Albatros diorama in 1/16th scale.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/107-0719_IMG.jpg

[JohnReid]

This is the interior of a diorama that I am presently working on for the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa.:ernae:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3079.jpg
This is the beginnings of the exterior about six months ago.

[stiz]

now that is extremly good :applause: :applause: :applause: :medals: :medals:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3325.jpg
This is the beginnings of the main storyline, the relationship between a WW1 pilot and his dog.I am calling the diorama "The Aces Who Never Were" for those fledgling pilots and their instructors injured or killed learning how to fly.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3760.jpg
Where I am now!:ernae:

[kurt190]

Amazing. Hats off to you sir.

kurt

[Nick C]

I looked at the first photo thinking it was 1/1 scale! Great work John, keep us updated :applause:

[GT182]

:jawdrop: WOW!!! If you hadn't said it was a diorama John, I would have thought it was the real thing. Amazing, and great work. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/GT182/Thumbup.gif

I always knew there was great things going on up there.... especially in the winter. But I always thought it was the Montreal Canadians and Cote Ste. Catherine. ;)

I always hated Notre Dame St going up to Oil Co to load when it was winter. Ultramar was bad enough too with the wind coming off the St. Lawrence. Brrrrrrr.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3784.jpg

[tigisfat]

that's beautiful. I only wish I had the skills and craftsmanship you do.

[JAMIE]

Such a work of art . Awesome detail

[BananaBob]

Hi John, I remember your great work from when ScreenshotArt was around, thanks for posting these, looking forward to more! :applause::applause::applause:

[Pepere]

Very nice :applause::applause::applause::applause:

David :applause:

[maguireted]

It is really a masterpiece . Beautifull !! Best Regards Anna

[jdhaenens]

Absolutely marvelous!

[EgoR64]

:wavey:

Amazing Stuff John, I enjoyed your Phototbucket shots as well, Fantastic !! :applause::ernae:

Many Cheers !!

[mike_cyul]

Wow, really nice! Many hours in there, I'll bet. Look forward to seeing it at the Museum.:ernae::ernae::applause:


Mike

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3787.jpg

[JohnReid]

Thanks guys(and gals)! I am very pleased that you like my work.Cheers! John.:ernae:

[max_thehitman]

I will say it once again... You are a model MASTER ! :applause::ernae:

Superb craftsmanship!

[lifejogger]

Fantastic. :ernae::ernae:

[djscoo]

That crashed B-24 in your photobucket looks familiar, It didn't happen to be in the Lone Star Flight Museum, did it?

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3802.jpg

[JohnReid]

That crashed B-24 in your photobucket looks familiar, It didn't happen to be in the Lone Star Flight Museum, did it?
Those dios on the first page are not mine but Shep Paines.:mixedsmi:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3806.jpg

[stiz]

absolutly brilliant :applause: :applause: :applause:

[huub vink]

The diorama is abosolutely stunning! Especially lightning of the workshop in the first picture is really amazing!

Huub

[Rick_Piper]

Hi John

That is real quality work mate:ernae:

looks like a photo in the full shot

Regards
Rick

[jmig]

I am late to this thread. My loss!

What craftsmanship and attention to detail. Well done sir.

:medals:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3807.jpg

[JohnReid]

Thanks guys! it is your encouragement that really keeps me going.:ernae:

[stiz]

just out of curiosity, where'd you get your drawings from? :)

[JohnReid]

They are Models Airways plans basically, supplemented with other sources.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3810.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3793.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3811.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3813.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3815.jpg

[stiz]

thats a crazy amount of detail :medals: :medals: :medals:

[JohnReid]

Tail skid and bottom fin assembly.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Except for the bottom of the tail skid and the fitting ,most of this area will be covered over with plywood.I decided to build the detail anyway in case I change my mind and leave it partially open.The tail skid itself would be made from hickory as it is a very strong yet highly bendable wood that retains its shape.(mine is made from cherry wood)

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3816.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3819.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3827.jpg

[harleyman]

Outstanding .....:applause::applause:

Its looks totally acurate and extremely time consuming but very rewarding too,.....

Cheers to you......:ernae:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3831.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3833.jpg

[JohnReid]

I am planning a little more fire damage to the tail area than just a simple flash over type fire.There is a lot of wood and fabric that comes together at the tail assembly ,therefore the likelihood of a more intense fire.I think that it will make this area more interesting as well as open up the fuselage a bit to reflect that it is actually a monocoque type structure.

[jankees]

wow, that's really looking great!

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3839.jpg

[JohnReid]

Building this wrecked Albatros has been a really fun experience,probably the best that I have ever had modeling.I really enjoy the balance between scratchbuilding ,kit building and creativity.The dog -pilot storyline takes a rather weak original storyline ,contained within the hangar walls ,and gives the whole thing new life.
Having a digital camera has allowed me for the first time to document this part (vignette)of the whole process from original idea to finished product.
It could have been a stand alone vignette but combined with the rest of the diorama it helps to raise the whole thing to a different level.I am really looking forward to seeing the reaction of my viewer to the dog.One of the greatest thrills I get as an artist is to see the emotion that I can raise in an audience using wood,plastic etc...just by arranging it all in a certain way,just like a writer would do with words.
I remember when I used to carve decorative birds,I once did a predator-prey piece of a Goshawk holding a songbird in its claws.People would tell me they hated what they thought was a taxidermy mount and when I would explain that it was only wood and paint, they still hated it.That always gave me great satisfaction as an artist.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/IMG_3841.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros003.jpg

[stiz]

brilliant stuff :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros028.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros034.jpg

[jmig]

John, You are an amazing craftsman. Beautiful work.

