How I Build Dioramas(step-by-step)

---

The top pic of the woodworkers shop is a lot like I plan for the engine shop except it will have an engine stand on the floor with benches and parts shelves surrounding.Note:the black cat sleeping on top of the blue box on the floor!
The bottom pic(taken before I weathered the truck this summer)are the doors that will lead to the future engine shop.The hangar window is hinged for ventilation.The piece of tape on top of the left hand door is the outer edge of one of the shop's walls.

New 1/16th Camel

---

Modular dioramas.

---

---

I am using the same basic method for building as I did for the other modules.Plywood floor covered with popsicle sticks and foamboard core walls covered with wood strips.Having the Mercedes engine already built is a real plus when working out the floorplan to get an idea of the space required.
I plan to put an oildrum type heating stove in the shop as well as workbenches and an engine dolly of some kind.Due to space requirements some of the engine parts may have to be stored on shelves in the main hangar just outside the engine room doors.The plans for the actual test stand have yet to be worked out but for obvious reasons it will be in a more outdoor enviroment.
(Question? does anyone know if shortened props would be used on the engines ,when they were tested on these test stands?)
The sloping roof of the engine room will be of joist and beam type construction with a black and white checkerboard pattern covering.I have not yet finally decided on a viewing hole in the roof.Only the main hangar has one as of now.
At the present time I am about to lay the pre-weathered floorboards and erect the foamboard walls.
For you OX5 fans out there I also will be slowly finishing off this engine as well.
Cheers! John.

Scratchbuilt figures.

---

The modified figures painted with acrylics and shaded with pastels really work well for the indoor lighted type diorama.I would however really like to sculpt my own figures to be placed outside of the lighted hangar enviroment ,and learn to paint them as "stand alone ,viewed up close type figures."I have always admired artists who could sculpt the human body in miniature,especially when they could make it look like a certain individual.This is a personal goal that I set myself when I first began to sculpt ,and it would be the perfect time to learn as these figures could be added anytime in the future ,even after I deliver the diorama to the museum.It is all very exciting and a big step for me.I find myself repeating to myself the same things that I used to tell my woodcarving students "the hardest part is getting over the fear of failure and being a beginner all over again.It ain't easy!!!!

Scratchbuilt Figures

I plan to take a little different approach to scratchbuilding figures.
When I was learning to carve ,in the round ,in wood, I began by copying other peoples work.I would set up the study cast or what I wanted to copy in front of me ,at eye level ,take a few measurements and just carve away.I found that by "winging it" I could train my eye to see mistakes without doing too much measuring.Once I had the basic anatomy down I could then move on to putting more and more animation into my pieces.From there it was just a matter of adding detail.
I have ordered a 1/16th nude male figure study cast and an assortment of heads and hands which I hope to receive in a month(Canada Customs are very,very slow)Until then I will do some research into human anatomy.
Why am I telling you all this ? Because somewhere down the line I would like to record my experiences with this in the "How I Build Dioramas "thread.
Cheers! John.

I found something even better ,120mm(close to 1/16th) mannequins.See
http://tlbminiatures.com/mannequins.html
look under accessories

The engine shop floor is just about finished,next it is on to doors & windows.The floor is made from popsicle type craft stiks ,stained with very thin Nimbus Grey acrylic paint.The walls will be sheathed with the same size sticks.

Not much building today but lots of good future research material.I went to see the movie Flyboys and I look forward to owning the DVD.As well as great flying scenes there is a lot of good historical references. The airfield,buildings and hangars and their interiors and furnishings Wow! There was lots to look at.All in all a great pilots movie too,quite believeable ,although some of the manouvers may be pushing the envelope a bit.
Cheers! John.

Jenny Reference Pics(not posted till now)

---

While I am doing a lot of the repetative (boring) building of walls ,floors and the like I will post a few pics of the Jenny build that I have never posted before.For those of you who maybe planning to do a Jenny in the future,I hope that they maybe of help.
I will post some 35mm shots of the engine room when there is something more interesting to see.
The following pics are in no particular order and are for general reference purposes.

---

__________________
It has been said that the difference between a "pilot" and an "aviator" is that a pilot is a technician,and an aviator is an artist in love with flight.
JohnReid (Aviator)

Tools for figure sculpting.

---

The above 3 pics give you an idea of what's available to beginning miniature sculpturers such as myself.
The mannequinn is a very useful tool to learn figure positioning and is available in different scales.When I was doing birds it was so much easier because birds have fused backbones and therefore are limited to head and tail movement only.
The bald heads i figure will be very helpful in learning hair,beards and also for changing expressions using Magic Sculpt.You can grind off what you don't want and replace it with putty.
The hair heads can be used as is or adapted for your own purposes.
I am going to attempt to learn scratchbuilding my own figures by going this route for awhile for reasons I explained earlier.
There are many very interesting sites on the internet that contain tutorials that are very interesting for beginners.I will post some as I go along.

