July 15, 2011
Freeze Frame Dioramas
Catch Winks In History
Dioramas give us a method of scale modeling history mid-wink. In a sense it freezes that wink in a realistic and highly portable glimpse at what may have happened, what we know really happened and what could be today’s results.
All good dioramas begin with solid research, planning, and attention to detail.
There are a few "must-knows" about your subject you must have.
Scale is one of the more important along with the dimensions of your model.
Next, decide whether your model will be in water or on land? Are their buildings involved? What about other vehicles 0r personnel in the form of scale figures?
Knowledge of history, events and geography also play a role in the development of subjects and themes.
As usual, researching coming diorama regarding the US victory at Midway Island in 1942 brings to light a host of potential “freeze frames”.
USS Yorktown's Coupe De Grace by a Japanese Sub
The final coupe de grace (death stroke) was inflicted by the Japanese sub I-168; one torpedo to slowly sink the Yorktown with a second breaking the back of the destroyer, USS Hammann whose depth charges are shown exploding.
But the most anguishing scene and the one I will most likely model is the USS Yorktown in her final resting place 17,500 feet down in the Pacific.
USS Yorktown at rest 3 miles deep
For more than 50 years, the USS Yorktown lay undetected on the ocean floor. Then, in May 1998, underwater explorer Robert Ballard, working with the U.S. Navy, began in earnest to search for her and the four Japanese carriers that went down in the waters off Midway Island. Armed with only the sketchiest of information regarding their final locations, Ballard knew that finding any of these ships would be a challenge.
The National Geographic video “The Battle For Midway” brings this clash between Americans and the Japanese to life through the words of surviving crewmen from both sides who were aboard Ballard’s 235-foot “Laney Chouest” which carries submersibles that can go three miles below the ocean’s surface.
On this trip she carried some of the Battle of Midway survivors who would help in locating the Yorktown and four sunk Japanese aircraft carriers.
It was not a party cruise.
Witnessing the May 19 event with Bill Surgi were three other Midway veterans who were instantly taken back in time—torpedo bomber pilot Harry Ferrier and Japanese Imperial Navy fliers Yuji Akamatsu and Haruo Yoshino. The Japanese carriers were never found, but for Ballard, this great oceanic battlefield remains one of his most meaningful explorations.
“Maybe part of what we do by bringing deep shipwrecks to light is to hold up a mirror to the present,” he states, “a mirror whose reflection shows us ourselves in the past—and shows us the past in the present.”
A noble goal for a diorama.
Uncovering Fine Wire Sources
During a recent Internet foray I came across a source for fine ligatures I could use for scale railings, TV antennas, even 1-inch water pipe and it doesn’t involve melting plastic.
A modeler who signed himself “Richard in Nevada” suggested the wiring harness for a set of iPod earbuds.
I was about to throw out a non-working set of ear buds I had for a cell phone. Instead, as he recommended, I peeled away the insulation and there they were: two sets of super fine stranded copper wire for each earpiece.
The stranded wire easily unrolls by twisting it between finger and thumb while holding onto the strand.
By the way...mine comes in copper, red, blue, and green (all separate, of course). The strands are very strong and are finer than paintbrush hair.
Richard also experimented in making them straight and rigid and found this is what worked:
Using a wooden clothespin he strung one end from the top of his workbench and put a
heavier metal clip on the other end. He reported that the wire gets VERY straight but you aren't likely to break it.
To maintain its rigidity, Richard dribbled Cyanoacrylate adhesive on a piece of a plastic bag and ran it down the length of the wire. He then lightly went over it quickly with a piece of cloth.
The result is railing and tubing material (not to mention wire for scratchbuilding buildings and telephone poles) “that's more to scale than anything I've ever used...thanks to the Japanese (or Chinese) manufacturer,”.
Another source for fine insulated, stranded wire is your old computer mouse.
There are usually seven or eight different colored wires about three feet long.
APP WATCH
it seems there is a new word added to our vocabulary either as a cell phone app or an iPad app. These are downloadable add-ons, often a software-like functions, that perform tasks unrelated to making phone calls or scanning the web.
There is a massive number of these 99-cent to $8.99 mini-programs on the market making inroads into almost every field. Many were designed to make a portable device more like a computer.
So what is there for scale modelers?
That's the purpose of this monthly column.
rcFlightbook is a very useful utility for all remote controlled helicopter and airplane pilots.
Finally you’re able to manage your flight information anywhere and directly after the flight. The time for taking notes manually at the airfield to copy them onto your computer at home, has passed.
You keep track of the management of all your models and batteries, which allows you to get the necessary information about the batteries’ life cycle, the time of flight and the current consumption of each model.
rcFlightbook may allow you to work with multiple pilots, models, batteries and flight locations.
If your device features a GPS receiver, the geographic coordinates of your flight can get stored via rcFlightbook and will be found the next time automatically.
rcFlightbook is specially designed for iPhone and iPad, in which each device owns an optimized operator’s interface.
ANDROID Offering
RC Final Gear Ratio with Rollout CHART and Potential Speed CHART!