:medals:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros040.jpg

[stiz]

cant wait to see it finished! :applause: :applause: :medals: :medals: :medals:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros042.jpg

[JohnReid]

cant wait to see it finished! :applause: :applause: :medals: :medals: :medals:
Me too!:ernae: Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros060.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I don't plan to do a lot more of this burnt fabric stuff on the wings,just enough to get the flash over scenario across to the viewer. I don't want it to look overdone.
Speaking about overdone,I am again facing the old problem of when to stop.
Besides finishing up the landscaping and maybe putting a little junk out the back of the hangar, maybe I should stop here.There are no ground vehicles or figures outside the hangar, as I have done with the Jenny, but somehow I feel the the dog and airplane are enough.The R/H side of the hangar is plexiglass and the front is to be left open for an unobstructed view into the hangar ,so there really is no room now for any other large items.The fact that it is a military scene would also cut down on the "junk lying around" factor. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif
On the other hand maybe a small wheelbarrow leaning up against one of the hangar doors.......

[DPS]

Nice, very nice. But I now do all my modelling in gmax: no glue, no paint, no mess :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros065.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros081.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros078.jpg

[stiz]

really nice :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

Thanks,I posted a lot of new pics to my photobucket today.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros082.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros083.jpg

[harleyman]

Absolutely outstanding..... Beautiful craftsmanship JohnReid...:applause::applause:


What patience and steady hands it must take......

[stiz]

just taken a ganders at the HMS Victory model! :jawdrop:

[FengZ]

wow! That is just too beautiful for words!...

amazing!!!

-feng

[Shylock]

Wow John if not for the base showing in that first pic, I thought that was a real pic with a model inside it somewhere only to realize I was looking at the model. Great job

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros079.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros080.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> I love playing around with the lighting to get different effects.Boxed dioramas are best for this and with todays digital cameras you can get instant feedback on the results and play with it until you are satisfied.I often will just point the camera and shoot with very little setup,sometimes the results can be quite surprising. It is really easy on the pocketbook to take multiple shots and then erase the ones you don't like.
I find that I often like the pictures more than the diorama itself.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros090.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros092.jpg

[stiz]

said it before and i'll say it again, that is incredible good! :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros093.jpg

[JohnReid]

I refined the burn on the wings a bit by burning closer and not leaving too much overhanging fabric.Although it is not very visible in this pic I added a little green grass stains to the wingtip.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros096.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros099.jpg

[stiz]

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

The wrecked Albatros ,although not quite finished has been about a six month project from concept to almost completion.It has been a very rewarding and fun experience that I would recommend to anyone.I really enjoy the freedom of using mixed media or whatever is at hand to tell my stories.My motto of "buying what you can and building what you must" really satisfies both the scratchbuilding urge and the use of kits.It is a nice compromise of time available and completion of a project in a reasonable time.
The three dioramas that are now almost complete have taken almost ten years to build and I would say that you could triple that time to scratch build it all.Granted that as I get older I don't spend quite as much shop time as I used to but still I am in my shop just about everyday.I am a very lucky man as my hands and eyes are still hangin in there.
Vacations?everyday is a vacation for me and besides my beloved 14 year old Husky( Dolly )won't let me or my wife out of her sight nor will she travel, so going anywhere together is not an option for us at this time.So,all in all,it works for me.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros103.jpg

[JohnReid]

Funny how it goes sometimes,without even thinking it through, I decided to try to make the inspection holes and engine vents in wood and have them look like metal.Well after working a day and a half or so ,carving ,shaping,painting and playing around they still looked bad.Then I thought,if there was a fire burning on the other side of this plywood cowl wouldn't these holes be the first thing to burn ? So I ripped it all off and got out my trusty woodburner and in ten minutes made a few holes.Perfect! wish I had thought of this in the first place.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros106.jpg

[djscoo]

:applause: Keep 'em coming! :applause:

[GT182]

John, your work is museum quality. :applause: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/GT182/Thumbup.gif Thanks for sharing with us.... and keep the photos coming.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros104.jpg

[JohnReid]

The aft section of the fuselage now rests on the wheel of the U/C, with the other point of contact at the leading edge of the lower wing and horiz stab.The clothes peg joining the 2 halves will be replaced with the elevator and rudder control wires.Although somewhat extreme in its presentation, it leaves no doubt as to what it represents, a hurried and forceful attempt to rescue a pilot who's aircraft is already on fire.Chances are that if I had just broken the fuselage ,at this its weakest point,this aspect of the story may have been lost.The more intense burn area where the elevaltor meets the lower wing also suggests that the fire took hold after the aft section was placed there and not for some other reason like transport of the wreckage.
I know,I know most will say that this will probably all be lost on the average viewer ,but you got to admit that it is a lot of fun creating a little mystery in your work,especially for those who may care to analyze things a little more carefully.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros110.jpg

[stiz]

i'm running out of ways of saying how good it is :)

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros116.jpg

[JohnReid]

Thanks Stiz and Happy New Year!:ernae:

[JohnReid]

Nails and screws!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->This is a boring but necessary job.I used a pin to open holes ,then twisted in a bit of graphite from an HB pencil,then placed a drop of water over that to swell the wood back to level.
The pattern I got from pics of the real thing and Mark Miller's great work.I have noticed that the holes are not always evenly spaced nor exactly in precise rows on surviving aircraft.When factory fresh I do not know.I decided to go with the used look as it fits better into the overall weathered scheme of things.

