Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 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: 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. 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: 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: 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. Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 (edited) This is what it looked like after I slapped on a primer coat of gesso: 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. Are you guys hungry? Bri2k Edited May 26, 2012 by Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 While waiting for some paint to dry, I couldn't resist taking a couple of bench shots: Now on to the rest of the decals. Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 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. continued... Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 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. The first passenger flight took off with great fanfare: Due to the Flying Wing Transport's unique flight characteristics, things could get tense in the cockpit: Jack Northrop's FWT appeared to be the new flying wonder of the age. continued... Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 While the flight from Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Keokuk, Iowa was uneventful, everyone on board raved about the buffalo wings. Demand for those delicious wings forced Flying Wing Airlines to serve them on every flight. 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. Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri2k Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 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. Here's a couple of glamor shots: Bri2k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Bri2k Good updates and even betetr and funnier captions for the old pics !! Nice work ..Keep it up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaronw Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 That is quite different, but neat, I like flying wings. The captions and storyline are quite creative as well. The only critical comment I would make is the nose / cockpit looks far to modern for the 1930s. It looks like it came from a jet airliner, a glazed nose like the He-111 or B-29 would be more belivable to me. Otherwise it looks great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 That is quite different, but neat, I like flying wings. The captions and storyline are quite creative as well.Yep :D "Spat stash", like that phrase, fun to say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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