Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on March 15, 2012, 04:19:05 AM

Title: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 15, 2012, 04:19:05 AM: I picked up this old 1/72 Amiot 143 by Heller a while back on the cheap. I figured just as is it's pretty far out there and as a bonus has some nice big spats:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/helleramiot143box.jpg)

This kit (with some added parts) will eventually be two aircraft. Of course, I started with the first and easiest (yeah, right) project: cutting the wings to make a flying wing.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprog_01.jpg)

I planned to omit the engine nacelles, but one seemed to make a nice 1/144 scale nose. I found a piece of pointy clear blisterpack that was a good fit:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprog_06.jpg)

I liked the kit spats but in 1/144 they'd be around 11 feet tall, way too big. Fortunately, the spat stash came to the rescue:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprog_02.jpg)

The twin tails are fins from a sub kit and the engines are twin-row radials from Aeroclub. I've got some four-bladed Aeroclub props for this project too.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprog_04.jpg)

Off to add some paint and see where to do the PSR...

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: apophenia on March 15, 2012, 10:07:55 AM: Love it :-* Although this looks like it might be a 5 spat job!
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: KiwiZac on March 15, 2012, 10:16:53 AM: I like what I see, BdaB! This is a great way to make a French design look good. With the spats and fins it looks awesome. I'll have to follow this one closely.
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 15, 2012, 10:48:10 AM: Very very smart in looks and execution. Can't believe how well you made that blister pack fit. :P
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: RussC on March 15, 2012, 01:47:23 PM: Great start, Brian! Very curious as to the paint scheme you are considering for this one.

Reminds me a bit of this little bit of advert design from the period.

(http://davidszondy.com/future/bohn/flying_wing01.jpg)
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: JP Vieira on March 15, 2012, 06:02:54 PM: Great build
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Rafael on March 15, 2012, 08:16:52 PM: I love the classic, epoch looks of your builds Bri. These ones should be wonderful
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Dr. YoKai on March 16, 2012, 12:45:19 AM: Looks like a winner, Brian! Any plans for the fuselage?

Quote
I liked the kit spats but in 1/144 they'd be around 11 feet tall

You say that like its a bad thing... ???

;)
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 16, 2012, 02:46:22 AM: Quote from: Brian da Basher on March 15, 2012, 04:19:05 AM
as a bonus has some nice big spats

Admit it Brian - you bought it just because of those big, round spats...
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: RussC on March 16, 2012, 02:54:56 AM: Quote from: Dr. YoKai on March 16, 2012, 12:45:19 AM
Looks like a winner, Brian! Any plans for the fuselage?

Quote
I liked the kit spats but in 1/144 they'd be around 11 feet tall

You say that like its a bad thing... ???

;)

Look at the monster tires that were on the B-36 prototype!

(http://www.air-and-space.com/nara/342usaf21378%20030107%20XB-36%2042-13570%20main%20gear%20tire%20l.jpg)
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 16, 2012, 03:49:01 AM: Quote from: GTX_Admin on March 16, 2012, 02:46:22 AM
Quote from: Brian da Basher on March 15, 2012, 04:19:05 AM
as a bonus has some nice big spats

Admit it Brian - you bought it just because of those big, round spats...

[fake foreign accent]

Ahhh and such tenderly curved yet vivacious little minxes those spats are!

:-* :-* :-*

Sometimes one must go where their heart leads them, no?

[/fake foreign accent]

Last night I slapped on a primer coat of gesso:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprimer_01.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingprimer_02.jpg)

While gesso's not an ideal primer, it's good for me because I have lots of it and it'll still give the regular paint something to grab onto.

Today I figured out the livery.

Are you guys hungry?

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/buffalowingstray.jpg)

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: arkon on March 16, 2012, 06:45:11 AM: neato !!!
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Frank3k on March 16, 2012, 10:21:53 AM: Is it a Buffalo Wing airliner, flying out of... Buffalo?
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: finsrin on March 16, 2012, 01:46:40 PM: Like the way this is taking shape. I see a Jules Vern influence. Uncommon as they are, all flying wings have an exotic-to-SyFy look to me.
Same for the "sorta flying wings" (for lack of better term) like Avro Vulcan and Arado 555.
Looking forward to more pictures. :)
Bill
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 16, 2012, 04:16:30 PM: Mmmm...buffalo wings... :P
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 17, 2012, 06:51:06 AM: While waiting for some paint to dry, I couldn't resist taking a couple of bench shots:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingdecals_01.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWingdecals_02.jpg)

Now on to the rest of the decals.

