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This diorama was inspired by a photograph on the cover of Origin of Aviation in Italy, 1783-1918, by Piero Vergnano. Daydreaming while looking at this photograph, I was taken back to a specific event in time: the day a proud aircrew posed with their spanking new aircraft. Since the photo had to have been taken by a photographer, I decided to construct the moment when an airplane and its crew were immortalized For Posterity.
The airplane model began as a 1/72 Libramodels vacuform kit of a Pomilio PE. The top cowling of the engine and the top decking of the fuselage to behind the observer's cockpit were reshaped from scratch to match references. The engine, exhaust stubs, piping and wiring were scratchbuilt. The entire interior was scratchbuilt and extensively detailed with representations of longerons, bracing wire, seats, dashboard, control levers and lines, gun mounts and windshields. The under surfaces of both wings received .005 plastic strips to simulate rib tapes. All struts, braces, and control horns were cut from rod and strut stock, as was the water tank, the entire undercarriage and the tail skid. The wheels, propellor, and machine guns are Aeroclub cast metal; many small Fotocut PE parts were used both inside and out, including rivets on the engine cowling. All surfaces were brush painted, including camouflage pattern, national markings, serial numbers, and personal markings (the personal marking of a black panther is fascinating, but the identity of the aircrew is unknown.) All rigging is 'invisible' nylon thread. The two crew members are Airwaves cast metal figures and the donkey is a model railroad figure. The rear dolly was scratchbuilt as was the donkey harness and chain-link 'tow bar'. The photographer and his assistant are greatly modified plastic HO gauge railroad figures. The wagon and horse began as HO gauge Jordan Miniatures. The wagon was extensively modified to become a mobile darkroom, and the lettering on the side was built up from railroad decals. I took a bit of 'artistic license' with the horse and wagon: chances are that photographers were already using motorcars by 1917-18--but a horse and wagon look a whole lot more cool! The flash powder can, cut film holder box, derby and cane, and the entire camera were scratchbuilt. The firm of Alinari in Florence, Italy, has been well known for documentary photography for over a hundred years--it seemed appropriate to allow them the honor of appearing in this diorama.
References: Inspiration: Origin of Aviation in Italy, 1783-1918, Piero Vergnano Aircraft and kit: Windsock, Volume 3, No. 2, Summer 1987 WWI Aero, No. 123, February, 1989 Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft, Harleyford Aircraft markings: Aviazione 1900-1918, Bernardo Sclerandi, Curcio Periodici Photographer's gear: several photographer friends
Awards: several, including First Place: 1/72 Dioramas--Single Aircraft at IPMS National Convention, Virginia Beach, VA, July, 1996