SPA Modeler

Since the A/C portion is quiet, I'll throw up something (yes, intentional). I've had this one for a while. Given how well the Goose went, I was looking forward to building this. Wah, Wah, Wah………

Actually not too bad. Very soft toy-like plastic. So soft that I was able to punch holes in it with a straight pin. The fit is so-so, but not horrible. There is/was a lot of flash on just about every sprue.

The fabric portion of the fuselage as represented looks to me to be too pronounced. It will have to do, though.

Then there is the pre-scribed lines for the scalloped paint work. Yeah. I'm gonna brush paint those or try to mask them to match. Guess I'll be sanding the down smooth. Thankfully, they are not very pronounced.

Any way, here you go. Be kind.

LyleW wrote:Since the A/C portion is quiet, I'll throw up something (yes, intentional).

Nope...Gee plane, Gee plane!

Okay, a somewhat serious question here....for youse entrynet folks that can find stuff...

How did the pilot board this plane? So far, I've found no pictures of that event. From what I can tell and see online, the canopy did not open. This kit has graciously provided a large portion of the fuselage top and the canopy frame as a separate piece, with what appear to be hand holds on the sides I've found a pic with a faint outline of a hatch on the starboard side under the cockpit.

I am generally discounting any replica versions of the aircraft. And, I'm leaning towards the hatch but, nothing is molded into the fuselage.

Any references would be welcome.

Fast forward 3 minutes and all will be answered! Cheers, my friend!

Thanks, Bruce. I did see that one, but I believe it to be on a replica. I wonder if the production models had a hatch as well. I've found archival footage of the 1931 crash that killed Bayles - and a discussion of it by the Granville Brothers. It appears that there entire canopy and a portion of the fuselage frame lifted off. Maybe they had both?

You’re right, Lyle. I thought about the part of the aircraft being a replica before I sent that. I made a list early when I joined here. Call it the “Model Aircraft Building Rules of Engagement.” The first one was to never fully trust a replica aircraft inside or out. In the video, the builder did say that they built this aircraft as close as possible to the plans. Now did that mean the addition of hinges to a hatch? I thought he meant whatever parts they could no longer find and fabricate dictated a few changes, but the hatch could have been what he meant. I often thought about building a Gee Bee. I probably would hunt down plans as well as send a message to any member here just like you did. Cheers

have one in my stash so looking for your experiance..

Heh... I remember seeing that kit back in the 70s and 80s in Kmart or any big box stores that once carried model kits. Back then, I had no interest in building one.. Now I wished I did. Definitely an old kit. Looking forward to more Lyle. Seems like a simple straightforward to kit build. Hell, even the rigging looks too simple to do

Cherrylock wrote:have one in my stash so looking for your experiance..

Peter, thanks for the vote of confidence! So far? Nothing horrible. The rudder, elevator and ailerons are not a great fit, but, it is an old Lindbergh kit...