As far as the dio is concerned ,I am erecting walls and cutting in windows and doors at this time.

THe CAMEL HAS BEEN POSTED to the Model Expo Site under model Airways. http://www.modelexpo-online.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe

Look under Model Airways.

From what I see it looks like a standard Model Airways build .I don't see anything different ,which may or may not be a good thing.I hope it is not a repeat of the Nieuport step backwards.My first impression is that it is not up to the standard of the Jenny.I will built it one way or the other though ,and add it to the diorama.Cheers! John.

From March12/05

Model Expo kits
Having now almost finished my 3rd Model Expo kit I think that I can make a few educated comment about their kits.
I know sometimes I can be a little too critical on a company that I am sure tries to offer value for money,to keep the costs down so that the kits can be offered at a reasonable price.I ,for one ,am extremely thankful to them for getting me started down a road that I probably would not have otherwise taken.These are good starter kits and the quality has gone up with their last two offerings.I think that they recognized the problem they had with their metal castings and have corrected it.I am only guessing here as I have no contact with this company,I even buy my kits through a local hobby store(Hobby World in Montreal)All of their kits can be built with a little determination but there can be varing degress of frustration depending on the kit you build.Therefore ,let me give you my opinion of the pros and cons of each.
__________________
It has been said that the difference between a "pilot" and an "aviator" is that a pilot is a technician,and an aviator is an artist in love with flight.
JohnReid (Aviator)
Guide my hand in your work today.

Model Expo kits cont...
The Albatros;
This was my first kit and at the time I built it I found it very enjoyable however I did experience some problems with the castings as they were too soft(maybe this has now been corrected,I dont know)The other raw materials are good and the plans and booklet are good but require a lot of study.I come from a ship modeling background so I am used to reading plans and problem solving when building.I did some scratchbuilding but it is not necessary to produce a fine model.I think that the Mercedes engine itself is worth the price of the kit.

The Nieuport;
I dont know what happened here but the quality took a backward step.I really cannot recommend this kit to anyone other than a serious scratchbuilder.The basics are there but......The quality of the raw materials are OK but the casting are poor(even the engine)The plans and instruction booklet leave a lot to be desired.

The Jenny;
I am happy to report that this is truly a nice kit.Some will think it expensive but it really is not when you consider all the factors.(cost per hobby hour,no aftermarket to buy,stress level etc......)There are no serious downsides to this kit,in fact I can easily recommend it to the average builder who has lots of time and patience.I have covered most of the fine points of this build here on this thread.The subject matter is just great and the aircraft looks wonderful when built.

Wright Flier;
From what I can see looking in the box and handling the various parts this looks like a good one.The castings,photoetch and raw materials seem to be of the same quality as the Jenny.I have briefly looked over the plans and instruction booklet and they seem ok but your can never really tell until you actually start the build.This probably will be my next project.

Cheers! John.
_______

Hey John this is really great. What are you going to use to make the figures? The guys at my modelling club use a wire frame over which they build up milliput. What are you planning? I'm sure you have something up your sleeve.

Hi! I am going to start by modifying bought bodies and heads. I have done some of this already.My most ambitious modiication was the standing to seated figure in the Nieuport diorama Model A truck.Now I want to learn about modifying facial expressions etc....When I feel I am ready(and have the time)I will start more intensive scratchbuilding ,which is my ultimate goal.I have always admired the miniature scratchbuilding guys and would love to finish this modeling adventure of mine on such a high note.Cheers! John.

Just my opinion so far

---

The Camel
Model Airways provide the complete instruction manual ,on Adobe reader ,on their website which is great for the prospective buyer of this kit.They should be commended for this degree of openess which I think is quite rare in the kit world.No surprises as to the quality.Having said that I am afraid that my fears about this kit may be true.
First ,the model as depicted in the instruction book was built and the instruction manual prepared by ,the same person who did the Nieuport.In looking over the manual a lot of the same problems that the Nieuport had seems to have been repeated here exut of scale parts etc...
I only hope that they used the same quality of metal that they used for the Jenny.
To be fair I will reserve any further judgement until I actually build this kit.
The Jenny as far as I can see is still the best 1/16th kit on the market and my personal recommendation would be to spend the extra $100.00 bucks and buy it.I know the manufacturer is trying to provide the best kit for the money but I beleive it is false economy both on the buyer and the manufacturers part to go the cheaper route.
The Camel kit I think will prove to be a good starting point for the semi-scratchbuilder who will use it as a starting point for a more complete build.Unfortunately the extras required will easily eat up the $100.00 saving that would been needed to bring it up to Jenny quality in the first place and it would save the builder a lot of frustration in the process.
Bottom line-build the Jenny first and then have a go at the others.
I hate to be too critical of a company that I owe so much to for giving me and others a start along the 1/16th path ,but that is my honest opinion.
Cheers! John.