Revell model kit of Jacques-Yves Cousteau's Calypso, featuring an oceanographic vessel and a yellow helicopter This diorama will feature several models, including two "Calypso" models...

Ce diorama va comporter plusieurs maquettes dont deux "Calypso"...

Model of the Calypso currently being assembled, placed on top of the illustrated instructions I'm reviving an old kit that I'm going to improve for this project. The deck railings have been removed—they were too thick—and remade from stretched plastic. Liquid putty was then applied to all the seams...

Reprise d'un vieux kit qui va être amélioré pour la circonstance. Les bastingages du pont sont ôtés - trop épais - et refaits en plastique étiré. Du mastic liquide est ensuite passé sur tous les joints...

Three-quarter view of a model of Cousteau's oceanographic vessel, the Calypso, against a gray background The railing is in place...

Le bastingage en place...

Model of the Calypso under construction, featuring a detailed fore deck with superstructures and deck fittings Bow details: Improvements to the antennas on the gantry, including the radar antenna and spotlights. The winch cable has been replaced with copper wire. Accessories, cables, ropes, and barrels have been added. The latest-generation radar antenna on the roof is made from an empty antibiotic capsule. The navigation lights on either side of the roof have been upgraded...

Rear deck of the Calypso model under construction, with details and fittings currently being installed Detail of the aft deck: the (fictional) funnel has been upgraded with a ventilation grille. The boat cranes are from another kit. The dual aft winch and the "Yumbo" crane are equipped with electrical wire for wiring. A control panel has been added for the winch. The crane has been upgraded with control levers and cables. Additional accessories have been placed on the deck. The inner side frames of the hull on the aft deck are made of thin plastic sheet. The hold panel is covered with a paper tarp soaked in liquid wood glue...

Small model boats and miniature diver figurines displayed on a work surface The vessels and the two SP500 "Puces de mer" submarines...

Les embarcations et les deux sous-marins SP500 "Puces de mer"...

Model of the Calypso helicopter on the wooden platform of the Cousteau diorama, currently under construction A close-up of the helicopter, whose rotor blades and tail have been refined. The platform has been fitted with grilles, buoys, lights, and wiring...

Model of Cousteau's ship, the Calypso, with a yellow helicopter on the aft deck Everything is installed on the ship before painting...

Le tout est positionné sur le navire avant peinture...

Model of the Calypso ship, shown in profile with an orange helicopter on the aft deck Side view: All the portholes have been drilled (except for the one on the roof), and a sheet of transparent plastic—painted black on one side—is glued to the inside...

Model of Cousteau's Calypso with a helicopter, crane, and diving bell on the aft deck Another view of the aft deck with the landing gear in place. You can clearly see the detailing on the "Yumbo" crane...

Autre vue de la plage arrière avec les soucoupes en place. On voit bien le détaillage de la grue "Yumbo"...

Model of Cousteau's ship, the Calypso, sailing on a turquoise sea with a dinghy and a diving bell

The Calypso is then painted by hand based on period documentation...

The "Calypso" from 1955

Gray plastic half-hull of the Calypso assembled for the Cousteau diorama The Calypso has undergone major transformations over the years since it was purchased—a former U.S. minesweeper—in 1951. As a huge fan of the Cousteau team, I just had to build another version of the ship. This will be the 1955 version that set sail for the Red Sea to film *The Silent World*. A different kit is being used for the modification...

Scale model of Cousteau's oceanographic vessel Calypso, viewed in profile on a pedestal The goal is to create a half-hull of the ship, glued to the bottom of the display to show it in its entirety, including the underwater observation chamber...

Scale model of the research vessel Calypso under construction, viewed from the port side in profile Even half a hull is a lot of work. The ship is very different from the 1980s version...

The bridge is modified with round portholes featuring visors. Another radar is installed. All portholes are cut out. The hull is cut open on the sides to move the cabins forward. Sun protection is added with poles and a tarp behind the funnel. An air scoop is installed at the bow. A crane is mounted on the aft deck. Part of the railings is rebuilt...

