Where are we now?
Working my way along the R/H side wall towards the front of the hangar.Next it will be on to the L/H wall ,which is almost already covered by the wings and their stands,so there really is not that much left to do.
Then it is back to fastening down the rest of the items to the hangar floor and putting on the roof rafter assembly.
As of right now I think that I am on track for a Spring of 08 finish.My plan is to build the Ford van/Camel aircraft trailer this Winter and install it on the R/H rear landscape module as the final installation.I may also add a few more figures outdoors.
Ultimately my goal is to do all my own figures for my next diorama, "The Backyard Flyer".As a wood carver I have always admired the figure carvers especially those who work in the small scales.

another pic

Adding more junk!

John
I thought you might find these quotes inspirational,

" The Jenny was a temperamental machine to master. She had a tendency to veer left on take-off. Her engine produced a mere 90 horsepower. She had a maximum horizontal flying speed of only 75mph and engine failure was not uncommon.
My first experience in flying was done in a Jenny, it was said,"If you can fly a Jenny, you can fly anything"

Lt. Bill Purvis, RAF pilot WW1

A photograph of a "Jenny" was prominently displayed in the foyer of the Purvis home in Rosedale, Toronto


"The harsh gray Canadian winter provided many obstacles for airmen training in Canada for the war overseas
One problem was simply the fragility of early aircraft, The "Jenny" in particular, would struggle through snow in an attempt to get airborne. Wheel undercarriages proved ineffective in snowdrifts more than six inches deep.
The solution to this problem was to emulate an aboriginal principle, adopting a method used by the North American Indian since he first traversed the frozen wastes of Canada
Thus was evolved the present day airplane skid."

John Gordon, historian

Approximately 6000" Jenny's" were ultimately produced during the war years
After the Great War, large numbers of Jenny's were sold off at surplus prices; 600 dollars included shipping crates. Many young pilots, trained for war, now found themselves unemployed. If a pilot could procure a "Jenny", one employment option was to travel the country and offer rides, often landing in a farmer's field to set up shop. The pilot also needed to possess the mechanical skills to keep the machine airborne. These flying entrepreneurs became known as"barnstormers".
Other pilots formed traveling groups, "flying circuses", performing formation aerobatics and flying stunts to the awe and amazement of the crowds, usually in the rural areas of North America.
One of the most dangerous stunts was wing walking, with a "daredevil "literally walking on the wings of the sturdy "Jenny " while flying, and often performed by young woman
In the United States.The Air Commerce Act of 1926 placed licensing of pilots and aircraft under federal control and regulated the operation of aircraft, putting an end to the "Barnstormer" in America.

Cheers,
Fitzee

Almost finished!

My lucky day! I found a 1/16th (120mm) horse in the drinking position.It comes from a Verlinden horse and rider piece and it is in resin.I gave the rider to the hobby store guy and kept the rest.All I have to do is put it together and paint it and it can go into the diorama almost as is.I plan to put the horses head leaning over the old bathtub drinking water. I will hitch it up to an old post with a sign "Secure horses well,loud engine noise" or something similar.I can leave the saddle on or throw on an old horse blanket instead.I think that it will be a real eye catcher as the average kid doesn't expect horses and airplanes to be together.

Horse and tub!

The last major component!
This will be the last major component of this diorama that is yet to be built.The Ford van pulling the Camel on a trip to the university ,where it is to be used in the teaching of future aeronautical engineers.Many Camels were sent to Canada after the war for this express purpose.The airplanes wings will be folded and attached to the side of the open structure fuselage.The Ford van(yet to be built)will have the control surfaces attached to it and maybe the prop.
The whole thing will be able to be viewed close up, so all of the components will have to be there for detailed inspection.I will also leave the vans hood up to reveal the detailed Ford 4 cylinder engine getting a can of oil before the long road trip.I have the driver taking a "nervous one" in the WC and I may add a seated figure or two.All of this will be contained on its own removable module so I have a lot of options when to build it.Anyway that is the plan for now.

This is a view of the front of the carpenters shop taken though the hangars front doors.The standing pilot figures will be just to the left of this picture.This is about the only relatively empty space left in the diorama.I have 2 options here,leave it as a uncluttered backdrop for the airplanes wing or ............ Any suggestions?

Blast from the past!

Another [pic

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!

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.

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?.