HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 11 March 2006, 04:22 AM

In the top pic are 3 of the 4 cars that I have collected so far for this dio.
The Franklin mint parade car will be only slightly weathered in keeping with its duty as a dignitaries transport.
The Gearbox truck will be extensively modified and weathered to become an airfield runabout for mechanics and staff.The logos will be changes to the Red Indian Gas Co.
The 1919 Hispano-Suisa will become a 2nd airshow car.It has yet to be built.
The Mercedes-Benz showcar(not shown but already built) is car #4.

The bottom pic is of a few new additions.The gas pump is in the process of being changed into a Red Indian pump.The new hangar door and hinged window is where the future engine shop module will be joined to the main structure.
Where the pump is now will be the side wall of the shop extending to the corner of the hangar.The new engine shop will have a partial plexiglass roof for viewing.
The shop will contain an OX5 engine undergoing a re-build.In addition there will be an old Mercedes engine in storage.
Thi

JohnReid · 11 March 2006, 05:49 AM

Boy,this rigging thing sure is a love/hate thing with me.I love doing it and looking at the finished product but the proceedure doesnt seem to love me.After an hour or two(and it takes about an hour to do one wire properly) my neck and shoulders are sore and my concerntration is flagging.That is why you have seen an increase in my postings recently. I use the computer to wind down and rest every once and awhile.This is probably the most intense rigging job I have done since my shipbuilding days.
The wire is not the easiest thing in the world to work with but it sure looks great when it is finished.The little photoetched fittings seem to catch in the wire which makes it difficult to pull the wire through.(Note to myself,next time, if there is a next time,use eyebolts or pins for this operation)
I left everything loose for now because if you try to tighten anything now it becomes a nightmare.Tighten one and loosen ten others.When the frigging rigging is finished I will have to devise a way around this tightening problem.
Or maybe I will just cheat and say the boys havent got around to tightening them yet.

JohnReid · 12 March 2006, 06:06 AM

JohnReid · 12 March 2006, 06:49 AM

Meet Big Al! This is my latest figure,Al Capone from the Legends and Lore collection.In my diorama he will be Al Capp, the dignitaries Ford ModelT chauffuer.
As you can see he is a pretty spiffy dresser but he will look much better when he gets his arm operation and a coat of paint.
Standing beside the car he looks pretty much in scale but in the door he looks too big.This is an optical illussion, I think, because you have to step up to hangar floor level and also due to do the fact that he is all white.
The door opening behind Al is actually the door to the hangar from the WC module.
The other door and swinging window will eventually be the opening to the new engine shop, that I hope to build this coming Summer in my backyard.
The truck needs a lot of work and will hardly be recogizable when I am finished with it.Come to think of it,with a few changes, this would make a great diorama itself with Al and his crew waiting for a shipment of booze

JohnReid · 13 March 2006, 06:10 AM

JohnReid · 13 March 2006, 06:41 AM

In the top pic,in the center, just under the workbench, on top of the blue box ,is Chester the black cat.He is curled up taking his early afternoon nap while the shop is quiet.
On Jenny ,the wings are finally rigged and the wires tightened.It wasnt as difficult as I anticipated.The secret is to use large enough sleeves(those silver things that slip over the wires at the wing fittings)I used plastic telephone wire covers that I streched by driving a needle into the sleeve.If the wire easily pulls through your done.
Next,its on to installing the ailerons and making up the inter-aileron struts.(the Canuck has double ailerons)

JohnReid · 13 March 2006, 08:10 AM

My friend,Ken Foran is at it again! Beau-ti-ful!!!!!

http://coms.runboard.com/bscratchbui...thegallery.t16
See: The Gallery

pat1066 · 13 March 2006, 09:51 AM

Hi John,
Congrats on getting that rigging licked. I popped into a local Micheals craft store (they just happened to build one right across the street from me) yesterday and picked up a small roll of beading wire to experiment with. It is 19 strand .012" diameter stainless steel. A question. This wire, along with all the other sizes/colors I saw there, is nylon coated giving it a slightly plastic sheen in certain lighting. Is the brand you use coated as well? I don't think I would have any problem using it as is, just curious. Using small lengths of insulation from 24 guage telephone wire as faux compression fittings worked like a charm. Thanks for that tip.

As always, Keep up the good work!

Pat