"Memories of Flight School"
- Thread starter JohnReid
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JohnReid
A Fixture
The black paper will be the new edge of the diorama.There will be a painted 2 1/2 inch matte border all around to act as sort of a frame.Inside the border will be new modules for whatever I plan to put outside. Shown here is where the van pulling the trailer with the Camel airplane will be situated if I decide to add it.The Model T and sign represents the space required for this addition.
Using modules means that I still have the option of taking it all apart again if ever I have to because of maintenance or in the event of disaster like which almost happened a week or so ago.
Using modules means that I still have the option of taking it all apart again if ever I have to because of maintenance or in the event of disaster like which almost happened a week or so ago.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Back to the rainy day man!
It has been raining here for awhile and is supposed to continue for a few days ,so it's back to painting the figure for now.
The above pic gives you an idea of my somewhat primitive setup.One thing that you guys might be interested in is the white dish with the brush on it,which has a cap with some paint under it.This is the way that I keep my acrylic paint from drying to quickly before I get a chance to use it.Because it is so dry here in the winter and I heat with forced air, my paints tend to scab over pretty quickly, so I came up with a simple method of preventing this.I mix my paint however I want it and put it under a plastic cap(medicine bottle) and allow just a little paint to seep along the edge.As I want fresh paint I can slowly push the cap back ,simple as that and the paint stays fresh for hours!
It has been raining here for awhile and is supposed to continue for a few days ,so it's back to painting the figure for now.
The above pic gives you an idea of my somewhat primitive setup.One thing that you guys might be interested in is the white dish with the brush on it,which has a cap with some paint under it.This is the way that I keep my acrylic paint from drying to quickly before I get a chance to use it.Because it is so dry here in the winter and I heat with forced air, my paints tend to scab over pretty quickly, so I came up with a simple method of preventing this.I mix my paint however I want it and put it under a plastic cap(medicine bottle) and allow just a little paint to seep along the edge.As I want fresh paint I can slowly push the cap back ,simple as that and the paint stays fresh for hours!
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Starting the underpainting!
I have started the underpainting of Eric using my usual method.
Being far from a good painter, all of my figures are destined for the inside of the hangar and its modules ,where I can take advantage of the lighting and distance from the viewer to help make up for my lack of skills.This is a great advantage for a dioramist who knows that no one will actually be picking up the figure to look at it.I can afford to be what I think you call impressionistic in style.I don't try to paint in every detail like some of the wonderful work that I have seen on some websites but just try to give my figures a certain look that seems to work for me .That being said this is what I have done so far.
I have started the underpainting of Eric using my usual method.
Being far from a good painter, all of my figures are destined for the inside of the hangar and its modules ,where I can take advantage of the lighting and distance from the viewer to help make up for my lack of skills.This is a great advantage for a dioramist who knows that no one will actually be picking up the figure to look at it.I can afford to be what I think you call impressionistic in style.I don't try to paint in every detail like some of the wonderful work that I have seen on some websites but just try to give my figures a certain look that seems to work for me .That being said this is what I have done so far.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Over the basic brown gesso I have started the underpainting using mostly Jo Sonja acrylics and a little Liqutex on the leather jacket.Usually I use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to make black but this time i just took some Liqutex ivory black and mixed it with Jo Sonja burnt umber about (3/4 to 1/4) and that made a nice warm black with just enough shine for that leather look.Using this mix I painted the flying jacket and the boots a couple of coats .I added a drop of flow medium and a few of drops of distilled water to a dime size tab of paint.You will have to experiment a bit here to get a mix that flows easily off the brush and is self leveling on the figures surface.I regularly use distilled water in my paint mix because with very thin mixes it stops the paint pigment from congregating
around the very edge of the puddle of paint.It also contains fewer of the little creatures that can make stored paint mixes go moldy.The flying jackets fur collar is dry brushed with a little burnt sienna.
The pants are straight Jo Sonja burnt umber.The belt and gloves are Jo Sonja brown earth. to be cont.....
around the very edge of the puddle of paint.It also contains fewer of the little creatures that can make stored paint mixes go moldy.The flying jackets fur collar is dry brushed with a little burnt sienna.
The pants are straight Jo Sonja burnt umber.The belt and gloves are Jo Sonja brown earth. to be cont.....
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
The figure is not yet finished but you can get an idea with this pic of how it will look once you take scale distance and lighting into consideration.I will use pastels to tone down areas that are a little too shiny .I am not sure that I like the green hat!!
JohnReid
A Fixture
am getting anxious to get back to the plywood base again and start working on those new outdoor modules to see if my ideas are going to work.It will be sort of a compromise solution to the indoor /outdoor thing.The primary focus will still be the indoor storyline ,where all the figures will be placed . The view from the front will be stage-like ,while the other three sides will have enough going on to keep the viewer interested,yet still able to easily look through the windows to the action going on inside.One of the problems with too big a base is, that once you get the plexiglass case on ,the viewer would not have a clear view to the inside of the diorama.
JohnReid
A Fixture
QUOTE(BananaBob @ Apr 29 2007, 07:10 PM)
I love the style of clothing for this period, looks great John, can smell the leather. biggrin.gif It would be cool if a camera could be articulated through the diorama with a macro lense then add sound effects of people talking, tools clanging and so on. Don't know if that's possible, but would be cool. smile.gif Great work. artist.gif
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Thanks Bob! Wow ,that is a great idea.I never thought of making a video with sound effects,now that would be really cool.If you have any ideas along those lines I would love to hear them.I have thought of installing speakers with the sounds of an old radial engine.(just because I love that sound ,the same way I love the sound of the old Harley engine)
I love the style of clothing for this period, looks great John, can smell the leather. biggrin.gif It would be cool if a camera could be articulated through the diorama with a macro lense then add sound effects of people talking, tools clanging and so on. Don't know if that's possible, but would be cool. smile.gif Great work. artist.gif
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Thanks Bob! Wow ,that is a great idea.I never thought of making a video with sound effects,now that would be really cool.If you have any ideas along those lines I would love to hear them.I have thought of installing speakers with the sounds of an old radial engine.(just because I love that sound ,the same way I love the sound of the old Harley engine)
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Now that the base is finally cut to the right size,
I want to put a black border around the outside to act as a sort of frame for the diorama.The question is How big a border?and should I just paint it or use some other kind of material or veneer? Any suggestions would be welcome.
I want to put a black border around the outside to act as a sort of frame for the diorama.The question is How big a border?and should I just paint it or use some other kind of material or veneer? Any suggestions would be welcome.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Sound & lighting effects
Check out this site for some interesting stuff.They even have the sound of an old Mercedes doing a runup!
http://dynamicscalemodeling.com/
Check out this site for some interesting stuff.They even have the sound of an old Mercedes doing a runup!
http://dynamicscalemodeling.com/
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Finally!(Final assembly)
Well here we go,finally the hangar floor is screwed down to the base.This means that from now on whatever I add on will be there for good.
I will start by screwing the carpenters shop to the hangar floor .
Well here we go,finally the hangar floor is screwed down to the base.This means that from now on whatever I add on will be there for good.
I will start by screwing the carpenters shop to the hangar floor .
JohnReid
A Fixture