[JohnReid]

A New Years personal reflection.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->About 10 years ago I decided to drop one passion and start another.
Starting all over again seemed like a big decision at the time.I loved carving decorative birds and even taught it part time to adults for 11 years.While I reached a certain level of expertise and really enjoyed the subject matter I always felt a little uncomfortable filling these artistic shoes.I found that I seemed to be always playing catch-up to the leaders in the field.Following their example and doing knock offs of their ideas.Call it ego or whatever but I wanted to be one of those guys that I so highly admired.
Then I heard of a fellow decorative bird carver who was at the top of the genre and very successful both artistically and money wise.He had years of commissions in front of him but was also dissatisfied and felt that he was stuck in a rut.Then he made the unpopular decision(with his family and fans) to turn away from woodcarving forever and follow a new passion of doing mammals in bronze.He changed his style from very realistic bird carver to a looser style of mammal sculpture.He dropped everything and took a year or so traveling and visiting zoos etc..to get a feel for his subject matter and study their behavior.
He then returned to his studio and started his first bronze of a chimpanzeze which he promptly sold to Jane Goodal the very well known anthropologist and now is even more successful and happier than ever for having followed his dream.
Well,I found that a very inspiring story that helped push me into following my dream.After a near-death medical treatment ten years ago I thought well it is now or never.My passion had always been aviation and flying which was really not that far a step away from the birds themselves.My whole life was deeply involved in one way or another with aviation and it was what I knew best.My path had always been there in front of me all along.It had not always been an easy path to follow and involved a lot of personal pain.
An only survivor of an airplane accident 50 years ago,PTS syndrome and the subsequent loss of my flying career are but a few examples.But my love of aviation and flying never ceased.That is where airplane modeling and storyboard dioramas come in.Much like my fellow bird carver ,turned bronze sculpturer ,I decided to drop the whole thing and try something new.I have now put ten years of concentrated effort into devoping the talents necessary to becoming a storyboard dioramaist and it is only now with my last project the wrecked Albatros have I become really comfortable with the term as it applies to me.It may be the subject matter that I relate to. It could be the finally feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if I really put my mind to it ,I can take a mental 2D image and translate that into 3D model given the availability of the time to do so.I know that I still have loads to learn down the road and art is never really finished but this new year sure has had a positive start for me.
Please forgive me for all this talk about myself but I thought that you guys and gals,my modeling buds, might be interested .Cheers and Happy New Year to all! John.

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Gettin' there!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->All the brace wires are installed and just need a little final adjustment.The ailerons are rigged and today I hope to finish the elevator-rudder rigging and finally install the control column.
So now it is decision time again.Do I stop here as far as any other major components are concerned? When is enough ,enough? I will take a few pics and have to decide.There are a few odds and ends to rap up like the landscaping and maybe a small junkyard out back.I have also considered a couple of figures near the back door ,maybe mechanics taking a break for a smoke or some other relaxed activity.
All three dioramas are now 95% finished and almost ready for their new home.
I am anxious to get started on a new project, first building a small scale mockup of the "Backyard Flyer" ,a fantasy piece I plan to call "In Pursuit Of His Dream" based upon the 1/16th Wright Flyer(Model Airways) with a little Glenn Curtiss thrown in.Basically I want to put myself back in the pre-WW1 era and build my own "Flyer" using the knowledge available at the time.(I will try not to cheat)
These guys were the original EAA"ers long before the modern era.Aviation was young,new and exciting .Guys with no more than basic carpentry skills dreamed of taking to the air in their own backyard flyers.
There were plans available and the Wrights were even selling engines.I am sure that hardly any of these homemade craft ever took to the air but that is not important,this diorama will be about dreams and having fun especially for me,the modeler.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros120.jpg

[stiz]

stunning stuff :applause::applause::applause::medals:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros128.jpg

[JohnReid]

Need help!
I need a little help from the car experts! For composition and balance I think that I need something in this area of the diorama.Obviously the car shown is the wrong era and scale but I do have a 1907 Rolls Royce touring car kit in 1/16th scale.
What I was wondering is there a possibility that some of these cars were imported to continental Europe prior to WW1? If so there is a chance that one of these cars could have been found on a German airfield during WW1. Most German pilots of that era came from the upper classes and were originally posted to cavalry units but as more pilots were required for the front they traded their horses for airplanes.If I were to use the Rolls I would of course weather it to make it better fit into its surroundings.
Another possibility would be to convert an old 1912 Ford car to a truck and use it instead but I sure do like the Rolls.In the absence of anything of German make from that era what do you guys think?

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Nieuport28%20dio2/nieuportdec203.jpg

[JohnReid]

As I did with the Ford T car to truck conversion in the 2nd diorama ,I will use the Rolls chassis and convert it into a airfield truck of no particular make.Although the first idea of using the car is plausible ,I think that a weathered truck in military markings would fit into the overall scene better and not take away anything from the main subject matter,the airplanes. Thank God that the left hand open hangar door is there to separate the dog part of the story from the rest, otherwise I would be very reluctant to do this.Should be fun!

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros134.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Albatros136.jpg

[harleyman]

You are extremely talented........:faint:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros140.jpg

[stiz]

comeing right along :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

The following was written by a good modeling bud of mine over on another site.


John, I really love this diorama. The wrecked plane is beautiful. The whole thing is magnificent.!!!

I would advise you to not put a vehicle in front of the hanger and wrecked plane.
Unless you rearrange the hanger and the wrecked plane, the vehicle will overpower the wrecked plane and the hanger. By "overpower" I mean the vehicle becomes the main attraction. The vehicle becomes the story. It will steal the story away from the planes.

Viewers will ask, in their mind; so what about this vehicle? Who just arrived? Who was driving the vehicle? What is it doing there?

I think the story is the wrecked plane and the plane they are working on in the hanger. The vehicle should only support that story.

John, I love your work. I hope you don't take this the wrong way. It's only my opinion.

