This all started when a good friend (thanks a million, hamsterman!) sent me something I didn't even know existed, an HO scale Willams Bros. Pitcarin Autogyro. Now I'm not unfamiliar with Williams Bros, having built a few of their kits, but this one is new to me.
While the packaging may not be that impressive, it's got everything you need, even instructions!
I really hope I don't need to test that Limit of Liability there...
Let's open it up and get a closer look.
Hmm ok it reminds me of some short-run kits, but I've built far worse.
Not a lot of parts, the very definition of basic. But it sure will look like an autogyro when you're done with it.
My mods were pretty simple. I covered the front 'pit with blisterpack and added white-metal landing gear legs I had spare as well as a tail wheel. I also made a new rotor pylon from a set of landing gear struts. The kit fin & rudder will be perfect for converting a Fokker D.VII into an Aviatik D.X so I swapped that out for drop-tank fins as dual rudders.
I also added some recycled spats made from P-35 brass catchers and an F-80 canopy. I squirreled away the kit rotor for another recycled part that I ended up re-building because of ham-handedness and repainted. Then in one of those moments of modeling serendipity, I discovered that a spare Sopwith Tripe cowling was a perfect fit.
This was capped off with a 1/144 DC-6 prop which was another nice fit.
The model was brush-painted by hand in acrylics, Model Masters Flat Black mostly. The canopy was tinted on the inside with Insignia Blue and the engine cylinders you can't see were done in Gold with a black wash. The center of the engine was painted Semi-Gloss Black and the struts and canopy framing were given a coat of Light Sea Gray.
The four decals (a new record woo hoo!) were all spares. The bogus registration came from a sheet for a 1/200 TWA 747. Before I forget, here's the "money shots" (U.S. penny for scale):
It took me three days to put this little gem together and I had a blast the whole time.
I'd like to thank Bill for his kindness in sending me the cool kit and Mr JCF for bravely moderating this GB. I couldn't do it without you!
I hope you enjoyed the Pitcarin advanced black autogyro and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history even if the so-called "experts" all think it's just conjured up from some very deep, black place.
Brian da Basher