HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 22 December 2008, 07:51 AM

JohnReid · 22 December 2008, 08:35 AM

The wrecked Albatros ,although not quite finished has been about a six month project from concept to almost completion.It has been a very rewarding and fun experience that I would recommend to anyone.I really enjoy the freedom of using mixed media or whatever is at hand to tell my stories.My motto of "buying what you can and building what you must" really satisfies both the scratchbuilding urge and the use of kits.It is a nice compromise of time available and completion of a project in a reasonable time.
The three dioramas that are now almost complete have taken almost ten years to build and I would say that you could triple that time to scratch build it all.Granted that as I get older I don't spend quite as much shop time as I used to but still I am in my shop just about everyday.I am a very lucky man as my hands and eyes are still hangin in there.
Vacations?everyday is a vacation for me and besides my beloved 14 year old Husky( Dolly )won't let me or my wife out of her sight nor will she travel, so going anywhere together is not an option for us at this time.So,all in all,it works for me.

JohnReid · 29 December 2008, 03:00 PM

JohnReid · 29 December 2008, 03:16 PM

Funny how it goes sometimes,without even thinking it through, I decided to try to make the inspection holes and engine vents in wood and have them look like metal.Well after working a day and a half or so ,carving ,shaping,painting and playing around they still looked bad.Then I thought,if there was a fire burning on the other side of this plywood cowl wouldn't these holes be the first thing to burn ? So I ripped it all off and got out my trusty woodburner and in ten minutes made a few holes.Perfect! wish I had thought of this in the first place.

JohnReid · 29 December 2008, 03:17 PM

JohnReid · 30 December 2008, 08:07 AM

JohnReid · 30 December 2008, 08:45 AM

The aft section of the fuselage now rests on the wheel of the U/C, with the other point of contact at the leading edge of the lower wing and horiz stab.The clothes peg joining the 2 halves will be replaced with the elevator and rudder control wires.Although somewhat extreme in its presentation, it leaves no doubt as to what it represents, a hurried and forceful attempt to rescue a pilot who's aircraft is already on fire.Chances are that if I had just broken the fuselage ,at this its weakest point,this aspect of the story may have been lost.The more intense burn area where the elevaltor meets the lower wing also suggests that the fire took hold after the aft section was placed there and not for some other reason like transport of the wreckage.
I know,I know most will say that this will probably all be lost on the average viewer ,but you got to admit that it is a lot of fun creating a little mystery in your work,especially for those who may care to analyze things a little more carefully.

JohnReid · 30 December 2008, 04:01 PM

JohnReid · 31 December 2008, 04:22 PM

JohnReid · 31 December 2008, 04:39 PM

This is a boring but necessary job.I used a pin to open holes ,then twisted in a bit of graphite from an HB pencil,then placed a drop of water over that to swell the wood back to level.
The pattern I got from pics of the real thing and Mark Miller's great work.I have noticed that the holes are not always evenly spaced nor exactly in precise rows on surviving aircraft.When factory fresh I do not know.I decided to go with the used look as it fits better into the overall weathered scheme of things.