My response;

Hi Jim! thank you for taking the time to express your opinion on this. I also have been quite reluctant to do this and for the same reasons, but all that open space in the left hand front of the diorama somehow bothers me.I can't quite put my finger on what it is,would you have any other suggestions or do you think it is OK as is?
Don't worry about the truck as I originally thought of putting it out back of the hangar anyway.
If anyone else would care to weight in on this subject please feel free to do so.Knowing when enough is enough has always been a problem for me.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros145.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros151.jpg

[stiz]

well thats changed a bit :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros157.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros162.jpg

[stiz]

great stuff :applause: :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros165.jpg

[JohnReid]

The Junk Truck.......<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->This ground support vehicle will be picking up junk out back of the hangar.I haven't yet quite decided whether it will be military or civilian.In keeping with it's duties the truck will be pretty junky itself.Even if it were military I figure that a truck involved in this task would not be the shiniest in the fleet nor would it bear all the usual proud military insignia.
Like the running board, I decided to make my own style front fenders out of wood ,which was not all that uncommon a thing to do in the early days.

I love doing these early trucks because of the room for your own creativity that is involved.It would take a keen and very knowledgeable eye to spot this as being once a Rolls Royce chassis, especially after I weather the whole thing..http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
<!-- / message --> <!-- sig --> __________________
<!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->"Once upon a time......." Storyboard dioramas by JohnReid.
My photobucket:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros169.jpg

[Nick C]

Fantastic John, true craftsmanship!

[JohnReid]

OK ,this is as far as I plan to go with the junk truck.Anything more would just look overdone.When I add the junk to the truck's bed there will be plenty of interesting stuff to look at.Now it's on the the part I love most the weathering.

I have a little update as to when the museum will be ready for my stuff.Looks now that not before August ,which is fine by me as I really prefer finishing off the landscaping surrounding the hangars outside on my porch during the warm weather.Maybe I will add a few things too..........

[djscoo]

:applause: I envy your craftmanship!

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros177.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros175.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros190.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros193.jpg

[harleyman]

Still just simply amazing workmanship John.....:applause::applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros206.jpg

[stiz]

brilliant stuff :applause: :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros003.jpg

[harleyman]

John..Whats the jar for? to show scale?

[Snuffy]

Hey John! Great shots and great modelling, wish I had your patence and talent.

One suggestion though.

In the one shot showing the rear of your truck, the right rear wheel looks a little light and seems to be sitting off the ground (I'm sure its from the "grass" under the wheel) so I have a suggestion.

Would it be too much work to "impress" a set of tire tracks to the truck's location and perhaps make a depression in the "grass" where the truck ends up finally?

:)

[JohnReid]

This build will be found in my photobucket in album "Fuel Wagon Albatros"

I have a few left over wheels,tires and springs from another build ,the rest will be scratch.
When I saw the pic of the RFC fuel wagon I just couldn't resist building something similar.I am assuming here that based on the technology of the day wagons like this would be pretty much the same from country to country.This could be a converted farm wagon or something that was built "in the field" by the ground personnel themselves.Anyway that's my story and I am sticking to it!
Well here goes,should be fun.

[JohnReid]

John..Whats the jar for? to show scale?
Hi ! that will become the tank.

[JohnReid]

Hey John! Great shots and great modelling, wish I had your patence and talent.

One suggestion though.

In the one shot showing the rear of your truck, the right rear wheel looks a little light and seems to be sitting off the ground (I'm sure its from the "grass" under the wheel) so I have a suggestion.

Would it be too much work to "impress" a set of tire tracks to the truck's location and perhaps make a depression in the "grass" where the truck ends up finally?

:)
Hi Ted! very observant.This is only a temporary positioning in order to work out the composition.:ernae:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros007.jpg

[JohnReid]

I changed my mind!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->The white chassis looked a little flimsy so I decided to use another instead.The last pic I took is shown here.If you look on my photobucket under the fuel wagon album you will see in pic 004 the basic chassis glued together,pic 005 the cut down chassis where I shortened the whole thing and then glued it back together again.Pic 006 is a top view of the shortened version.

[Snuffy]

I was going to say that the frame on the yellow one didn't quite match the lines on the picture.

The picture appears to have a tubular or channel frame which is straight tube or channel and then had the suspension afixed to the bottom of the straight frame.

The yellow frame has too much curve to it in with my eye.

Still a great job and I'm envious as hell over your talent.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/CAM/Picture1050.jpg

[JohnReid]

CAM Pics in photobucket.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->For those who may be interested I have opened a new album in my photobucket called CAM, for pictures that I took at the Canada Aviation Museum prior to their latest rearrangement of the displays last summer.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros014.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros017.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros025.jpg

[JohnReid]

I took some styrene sheet and fitted some end plates to the tank.The pill bottle was sanded down and burnt umber gesso applied .The visible line around one end will be covered with a strap.The tires were worn down with a belt sander and just now need to be weathered sometime in the future.
This could be a horse drawn wagon by adding seats over the front wheels but I think that I will leave it as a trailer-type wagon as shown in the pics.
Does anyone know what that is at the front of the tank that looks like a bunch of wheel cranks welded together?
I added the straps,filler neck,drain pipe and water drain spigot under the tank.

[X_eidos2]

That fuel wagon looks a lot like the one at the USAF museum in Dayton. While they, the objects in front of the tank, look like a bunch of welded tire irons, they also look like a light weight version of the wheel chocks that I've seen used with Harvard aircraft at BCATP airfields. Since the wagon was probably used at grass fields, these would make more sense than wood blocks.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros026.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Fuel ,water or oil ?<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Until I can find more research material on this as a fuel wagon,I think that I shall just call it a tanker wagon of some sort ,as it could have been used also for oil ,water or other liquid.
The problem I have with it as a fuel wagon is that I don't know how or where a pump and hose would be connected.If used for water gravity feed would be enough provided by the tap at the rear of the tank but if used for fuel a hand operated wobble pump of some kind would have to be installed but where?Then there is the hose to consider, where and how would it be properly stowed?
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/images/smilies/unsure.gif

This same wagon could be built in any scale,horse drawn or whatever.Just find a nice set of wheels,chassis and springs and use your imagination from there.A lot of this ground equipment was actually built this way.A car maker would supply the chassis or a beefed up version thereof, and the rest would be constructed as need be.Even on military fields I have seen a wide variety of stuff that was adapted for "in the field" use.For a semi-scratchbuilder like me that suits me just fine and is one of the big reasons that I do WW1 dioramas, as it gives me lots of room for artistic license.

