Monogram 1/48 F-4C and Hasegawa ground equipment

I guess this is the only thing I have that may remotely count as a diorama. I built this for my dad about 20 years ago and gave it to him for Christmas. It actually has a glass cover. I used Monogram's F-4C Phantom II kit straight from the box with Microscale decals, added Hasegawa's ground equipment an ordinance. The base is a piece of 1/2 inch plywood with Verlinden Tarmac card on top, I then used stained trim around the edge of the plywood. I also added some balsa strip just inside the trim to make a seal for the glass. Went to a local trophy shop and had a name plate made that says, "TSGT Henry R. Sakowski Phan Rang AB Viet Nam July 1966 To July 1967 F-4C Phantom II" .

I remember that I had wrapped a red ribbon and bow on it and gave it to him. He put it on top of the TV and would not let us take the ribbon or bow off...I stayed like that until he passed away on 1 Jan 1994. I now have it in my house in my collection but the ribbon and bow have since been lost.

Every time I look at it I think of how my dad and I would sit and talk Air Force or airplanes in general. He is the reason I joined the Air Force in 1982..

Miss you dad...

2 additional images. Click to enlarge.