Gray model of the research vessel Calypso, viewed in profile, with detailed rigging

The finished model is coated with a layer of primer...

Model of the Calypso ship under construction, featuring a detailed wooden deck and superstructures for a Cousteau diorama A top view showing the two "Calypso" boats while their decks are being painted...

Une vue de dessus montrant les deux "Calypso" lors de la peinture des ponts...

Model of Cousteau's oceanographic vessel Calypso, viewed in profile against a blue background The ship, painted and glued into place...

Le navire peint et collé sur son emplacement...

The "Catalina" Seaplane

Revell model kit of Cousteau's PBY Catalina seaplane taking off from the sea This one, too, will be made as a half-shell to be glued to the bottom of the set...

Lui aussi sera réalisé en demi-coque pour être collé sur le fond du décor...

Model of a white Catalina seaplane in the Calypso colors of the Cousteau expedition, currently being assembled There isn't much assembly involved, and painting it is easy...

Il n'y a pas de gros travail de montage et la peinture est aisée...

Model of the Cousteau team's white and yellow Catalina seaplane in flight The inside of the glass roofs is painted black...

L'intérieur des verrières est peint en noir...

Model of the Calypso and a Catalina seaplane on a blue background, featuring a portrait of Commander Cousteau A view of the back of the set with the SP350 saucer at the bottom...

Une vue du fond du décor avec la soucoupe SP350 en bas...

The bow of the "Calypso" on a 1/32 scale

Pencil sketch of the bow design with scuppers for the Cousteau diorama Creation of a scale drawing, specifically of the observation room at the front...

Réalisation d'un plan à l'échelle, notamment de la chambre d'observation à l'avant...

Cardboard model of the bow of the Calypso ship under construction on a cutting mat Made of plastic...

Réalisation en carte plastique...

The gray bow of the Calypso, currently under construction, resting on a green cutting mat ...And lead sheeting for the bedroom vent...

...Et feuille de plomb pour le conduit de la chambre...

White cardboard model of the bow of the Calypso with a forward platform A coat of primer before sanding again...

Couche d'apprêt avant nouveau ponçage...

Fine-mesh metal wire mesh sheet with cut corners for the diorama The platform: a 3-mm-thick transparent plastic sheet and a fine plastic mesh...

La plateforme : carte plastique transparente de 3mm et treillis plastique fin...

Photo-etched mesh bow structure for the Cousteau Calypso diorama Making a frame out of "Evergreen" plastic rods and various materials...

Fabrication d'un châssis en tiges plastique "Evergreen" et divers matériaux...

A wire mesh metal structure currently being assembled to form the bow of the Cousteau diorama A view from below...

Une vue de dessous...

A gray bow model under construction, mounted on a white, openwork metal frame with brass accents Testing the positioning of the two parts...

Essai de positionnement des deux pièces...

Gray bow model from the Cousteau diorama mounted on an internal metal lattice frame Another view...

Autre vue...

Model of the bow of the Calypso, currently under construction, showing the internal deck structure Glue the two pieces together...

Collage des deux parties l'une sur l'autre...

Model of the bow section of the hull, covered with fine metal mesh over an orange frame Painting the platform. The plastic card really captures the translucent effect...

Peinture de la plateforme. La carte plastique rend bien l'effet de transparence...

Model of the Calypso's white bow plunging into a turquoise sea An overview of the completed installation...

Une vue de l'ensemble en place...

The Hugues Osage Helicopter

1/32-scale AMP model kit of the Hughes TH-55A Osage light helicopter The model used for the diorama. Very detailed, with photo-etched parts, a raised instrument panel, and a very fragile resin rotor (fortunately, a plastic version is included). The instructions aren't always very clear. Not recommended for beginners...