[AckAck]

Every once in a while, I get the urge to start model building again, but when that strikes, I just come to this thread, and it cures me of that desire.http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon10.gif

Great work!

Brian

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros036.jpg

[Snuffy]

Looks Good John ...

Go ahead and make it Avgas! :)

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros043.jpg

[JohnReid]

Every once in a while, I get the urge to start model building again, but when that strikes, I just come to this thread, and it cures me of that desire.http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon10.gif

Great work!

Brian
Hi Brian! I hope that you are only kidding as I would like my dioramas to have the opposite effect.It is all a learning curve.Please start again!Cheers.John.:ernae:

[stiz]

thats very nice :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/FuelwagonAlbatros039.jpg

[Boomer]

Hi Brian! I hope that you are only kidding as I would like my dioramas to have the opposite effect.It is all a learning curve.Please start again!Cheers.John.:ernae:

It has the opposite effect with me.

I used to be a pretty fair sprue strecher but scratch building... I have neither the time nor skill for it so I am living vicariously through you.

Thanks! :ernae:

[Baywing]

Incredible work, John. Any plans for a motorcycle???

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Another wheelbarrow.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I would like to build another wheelbarrow that I will casually prop up against one of the hangars doors ,holding it in the open position.The first one shown here is in the Jenny diorama.
This is a nice little project for those not used to working with wood and would be a nice warm up piece if you would like to do something more complicated like the tanker.
All you require is a few lengths of basswood obtainable from any hobby store especially those that carry RR stuff and a few coffee stir sticks.Most modelers would probably have an old wheel or two laying around from some past project or you could simply use a round piece of wood cut from a dowel.A piece or rod or tube for the axle and that it about it.
As far as tools are concerned I use a Xacto knife with a #18 blade and a small hobby saw and miter for most of my work.Although I do have power saws etc..I find that none are really necessary for this type of model work.(I also have a fancy airbrush that I hardly ever use)My advice to beginners would be to learn to do all this by hand and then if you want to you can buy the fancy stuff later.For sanding just take some various size sticks and dowels and glue some cloth backed, belt sander type sandpaper to them.Buy several grits mostly the finer stuff.
The wood sizes required will depend upon the scale you are building in.In this case you could measure your own wheelbarrow and reduce it to the scale you require.Have someone hold the wheelbarrow and take a pic or use
a scale figure as a guide.Anyway wheelbarrows come in lots of sizes so no need to be too accurate here.Where you have to be careful is with the grip on the handle,don't make it too big.I have sets of scale hands for this.
Water based flat acrylics are recommended for painting and caulk pastels for shading.That is about it.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Fuel%20wagon%20Albatros/Wheelbarrow.jpg

[JohnReid]

Incredible work, John. Any plans for a motorcycle???
I have done 2 in the past,will try to find the pics.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/B%20and%20W%20Pics/Picture1319jpgSepia.jpg
Just foolin around!

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatroswheelbarrow004.jpg

[JohnReid]

Major change in plans!
Diorama #1 the Albatros and diorama #3 the Jenny are now almost finished.Diorama #2 the Nieuport, is a little different than the other two, in that it is more of a traditional type shadowbox.It is mostly finished on the interior but the exterior requires some work.I had originally planned to put this dio in an old TV cabinet and display it in my home but when the CAM expressed an interest in acquiring my dioramas,I just put it aside in storage until I could figure out a good way to display it.Well I think that time has arrived!
It could be built into a wall as a traditional shadowbox or put in a box of some sort and displayed that way or some other way that I haven't thought of yet.
That is where I would welcome some suggestions from you guys.
I am sure that the museum has staff for this kind of thing but I would still like to have some input as to how it will be displayed.Mostly this will involve the lighting.
I envisioned an old barn type setting with the light of dawn or sunset coming through the cracks in the boards.Not the kind of place where you would want to spend a Canadian winter but maybe a place in France behind the lines where an aircraft could be rebuilt during the summer months or even a school type setting where mechanics could be given an engine conversion or aircraft rigging course.Anyway I so like the idea of the light shining through the boards the story will be adapted to fit.(artistic license comes to the rescue again)
The interior lighting is really simple with the whole thing lit by a single Xmas type bulb hidden in the ceiling.
Some of the rear and side panels are removable for picture taking purposes but of course this access will be lost once it is on display.
Please bear with me if I seem to jump from diorama to diorama but on a long project such as this (almost ten years)a change is as good as a rest.

I will open up a new thread for this called "Finishing up the Nieuport diorama"

[Snuffy]

Nice John.

Typical use for a wheelbarrow! :woot:

[JohnReid]

Duplicate post.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/AlbatrosDv005.jpg

[JohnReid]

A couple more figures!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I feel like painting figures for awhile.I have chosen to do two WW2 Soviet tank crew members that I have acquired recently.I want to put them in the area shown in the picture that is in the rear of the hangar well away from any confusion with the main storyline.The final composition or arrangement of the objects in this area will be made when the figures are finished.I thought that I could add a little life to the area without having to show a lot of activity which is not my style.I like my figures in relaxed poses.I haven't quite decided what the truck will be hauling or if it will have any obvious connection to the figures.
It could just be parked there or temporarily stopped.I thought that one figure could be holding a map and another pointing in a certain direction as though it had stopped to ask for directions.These guys are dressed in what looks like officier's uniforms so they will have to be depicted as doing something other than grunt labor.(like unloading wood)
These figures will not require too much modification to make them into WW1 German types.In fact they could be used as is with a few minor uniform adjustments.
I have already put the torso of the first figure together and like what I see so far,minimum flash and the parts fit well together with minimum adjustments.Any unwanted seams can easily be filled with super thin ,super glue and sanded smooth.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatros063.jpg

[JohnReid]

Harley,the fighter pilot's dog and I are sharing a great feeling of loss today.My beloved Dolly,a 14 year old Siberian Husky/Arctic Wolf mix died of old age last week.

