"Memories of Flight School"

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A few notes on the Camel build.
The instruction manual is typical for a Model Airways.Engine ,wings,fuselage ,in that order.This past summer I have already built up the engine and it is ready for installation.For those who are interested and may have missed this part of the build please see my photobucket for pictures and http://www.theaerodrome.com for text, once on the site click on Forum,then Forums,models,"How to Build......"
They suggest going on to the wings before tackling the fuselage.I like to do the opposite Why? well the wings can be a long and mostly repetitive job where as on the fuselage you are always doing something new.It is also nice to have something to look at to encourage you on.I think that part of why a lot of these kits never get built is for this very reason.The wings have a lot of small fiddly parts that are easily broken ,lost etc... The confidence gained in doing the fuselage first, where the parts tend to be bigger and not so fragile, will serve a newcomer to this type of build very well.Once you have the basic fuselage built the chances are pretty great that you will press on to the finish line.
That being said the build will start on page 13 of the instruction manual.My text will not repeat what is already there, but will supplement the manual where my build differs from theirs, as well as point out areas where there may be a problem or easier way of doing things.I will be taking a lot more pics for reference now that I have a digital camera .Something that I was unable to do with my earlier builds.I will be doing this build in real time so if I screw up or lead you down the garden path at times you will just have to bear with me.
 
IMG_1863.jpg

Starting the weathering!
 
It now looks like this old girl has seen her last airshow! Its basically finished except for the old tarp which I will make later when it is permanently installed in the diorama.I find that weathering is mostly fun and really fast and easy to do_Over the basic burnt umber gesso coat I used only burnt sienna and little black and some white pastels for the tires.I use a very soft brush to apply the pastels,almost like a mini makeup brush.
I have no interest in doing factory fresh anything ,airplanes ,cars or whatever.I guess that it is just my way of personalizing my work.It also helps to take the heat off trying to make everything perfect, which for me is very liberating.
Well anyway,now its on the Camel/Ford truck piece!
You auto guys will just have to suffer through the airplane build until we get to the truck,just like the aircraft guys had to suffer though the car build!(only kidding!!!!!) Although the modeling techniques in making dioramas is about the same. Cars and aircraft go well together in any diorama as they both were developed around the same time.
 
Please note: in order to make the best use of my time I have decided to post the day-to-day details of the Camel build on only one website ,www.theaerodrome.com ,where it all started a few years ago.I am presently contributing to 29 websites which takes up a lot of what would otherwise be building time.The subject matter only has a very limited audience on a day -to -day basis. I will be doing summaries on the other websites, maybe twice a week or so .This will also leave me more time to be involved in the daily discussions on the other websites.If anyone has any particular questions regarding techniques or "How to...." please feel free to contact me at any time.Somewhere down the road I would like to condense all this into a more organized and readable version ,as some of these threads are getting way too long.Thanks to everybody for their continuing interest and support.
Cheers! John.
 
Well the Camel build is not going well! Like I suspected the quality is just not there like it was with the Jenny.I have already had to start the build over because of a lack of fittings for the wires in the fuselage.In fact the only wires shown in the fuselage are for the sides only ,no internal bracing at all!Luckily I have some fittings left over from the 2nd Jenny build fuselage which is fabric covered.I only wish that I had a digital camera when I built the Jenny ,it would have been so much easier.
 
Another change of plans!
When I started this Camel model I wanted to approach it like a newcomer would to this type of build. I held off on any serious research other than just a cursory look at the plans and the instruction booklet.I wanted this to be a real time build, with all the ups and downs of what a typical modeler would experience.
What I wasn't expecting was to have to scratchbuild most of the airplane!I now can see that to make a model that meets my minimum standard ,it will require a level of commitment that I am not ready to commit to at this time.Building it now will seriously lengthen the the completion time of the diorama as a whole.
Therefore I am putting this build on hold until I finish the rest of the diorama.It is fortune for me that where the Camel/Truck build would sit in the diorama only effects one of the outdoor landscaping panels, and in no way even touches the main storyline.It is only an extra that could be left in or left out. The rest of the diorama is not optional and has to be finished first.
I regret this change in plans and hope I haven't encouraged anyone to buy this kit who wouldn't have bought it otherwise.Like I have said before,if you want a good kit with the minimum of scratchbuilding buy the Jenny,it really is worth the few extra bucks.
 
