"Memories of Flight School"
- Thread starter JohnReid
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JohnReid
A Fixture
About finished the OX5.
Except for the carb heat and bottom rad tubes the engine is finished.I added the old prop as though someone had just cut it off with a saw.The next step will be to build some kind of a old stand or wood blocks to put it on.Then it will be on to the weathering which is always fun to do.I think that rather than put it inside the main hangar ,I will set it on the outside loading dock near the engine room, so it will be available for close up inspection of the details by the viewer.This is an interesting little engine and a piece of history all by itself.
In the accident the prop took a lot of damage but the engine itself remained intact with only a few oil leaks here and there .It may be repairable and is waiting inspection in the engine shop now that the Mercedes is just about finished overhaul.
Except for the carb heat and bottom rad tubes the engine is finished.I added the old prop as though someone had just cut it off with a saw.The next step will be to build some kind of a old stand or wood blocks to put it on.Then it will be on to the weathering which is always fun to do.I think that rather than put it inside the main hangar ,I will set it on the outside loading dock near the engine room, so it will be available for close up inspection of the details by the viewer.This is an interesting little engine and a piece of history all by itself.
In the accident the prop took a lot of damage but the engine itself remained intact with only a few oil leaks here and there .It may be repairable and is waiting inspection in the engine shop now that the Mercedes is just about finished overhaul.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Looking at this last pic I noticed that some of the rocker arms are bent.They went on straight but somehow got bent in handling.Rather than take the chance of breaking them off trying to straighten them ,we will just call it a little accident damage.
What to do next?I have been waiting for the weather to improve at bit here in the GWN, before I venture outside to cut the oval base.Once the base is cut I will have to break down the diorama for ,I hope , the last time and rebuild it on its new base.Then I will finally have to decide whether to build an outside or just leave it as is.There are a few other furnishings that I would like to build such as a nice old wooden wheelbarrow that I saw somewhere and a tool box or two,things like that.
What to do next?I have been waiting for the weather to improve at bit here in the GWN, before I venture outside to cut the oval base.Once the base is cut I will have to break down the diorama for ,I hope , the last time and rebuild it on its new base.Then I will finally have to decide whether to build an outside or just leave it as is.There are a few other furnishings that I would like to build such as a nice old wooden wheelbarrow that I saw somewhere and a tool box or two,things like that.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Wheelbarrow/old Jenny parts and pieces.
After some searching I finally found the pic.This is a great old wheelbarrow and would make a nice addition to the diorama ,especially if it was piled with old Jenny parts waiting to be thrown on the junk pile. It looks to be all wood so it should be easy to make.
I will have to take some measurements from my modern steel version to get an idea of dimensions.When scratchbuilding it is always a good idea to use whatever 1:1 scale examples that you have available for this purpose. The figures will also help a lot in this regard. I think that this will be a fun little project!
After some searching I finally found the pic.This is a great old wheelbarrow and would make a nice addition to the diorama ,especially if it was piled with old Jenny parts waiting to be thrown on the junk pile. It looks to be all wood so it should be easy to make.
I will have to take some measurements from my modern steel version to get an idea of dimensions.When scratchbuilding it is always a good idea to use whatever 1:1 scale examples that you have available for this purpose. The figures will also help a lot in this regard. I think that this will be a fun little project!
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Someone asked me the other day what I thought made a good modeler.After thinking about it for awhile I came to the conclusion that probably it was something that I heard years ago from another modeler ,something that I try to do every day in my own work ,and that is to treat every little piece that you are working on with the same respect, no matter how big or small,important or unimportant you think it is..We all have our favorite things to do,in my case one of them is weathering ,which I find a lot of fun and instantly rewarding.But that is just about the final thing that I do on any piece that I am working on.
What is most important is to discipline yourself to spend the same time working on that undercarriage thingy ,that hardly anyone sees ,as you do on that wonderful instrument panel.In other words attention to detail on what you are working on at the time.
Diorama making ,of course ,is a whole different matter.It is the art of taking all these things and telling a story.But in the end you are only as good as what you have to work with.
What is most important is to discipline yourself to spend the same time working on that undercarriage thingy ,that hardly anyone sees ,as you do on that wonderful instrument panel.In other words attention to detail on what you are working on at the time.
Diorama making ,of course ,is a whole different matter.It is the art of taking all these things and telling a story.But in the end you are only as good as what you have to work with.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Wheelbarrow
I decided to paint it the company color as I do with all the ground equipment.I put acrylic color over the bare wood ,thinned down to a wash.I then toothbrush spray on some very thin raw umber.Then I come along with the pastels.
A friend was over and he told me that on the farm growing up he often saw wheelbarrows just like this .He also confirmed that it had a rusty steel wheel and no tire of any kind.Now I have to make up some junk and load it down.
I decided to paint it the company color as I do with all the ground equipment.I put acrylic color over the bare wood ,thinned down to a wash.I then toothbrush spray on some very thin raw umber.Then I come along with the pastels.
A friend was over and he told me that on the farm growing up he often saw wheelbarrows just like this .He also confirmed that it had a rusty steel wheel and no tire of any kind.Now I have to make up some junk and load it down.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Yeah I know the frame is crooked! I am not going to try to tell you guys that I planned it that way but I did have a chance to fix it but I decided not to.I figure that most of these were homemade and crudely built and subject to a lot of wear and tear,so an out of square frame actually looks more authentic.Anyway thats my story and I'm sticking with it!
JohnReid
A Fixture
paulyrichard
A Fixture
John, do you know of Chuck Doan's work? You two guys are total masters.
JohnReid
A Fixture
Ken Hamilton's latest diorama has got me thinking.Cement and blacktop
would be way too expensive for a struggling aviation dealer in
the 20's.Much more likely would be well worn grass and hard packed
ground cover ,devoid of stones that would nick the prop.
This outdoors stuff is all new territory for me unlike the guys with
a RR background.
What I need is a little help with the most up to date methods of
how to do this.I would rather not bother doing the outside at all
rather than screw it up.
I know that it takes years to reach this level of expertise with
outdoor scenes but I don't give up easy.
I already have Ken and Shep's books but what I need is a more
step-by-step tutorial especially the subtle use of greenery.Any ideas?
Cheers! John.
would be way too expensive for a struggling aviation dealer in
the 20's.Much more likely would be well worn grass and hard packed
ground cover ,devoid of stones that would nick the prop.
This outdoors stuff is all new territory for me unlike the guys with
a RR background.
What I need is a little help with the most up to date methods of
how to do this.I would rather not bother doing the outside at all
rather than screw it up.
I know that it takes years to reach this level of expertise with
outdoor scenes but I don't give up easy.
I already have Ken and Shep's books but what I need is a more
step-by-step tutorial especially the subtle use of greenery.Any ideas?
Cheers! John.
JohnReid
A Fixture
Hi Paul! thanks.Yes,Chuck and I belong to a site called B&B auto builders.A lot of his work can be seen there.He is a master alright!
