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Best of Show Diorama

ggerstmann1958@gmail.com Photos provided by Gilbert Gerstmann

Gilbert Gerstmann (Haughton, Louisiana) had an idea. Instead of putting model airplanes on a table at fly-ins, he’d make a diorama for people to look at. “I’m a master modeler who has built some for the U.S. Air Force,” he said, “so I went to Home Depot and came out with an aircraft carrier.”

He first built the launch section for the 12- x 4-foot display after researching many pictures. Fellow Shreveport Area Radio Kontrol Society (Shreveport, Louisiana) club member John Lundberg helped Gilbert with ideas and 3D-printed the cockpit, crew, tractor, and almost 100 tie-downs for each section, which were then painted. Wall panels were painted as well, and the deck was lined and weathered. Crew members were hand-painted, each taking four days to complete. Gilbert noted that he used a toothpick or a sewing needle when a fine-tip brush was too big for hand-painting. “I even added earphone cables,” he stated.

Gilbert made the F-14 canopy so that it opens and closes for better viewing of the instruments (“And I got it right the first time!”). Next, the arresting cable section was put together. He hand-carved the cable actuators from wood and painted the trotline steel, with the number two wire actually retracting.

The only thing left was the background of the diorama display; a graphics company made it after agreeing to the price. The U.S. Navy recruiting office even donated pilot prizes and gave them some posters to use.

“The response at our fly-in was unbelievable. Best of Show is always tough to win, but we did at our first event. Maybe we might start something new at fly-ins.”