JohnReid
A Fixture
In order to save any confusion this new thread will deal with the Backyard Flyer.
"In Pursuit of his Dream"
- Thread starter JohnReid
- Start date
Help Support planetFigure:
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
The Backyard flyer mock-up.
I put this 1/39 scale(very odd scale) plastic Wright Flyer together to use as a model for the mock-up of the diorama that I want to build in 1/16th scale.
I plan to modify this model to make my own idea of a backyard flyer.The only thing that I plan to use are the wing ribs and maybe a few other odds and ends from a Model Expo kit that I bought a few years ago.The rest will be scratch.
I put this 1/39 scale(very odd scale) plastic Wright Flyer together to use as a model for the mock-up of the diorama that I want to build in 1/16th scale.
I plan to modify this model to make my own idea of a backyard flyer.The only thing that I plan to use are the wing ribs and maybe a few other odds and ends from a Model Expo kit that I bought a few years ago.The rest will be scratch.
JohnReid
A Fixture
Model Expo Wright Flyer ribs.
Using these laser cut wing ribs will save a lot work !
Using these laser cut wing ribs will save a lot work !
Guy
A Fixture
This looks good John. I look forward to seeing your progress on this one.
JohnReid
A Fixture
2 storylines!
You know when you look at the picture ,there are really two story lines going on here.One large and one small,literally!
One is large and obvious,the airplane of course ,and the other more subtle and hardly visible ,the dog that the lady in the next yard has on a leash ,much to the delight of the young girls watching.The gentleman building his airplane doesn't even notice as he is too absorbed in his "dream." The boys sitting on the fence seem to be more interested in the airplane ,as they have obviously been sitting there for awhile, but for some reason seem to be afraid to approach too closely.
These are elements that I saw or thought about when really studying this picture.That is why I think that this will make a great diorama! The imagination is initially captured by the airplane and the clothes on the clothesline ,which seems totally out of place until you realize that it is somebody's backyard.Once the attention of your imagination is engaged then all the other sub-stories can be told.To me this is what makes a great diorama ,not only to capture the viewers interest but to hold it long enough to tell an even more subtle story.
We dioramists don't have the luxury of language to tell our story but we do have imagination!
You know when you look at the picture ,there are really two story lines going on here.One large and one small,literally!
One is large and obvious,the airplane of course ,and the other more subtle and hardly visible ,the dog that the lady in the next yard has on a leash ,much to the delight of the young girls watching.The gentleman building his airplane doesn't even notice as he is too absorbed in his "dream." The boys sitting on the fence seem to be more interested in the airplane ,as they have obviously been sitting there for awhile, but for some reason seem to be afraid to approach too closely.
These are elements that I saw or thought about when really studying this picture.That is why I think that this will make a great diorama! The imagination is initially captured by the airplane and the clothes on the clothesline ,which seems totally out of place until you realize that it is somebody's backyard.Once the attention of your imagination is engaged then all the other sub-stories can be told.To me this is what makes a great diorama ,not only to capture the viewers interest but to hold it long enough to tell an even more subtle story.
We dioramists don't have the luxury of language to tell our story but we do have imagination!
garyjd
PlanetFigure Supporter
John, Great idea. The fence really seems to serve as a natural type of frame to keep the scene contained.~Gary
megroot
A Fixture
This is great.
Gonna follow it closely.
Marc
Gonna follow it closely.
Marc
JohnReid
A Fixture
Mr. Mair's design.
I have been studying Mr. Mair's backyard flyer a little closer and have come up with some interesting things about his design.It is obviously very much influenced by the Wrights airplane,a pusher with the engine sitting behind the pilot.I would imagine that he planned to purchase the later upright version of the Wright engine and probably install it along the centerline ,with the pilot sitting upright at the controls.There looks to be three boards just forward of the bottom wings leading edge which I assume would be a footrest and attachment for a rudder bar.Notice also the bicycle nose wheel.The fuselage frame looks to be metal tubing of some sort although it could also be wood.
One really interesting feature is that it looks like he was experimenting with some sort of aileron design.The wingtips are square and their is no extended spar indicating that he might have planned to built rounded wingtips.There are however curious looking square open panels on both top and bottom wings that look to me that he may have been planning some sort of aileron design.(At this time nobody had yet figured out that the most efficient place to place ailerons was on the outermost area of the trailing edge.)
I can't really tell if he planned for two propellers of just one but the large cage like structure at the aft end looks like it may be made to accommodate a single prop.There is a rudder post but no rudder .The total wingspan looks to be less than thirty feet.All in all a pretty remarkable design for its day.
I have been studying Mr. Mair's backyard flyer a little closer and have come up with some interesting things about his design.It is obviously very much influenced by the Wrights airplane,a pusher with the engine sitting behind the pilot.I would imagine that he planned to purchase the later upright version of the Wright engine and probably install it along the centerline ,with the pilot sitting upright at the controls.There looks to be three boards just forward of the bottom wings leading edge which I assume would be a footrest and attachment for a rudder bar.Notice also the bicycle nose wheel.The fuselage frame looks to be metal tubing of some sort although it could also be wood.
One really interesting feature is that it looks like he was experimenting with some sort of aileron design.The wingtips are square and their is no extended spar indicating that he might have planned to built rounded wingtips.There are however curious looking square open panels on both top and bottom wings that look to me that he may have been planning some sort of aileron design.(At this time nobody had yet figured out that the most efficient place to place ailerons was on the outermost area of the trailing edge.)
I can't really tell if he planned for two propellers of just one but the large cage like structure at the aft end looks like it may be made to accommodate a single prop.There is a rudder post but no rudder .The total wingspan looks to be less than thirty feet.All in all a pretty remarkable design for its day.
JohnReid
A Fixture
The year is 1910 in Chicago.I don't know any more about the story or if Mr. Mair ever flew his machine.I do know that very few backyard flyers ever actually made it into the air.Photo is coutesy of the Chicago Historical Society.
JohnReid
A Fixture
Backyard Flyer idea #2
I pulled out an old Monogram kit of a 1907 Rolls-Royce.In reading the text that comes with the kit I learned that Rolls quit the car business and went into aircraft in 1910.He later was killed in a Wright Biplane flying in an exhibition.This got me to thinking about my next diorama "The Backyard Flyer"(Flier?)When I made the connection in my mind I came up with the following idea.Rolls while driving his car notices this guy building a backyard flyer ,so of course like any pilot would he stops to takes a look at what is going on.The element that it adds to the story is the connection between the two men, one with his dream already realized and one with his dream underway and of course their common interest in airplanes.This in no way would effect the other elements of the story.The only thing that bothers me now is not having control of the dioramas lighting, although he could be building his dream in a shed or lean-to of some sort.
I pulled out an old Monogram kit of a 1907 Rolls-Royce.In reading the text that comes with the kit I learned that Rolls quit the car business and went into aircraft in 1910.He later was killed in a Wright Biplane flying in an exhibition.This got me to thinking about my next diorama "The Backyard Flyer"(Flier?)When I made the connection in my mind I came up with the following idea.Rolls while driving his car notices this guy building a backyard flyer ,so of course like any pilot would he stops to takes a look at what is going on.The element that it adds to the story is the connection between the two men, one with his dream already realized and one with his dream underway and of course their common interest in airplanes.This in no way would effect the other elements of the story.The only thing that bothers me now is not having control of the dioramas lighting, although he could be building his dream in a shed or lean-to of some sort.
megroot
A Fixture
looking forward John, to the first pictures.
marc
marc
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
I have revived this project again with some new research.the previous pics got deleted when I rearranged my photobucket.
JohnReid
A Fixture
