Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Acree on April 21, 2015, 10:24:06 AM
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I began this build for the Floaty GB, but finished too late for that (life!). At any rate, here is my Curtiss H16 airliner.
At the close of World War I, the US Navy offered their Curtiss H16 patrol flying boats for sale at $11,053 each. Fitzgerald "Fish" Simmons of Yakima, Washington bought one in 1921 as the basis for a pioneering airline serving Juneau and various fishing ports along the coast of the Alaska Territory. The H16 was only minimally modified, with the deletion of the fuselage gun stations and other military equipment, and the installation of 5 seats along the port side of the fuselage and five small, circular windows. The bow gun position was retained as a mooring station (sans gun).
Simmons named his Airline Alaska Coastal Airways, but this was changed to Alaska Air Transport when his son "Shell" Simmons took over in 1935, and ironically, changed back in 1939 after merger with several other smaller airlines.
The model was a Roden 1/72 Curtiss H16 which was a prize from the Great War GB a few months ago (thanks Brian de Basher!). The decals came from Draw Decals Grumman Goose, except the registration numbers which came from the 1/77 Revell Ford Trimotor (I didn't use the Draw Decals regs because I wanted an "NC" number which would be more appropriate to the time period than the "N" number.
The Roden kit is a great kit, but VERY complicated and with many very delicate parts. The Liberty motors had 42 parts each (probably about 36 or so actually made it onto my model - the others were victims of the carpet monster or my own clumsy handling which broke many. Some were replaced by scratchbuilt parts and others were left off completely. I chose not to rig the model, because (1) the rigging on the H16 is very complex (2) I have had little experience with rigging, and even less success, and (3) I would not have enjoyed the attempt.
Anyway, here she is in all her civil glory! Enjoy!
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More photos:
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And one more:
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Very nice :) :) 8)
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beautiful :)
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Studied all pics. Bang up build on H-16 :)
The "VERY complicated and with many very delicate parts" with opting to skip some and forgo rigging; I do understand.
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Lots of wow there. Terrific build on a nice subject and a kit that is indeed a challenge at times.
The statement about complicated and lots of parts is exactly why the 1/72 Zeppelin Stakken I have remains in the stash. Right at the back
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Absolute cracker. :-*
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She's gorgeous!
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She's gorgeous!
Agree fully!
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She's gorgeous!
+1
That's superb work.
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Thank you all very much for your kind words. Your encouragement means a lot to me!
Chuck
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That looks wondeful, and not something seen very often at that. superb :-*
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That's absolutely gorgeous, Chuck!
I really like the red wingtips and accents which, while being period-appropriate, also make this baby stand out!
I don't blame you about the rigging and with all those struts, it's hardly missed.
Your H-16 airliner is pure eye candy all the way!
Brian da Basher