This is the only figure that I plan to use in this diorama, except for maybe a nosy neighbor peeking out from behind one of the window curtains.
It is the 120mm Guynemer figure from Model Cellar Productions. It is up to their usual fine standards and well worth the price, when compared to some similar quality figures that are on the market.
For my purposes it is just perfect and reflects the mood that I am trying to create in this diorama.Like a lot of my figures it is just the starting point as I foresee having to make lots of changes.Medals to be removed,alterations to the uniform and a new head will be among them .I also plan to put an old duffel bag leaning up against one of his legs.
With all these great figures around to be modified ,my ambition to one day sculpt my own from scratch, keeps getting pushed back further in time.So much to do,so little time!

Wow, keep it up

Cheers Nick

I may keep the head and modify the hat,as I really like his facial expression.The blank stare, as I would call it,fits in with the mood of the piece.The coat over the arm suggests spring or fall which gives me a lot of options when doing the vegetation.I don't want a summer look as all that color would distract attention from the main subject matter,the figure and the airplane.
A muddy backyard would be more common in spring in this part of the world and springtime does symbolize rebirth.Fall on the other hand here in Canada indicates the end of something.
My storyline could go either way,the beginning of something or the end.Will he find a renewed interest in aviation now that he has lost his innocence in the war above the trenches? or will he just scrap the whole idea and go on to a new future and leave all of that behind him?

Just my two pennies worth but, if you portrayed the fall / autumn and the aircraft being almost finished, it would imply that the build has followed the seasons. The urgency of the build is racing to finish before inclement weather sets in. Maybe a tree with some few red, brown and orange leaves. And a few on the ground as well.

Out of curiosity I scrolled back in this thread and found that it has been three months since I started the brick facades.Sure I have done other stuff as well but actual modeling, that's it.As I approach the end of this period I can say that I am glad I did it, but to be honest, I probably would hesitate at doing it again.
Long repetitive work such as this does have its positive side however,as it teaches patience and a willingness to put your best effort into even the most boring of tasks.It also allows for a build up of creative energy and a renewed enthusiasm to get at the more rewarding stuff again.Some of my more creative ideas have come during this period, not only involving the piece I am working on but future projects as well.

I like the idea of the leaves but his airplane has not been worked on in some time,since before he left for the war.Part of it will also be under tarps.

Well except for a few finishing touches my bricklaying work is finally finished.Now I can finally move on to more creative stuff.Maybe finish the airplane,maybe modify and paint the new figure.
Even at this late stage I am still fooling around with the composition.I kind of like the facades forming a corner to surround the backyard with the airplane in the middle, but I have pretty much ruled this out as it would be too obstructive for the viewer and would necessitate the diorama being placed in a corner arrangement of some kind ,which would not be too museum friendly.However it would be great for picture taking.I will have to be careful when finishing this piece. How and when to permanently glue things down will be a major consideration ,as I plan to use it for many vignettes including a series on 1920-30 gangsters and their cars.

Finishing up the backyard flier.
Started back building the backyard flier today.The first order of business will be to make the outboard streamlined interplane struts and their fittings.The engine will be next and I probably will use a old Ford T design and then partially cover it with an old tarp, so I can suggest that there is an engine there without having to be too detailed.Remember this airplane project has been abandoned for some time while our aviator has been off to war.I thought about putting tarps on the wings as well but I don't what to cover up too much of the structure.Because there will be a "welcome home" sign on the wall they were obviously anticipating his arrival and therefore may have removed some of the tarps.

This is the general arrangement that I will be using for my backyard flier.I don't know what this engine is (probably modern) but I will be using the same 4 cylinder in-line type.
Our budding aviator probably would have used something easily available and relatively cheap like a new or used Ford Model T engine modified it to direct drive, without the gearbox of course.What I plan to do is partially cover the engine with a tarp but leave the prop ,rad and gas tank etc...uncovered.Should be fun!

Hmm. I like old engines. Sometimes it's too bad I design modern ones, but it's better than a lot of other jobs.

Anyway. I would place that engine in the thirties, at the earliest. Looks like a british Standard or Austin, to me, but I can be wrong. I googled a bit and came up with a restoration site here, with engine pics to the right . The T-Ford engine is of the sidevalve type, which places the spark plugs straight up. It looks like the water hose connects well compared to your picture too. Almost a shame to throw a tarp over those pretty old Champion plugs, don't you think.

Keep it up Tony

I took an old 1/16th Lindberg 1910 Model T engine and removed the gearbox to make it look more like an aircraft engine.The propeller shaft in there now is temporary and was only used to line things up.This mod was simple to do with a razor saw and a sanding stick.Working slowly you can eventually get what is left of the gearbox to line up with the rest of the engine.There is not a lot of nice crisp detail on this engine but for my purposes here it is OK as I have the option of showing what I want of it because of the covering tarp.The outline alone would really be enough.

I did a genealogy search on J E Mair in Chicago. Here is what I found.
Name: J (John) Ervin Mair. Son of Thomas and Martha G
Spouse: Minerva F
Birth: abt 1884 - Illinois
Residence: 1910 - Chicago Ward 13, Cook, Illinois

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: J Ervin Mair
Age in 1910: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Illinois
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Scotland
Mother's Birth Place: Illinois
Spouse's Name: Minerva F
Home in 1910: Chicago Ward 13, Cook, Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members:
Name Age
J Ervin Mair 26
Minerva F Mair 25
Martha B Mair 3
Minerva F Mair 1 10/12
He was an electrical engineer and lived at 348 North St. Louis Ave.

I could not find anything on any of his family after the 1910 census. There was a John Ervin Mair living in Pennsylvania in the 1940s that seems to have about the same birth date, but I dont think the two are related. hth

Wow! working in here is like working in a bird cage.This is the general arrangement of the engine,fuel tank and rad.I have used brass rod to connect everything up.A little judicious use of the tarp should cover most of it.I am just looking for a general overall shape here.
The fuel system is gravity feed therefore it is set higher than the engine.The rad is from the Ford T.I will not be using a lot of piping or fittings other than maybe the large rad hoses to hang the tarp on.Speaking about the tarp, it should be fun making that in there

Thanks Carl! Electrical engineer plus being a pretty good carpenter.Maybe he did get it beyond the basic airframe stage.

Another pic

Maybe. But I doubt he had enough room in the back yard to take off.

Now I have to figure out how much of this to cover with the tarp.The rear of the engine and the back of the rad are definite candidates as most of the plumbing etc.. is missing.
To have seen action at the front our returning aviator would have to have been gone for sometime,2-3 years minimum I would suppose.In our climate this would make for considerable weathering to exposed areas.The airplane structure tarps could have been removed for his arrival home but I doubt that the engine would be uncovered too.I will just have to play around with some ideas that I have and see what happens!