Scarlet Pimpernel
Staff Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2010
- Messages
- 844
Greetings Froggers and Frogettes:
I am pleased to finally present (after much hair pulling and nail biting...my own, not someone else's) my release of a First World War German airplane hangar (although, there isn't much preventing it from being an Allied hangar, other than a German propoganda poster and a flight roster (which I will gladly modify for those interested).
For those of you whom I have met at shows, you hopefully may have noticed that I construct a good number of dioramas to display the figures of those manufacturers that I represent. About eight months ago, I resolved to create something special for the John Jenkins Knights of the Skies range (other than the Allied airfield diorama that I had already presented). The Germans needed something special, and John's planes are so beautifully crafted, I thought it an injustice to leave them out all night, subject to the elements...so, the solution seemed obvious...make them a hangar!!
A few collectors had expressed an interest in having a full-size hangar to accommodate the planes, but a project of this size and labor is simply not cost effective for anyone if done as "one-offs." So I thought, "why not produce this piece as reasonably as possible as a compliment to the Jenkins planes and figures?" Now, I know some of you are scratching your heads and thinking..."uhh...but isn't John producing his own hangars?" And the answer is, of course, yes...and they look fantastic. It would seems that John and I were working on our designs simultaneously, but now having seen both, I think they each have their own redeeming features and really serve different purposes. Besides, there is no reason not to own both!
So...what have I come up with? Basically a monster of a model in 8 parts, big enough to house even the largest of John's planes (the Albatross). This model measures 23"x16"x7". It is a full hangar with removable roof and removable hangar doors, although every Jenkins plane will clear the hangar door aperture (12 5/8"). The piece is cast in heavy (10lb) foam; unlike many foam models cast in 5lb foam (which has a tendency to ding if not carefully handled). Not so with this stuff. I was able to beat my dog with it without a dent...ok, I don't own a dog. I had not originally intended to add a base, but ultimately thought that the wooden floor was critical. It also provided the model with an inset for the windsock.
I have included a few photographs here of the model with some of the JJD figures and planes on one of my diorama boards, and would like to solicit opinions on a particular feature. As most of you interested in this period probably already know, there was no standard building plan for structures housing First World War aircraft. There were almost as many designs of hangars, sheds, tents, etc., as there were aircraft paint schemes, so I felt I had a lot of latitude in many of the details. Pretty much any goes. However, one thing I am not quite sure about is the distressed white wash treatment of the hangar doors, and it has been suggested to me that they may be better in green (like the hangar building) or natural wood (like the door frame). Your opinion is most appreciated.
For anyone interested, the models will retail at $199 and will be ready to ship on 15 August, but there is still time to change the door color if you consider my white wash choice a massive lapse in judgment and good taste. Thanks in advance for any constructive opinion on the doors.
I am pleased to finally present (after much hair pulling and nail biting...my own, not someone else's) my release of a First World War German airplane hangar (although, there isn't much preventing it from being an Allied hangar, other than a German propoganda poster and a flight roster (which I will gladly modify for those interested).
For those of you whom I have met at shows, you hopefully may have noticed that I construct a good number of dioramas to display the figures of those manufacturers that I represent. About eight months ago, I resolved to create something special for the John Jenkins Knights of the Skies range (other than the Allied airfield diorama that I had already presented). The Germans needed something special, and John's planes are so beautifully crafted, I thought it an injustice to leave them out all night, subject to the elements...so, the solution seemed obvious...make them a hangar!!
A few collectors had expressed an interest in having a full-size hangar to accommodate the planes, but a project of this size and labor is simply not cost effective for anyone if done as "one-offs." So I thought, "why not produce this piece as reasonably as possible as a compliment to the Jenkins planes and figures?" Now, I know some of you are scratching your heads and thinking..."uhh...but isn't John producing his own hangars?" And the answer is, of course, yes...and they look fantastic. It would seems that John and I were working on our designs simultaneously, but now having seen both, I think they each have their own redeeming features and really serve different purposes. Besides, there is no reason not to own both!
So...what have I come up with? Basically a monster of a model in 8 parts, big enough to house even the largest of John's planes (the Albatross). This model measures 23"x16"x7". It is a full hangar with removable roof and removable hangar doors, although every Jenkins plane will clear the hangar door aperture (12 5/8"). The piece is cast in heavy (10lb) foam; unlike many foam models cast in 5lb foam (which has a tendency to ding if not carefully handled). Not so with this stuff. I was able to beat my dog with it without a dent...ok, I don't own a dog. I had not originally intended to add a base, but ultimately thought that the wooden floor was critical. It also provided the model with an inset for the windsock.
I have included a few photographs here of the model with some of the JJD figures and planes on one of my diorama boards, and would like to solicit opinions on a particular feature. As most of you interested in this period probably already know, there was no standard building plan for structures housing First World War aircraft. There were almost as many designs of hangars, sheds, tents, etc., as there were aircraft paint schemes, so I felt I had a lot of latitude in many of the details. Pretty much any goes. However, one thing I am not quite sure about is the distressed white wash treatment of the hangar doors, and it has been suggested to me that they may be better in green (like the hangar building) or natural wood (like the door frame). Your opinion is most appreciated.
For anyone interested, the models will retail at $199 and will be ready to ship on 15 August, but there is still time to change the door color if you consider my white wash choice a massive lapse in judgment and good taste. Thanks in advance for any constructive opinion on the doors.
