HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 4 May 2009, 08:44 AM

Scratchbuilding is a lot of fun but the thing that you have to really be prepared for is repetition.As an example,it is lots of fun to build that first fitting ,trying out this and that, but by the time your finished making 24 of the same thing it can get a little dull.It is not the type of work for those who constantly need to be doing something new.Self imposed quality control is very important, the first example must be as good as the last.
I find that for the creative stuff I have to set aside some uninterrupted time for this.No music,tv or other distractions.Progress can be slow but time really flies while you are in this mode.
For repetitive work,(#2 thru 24 for example) I find just the opposite is true.I kind of go into automatic mode and enjoy the distractions.The key to quality work I think is to put your best work in each and every detail while holding on to your excitement for seeing the finished piece in mind.

JohnReid · 6 May 2009, 10:16 AM

For those who might be interested I am starting to write a story about a little red airplane that I built in the 1960's.

JohnReid · 6 May 2009, 10:19 AM

For those who might be interested I am starting to write a story about a little red airplane that I was involved in building in the 1960's.(before I forget

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JohnReid · 7 May 2009, 05:20 PM

JohnReid · 7 May 2009, 05:24 PM

The four vertical brass tubes are for the wooden engine bearers.They will be trimmed and blackened later on final assembly.Normally they would attached to fittings that are attached to the spars.I will fake it and attach the fittings later.

JohnReid · 7 May 2009, 05:29 PM

JohnReid · 7 May 2009, 05:34 PM

I had to modify both wings trailing edges and cut them back to the rear spar, as I realized that if the engine was installed that far to the rear,the center of gravity would be too far aft.

JohnReid · 9 May 2009, 07:58 AM

JohnReid · 9 May 2009, 03:23 PM

JohnReid · 10 May 2009, 06:33 AM

These are the engine bearer braces(my term)The engine sits between the braces and it bolted on.There are two extra braces on the rear end of the bearer where the prop is located.
I am building this airplane from pics and only dry fitting the parts for now.I figure that the best way to go about this is to work from center outwards ,to allow as much access as possible to the interior.All the brass tubing will be blackened with chemicals(Blackin-it).I will hit the hobby store this week and see if I can find some bolts small enough to attach the braces to the bearers and the struts,if not I will use pins.

I don't have any plans to install an engine (unless someone could tempt me with a spare 1/16th OX5 they may have hanging around.I figure that if there was an engine on my backyard flier it would have been removed for safekeeping until our aviator/builder had returned from the war.I also have to consider just how many of these backyard fliers even got to the engine buying stage.I figure most of these backyard guys were probably pretty good carpenters but for the more technical stuff I wonder if many got beyond the wing building stage?In fact,I have never seen a pic from this era of a finished backyard flier.