HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This is the completed L/H side on the roof (without weathering).There is a strip yet to add along the roof line.The garage entrance module has since been just about completed ,and the windows are now 12 individual panes instead of 4.The hanger door side racks still require some additional bracing which will be added later.As you can see the roof sign has been doubled in size.Through the garage doors you can just see the bottom of the workshops siding.The rear entrance/WC module is still in its early stages.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The above 2 pics were taken at a very low sun angle to emphasize just how rough the sheathing is.Otherwise it would be too flat looking and not as interesting(another example of artistic licence)On the thinner tongue depressor boards, that you see here, they will warp like this just by painting your watery acrylics directly on the bare wood(do not seal the wood beforehand) With thicker woods such as popsicle stiks you can achieve the same effect by boiling them in hot water for awhile.Be prepared to lose 25% of the boards to extreme warpage if you boil them.All sheathing boards were painted prior to installation otherwise there is a great probability of the entire panel warping.What you see here is a couple of coats of Nimbus Grey.Later I will wash on some Raw Umber and begin my nail hole technique which I will explain later.This sheathing and weathering of such a large structure is long and painstaking but it is worth the effort in the end.I set aside most of one summer to do the job(cold beer helps)

The empty shell of the the hangar is now awaiting the installation of the removable workshop module, which is built up the same way with foamboard & wood sheathing.It was designed to be removable for maintenance purposes,bulb changing etc..

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This pic shows the start of the workshop module in foamboard.Unfortunately ,I didnt take a pic of the base that the walls of the workshop attach to, but it is basically the same as the main building, only smaller.I planked the floor at a 45deg angle for visual interest.
Note the Jenny Canuck aircraft fuselage sitting in its building jig.One of the lower wings has been placed on the floor, on blocks, to give me an idea of clearances and where to exactly place the aircraft in the diorama.Although it is a large diorama, space is somewhat limited .I have yet to add another Jenny JN4 fuselage(with wings in racks along the wall) a airshow stunt car,a Model T Ford,2 Harley motorcycles and a airshow advertising trailer.
There will eventually be about 20 working light fixtures attached to the hangar horizontal crossbeams.The hole above the hangar door will serve 2 purposes ,one as a shuttered, fake hole for roof ventilation, and when opened up ,as a viewing hole where I will place a brass dedication plaque to my aviator father,
Group Captian J.W. (Windy) Reid, (D.F.C.(U.S.A.))to whom I owe my love of aviation.Cheers! John

[JohnReid]

Well things are slowing down to a crawl building the office module.Yesterday I made an old brass office clock out of bits and pieces I had lying around.Today I made an old candlestick telephone and put in the wiring for the telephone and some aluminium tubing for the electrical wiring.The office desk ,chairs,cabinet,table and radio are all ready for installation.
I plan to put one figure,the office manager and the dog in the office module.I think that I will have both dog and man looking through the door into the hangar to see whats going on.
All my figures, other than the central military party , will be looking in towards the action.Its not every day that you get to see a group of WW1 aces having a great time telling war stories of their days flying the Jenny!

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

The workshop after sheathing the walls.I thought that I would go horizontal here for visual interest.The windows are now 8 individual panes.The only finishing was a couple of thin coats of nimbus grey over the bare wood.Later pics will show it weathered with raw umber, washed and flicked on, and chaulk pastels of black ,browns and greys.