HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

This pic of the garage door module features a Franklin Mint 1913 Model T in 1/16th scale.It is a very nice diecast model with wood veneer dash,fabric top and leather upholstery and even 24k gold plated fixtures.I got it at a very good price because it was missing a tire.I will not be weathering it too much as it fits into my storyline as a parade car used for dignitaries at the Nov 11 memorial service at the local airport.It will be shown as having a flat tire being repaired on the module.
This garage door module is in lieu of the barn like structure you see in the early Toronto airport pic.To build this structure would mean blocking off a great view thru the garage doors into the hangar so I eliminated that building.The future engine shop module will be constructed at this corner of the hangar.
The hangar window that you see here is now 8 panes of glass instead of 4.The roofs edge has yet to be finished.

I am continuing to work on the interior of the rear panel and I hope to put up the walls at the corner of the workshop today.I can then permanently install everything in the workshop and place it in the hangar.

[JohnReid]

How I make,modify,position and paint figures for a diorama:

[JohnReid]

The above pic was taken a few years ago when I was modifying figures for a 1/16th Neiuport 28 diorama that I was doing at the time.I dont have any pics of the unpainted figures that I have painted so far for the "Memories of Flight School" diorama,so I will have to rely of these.
These figures are all 1/16th Tamiya and have been modified to suit my purposes.
When I was looking around for a storyline for this diorama I wanted to have something a little more interesting than I had come up with with the Albatros diorama,which was not much more than a mechanic wiping down an engine while a crew chief and a pilot looked on.It was my first diorama in this scale and my first airplane dio, so all in all I was happy with it from a visual point of view but I found it a little weak on storyline.
When doing research for the Neiuport diorama,
I happened to come across the pointing Tamiya figure and the idea came to me instantly, to do a instructor pointing to an engine component while the students looked on.It was something that everyone could relate to from our schooling experiences .The pointing figure creates a focus on attention , draws the eye into the scene and makes the airplane the primary subject.
It is a quiet scene that requires no movement to be believable.I really could have stopped there and made a little diorama out of it that would have been quite good just on its own.(a good subject for a shadow box)
Actually this dio is just a kind of shadow box viewable primarily from the front when installed in its cabinet.However I wanted something a little different,so I made it removable with wall panels that opened for picture taking both now and in the future.It meant for a lot more work but all the possible viewing and camera angles make it worth the time spent. To be cont......[
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[JohnReid]

Figures part 2

[JohnReid]

The pic of the above figure is one of the "Legends and Lore " series in 1/16th(120mm).It is of John Dillinger a gangster of the 20s.
It is typical of the numerous figures available in this scale(See Great Models website)
The primary reason that I selected this figure is that it is dressed in the 1920s style.I plan to put him in the office module along with Harley the company mascot.
These figures are very well done as they are ,but I seldom use them as is without some minor or even at times major modification.
Depending on the manufacturer they can come with the various parts attached or in seperate pieces.I often remove or add or modify parts depending upon my requirements.(see Ken Hamilton or Shep Paines book on modifing figures)
I use A plus B Epoxy Paste as a glue and filler when working with the various parts.
It is the white areas that you see in the first picture in this series on figures that I posted.It is important to use the paste and not the putty if you want to sculpt it with rotary bits.The paste will powder when you work with it but the putty will melt and clog up your rotary tools due to the heat created.
I was really lucky with the WW1 military figures as I can use them straight out of the box with only minor head adjustments when I see how I want them to relate to each other in the diorama.These figures are very well done and are by Model Celler(also available at Great Models) to be cont........

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Here are some of the WW1 aviators by Model Cellar that I plan to use in the "Memories of Flight School" diorama.
I have left the heads off until I am sure how they will relate to one another in the diorama.I was very lucky to find this grouping as it requires almost no modifications .The only figure I changed was the 2nd from the left which originally was a von Richtofen figure(the Red Baron) that became a 20s barnstormer.They are not yet finished painted as the skin tones on the hands have yet to be done.Also the barnstormers leather coat is too military looking so I think I will change it to a brownish color.
When considering figures ,one thing that I have found is that the head sizes vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer.It is best to use any figures that are standing close together by the same company.Tamiya with Tamiya or Model Cellar with Model Cellar,especially if they will be viewed close up. In a diorama it is not so critical but I usually still follow this rule unless I can modify them in such a way as not to be noticable.Although there is a slight difference in 1/16th and 120mm figures they all generally fit in to the differences in human being sizes.

Although the storyline of my diorama is taking place in the mid 20s(a reunion of WW1 pilots on Nov 11 Rememberance Day) I left the figures in uniform as they probably would be for this special occasion.All other figures will be in civilian dress of the period.I have an Al Capone figure on order from the "Legends and Lore"
series who will become the Airport Manager and I am sure to find more before I am finished.
As you guys can well imagine I will have quite an investment here when it is final finished but the cost is spread over such a long period that it is managable.

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[JohnReid]

[StephenLawson]

John Reid; Flat footed and speechless except to say they are beautiful!