How I build dioramas Part 2

[JohnReid]

The black fittings you see here are made from brass and then blackened.A better choice would have been aluminum painted black, as it is a whole lot easier to work with when designing the fittings ,especially when shaping and drilling when they are already attached to the tail booms.
Here I am checking that the vertical struts will be at right angles when level.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I replaced all the brass fittings with aluminum which is much easier to work with.The vertical struts themselves I left brass.The black nails join the strut tubing and fitting together and the small copper photo etch parts are leftovers from another build. (the turnbuckles will be attached later).The nail heads can later be cut flush and a drop of superthin superglue applied and the whole thing sanded smooth and painted.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[Clarence1]

Wow

Hi John,

This diorama is the holy graal !! You have the patience and the skill of Micheal Angelo!!!!

Nice work on the plane. I really enjoyed all the picture that you have posted.

Thanks for sharing

Clarence Prigent
Gatineau, Quebec

 

[JohnReid]

Well thank you for your kind words.I am just doing what I love.Cheers! John.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[HiroshiAirborne]

Beautiful amazing work John! I enjoy skimming through this thread periodically, your scratch built models are top notch! (and so are your dioramas )

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

That is a miniature clothes peg.
This is the basic elevator assembly.The leading edge was grooved to accept the tube at the trailing edge of the horiz stab.The peg will be replaced with hinges and ribs made like what is on the stabilizer.
I have added cross members to the wings using the lightening holes that are already there.Curtiss used small blocks at all 90 deg intersections but his wing ribs were solid.I think that this is a better solution for my backyard flier and gives the wing a much stronger look.Little blocks would never be seen anyway at scale distance.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I wasn't sure about adding this tube to the tail assembly.The drawing seems to show it but most pictures I have seen do not.
This is a judgment call and seeing that this is my version of a backyard flyer I added it.It will greatly add to the stability of the whole tail assembly which now will be removable by loosening just four pins.
Now it is on to the rudder assembly.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I heard from the CAM yesterday and their renovations are to be finished in about a year from now. I probably have another year or so just to finish the Backyard Flyer so I will drop it for now and complete the Albatros,Neiuport and Jenny dioramas first.
The Neiuport is about 99% finished ,the Jenny about 90% and Albatros about the same except I have recently (today) added more to it.
A modeling bud of mine kindly gave me another Albatros that he was working on himself but has too many things on the go right now.I got it as a surprise Chistmas present and as you will see I am putting it to good use.

 

[JohnReid]