Almost the end of another year so now would be a good time to review where I have been and where I am going!(dioramawise that is)Normally I would be finished this piece by now but this computer stuff takes more time than I originally thought it would.But I wouldn't want to go back to the days before the internet, when modeling was a pretty solitary experience.
In the painting above ,of the Toronto flying club in the 30's,the main hangar on the right is almost finished.I soon will be finished the engine room modules' interior and then it is on to the checkerboard sandpaper roof and battens.
Early in the new year I plan to take the whole thing apart for the last time and move it from my small,now overcrowded shop into the family room next door.(my wife doesn't know yet!)There I will set about building it up again from the main hangars' floor to completion of the first stage, which will be the Main hangar and its' modules.I will have to make a decision at this point as to phase two,the exterior,dispatch office and outbuildings and maybe even the other hangar.I could deliver phase one to the museum at this time and then continue work on phase two.Or I could take a break and finish up other projects.
I am really looking forward to the time,in the main hangar, when I can say well that part is finished and glued down for good.

It is here at the back of the main hangar that I changed things around a little.The smaller building with the checkerboard roof I actually made into an open ramp type structure, in order to get a clear unobstucted view into the main hanger and Jenny.
The smaller building out back is where I have built on the engine shop module, which looks a lot like the windowed structure that you see here.
I have no intention of building the flying club as it actually was but something that would be representative of a southern Ontario airport of the 20-30's era.

Go John!!! Go!!!

Here are a few left over parts from a dollhouse piece of furniture that I cut down to 1/16th scale by removing some parts and pieces.What was left is in the office module.With whats left here I plan to start a couple of tool cabinets.We'll see what happens.Should be fun!

Sorry about the snow! (white paint dust)
I have begun framing the popsicle stik tool cabinet.I don't plan anything too fancy for the engine shop.I want it to have the look of a amateur conversion of an old piece of furniture.Nothing special here just use your imagination,pretty much anything goes as long as you keep it in scale.Check your 1:1 furniture for reference.

Another

Well things seem to be right on schedule,I wanted to have the main hangar and its modules ready by the end of this year.Within a week ,I plan to take everything apart one last time,move it to another room(thank god,no space)and begin putting things back together.
I have yet to complete the electrical wiring but I have most of the components already built.The Jennys are 95% done and awaiting final installation.If all goes well I should have phase 1 finished about mid- year,earlier if I don't build the Camel or the outside autos etc... I think!

Modifying Plastic Figures
Although the plastic figures described here happen to be 1/72 scale and of a different theme ,the following applies to any scale or subject matter.These type figures are available in many modes of dress and action and with a little imagination and creative re-designing can be adapted to just about any dioramic storyline.These figures happen to be Revell but there are many suppliers of figures on the internet.to be cont..............

Another

These are some of the 1/72 figures I used on my HMS Victory diorama.I was lucky in this case, to find figures of the Napoleonic era, that required mostly the removal of plastic to convert them into what I wanted.
Some I just changed the uniform from infantry to marines,while others I radically changed from officiers into able seaman.I used three different sets of figures to crew my ship.When shopping around for figures try to see beyond the obvious and look more for body and hand and feet positions that could be used "as is" or could be slightly modified for your purposes.
I understand that the plastic used by different manufactures can vary quite a lot in consistancy.I found that with these Revell figures that you could cut them very cleanly with a #11 blade but they are hard to work with any kind of rotary tools.I don't know if the same is true for all plastic figures,here you will have to experiment a little as my knowledge in the area is limited to only one brand.I have had more experience with resin figures and rotary tools, which are very easy to work on with burrs.
These plastic figures are quite nice and have a lot of detail for such a small scale.They require very little clean up and flash can easily be removed by cutting it off or scrapping with the edge of the xacto blade.
The mods that I show here are about as radical as I have done to a standard figure without actually moving, replacing ,or mix and matching body parts.Here I was looking for hand and body positions that could be modifed into figures that were hauling on ropes.These guys are obviously "factory rejects" for one reason of another but they give you an idea of the process.
I also used some "mounted on horse "figures from the American civil war era for some of the seated figures.Other seated figures were from wagons and they would make great sailors hauling on oars or a seated figure for aircraft cockpits.More on this later......

Hi Guys! my confuser has been U/S for the last week or so.Hope you didn't think that you would get rid of me that easy!!!!!!!! Cheers! John.

I thought you hit the lottery and went to EuroDisney...

What I need is a new computer and keep this one as a backup ,as I am afraid she gettin a little old now.Believe me going cold turkey into computer withdrawal is no fun.

Well here we go again!Let me tell you that ,cold turkey, computer withdrawal is no fun but I must admit I got a lot more building done.
The diorama has been moved to a larger area and yes I did check to see that it will go through the door when finished.I have heard too many stories of guys building airplanes in their basements,then having to knock down walls to get them outside.It is now back to square one ,except this time 90% of it is built and ready to be installed.I have parts and pieces all over the place and only I know how it all goes back together.
The first major step now is to wire up all the electrical fixtures,both interior and exterior.I am running wires through aluminium tubing to wooden junction boxes at each fixture.All fixtures will have to be easily available for bulb changing therefore all roofs have to be removable.
My 12 year old next door neighbor(my adopted grandson)has a digital movie camera and he wants to make a documentary of me putting it all together.We have already started and are having loads of fun.I have also decided to come into the 21st century and buy a digital camera for "in progess" pics.I will keep the old film SLR for studio shots.
I must admit that it is a little intimidating looking at the bare hangar floor again but the excitement of finishing this year will ,no doubt keep me going.

1/72 figs
Here are a few painted factory rejects.They were painted in bright acrylics as I wanted to give a little life to a rather dull wood and brass ship diorama.I undercoated them with thinned down white gesso ,put pins in their feet and glued them with superthin superglue.
The bottom row of seated figs are from a Revell civil war series and with a few mods could make excellent pilots.
The bottom right figure has some white epoxy paste added to it ,ready to be carved off.(I must have changed my mind for some reason.)