Author Topic: Curtiss H-16 Airliner  (Read 7608 times)

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« on: April 21, 2015, 10:24:06 AM »
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!
 

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2015, 10:25:12 AM »
More photos:

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2015, 10:25:39 AM »
And one more:

Offline FAAMAN

  • 'bin building for years ....... and it feels it!
  • Always thought of himself as a 'straight' modeller
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2015, 01:00:20 PM »
Very nice  :) :) 8)
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Offline ericr

  • He's like some sort of Dr Frankenstein of modelling...
  • Has something for red, yellow or blue...
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2015, 02:35:32 PM »
beautiful  :)

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2015, 03:03:10 PM »
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.

Offline Buzzbomb

  • Low Concentration Span, oft wanders betwixt projects
  • Accurate Scale representations of fictional stuff
    • Club and my stuff site
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2015, 03:48:14 PM »
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

Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2015, 07:26:03 PM »
Absolute cracker.  :-*
Were going to be finished in 2020 BEFORE I start any da*!#d new ones - Maybe When Hell Freezes Over - again? - CF-IDS Wolverine; Douglas Mawson; Bubba Wants a Fishin' Rig; NA F-100

Against the Wall - Maton Dreadnought; Fender Telecaster; Epiphone Les Paul Stud

Offline LemonJello

  • MARPAT Master
  • Member number 100...WooHoo!!!
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2015, 07:43:14 PM »
She's gorgeous!

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2015, 03:51:11 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2015, 11:17:02 AM »
She's gorgeous!
+1

That's superb work.

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2015, 12:33:10 PM »
Thank you all very much for your kind words.  Your encouragement means a lot to me!

Chuck

Offline taiidantomcat

  • Plastic Origamist...and not too shabby with the painting either!
  • Full Member
  • Stylishly late...because he was reading comics
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2015, 03:02:39 AM »
That looks wondeful, and not something seen very often at that. superb  :-*
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Curtiss H-16 Airliner
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2015, 02:01:23 AM »
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