HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

After all the roof trusses were made up,they are temporarily placed on the side panels and spaced out evenly.The roof peak should be level if sufficient care was taken when erecting the side panels on the floor .Dont panic if they are a little off, as you can use small shims under the beams, where they meet the side panels.When you are satisfied that they are level, filler pieces can be added between the trusses at the side panels.Glue these to the top of the side panels only and not to the trusses.The trusses should fit snugly into their side panel notches, but not so tightly that they bind ,as the complete roof assembly must be removable.The next pics will show this more clearly.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The above pic is of the outside of the L/H side panel after it was painted but not yet weathered.The large opening is the garage door.Note that the recesses along the top are for the trusses.The notches at each end indicate the top of the foamboard.Behind the external siding between the notches are the filler blocks.The uneven edge at the bottom is left this way for visual interest and will be heavily weathered where it would come in close contact with the ground,even maybe a little rotted in places.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This is the interior view of the same side panel.The top of the horizontal beam is where the original foamboard stopped.The filler blocks rest on top with the trusses slipped into the notches.The interior framing is pinewood with tongue depressors for the interior siding.The paint is watered down Nimbus Grey painted directly over the bare boards.Later I will paint on a very watery wash of Raw Umber to tone down the grey color.Do not seal the wood if you are going for a barn siding effect and leave the surface rough to easily accept the weathering pastels.

[JohnReid]

In case anyone is confused as to just when these pics were taken,they are about a year and a half old now.The hanger is actually just about completed now except for the wiring for the lights and a few odds and ends.The whole thing will soon be broken down one final time and then will be put back together permanently.The roof,roof trusses,walls,and modules are all designed to come apart with just a few screws, for ease of any future maintenance and transport.The cars,airplanes, figures etc.. will all be permanently fixed to the base.
Today I started designing the wiring scheme for the lighting and the actual fixtures themselves.Lightshades are built up using brass Christmas bells(like the Albatros dio) and cigar tube covers that I had from 30 years ago.(I even found some beautiful spanish cedar veneer wrapping the old cigars)The bells are reduced in size to look more like shades than bells and the wiring is run through brass tubing.
I have run into a little problem that maybe someone could help me with.I have made up little wood receptacles to hold the bulb sockets which I have been assured is ok as there is not enough heat to case a problem.(I hope)I want to glue the sockets into the wood receptacles but i was wondering what kind of glue to use? Epoxy would probably melt with the heat and the continual expansion and contraction would be really hard on most glues. Any suggestions? Thanks! Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Thanks to those who responded to my glue question.Hi-heat silicone used for chimneys sounds like a good solution.
My reason for posting the above pic is to give you an idea of just how easy it is to change your mind when using foamboard.
The garage door was originally supposed to go where the windows are now.I simply used the cutouts to patch the hole.(that is a good reason to save all cutouts and to cut them in one piece if possible)They also make great templates for doors and windows.I simply used masking tape to repair the foamboard.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

After all that window and door making I have decided to have a little fun and finish the office module.I plan to put a desk ,a cabinet,books, ,maps,a picture of Harley the company mascot,lamps ,an old style telephone and radio cabinet,a light in the ceiling and whatever else I can dream up.
It will be really great to actually finish something after all this time.The modules are attached to the main building by screws,so that they are easily attached or removed.They are sort of mini-dioramas on their own .Maybe I will even put a figure or two in the office.I can also light it up seperate from the main building.The rear door/washroom module and the workshop can also be finished prior to the completion of the hangar.
The hangar lighting will be a long repetative job so I really dont feel like tackling it right now.I have one light assembly built,the problem is I need about 20 more.
Cheers! John.