HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

My version of a engine bearer strut fitting.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The brass struts were blackened and with handling some of the black came off,which looks even better.Remember this aircraft would have spent some years out in the elements while our hero was off to war.The struts are only temporarily positioned for now.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

I plan to keep the rigging simple like it was in the early versions of these airplanes.Some modern flying versions do show a different rigging setup with turnbuckles etc...
I have allowed myself a lot of leeway when it comes to my backyard flier as they were all mostly fantasy pieces when they were built.A lot of these builders were full of enthusiasm but had little real knowledge of what they were doing beyond the carpentry stage.I may put all or only some of the rigging up depending on how my enthusiasm holds up.
In this diorama the airplane is important but it is really just another prop in telling the story.The airplane will be weathered and the backyard left a little messy to give it a sense of loss and abandonment.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

If you look closely at the pic were I got my original idea for this diorama,you will notice that this backyard flier has an unusual design for aileron placement.They are large squares hinged to the trailing edges of the front leading edge spar. .Wing warping had been patented by the Wright's during this era and most American builders were forced to re-think the whole thing for fear of lawsuits.
The fuselage looks to be tubing of some sort and not bamboo like the Curtiss airplane,although it could be wood bent to shape.

[JohnReid]

All of the wood shown here is basswood (lime in Europe)including the ribs.As you can see it is very workable when doing miniature stuff.One slight drawback is that it can be fuzzy unless it is finished well.Some of these pics show the wood in an unfinished state and still needing some finish sanding.

[JohnReid]