This is where I am right now with this diorama,getting ready to shingle the roof.As you can see it is a fairly large area to cover .It is very important to get this right as to texture and color and to add a few things of interest for the eye.
I have ruled out having a separate roof over the doors as the eves extend quite far beyond the facade and provide some shelter over the backdoor.In Canada on old steep pitched roofs like this we often put a snow gate along the edge of the roof for safety sake.

Slowly getting the roof shingled,this is a long process of making each one,painting it and gluing it on.Should be finished in a few days and I am really looking forward to getting on to something different.
Art does have its boring moments ,so I try to compensate by having different stuff to work on at the same time, like the storyboarding and scratchbuilding threads.

Wood always looks best for scale modeling! No artist can begin to duplicate mother nature.We can come close but..........When carefully selected it works for any scale.Take these roof shingles for instance.Each one has been treated as an individual piece,no two are exactly alike, just like in nature itself.The important thing is to maintain this individually and just artistically enhance it here and there.Subtlety is the key. Sure it takes a long time to do but it is really worth the effort in the end.
To make these shakes or shingles he is what I do.

-research the real thing, especially pictures for size ,color,pattern etc...

-Find a source of tongue depressors,coffee stir stiks work well for the smaller scales.

-Decide on a glue,I use Shoe Goo or Goop.It is cheap and you will use lots of it.

-Decide on a paint you want to use.I like JoSonja gouche acrylic in Nimbus Grey.

Application of paint.

-thin the paint with water.Start with 75% water 25% paint.I add a few drops of flow medium to the mix.
-do not seal the raw wood in any way.
-The first steps are the most important and will determine your success or failure using this method.********Apply only as much paint as it takes to color the wood ********* do not obliterate the color and texture of the natural wood underneath.One or two thin coats should do it.
-to not worry about irregularities in the wood knots ,warping,curling,coloring,frayed ends or irregular cuts it all helps add character.
-treat each piece like a little canvas all of its own, be creative.
-Shade and color using pastels.On this rough surface there is no danger of it rubbing off.

John, thank you for sharing your unique skills with us you are a true craftsmen.

Thank you Simon for your kind words !

The backyard flyer could actually be finished pretty much like it is right now.With a little weathering it could be made to look like it has stood right there for a couple of years while awaiting the return of its builder.Whatever I decide to add at this point will be for looks and not storyline.This is what I love about the "under construction "theme as it leaves you lots of leeway for stopping whenever it suits you and still get the idea across to the viewer.
I would now like to add the ailerons(or whatever Curtis called them)to the wings.Why ? because I think that it is important to show this step away from wing warping.Logically anything this delicate would be in storage probably along with the tail feathers etc...I will leave it to the viewers imagination ,why not?
I have positioned the old burned out "T" at the end of the back lane way,facing a fence that will have an" Enlist Now" poster.This will help add to the story of "the road not taken ". The car really doesn't draw attention from the main airplane/aviator storyline where it is positioned but it adds a lot to the sub-storyline without being intrusive.
I had a navy veteran in here the other day and he could really relate to the whole idea which was wonderful to see.

Now it is time to finish the garage facade.Brick ,wood, stone ? siding that runs vertically or horizontally ? Placement of doors,windows,maybe a sign of some kind.Color? the usual barn gray or something more colorful? How old,worn and weathered should it look ? Should I use the old,burned out Ford T and where should I put it? The same old question what to leave in and what to leave out?
I want the airplane/returning aviator to be the focus of attention and the rest the supporting cast.I don't want anything too fancy here.

Why I chose to stop here.
I think that with the installation of the pilots seat and control wheel that this would be as good a time as any to call it quits on the airplane.Leaving it unfinished is quite appropriate in this case as most (if not all) backyard flyers ended up this way.In fact few probably even reached this stage.
I can easily see a young man getting involved with all the enthusiasm surrounding aviation at the time.Most probably never even thought beyond the carpentry part of the build.Any somewhat skilled carpenter could build the wings and the basic frame from plans that were available at the time.Engines were also available but costly, that is why I chose the used Ford.Props and wheels could be made or purchased as well.
I can just see our young aviator sitting in the pilots seat with the control wheel in hand taking many an imaginary flight around his backyard.For some it was enough ,others got lost along the way long even before this stage and still others went on to achieve their dreams.Aviation owes a lot to those dreamers.

Another pic

For a complete tutorial on cracking paint please see:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/models/16792-how-build-aircraft-dioramas-266.html

Cheers! John.

Final Assembly
OK so this is where I am now.The dio looks like this except the airplane is finished and ready for installation, along with the Model T.The garage roof,and the fencing will be put back on during final assembly.
Now I have to break the diorama down into its separate modules and finish each one at a time in such a way that they will still will be able to be separated when the diorama is completely finished.This will make it much easier to transport as well as maintain at the museum.For lighting I plan on using LED's that will be easily accessible through the rear panel.
It will be awhile now before I see this all back together again !