There maybe room for compromise on the Camel!
Darn ,It just bothers me to give up (postpone) the Camel. The engine is built and I can't think of a place to put it in the diorama other than on the yet to be built Ford truck.I could build some kind of a trailer just for the engine and let it go at that or (and I just thought of this) use some well placed tarps over the fuselage and wings like I did with the basketcase Jenny. The fact that a lot of the aircraft would be covered would eliminate the majority of the scratchbuilding and would not be unexpected by the viewer who would just assume that the tarps were there to protect the airplane for its road trip.It will also help to rescue my enthusiasm for the whole project.
You know it is funny about art sometimes what looks like a failure at first can be just a change in direction! I must admit that I was very disappointed when things didn't work out as I had planned.I don't want this episode to turn into a creative dry spell for me ,which would just delay this diorama further,so I had better find a compromise solution.
One way or the other the Ford truck is going in, so I will build that first which will give me lots of time to think about the Camel.
Why am I bothering to tell you all this? Well creative U-turns are part of doing a long term diorama project like this ,especially when you just kind of wing-it as you go along.It ain't easy sometimes but it sure is a hell of a lot of fun working out the unexpected problems that you can run into once in awhile and not let your self get discouraged.
Bring on the Ford..............!
 
The Model T would fit into just about any diorama involving a WW1 scene military or civilian.There is quite a range of scales available from RR to 1/16th.There is lots of room for creative scratch building if you want to start with just the chassis and build your own body onto it.
I did just that with my Neiuport 28 diorama and built my own truck and placed it in a hangar scene.Because these cars were around in the early days of motoring there is lots of opportunity to practice your weathering techniques.Painting is quite easy even without an airbrush,I hardly use mine at all and mostly just to dull down some metal parts if I feel it is required.Try an old T in your diorama they really fit into an old biplane scene.
 
Basic chassis, with three thin coats of 50/50 black gesso and distilled water ,with a drop of flow medium added to the mix..Don"t worry if the thinned gesso mix doesn't want to stick over the whole surface at first,just paint it on and whatever sticks, dry it with a hair dryer and then put on another thin coat.After 2 or 3 thin coats a uniform surface will be obtained.Over this basic undercoat you can then spray or brush on your finish coats.I will use black,white or burnt umber gesso depending on what is closest to the finish color.On very smooth or shiny surfaces you may want to sand it with 600 or higher sandpaper before you apply the gesso.
This is an excellent kit with loads of detail but there are a lot of very small pieces that are very hard to handle due to the high polished surface.I don't know if plastic changes over time(almost 30 years in this case)but it seems a little more brittle than what I am used to.
The engine looks a little crooked on the frame but that is probably due to the fact I had to repair the frame which was broken in twowhen I recieved it.Once the body is on however, none of this will be visible.
 
Modifying the "T"
Before I go any further with the T I had better figure out where and how I am going to stash all the Camel parts and pieces.The 4 wings will be attached to the fuselage and will be resting up against the side probably held on with rope etc..The center section and its struts will be left on the fuselage for easy re-assembly.The horizontal stab ,fin and elevators will be strapped to the side of the T and the ailerons on the roof rack.
I hate to cut this nice kit up but I have to re-design it a bit for my purposes.The cab portion will remain the same but the body will have to be opened up a bit as I find it too enclosed .I want the focus to be on the aircraft parts and pieces that the truck is carrying and not the truck itself.
I have a set of more modern headlights left over from another project ,so I will convert the system to electric more in keeping with a T from early 20's.
 
This is the plan for strapping things on to the van.The horiz stab and elevator will take up one side ,with the ailerons on the top rack and the rest inside. I don't plan to fabric cover any of this.I have had to stop building the T for now until I get the seated figs that you see here,which should be in a couple of weeks or so.These figs are already in a seated pose so I don"t anticipate too much modification.The uniforms can be altered to become street clothes or coveralls.The hats I will modify or change the heads altogether.I plan to improve my painting techniques(especially the faces) as these figs are outside and not subject to hangar lighting .They also are near the edge of the diorama and more subject to up-close observation by the viewer.
This Camel /Ford truck piece will probably take a lot more time than I anticipated as it seems to grow in complexity day-by-day.The whole thing is just an add-on and not central to the storyline .It is more just a fun piece that I thought would add more interest to the back of the diorama . We don't often get to see airplanes being towed on our roads anymore!
 
From van to flatbed!
I don't know what I have been thinking but the van idea is really not a good one.A flat bed would be much better as it would allow me to rest the Camel's tail directly over the T's rear wheels. I could also leave the fin and rudder on the airplane which may look a lot better.It would also provide for a much more open concept to view the various parts and pieces.This would be an easy modification at this stage.The seated figures are on order at the hobby shop and when I get them they will be temporarily fitted to the seats of the T or one seated in the T and the other on the flatbed as an observer.Remember the driver is in the mens room taking a nervous one!
 
John

You don't seem to get many replies to your posts, so I just wanted to let you know I really enjoy following your progress on this amazing diorama and I marvel at your attention to detail and your patience to work through the technical issues and your passion for this project over such a long time.

Keep up the good work. I will continue to follow your posts with much interest and admiration.

Cheers
 

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