Hughes helicopter model kit in the process of being assembled, with instructions, gray parts, and photo-etched parts on a cutting mat A work-in-progress view... The engine nacelle, the fuel tanks, and the tail boom. The whole thing isn't easy to assemble...

Une vue en cours... La cage du moteur, les réservoirs et la tige de queue. L'ensemble n'est pas aisé à monter...

Lightweight helicopter model on skids currently being assembled for the Cousteau diorama

Two views of the assembly...

Gray helicopter model with weathered floats, without a rotor, set against an ochre background The battery housing has been rebuilt (on the motor support rods). Wiring and hoses will be added to the engine. The floats—designed for the Cousteau team’s version—will be built on the original skids, using tanks and aircraft bombs...

Unpainted model of a seaplane with floats and a rotor, currently under construction Then, apply a coat of primer to the entire surface...

Puis, couche d'apprêt sur l'ensemble...

Model of a helicopter on floats with crew figures on a mesh platform Various characters—including Commander Cousteau—will liven up the scene on the platform...

Des personnages - dont le commandant Cousteau - viendront égayer la scène de la plateforme...

Yellow helicopter model with floats under construction for the Cousteau diorama Paint job on the model. You can clearly see the included dashboard panels...

Peinture du modèle. On voit bien les plaques fournies du tableau de bord...

Two transparent pieces from the diving saucer's porthole, with orange-painted frames The glass panels are painted. The roof is coated with a layer of transparent smoky black. The glass in the door on the right side is removed...

Model of a yellow helicopter with floats and a transparent canopy against a blue background The painting is finished...

La peinture est terminée...

Revell decal sheet for the Calypso featuring "Calypso" and "Cousteau Society" lettering Creating decals for the helicopter based on photos of the model...

Création des decals de l'hélicoptère à partir de photos du modèle...

Yellow Calypso helicopter model with floats and two pilot figures from the Cousteau diorama The figures are glued into the cockpit. The two parts of the canopy are glued together. The decals are in place...

Yellow Calypso helicopter model from the Cousteau Society, with floats and a pilot Yellow helicopter model with floats, registered as N102CS, featuring two figures in the cockpit Three more views of the finished model...

Trois autres vues du modèle terminé...

Model of a yellow Calypso helicopter on floats with figures on the platform of the Cousteau diorama Assemble and glue the entire set onto its base, complete with the figurines...

Pose et collage de l'ensemble sur son support agrémenté des figurines...

The Setting

Models for the Cousteau diorama: the Calypso, the Catalina seaplane, a helicopter on a platform, and a yacht

A preview of the future set...

Model of Cousteau's ship, the Calypso, with a yellow helicopter on a white sea Creating the water for the Calypso on a sheet of extruded polystyrene using spackling compound...

Création de l'eau pour la Calypso sur une plaque de polystyrène extrudé à partir d'enduit à reboucher...

Diorama of the Calypso and a yellow helicopter on a platform, an oceanographic vessel at sea

The bow of another ship will serve as a wreck jutting out into the sea...

A model-making diorama depicting a shipwreck emerging from a turquoise sea A view on site: the swirls were carved into the fresh plaster...

Une vue en place : les remous ont été sculptés dans l'enduit frais...

Diorama of Cousteau's Calypso near a submerged cage in a turquoise sea The sea is painted in acrylic using various shades of blue, including turquoise for the background of the Calypso and darker shades for the platform...

Diorama of Cousteau's Calypso with a yellow helicopter over turquoise water Another view...

Autre vue...

Airbrushed background with a blue gradient depicting the sky and the sea A background of sky—at the top—and sea—at the bottom—is created with an airbrush...

Un fond de ciel - en haut - et de mer - en bas - est réalisé à l'aérographe...

Diorama model of Cousteau's ship, the Calypso, and seaplane, featuring a portrait painted against a seabed background A stylized portrait of Jacques Yves Cousteau is painted in white on the background...