back wall and the towcar off to the side.This really frees up a lot of space for the Harley/billboard trailer.Funny how it goes ,last nite I just cound not see this ,then I slept on it, and voila an easy solution.In fact bringing the airplane closer to the hangar doors will really improve the view of the engine/cockpit areas.I mayalso split the figures into two groups when I put them in the diorama.
I plan to have fun with the billboard/Harley trailer and have it advertising Reids Flying Circus I also want to put up some kind of banner welcoming the veterans to the flying field.Jeez,this is one hell of a lot of fun creating this little 1/16th world
I actually started on the trailer today.I had a couple of old Model T wheels left over from another project as well as a chassis.I cut up the chassis so that just the basic frame is left along with the rear wheels mud gaurds.I also had one leaf spring left over so I mounted it crosswise.I now have a basic trailer so now the scratchbuilding can begin.Good thing I have learned to never throw out leftover parts from other projects.You just never know....

I will be taking some new pics tomorrow so they should be up soon.
To be cont.........

[JohnReid]

The closest thing to a mid-20s Harley that I can find is 1/18th diecast by Maisto.They have 2 models one 1909 and the other 1936.I will take the 36 model and modifly it to look like a 20s model.The engine up until 29 was a F-head ,so I can take the engine out of the 09 model and put it in the modifed 36.(are you with me so far)Anyway you look at it ,there will be a lot of scratchbuilding as bikes changed a lot over this period.I will have to make spoked wheels etc..etc..
This is the fun of dioramas.If you had told me just 3 days ago that I would be researching Harleys today.......It is only recently that I became aware of what a big part motorcycles played in airshows of the 20s so it seems to be a natural fit.Problem is you can now add a few more weeks to the completion date ,whenever that is.
Well now its on to picture taking Cheers! John.