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Aircraft; Runway
Topic Started: Jan 11 2017, 08:20 PM (522 Views)
Gertney

Hi All. I need a little, well a lot, of help/advice. I normally do 1/35 armour/dioramas. After seeing all the great aircraft models over the past few months, i have decided to make a 1/48 scale aircraft diorama. I have got a hasegawa Isuzu Tx40 fuel truck with figures, and a Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M5/5a zero fighter(Zeke). Could anyone advise me on how to make a runway, if i can buy one online, and what is the easiest way to lay the above. Many thanks. Gertney.
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fs2005
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Simplest is probably a sheet of (grey)wet and dry paper Maybe with white lines sprayed on .
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fs2005
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Maybe order a mask set ( precut rectangles of masking tape )for the ( difficult!) canopy painting .
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BKirwan
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I made up a mould (out of a bit of plywood )for concrete slab 20 years ago and I still use it. Just fill the slab moulds with abit of netting, and a mix of plaster and white glue and then you got yourself concrete slabs for your runway. mould enough of them to fit the base and cut to sieze .

Looks a lot better than paper and cheaper than any commercial alternative.
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Prenton
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Gerry,

I would generally go with Fs2005's idea of grey wet and dry, placed inside an IKEA photo frame.. That is, if your diorama involves an airfield and that airfield is a paved one.

On the other hand, weren't those Zero aircraft generally stationed on islands or in jungle terrain, where the best they could hope for would be a bit of grass, or possibly pulverised coral?? If the former, then some railway flock, dulled down with a spray of darker green, seems to me to be the answer. If the latter, then (so I have been told) cat litter is a good option, with white glue to bind it and give it shape.... :O

Perhaps those more experienced in aircraft dioramas might like to "chip" in? :-"

Philip
"To boldly go..."

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Woolley
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Masterpiece Models produce a Pacific Airfield Base but it's not exactly cheap. There are lots of free printable runway bases out there (also Marsden matting although I have not the foggiest if the Japanese used something similar?)

As Philip says, a lot of these airfields would be of the rough-and-ready type, so you can pretty much go wild with using filler/plaster of paris etc.
Edited by Woolley, Jan 12 2017, 10:09 AM.
Mike

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Dermot
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I used smashed-up cat litter (clean obviously) before on a 1/72 Pacific diorama to replicate the coral used on island runways - got the idea from someone else. Sprinkled it over wet plaster/wall filler.
Or the very small pebbles & stones you find in your garden can work too as they're an irregular size.

Dermot



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Gertney

Thanks for the info lads. I found a site, coastal models, that do runways. I ordered one, 12 pounds sterling, which is not to bad, i think. Will surely be seeking more advice on painting and weathering soon as well. Thanks again. Gertney.
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