Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on November 11, 2012, 09:28:15 PM

Title: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 11, 2012, 09:28:15 PM

The Boeing F4B/P-12 was ubiquitous in the early 1930s in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Corps. Not until the F-4 Phantom in the 1960s would one aircraft be so omnipresent in both services.
The 1930s were a time of great innovation and many improvements were made in aerodynamics. The Navy wanted to take advantage of this and held a competition for a high-speed fighter.
Boeing rose to the challenge. Retooling their F4B with an Aero-light inline engine, new windscreen and spatted landing gear which were the envy of air arms world-wide.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0001.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0002.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0003.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0004.jpg)

While the new High Speed FX fighter passed all flight tests with flying colors, the per-unit cost of $79,000 and 29 cents made full-scale production impossible.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0005.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0006.jpg)

However, the hot prototype was used for many years as a personal runabout by Commodore M. Modium, C.O. of the Cantacostya Naval Air Station near Roiling Springs, Missouri.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0007.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0008.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0011.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0012.jpg)

The beginning of this project was the venerable 1/72 Matchbox Boeing P-12E which featured some very colorful box art:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/P-12BoxTop.jpg)

Not only on the top, but on the bottom too:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/P-12BoxBottom.jpg)

I had a left-over Ar-96 engine in the spares box which was a pretty good fit:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXnewnose01.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXnewnose03.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXnewnose02.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXnewnose04.jpg)

Then work got in the way, and this project sat in the box for a few days:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXbox01.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXbox02.jpg)

Fortunately, I was able to steal some time and finish it by adding Aeroclub spats and decals from the decal dungeon. Rigging was done with this great plastic wire courtesy of Jeff Fontaine.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0009.jpg)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFX_0010.jpg)

I had a lot of fun on this little model, which goes nicely with orange juice for some reason.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/High%20Speed%20FX/HighSpeedFXOJ.jpg)

Brian da Basher

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: John Howling Mouse on November 12, 2012, 01:57:40 AM

I'm on here, trolling for modeling inspiration and I come across this:  "spatted landing gear which were the envy of air arms world-wide."
Yep, that and your fine model were all I need to see.  I'm going down into the man-cave right now to pull up some sort of equally interesting, 1:72 subject for just a FUN build to get back into the swing of things.

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: sotoolslinger on November 12, 2012, 02:04:21 AM

Yea! New spatted goodness from BdaB :) >:D :-*
And threats of a new Roaring Rodent build :-* :icon_fsm:

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: Daryl J. on November 12, 2012, 02:19:17 AM

"goes nicely with orange juice for some reason".   
 ;D ;D ;D :)

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: GTX_Admin on November 12, 2012, 02:24:48 AM

 :)

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: Tophe on November 12, 2012, 02:42:48 AM

Cute little model ;)

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: elmayerle on November 12, 2012, 09:43:39 AM

Nicely imagined and executed; I like the back story and it looks better than some of the RL attempts to develop faster versions of that design.

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: Doom! on November 13, 2012, 12:49:20 AM

Another winner BDB! (http://www.doomisland2.com/images/avatars/701.gif)

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: finsrin on November 15, 2012, 12:23:30 PM

Love it  :-*   Cute and fast as it is.
Being high speed makes me wonder what critical Mach would be  ???

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: taiidantomcat on November 15, 2012, 11:37:56 PM

That is a peach  :-*

Title: Re: 1/72 Boeing P-12E to High Speed FX
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 16, 2012, 04:30:49 AM

Quote from: finsrin on November 15, 2012, 12:23:30 PM

Love it  :-*   Cute and fast as it is.
Being high speed makes me wonder what critical Mach would be  ???

.0002 I think. Of course, scaled up from 1/72, it's a bit better.
 ;D
Thanks for the comments! They inspire the madness to no end.

Brian da Basher