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: apophenia on March 17, 2012, 08:18:50 AM: I love it Brian! Every passenger gets his/her own skylight, right? ;D
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: ChrisF on March 17, 2012, 08:41:44 AM: I wonder how wide the runway is ? lol

Love it !!
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: taiidantomcat on March 17, 2012, 10:08:28 AM: These are the builds that always amaze me. Its brilliantly simple. How did you do so much with so few pieces? :D
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: ChernayaAkula on March 17, 2012, 10:26:48 AM: Wow! :icon_surprised: You certainly made something well worth looking at out of this Amiot design! :)

Looks like the original aircraft was an all-wooden design - constructed solely from wood of the ugly tree. >:D
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Rafael on March 17, 2012, 11:51:15 AM: Fantastico, Brian!!!
This is a very retro-futuristic plane.
Can you explain how do you draw/scribe/paint the cockpit windows for this example?
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: RussC on March 17, 2012, 02:40:08 PM: Looks like decals for the windows both cockpit and the passenger cabin, Rafael.

Just want to say that this is a super project, and gets better with each post. This machine simply looks like something out of those late 30's Popular Mech/ Popular Science magazines. Its got Art Deco, futurism and basic workable engineering going so well together.

Suggestion: you will be fitting props soon enough and there are two ways to treat that, either a small bullet hub -exposed pitch rings, basic cover or you could consider a aerodynamic spinner, a larger cover. I think the latter would add to the look you have created and are approaching. Also, a similar deco stripe like on the tails should go on that front landing gear spat, plus the other two.
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: John Howling Mouse on March 17, 2012, 11:00:52 PM: Once again, there's something just so very "right" about this one, Brian. You definitely have another winner with this one: a real gem!
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Doom! on March 17, 2012, 11:39:33 PM: This bird would be awesome to see in the air with that white scheme. Very nice. :)
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 18, 2012, 05:55:42 AM: Having married into money in 1929, Jack Northrop was finally able to seriously pursue his dream of large, flying wing aircraft. After two years of work in great secrecy, the Northrop Flying Wing Transport (FWT) took to the air.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing004.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing003.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing002.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing001.jpg)

continued...

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 18, 2012, 06:05:06 AM: Northrop's revolutionary design paid bonuses in performance, but few airlines of the time were willing to gamble on such an unconvential aircraft. He was forced to launch his own airline in an attempt to prove the radical new design and so Flying Wing Airlines was born.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing006.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing007.jpg)

The first passenger flight took off with great fanfare:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/first_flight_with_wings.jpg)

Due to the Flying Wing Transport's unique flight characteristics, things could get tense in the cockpit:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/drinkforthepilots.jpg)

Jack Northrop's FWT appeared to be the new flying wonder of the age.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing005.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing009.jpg)

continued...

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 18, 2012, 06:17:42 AM: While the flight from Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Keokuk, Iowa was uneventful, everyone on board raved about the buffalo wings.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/western-union-theyve-got-wings.jpg)

Demand for those delicious wings forced Flying Wing Airlines to serve them on every flight.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/stewardesseswithwings.jpg)

The airline was a huge success.

Then the "Sacre Bleu!" bleu cheese blight hit hard and it became impossible to enjoy buffalo wings. Ranch dressing was tried as a substitute and deemed a dismal failure. This and the deepening depression caused Flying Wing Airlines to fold after only a short time in business.

While Flying Wing Airlines and the FWT were soon forgotten, Jack Northrop used the experience to refine his flying wing designs which led to development of the B-2 bomber.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing012.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing011.jpg)

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 18, 2012, 06:24:50 AM: The model is painted in Model Masters Semi-Gloss White and the decals are mostly leftovers from a sheet of Eastern Airlines livery by ATP. A tip o' the pin to Russ C for suggesting stripes on the spats. It turns out I had just enough bits of decal left to dress those spats up a little.

Here's a couple of glamor shots:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing010.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Flying%20Wing/FlyingWing008.jpg)

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: sotoolslinger on March 18, 2012, 06:29:32 AM: I have never wanted to fly on an aircraft so bad in my life. MMMMMM Flying Buffalo Wings....also look who's serving em :-* >:D
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: RussC on March 18, 2012, 11:14:24 AM: OUTSTANDING !!!!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6799503889_54a28d1d7b.jpg)

I'll second sotoolslinger and que up for tickets now.
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: Tophe on March 18, 2012, 01:24:38 PM: Wonderful model! :-*
(and a ~~million~~ billion times more aesthetic than the Amiot source) :D
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: finsrin on March 18, 2012, 01:43:20 PM: Otta be in a movie.
Sky Captian and the World of Tomorrow II or something
Great build - way cool. 8)
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: elmayerle on March 19, 2012, 08:50:52 AM: Looks far better than the villain's flying wing in those old Republic serials. I could see one of these painted in black serving instead.
Title: Re: Flying Wing(s) in 1/144
Post by: apophenia on March 19, 2012, 10:47:57 AM: "Due to the Flying Wing Transport's unique flight characteristics, things could get tense ... "

Ah, that's why the windows are in the roof! Could make for some interesting site-seeing flights ;D Excellent build and backstory Brian :)