The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has quietly added a remarkable piece of aviation and modeling history to its collection: the legendary B-17G Flying Fortress diorama created by the late Sheperd Paine. Long regarded as one of the most influential scale modeling works of the 20th century, the diorama is now on public display, joined by Paine’s equally celebrated B-24 Liberator and P-61 Black Widow scenes. For generations of modelers, Paine’s B-17G diorama was iconic. It appeared in the instruction pamphlet included with Monogram’s 1/48-scale B-17G kit (No. 5600), which reached hobby shop shelves in early October 1975. For countless young builders, the dramatic scene did more than illustrate how to assemble a model—it told a story. Many recall hoping to find that very kit under the Christmas tree that year, inspired as much by Paine’s artistry as by the aircraft itself. Top Sheperd Paine titles for you, click HERE.
Bob Johnson, a former Monogram employee and longtime member of a local model club, played a key role in preserving the legacy of Paine’s work. In an email shared with fellow club members, Johnson described the B-17G diorama as the “crown jewel” among the 27 dioramas Paine produced between 1972 and 1978. At the time of its completion, it was the largest Paine had built, later surpassed only by his massive B-29 “Enola Gay” diorama. For decades, the dioramas were displayed at Monogram’s design headquarters on Waukegan Road. When the building was closed and later demolished, the aircraft dioramas were relocated to Hobbico’s offices in Champaign, Illinois. Following Hobbico’s closure in 2015, Jim Foster intervened to prevent the works from being dispersed, moving the B-17G, B-24J, and P-61 to offices in Elk Grove Village. When those offices later closed, Ed Sexton safeguarded the dioramas by moving them to his home in Northbrook, Illinois.
Efforts to place the dioramas in a permanent museum setting began years ago. In early 2020, Johnson and military miniature modeler Jack Lynch approached the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Despite meetings with curatorial staff, the dioramas were caught in an unresolved debate over whether they should be categorized as art or historical artifacts. Other museums expressed little interest, often failing to grasp the cultural significance of Paine’s work to the modeling and aviation communities. Johnson continued documenting the dioramas’ history, assembling an extensive archive of photographs, layouts, and original materials. He had worked closely with Paine during the creation of several dioramas, including the B-17G, B-24J, B-29, B-25, C-47, and B-26, as well as armored vehicle scenes. Much of the original color photography was produced by Dave Dahm and the late Gerry Humbert, whose background in high-end commercial photography proved ideally suited to capturing Paine’s intricate scenes on large-format transparency film.
The breakthrough came in late 2024, sparked by a social media post commemorating the 50th anniversary of the B-17G kit’s release. The post generated hundreds of responses, including a key exchange involving EAA staff. Chris Henry of the EAA expressed interest, and soon afterward revealed that he had recently become the museum’s new director. With that change, discussions moved quickly. One phone call to Sexton and another to EAA finalized the agreement. Just weeks later, the dioramas were delivered to Oshkosh. On December 3, the EAA shared an image of the B-17G diorama on display at the museum, prompting an overwhelming response: thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments, and a flood of inquiries. The reaction underscored what many have long believed—that Paine’s dioramas resonate far beyond the modeling hobby, serving as powerful visual gateways to aviation history.
Reflecting on the acquisition, Chris Henry, Director of the EAA Aviation Museum, emphasized the broader significance of the dioramas. “We are incredibly honored to get to be the home of these pieces of true aviation art,” Henry said. “While some may see these as model planes, for many, Shep’s work—and in particular these pieces—are sources of inspiration for model builders, historians, and aviation professionals. The aviation world owes Mr. Sexton, Bob Johnson, and the others who have saved this work a hearty thank you.”
The EAA acquisition is expected to boost museum attendance, particularly among visitors eager to share formative memories with their children and grandchildren. Johnson plans to donate his extensive archival binder to the museum and continues efforts to locate and preserve additional Paine-related materials, including original instruction sheets and large-format transparencies. For those who grew up studying Sheperd Paine’s work at a hobby bench, seeing these dioramas preserved and displayed at one of the world’s premier aviation museums is more than nostalgic. It is recognition that these miniature scenes are not merely models, but enduring historical narratives—now finally secured for future generations. For more information about the EAA Aviation Museum, visit www.eaa.org/eaa-museum.