[Snuffy]

Harley,the fighter pilot's dog and I are sharing a great feeling of loss today.My beloved Dolly,a 14 year old Siberian Husky/Arctic Wolf mix died of old age last week.

Condolences then John.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/AlbatrosFig003.jpg

[JohnReid]

Thanks guys for your kind words about the loss of my doggy companion.http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/images/smilies/mellow.gif

I finally have started back to painting the last two figures.I have discussed my painting methods many times before so I won't repeat it here.Sufficient to say that it is based upon Jo Sonja flat acrylic paint and pastels for shading.A little unusual way to paint but it works for me in a diorama setting.
Both figures have been given a couple of coats of a burnt umber/water mix.The figure on the left has been given a single coat of nimbus gray undercoat to approximate the final color.
The WW1 uniform experts will notice a few discrepancies here and there but they are pretty close for my purposes.I understand that there were,in the beginning, a lot of different uniforms accepted in the German air force as many of its members were from cavalry units and were allowed to wear their previous uniforms or parts of them.So in keeping with that fact I am leaving them as they are.

[harleyman]

Harley,the fighter pilot's dog and I are sharing a great feeling of loss today.My beloved Dolly,a 14 year old Siberian Husky/Arctic Wolf mix died of old age last week.


Oh...Man John...I am truely sorry to hear that.....

I completely understand the bond between man and his dog.....

We know its comming..But its totally sad when it happens...

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/B%20and%20W%20Pics/Nieuport28new076-1-2.jpg

[harleyman]

WOW A stunning Black and White Photo John.......:applause::applause:


Love the hazing around the hard edges......Supurb..:monkies:

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->The possibilities are endless with digital pics!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Just havin some fun with pics!
Through modern digital photography we can all now be great dioramists.Using all the digital tools available to us now ,just add a little of your own creativity and before you know it the simplest diorama can take on new life.
For some pics black and white are perfect for the era that you are trying to recreate.Lucky for me my eras of choice are mostly before the color stuff was invented anyway.
All you budding dioramists out there now have a lot of options.Do you want to create an actual , physical ,3 dimensional diorama or do you want to be a Steven Spielberg type and bring all the elements of your ideas together and get your stuff on film(or digital in this case).Everyone recognizes that film makers, such as Spielberg in our era, are great artists but what do they actually have to physically show for all their creativity? A few cans of film?
Storyboard dioramists can do exactly the same thing but our challenge is even greater because we only have one frame of our movie to work with and no dialogue.Our dialogue exists in our viewers imagination and we as artists are only there as guides to help point the way.
As an artist it is such a wonderful time to be alive!http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
<!-- / message --> <!-- sig --> __________________
<!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->"Once upon a time......." Storyboard dioramas by JohnReid.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/107-0708_IMG-1-1.jpg

[Nick C]

John I think you are a true artist on so many levels, thank you so much for allowing us to spectate during the development of this diorama.

:applause::applause::applause:

[JohnReid]

This is how I would envision what a shadowbox storyboard diorama would look like if it was hung on a wall.It is a little weak on story line,(more like a vignette), but you get the idea.Note the inner black border that acts as a reveal.
These are great visual tools that can be used to plan your diorama and change things as you go along.
Even as an ordinary picture it works well because of the feeling of depth that is given off because of the floor boards and the single lit window.
The border colors and frame were chosen to harmonize with the colors in the diorama.

[harleyman]

I think the shadow box look is out of this world....:applause:

Your talents are truely amazing John......

Whats next? :gossip:

[Snuffy]

Awesome job John! You're a master for sure!

I'm jealous. :applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Classic%20Cars/IMG_2892-1-1.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Here is something at the other end of the scale.Same frame,size,color etc... but the main subject is in the foreground.Depth has been achieved and the main subject highlighted by simply fuzzing things up a bit.It also adds kind of a dreamlike quality to the whole thing.
The license on the car adds just enough info to put the whole thing in context.
Damn! this is fun stuff to do.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfigssoviet008-1-1.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->This is about as far as I plan to go with this figure for now.I will finish it just before I place it in the diorama.
As you can see I am far from the greatest figure painter in the world but they seem to work OK in a diorama setting especially when viewed at scale distance.No one is going to pick these guys up for judging.
I came to the realization a long time ago that making large diorama does require a few compromises.Three storyboard dioramas in 10 years is a big enough test of my endurance.To scratch everything ,figures included ,would be wonderful except I wouldn't be half finished the first diorama yet.I know guys who completely scratchbuild cars,aircraft,furniture,figures etc... but few do it all in this modern era and tend to stick to an area of expertise.
I would ,for example, love to learn how to scratch and paint miniature figures that actually look like the full scale individual.It is actually on my "to do" list, if it at some point, I do not have the space that I have now to do these large museum type dioramas.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Nieuport28%20dio2/Nieuport28new014.jpg

[Snuffy]

That's too real!

Excellent detail !!!

