HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

I was planning to do a Model Expo Wright Flier as my next project but I have decided thaT the next logical step in my model building career should be totally scratch.Soooo....Guess what ! How about a diorama of a Bleriot XI? They are building a 1:1 scale about 10 minites from where I live, at the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre .The first flight over a Canadian city,took place in 1910 ,in a Bleriot XI from a field just down the street from where I live .So it seems like a natural.
I found a great website on my computer which I had bookmarked years ago and forgot about.It is on the building of a 1/32 Bleriot which gives a good introduction to the build.Should be enough to get me started http://jerome.olympe.ch/avion/bleriot/index.php If anyone knows of any other good websites on the Bleriot please let me know.(here we go again!)
Well I took the pics yesterday so now Im off to have them developed.They should be up later today or tomorrow if everything turns out OK. Cheers! John.

[StephenLawson]

Look Up in the sky its an Albatros! Its a Nieuport! NO ITS SUPER MODELER!!!!! Super modeler!!!! Endowed with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal modelers. He can bend resin in his bare hands, faster than a speeding Dremel Motor tool He can leap tall projects with a single bound! But as mild mannered model builder JohnReid he works for a quaint metroploitan website fights for truth justice and the modeling way!

The preceeding is a righteous aknowlegement of a great modeler and though somewhat tongue in cheek is meant as an ernest appraisal of his talents and generosity. MODEL ON JohnReid!!!

[JohnReid]

Well thank you Stephen I hope to model on and on and on... Its what keeps me young. Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Jim has a great build article over on www.internetmodeler.com on his recently completed scratchbuilt 1/16th Salmson 2A2 which was 4 years in the making.He has won a number of well deserved awards with this model. Cheers! John.

[Ross_Moorhouse]

John has sent in some more pics of this fantasic build...

[Ross_Moorhouse]

& some more

[Ross_Moorhouse]

& 3 more.

[JohnReid]

The airplane and towcar pics are pretty much self explanitory,as is the overall view of the diorama.The white trailer - billboard is just getting underway.The workshop is my piece of heaven.
The pic of the Albatros diorama sitting atop the cabinet is the arrangment that I came up with to display the Albatros/Nieuport dioramas in my home.Now that they are going to the museum,I dont know how they will want to display them.
I am waiting for the warmer weather to complete the hangar outside. Cheers! John. THANKS AGAIN ROSS

[JohnReid]

I have begun to build up the Reids Flying Circus billboard trailer .I should have loads of fun with this one.I am using one I saw in Barnstormers & Speedkings for reference.I may or may not include the Harley as it depends on hangar floorspace and composition.I dont want to have too much going on. The same book has a lot of good ideas for billboard signage advertising the air show.
I have also begun the build up of the stove in the workshop.It was made for a victorian dollhouse and is very detailed.I have modified it to be 1/16th scale.I plan to light the stoves interior with a red light bulb to look like a roaring fire.I modified the interior to elimate the oven and have one big heating stove.I may leave one or two burners for hot coffee and include a small lunch area.

I know Stephen wont be happy but I would like to ask one off subject question.
I have been asked to restore 3 Travel agent type models that they have over at the museum where the Bleriot is being built.There are very large 1/24 jet models 5-6 feet long made of fibreglass, perspex and wood.They are cutaway to reveal the cockpit and cabin in detail.Would anyone have any info on this? Cheers! John.(sorry Stephen )

[StephenLawson]

No worries John; I am neither judge or executioner as a member of the jury you get my "not guilty" vote.