I love to photograph my models against photo backdrops; so when my recent Hobbycraft 1/32 SPAD XIII was completed, I went looking for suitable 'aerodrome' backgounds to use. The best ones I found---no surprise---were authentic period photos in b&w. "They'd make great background murals for a museum display...," I thought to myself.
CLANG!
I already had a pre-made Imex case of a suitable size, and lots of foamboard for the main construction. The internet provided the mural photos, as well as posters, signs and an aged-looking 48-star flag. Finishing-touch extras were more online textures for the period-looking 'barn slat' panels under the murals, the 'terrain' under the display space itself...and the floor tiles. With the latter printed out on glossy photo-paper, it looks like the attentive museum staff just finished waxing and buffing the floors! Sign fixtures and posts were the only styrene used.
The fire extinguisher is another photo-image; recessed behind clear acetate 'glass,' it looks eerily three-dimensional in scale.
The skylight was an add-on to give a little depth and interest to the scene. Having studied photo after photo of the NASM SPAD 'Smith IV' in what appears (in the photos, at least) to be a rather dark little corner, I decided to give my corner a bit of additional illumination.
A fun little project which only took a couple days' work, mostly in assembling and sizing the images. Hope you enjoy the photos.
