I bought the resin kit of Avia B-135 in time when the idea of plastic kit seemed to me very improbable but later the plastic kit was relised and I left the resin one in a shelf. Then later when I found the neat Hasegava kit of BMW 327 with a female figure, the idea for the diorama inspired by the book called "Frogs in milk" telling the fictional story of the 1938 Czechoslovak history, occured to me...
Here are the references of building the Avia B-135, and BMW 327 .
After the Germans attacked Czechoslovakia early 1939, the testing of new Avia was pushed, the first series of the aircraft were built and sent to fighter squadrons. One of the first to receive them was 34. fighter squadron of 1. air division (Tomas Garrigue Masaryk).
The diorama depicts the battle worn off aircraft of the ace pilot, who is having a picnic with his girlfriend - famous actress - near his airplane, just in case he is called on...
The base is made of cardboard edged with wooden strips and covered with plaster. The plaster is then painted with mixture of watercolours and white glue. Then I glued the dirt on it as underlayer for artificial grass, blackthorn bushes (from Czech producer Polak). The grass is fixed with white glue mixed with brown watercolour that I spread on the dirt then pour the grass over, left it to dry and the wiped with brush the stems that did not hold. I repeated this till the grass covered everything nicely. I glued the bushes again with white glue. Then I took the hard brush and wiped off the grass from some places to model the tire marks. The whole base I sprayed with mix of matt and gloss varnish. then patched some areas with the diferent tones of green and the base was finished.
The aircraft has the similar camouflage as on the prototype was used and is quite badly done, apparently for the lack of the time. Up to that, the colours are striped a lot from the surface. The only "shiny thing" is the division sign (originaly these had been overpainted during the first Munich crises in 1938 and were used in some squadrons again after the first campaign). Even the personal insignia and name of the airplane "Adina" is somehow fresher as it has been painted later. The shot marks were not used during that period.
Actress's car is built according to the kit, including painting.
The figure of actress is from the mentioned BMW 327 kit, I just changed the shape of the hat and the suggested colour of the dress. Pilot is the altered Eduard's Russian officer figure.
The basket is a scratchbuild and to make it easier, I left it closed with the lid, only some vine bottle did not fit inside. The spread is made of moisted and painted paper.
Building of Avia B-135 is described here: Avia B-135 Page
Building of BMW 327 is described here: BMW 327 Page
July - August 2010