:woot: :woot: :woot:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/HMS%20Victory%20diorama/IMG_3624Medium-1.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->The young need not bother to read......<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I know,I know it is not an airplane,car or figure, but Photoshop's new poster feature makes for some great looking book titles and it has got me to thinking that maybe sometime in the future, I may do a limited run of pictures and text of all my diorama's (only4),and put them in book form for friends and family.This would not be a "How to..." book but just for fun.
I understand that there are internet sites out there that will bind your stuff in book form ,on a very limited run basis,and are not too expensive.
I am especially thinking about the large diorama and RR layout guys that don't have museums or such to take their work.I know that nothing survives forever but I have witnessed some very beautiful stuff being broken up and put in the trash when the builder passes on to the "happy hunting ground".Individual pictures and such are nice but a book of your stuff and text in your own words would really make for a nice legacy for those who come after you.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Nieuport28%20dio2/Nieuport28new003.jpg

[harleyman]

You just made my jaw drop John with that last set of pics.....

You a truely remarkable craftsman..... I am just in awe of your work..i love seeing your new posts here...:applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfigssoviet022.jpg

[max_thehitman]

great art
:bump::ernae:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly004.jpg

[JohnReid]

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Surprise it's back to square one!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->So you thought that it was almost finished?
Well now it is time for final assembly.Starting back at the bare plywood stage it is now time to permanently screw and glue things down.The plywood was lacquered last summer on both sides and edges to make it waterproof ,which is very important because a lot of the next steps require the use of lots of water.
I have positioned the hangar for a unobstructed ,clear view in to what will be the open hangar doors.
The landscaping is divided at the hangars corners into four parts for ease of assembly.Each part will be finished and then screwed down to the base.
I have arranged it so that there will be four separate areas of interest ,almost like four dioramas in one.When viewing one area I have tried to plan it so the viewer will not be distracted by the other three.For example the view of the crashed Albatros outside, is blocked by the L/H open hangar door.When viewing the crashed Albatros from the side it is not possible to view the backyard of the hangar.The R/H hangar wall is plexiglass and affords another unrestricted view into the hangar.In real life another hangar bay would have been built here ,so this is basically a compromise between reality and fantasy.(artistic license ,if you will)
Now it is on to temporarily screwing down the four landscaping panels and the final positioning of the hangar.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly001.jpg

[Curtis P40]

Truly an amazing thread........simply amazing. Do you try to work with a certain scale?
Curt

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly006.jpg

[JohnReid]

Truly an amazing thread........simply amazing. Do you try to work with a certain scale?
Curt
All my aircraft dioramas are 1/16th scale.:ernae:

[JohnReid]

I was originally going to screw the landscaping panels down from underneath the plywood base but that proved to be unpractical.Instead I drilled a hole down through both panels,and screwed down the panel from the top.I will cover the screw heads using rocks or grass etc... I identified the holes under the plywood panels as "screws above" so that if in future if it is to be taken apart they will be able to locate the screws.
The hanger itself was screwed down the same way, from below, and holes added to the plywood where the wheels of the aircraft are bolted down ,so that the Albatros could be removed from the hangar separately if need be.
The landscaping panels are of course removable so that each can be finished individually and then finally re-installed.The now visible seams will be filled as required and blended in to become invisible.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly008-1-1.jpg

[JohnReid]

Something different!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I took a whole bunch of new pics today while I still have easy access to the
hangar windows.I haven't yet had a chance to edit out the bad ones.I removed the frames and shot through the windows from different angles.I am also experimenting with doing photographic type dioramas and vignettes and setting them in formal type frames.This is a lot of fun and opens a whole new dimensions to doing dioramas.One storyboard diorama can be broken down into hundreds of smaller vignettes.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly027-1-1-1-1.jpg

[harleyman]

Remarkable..........:faint:

[JohnReid]

"Hanging The Left Hand Aileron"Vignette<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->This is a good example of a storyboard vignette.The aileron on the workbench and the ladder pretty much tell the story.The floorboards give a nice 3d effect and perspective that helps lead the viewers to the sign of human presence, as represented by the boots. For those who are really knowledgeable about uniforms, the hat indicates that this is more than likely, a German hangar of WW1.

[stiz]

really nice stuff :applause: :applause:

[Snuffy]

John,

You really need to quit this!

I'm running out of adjectives!!

Your work is impecable Sir! <0

[guzler]

All my aircraft dioramas are 1/16th scale.:ernae:
Wow John, I remember your B-17 diarama was included in the 1-48th model kit many years ago as an example. I thought it was incredible then, still do now.

A blast from the past.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly051-1-1-1-1.jpg

[JohnReid]

Wow John, I remember your B-17 diarama was included in the 1-48th model kit many years ago as an example. I thought it was incredible then, still do now.

A blast from the past.
The B17 diorama is unfortunately not mine but it is Shep Paines work.It was his stuff that inspired me to get into dioramas myself. Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Most of these shots will be lost once the diorama is finished.I took a few days out from building to play with the camera.I really don't know that much about cameras so I take lots of shots at different settings and then delete what I don't want.Using film would have forced me to "read the instructions"(as my dad would always tell me) a long time ago or go broke buying film.
Digital cameras allows guys like me to fool around and really not know what they are doing . I would rather build than read instructions anyway.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly069.jpg

[JohnReid]

The lane out back.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I am starting to make a lane way(dirt road) out back of the hangar .Here I have started to build up the raised portion that normally lies between the tire tracks.I have used ordinary sand for this,sprayed with alcohol as a water tension breaker and then soaked with the usual 75/25 water and white glue mix.Once dry I will add the fine sand,earth ,vegetation and a few rocks here and there.
Next I covered the sand mound with the earth and measured the dirt roads width using the Ford T truck as a guide.I then covered the the width of the road with the earth,sprayed on the alcohol ,and put on the water /glue mix ,drop by drop. I then took one of the trucks spare tires and rolled it down the dirt road to create a few tracks.The road still looks a little whitish as the white glue hasn't dried yet.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly071-1.jpg

[Scratch]

Amazing!!!!!

