How I Build Dioramas.

[Lancair IV]

Hi John,

I've been following the build on another site and all I can say is, OMG I wish I could do this type of Diorama. Absolutley stunning work. What do you have planned next?

[JohnReid]

Thanks guys! your kind comments are really appreciated.

[JohnReid]

Hi Lancair! I see that you are planning to build the 1/16th Camel.Are you aware of the problems with this kit?I recently built one being towed behind a Model T truck.Sorry to say but I was less than impressed with the kit.If you want accuracy this kit requires a lot of research and scratchbuilding.If you are happy with an out of the box build it is acceptable but not a very accurate representation of a Camel.
Their best kit is the Jenny in my opinion.Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Hi John,

I sent you a PM,

Mouppe.

You should have a reply!

[sydeem]

John - after plowing through something short of 30 pages of your photobucket I am flabbergasted at your detailing. Lancair, be sure to get through pages 16-22 for our Camel builds. There are a bunch of ideas there.

John, I see you hand cut copper brackets for each frame attaching point. I originally wanted to do something like that but I just don't have the patience. You didn't happen to make these by photo-etching them did you? Be nice to be able to buy an etched sheet from someone.

[JohnReid]

Hi Syd!Those photoetch parts are actually leftovers from my 2nd Jenny build.I will soon be organizing all the Camel pics in a sub-album.

[Lancair IV]

Hi Lancair! I see that you are planning to build the 1/16th Camel.Are you aware of the problems with this kit?I recently built one being towed behind a Model T truck.Sorry to say but I was less than impressed with the kit.If you want accuracy this kit requires a lot of research and scratchbuilding.If you are happy with an out of the box build it is acceptable but not a very accurate representation of a Camel.
Their best kit is the Jenny in my opinion.Cheers! John.

Thanks John. I do plan on building a lot of custom parts for the kit. I've been doing a lot of research on the internet on the Sopwith Camel and I hope to have a fairly correct model. Unfortunately, my resources are limited. I'm heading down to Finley Ohio tomorrow on usiness and I might try to drive down to the Dayton Air Force Museum in the afternoon. Where did you do your Camel research?

If mine turns out half as good as yours, I'll be happy.

Cheers

[JohnReid]

Hi Rob!The problem with the Camel kit is that there is no warning where the kit deviates from the real aircraft.From day one you will have to make decisions on what to leave in and what to leave out and it can become very difficult to correct things later if you change your mind.A good example of this are the fuselage fittings for the internal brace wires.
I would recommend that you stain and seal all ribs before removing them from the laser cut board.I used spray lacquer on mine.Nothing looks worse than glue marks on the wood.Luckily the Camel does not have vertical reinforcing strips on its ribs so no worry there.I would normally glue these on before removal as well.
Try to gather as much info as you can before beginning so at least you can make an informed decision.The plans and instruction book provided with this kit are mostly the product of someones imagination and not to be trusted.
For anyone that has no experience with these kits the best kit out there is the Jenny.All the others require require a lot of scratchbuilding if you want a fairly accurate airplane.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Before even reaching this stage a lot of compromises had to be made.

[JohnReid]

For those interested I have begun to transfer all the Camel related pictures to its own sub-album.Eventually I hope to have them in the proper order of the build.

[Don Garrett]

Great info John....thanks.

[JohnReid]

The following has been taken from my thread on the Aerodome.com forum.I hope it will be some help to those building the Model Airways Camel kit.

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.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Movin' on to the OX5 engine being crated ,I think this looks OK.
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It has been said that the difference between a "pilot" and an "aviator" is that a pilot is a technician,and an aviator is an artist in love with flight.
JohnReid (Aviator)