"Memories of Flight School"

[JohnReid]

I think that maybe just the Harley showbike is enough, as it makes for a little color and compliments the bunting overhead.It is off to one side from the wing and doesn't interfere with the view.
The garbage pail was made from an old coffee creamer painted a gunmetal color(silver with a bit of black added).I filled it with old oily newspapers and other junk and then used a little subtle pastel colors here and there.
The sitting bench, outside the carpenter's shop, is made of a couple of old ship modeling barrels that I had hanging around and and a wood slab seat.I painted the whole thing Reid & Company blue(French blue) and weathered it with pastels.
I have yet to dirty up the floor a little and shade in the wall/floor area.I hope to have the back wall on permanently this week.
Hang in ,were gettin there slow but sure!

 

[JohnReid]

Coke sign.
Today I was playing around making a coke sign.This particular sign was from the 1910 era.It could of been hand painted directly on the siding of placed on thin plywood and then attached with nails.I opted for the 2nd option because my barnsiding is already painted and I didn't want to screw it up.The pic was taken with an incandescent and fluorescent light combo which is the closest I can get to natural light.I figure that after 15 years of rain,wind , sun and snow it would something like this.I will nail it on later and add a few rusty nail heads.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

A little non-destructive testing.
I inadvertently tested the strength of the glue joints on the R/H side wall yesterday ,with a test known as "letting it drop on the floor".It came through with flying colors with only a few detached parts ,which I re-glued in record time.
The test was of course due to a little unplanned "finger trouble".I removed the screw holding the back and side walls together and over she went.
I then went on to trying to gluing down a garbage pail to the floor and failed after three attempts.
(will have to use epoxy I guess)
Anyway,all this to tell you guys there are days you should just take the hint and go watch TV or something.I did,and I am glad,maybe today the stars will be better aligned .Ever have one of those days?.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I have been looking for a good way to secure down the heavy diecast that I modified.If it ever came lose it would be a disaster rolling around the hangar.
Being in the corner it was actually quite easy to do and not visible from any angle other than a little through the garage door.I just made a wooden box and fit it under the running board with a screw through the center and down into the plywood floor.I will disguise it as a box that was sort of half pushed under the running board.Problem solved!

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

1st Figure Grouping.
Well now that I am finally gluing things to the hangar floor ,it is time to think about the first grouping of figures that have yet to be secured.
This group I called the "Big Al" (Capone) threesome ,I plan to have positioned somewhat as you see here,why? I like the curious cock of the uniformed guys head like he is listening intently to what big Al is saying.(maybe he is making him an offer he can't refuse)also you can see Al's gesturing hand and the barnstormer, who is holding gloves in his hands and has goggles on his head.
I must say that it is one heck of a lot of fun reaching this stage .From here on in things will really come alive! Most of the tedious stuff has been done and now things should come together a little more quickly.Still hoping for a Spring 08 finish!

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

2nd figure group!
I call this my Jimmy Stewart group.Notice the face in the window!Jimmy is trying to make a little time with Bonnie while Clyde is loading the truck.These figures are now in their permanent position, except Bonnie ,who will have to be glued to the truck and pinned to the floor.The edge of the box can just be seen in this pic.I will have to stick something over the screw head.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Movin on.
This grouping is not yet finished but it gives you an idea of how the figures will relate to one another.Bonnie doesn't look all that interested in what is being said,rather she is looking away at the fighter pilot group.Jimmy seems to be laughing at his own joke ,while Clyde has dropped the wing rib on his foot.Jimmy needs a bath judging by his shirt collar(the camera picks up every little thing)
After I clean up this grouping a bit and finish the truck screw down assembly and the wheel barrow,it will be time to move on to the R/H sidewall.

 

[JohnReid]

My tribute to the Wrights!

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I found this plan for a Wright Bros 1903 Flier and I couldn't resist putting this little tribute to the Wrights in the diorama.You would have to really search to find it as it is behind the truck and only viewable through the garage door.The 2nd pic would not be normally available once the roof is on.This is part of a game I like to play when kids view this diorama ,now or in the future.It really helps to draw them in when you ask them to find the Flier or the four animals that will ultimately be in there.The horse and dog are easy to spot but the owl and cat (especially the cat) are another story.Kids love these games and I will encourage the museum to do likewise.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

New 1/16th figure from Trumpeter Models.(TSM 701) Soviet army tank crewman WW2 but could easily be adapted to a mechanic in coveralls representing just about any era.He is in a nice relaxed casual position .It is my personal opinion that these ,still or relatively still poses ,can be used to great advantage in a diorama.In fact ,all of my figures in this and the other two dioramas do imply some action ,but actually could be held in its position for even a few seconds ,which I think makes them more believable.In other words,the viewer can suspend his disbelief for just a few seconds while viewing the scene.Waiting for the other shoe to drop,so to speak, can in the short term be very powerful in catching the viewers eye ,it can be a little irritating over the long haul.Just think how out of place it would look to have some figure striding across the hangar floor or in mid-flight jumping off a truck.(Just my opinion)
That being said I just gotta get one of these figures!

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

I had a lot of left over wing ribs ,so I decided to build a couple of broken wing sections to add to the trash and R/H side wall ,to make things a little more interesting.