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/107-0710_IMG-1-1-1.jpg

[guzler]

The B17 diorama is unfortunately not mine but it is Shep Paines work.It was his stuff that inspired me to get into dioramas myself. Cheers! John.

Me too, that particular diarama got me not being happy with model kits, I moved to adding scratch built detail and addon sets afterwards.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly072-1.jpg
Working on the composition.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Figures%20dio3/IMG_1689-2.jpg

[Snuffy]

Ya know ....

This thing is never gonna get built ... all these pictures I'm seeing is people standing around talking ... I don't see anyone working on the plane ...

:wiggle:


More outstanding work there John!

[JohnReid]

This vignette from the "Keepers of the Flame" diorama depicts three individuals, one military,one ex-military and one civilian. They represent a cross section of society who were responsible for keeping the dream of aviation alive during some very difficult times following WW1.
After the Great War airplanes represented to the public at large, something that they wanted to forget ,death and destruction.A relatively few individuals risked their money and even their lives to keep it going.1918-1927 was the wild and wholly teenage stage of aviation where just about anything was tolerated.It was in all less than ten years long but what a wild ride it was.
Out of work ex-military pilots who just couldn't settle down,who had the love of flying in their veins ,tried to scratch out a living as barnstormers ,stunt pilots or flying the mail.All very risky positions indeed!
On the civilian side ,a young fellow who dared to tell his parents of his dreams to become a pilot, might have just as well have told them that he was off to join the circus.There were only a few far- sighted businessmen who would dare get involved in aviation and their names are all well known to us today.
By 1927 when the first air regulations started to take hold ,the public's attitude was beginning to change.Of necessity this wonderful short-lived period of real "freedom of the skies" was coming to an end and today unfortunately, it is mostly forgotten.
To their memory this Keepers of the Flame diorama is dedicated.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly078.jpg

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly082.jpg

[JohnReid]

Hangar doors and ramp area.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->I have added a little more wear and tear in front of the hangar where there would be the most activity, especially when rolling the aircraft in and out.I did this simply by adding more of the dirt from a shaker ,spraying with alcohol and then dropping on the 75/25 water-glue mix.I have left off the wooden planks that would be used for roll out, as this aircraft is obviously not going anywhere soon.They are stashed on the floor on either side of the hangar doors near the wall.
I don't plan to have any junk laying around as most pics that I have seen of German military airfields they are very neat and orderly.(too bad as I love doing junk ).I plan to break this rule a bit by putting a couple of vacated wheel chocks just off to the left of the hangar doors to add a little to the sense of loss, as represented by the crashed aircraft.
On the R/H side of the pic the earth has not been properly blended yet,hence the straight lines.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatrosfinalassembly095.jpg

[harleyman]

The funnel and leaf springs look so real John....:applause:

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Once%20Upon%20A%20Time/Picture364-1.jpg:jump:

[JohnReid]

Always looking for something new....<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Hi guys! I have had a lot of great response from an idea that I have had using old radio cabinets to display dioramas.I have made a mock up of the idea using a diecast car but of course this idea could really be used for any genre.
For you aircraft guys please use your imagination and replace the car with the aircraft of your choice.I think that this would work especially well for half type aircraft that were attached to a mirror along the back wall .This would also be a great way to display the half fuselage type displaying the innards of the aircraft itself while still being able to see the flying aircraft in the mirror.I will post a few pictures later to show you what I mean.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/AlbatrosDv%20dio1/Albatroschimney006.jpg

[harleyman]

Always looking for something new....<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <HR style="COLOR: rgb(133,130,101); BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(133,130,101)" SIZE=1> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Hi guys! I have had a lot of great response from an idea that I have had using old radio cabinets to display dioramas.I have made a mock up of the idea using a diecast car but of course this idea could really be used for any genre.
For you aircraft guys please use your imagination and replace the car with the aircraft of your choice.I think that this would work especially well for half type aircraft that were attached to a mirror along the back wall .This would also be a great way to display the half fuselage type displaying the innards of the aircraft itself while still being able to see the flying aircraft in the mirror.I will post a few pictures later to show you what I mean.







This I gotta see John..... Very intresting idea there.....:wave:

[JohnReid]

Albatros hangar's chimney.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <hr style="color: rgb(133, 130, 101); background-color: rgb(133, 130, 101);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> <!-- google_ad_section_start -->The chimney is temporarily installed.I made it from hard maple dowel, sanding it very smooth so no grain is visible.The roof guy wires will be secured down to eyebolts after I remove the roof for the last time.The chimney is actually in two pieces so the roof is easily removable.The chimney cap was made from an old cigar tubes end piece.I will finish the weathering later.This diorama is now nearing completion.

[JohnReid]

Changed my mind! <hr style="color: rgb(225, 225, 225); background-color: rgb(225, 225, 225);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> In keeping with my WW1 theme I have changed the storyline of my next 1/16th scale aircraft diorama.
The focus now will be around 1918 when an airman in uniform has just returned from the war to his hometown backyard.He is standing there hand in hand with his son looking at his backyard flier project that he was working on prior to his military service.
I want to title it "Loss of Innocence,Will It Ever Be The Same."
The "loss of innocence" theme is central to both the history of aviation itself and the man.
The flier will be as he left it partially under tarps and weathered ,with the grass etc ..grown around it,almost like the family considered it bad luck to change anything while he was in the military.A recruiting or victory poster on a telephone pole (and a few other things that I haven't thought about yet ) will be included to help the viewer with the storyline.
The exact date and country ,I haven't nailed down yet.I have done German,American and Canadian themes to date maybe a British theme would be in order.

[JohnReid]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Aerodrome%20Gallery%20pics/Albatrosfinalassembly033-2-1.jpg