Rc Final Gear Ratio Calculator ADS FREE
FULL VERSION WITH NO ADS!
PLUS:
- ROLLOUT CHART !!!
- POTENTIAL SPEED CHART !!!
This app is for 1/10 R/C car!
Calculate:
- Motor RPM
- RollOut
- Potential Speed
Enter the transmission ratio, spur, and pinion to generate Final gear ratio.
Enter tire diameter, motor KV and battery voltage to get potential speed and max motor RPM.
Now with POTENTIAL SPEED CHART AND ROLLOUT CHART!!
Degree of Difficulty Rises
as Model Gets More Challenging
Scale Modeling getting dull?...None of your colleagues appreciate your effort?
Here's a chance to amuse yourself with your next modeling project. Points are awarded on a degree of difficulty basis. You can award yourself extra points for creative execution.
Unfortunately, determining how 'difficult' a kit is to build is, by nature, subjective. While one modeler may build a large complex kit such as HMS Victory as their first model and make an extremely good job of it, most modelers would not attempt such a kit without first building 2 or 3 smaller models.
Attempting first a beginner kit gives the modeler an opportunity to learn the basic skills required with the minimum possible outlay and still enjoy the experience.
Before looking at the difficulty ratings below, please consider this point: above almost everything else, choose a kit which interests you. Each of the models you build should be models that you would be proud to display/take to the local pond. Please do not fall into the trap of building a model purely because you see it as a stepping stone to building the model you really want. If you are not enthusiastic about the model you are building, you are far less likely to complete it.
Remember, if you are unsure or you just want some advice or guidance we are more than happy to help, please see our contacts page for full contact details.
Explanation of Kit Difficulty Ratings:
The following difficulty ratings are intended as a guide only and should be determined only after assessing the kit materials, completeness, time required to build the model, ease of construction and quality of plans/instruction manuals.
Beginner: It should be realized that beginner kits are not necessarily 'simplified' models but can be extremely detailed. They are therefore deemed to be kits of a high enough standard that they can be completed with relative ease by a first time modeler.
Beginner/Intermediate: These kits are suitable for a confident beginner or anyone who has previous model building experience.
Intermediate: These kits are suitable for modelers with previous experience, generally falling into the category of 'an excellent second or third model'.
Intermediate/Advanced: These kits are generally aimed at modelers with previous experience and knowledge of the model style/construction techniques.
Advanced: These kits should generally not be attempted unless you have previously built one or two models of a similar style.
Kitbashing 101: Build or Bash?
Kit bashing is often a scale modeling decision made without much thought or planning, instead it is based on hap stance.
First consider the existing footprint and how much can be added while still retaining the ability to fit the scene.
It is also important to keep the original model's cost in mind. There is risk involved in kit bashing. The more expensive the model, the smaller the probability of returning it to it's original state.
For the experienced hobbyist, kitbashing saves time that would be spent scratch building an entire model.
Kitbashing may be as simple as repainting a small detail. It may also be quite extensive, resulting in a product that in no way resembles any of its original sources. The derived parts are frequently augmented by scratchbuilt ones, and any part from any source, whether it is a Lego brick, a plastic tank tread, or a assorted parts, can be part of a kitbash.
Many modelers maintain the so-called "junk box" where they keep extra parts, details and structural elements, primarily for modifying kits.
Your Help and Ideas Needed
To Expand SMH Idea Base
Making daily decisions involving
www.scale-modelers-handbook.com
for the past 45 months has led to the creation of over 425 pages of articles on the various facets of scale modeling, this monthly e-zine and a host of modeling questions answered.
As we get ready to embark on our third year, I am hoping to open the site up to input from other scale modelers. You may have noticed the Navigation Bar has been sub-divided into the major hobbies covered.
Each of these sections now has one or two pages that invite participation with questions, tips and pictures regarding your various modeling endeavors.
We want to hear from you as do the other 25,000 modelers who log onto this site monthly.
As I get ready to roll into my 71st year, I can’t believe how much I have learned about hobby activities In the past two years. I have heard from other modelers with similar experiences.
To help me develop and maintain
my website
your comments on its content are essential. You can send me your comments by visiting the “Voice Your Opinion” feature at the top of the Navigation stack in the left column on each page.
It was never my intention to make this website a one way street as my knowledge is no where deep enough for me to be termed an “Authority”. I hunger for your feedback, comments, ideas, tutorials, plans, pictures and even your negative comments if considered constructive.
The Internet and that includes
www.scale-modelers-handbook.com
work best when they are interactive and that is collaboration only you can provide.
It has been a pleasure serving as your guide for these past two years and by no means am I throwing in the towel, for I honestly believe the building and maintaining of this website are instrumental in keeping my mind active.
I want to open up this site in the fast lane. That is your part of the two-way street.
Its In Your Best Interest
If you have been giving some thought to launching your own home business in 2010, it is worth your time to take a look at what I found:
Steps To Success
Until Next Month
Make It Your Best Effort! |
