Northrop Delta Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition - modified Special Hobby 1/72nd scale

This is a nice kit that can be built into an attractive model with just a smidgen of extra effort and in a reasonable time, but bear in mind that its short-run nature requires a modicum of experience.

The step-by-step building article can be consulted here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2026/02/northrop-delta-1d-ellsworth-antarctic.html

As I am a bit of a nitpicker I replaced a few components, besides of course adding or altering what was needed to obtain the Antarctic flier. For all the effort put into the real plane, it was only able to realize one flight inland taking Ellsworth and his pilot J.H. Lymburner. He dropped a cylinder from the plane with a territorial claim for the US… as you do. It reminds me of the brilliant comedian Eddie Izzard take on colonialism: “Do you have a flag?” (some cursing involved):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTduy7Qkvk8 

A nice aftermarket set from Arctic Decals completed the build. This set can be used even without the ski modifications made to this model, as it was transported first on wheels while already wearing the expedition scheme.

Besides a few images, not much was found in terms of references, and the interior remains mostly a guess. This was an executive plane that was modified to accompany the 4^th and last Ellsworth expedition to Antarctica in 1938/39, equipped with skis and long-range tanks. Other external changes can be spotted in photographs. These details were replicating by modifying the kit’s parts, adding others, and scratching a couple other things. The decal set as mentioned was produced by Arctic Decals (convenient for an antipodal Antarctic subject) to their usual high standards.

Some of the changes to the kit are listed below, but not all are a must, for example you could use the kit’s engine, which is ok to a degree, and you do not need to open the door.

-generic cabin interior fabricated (no photos found of it so far):

-door opened

-three windows blanked as per photos

-Pitot and Venturi replaced

-cabin windows replaced

-engine replaced

-prop replaced

-wing lights drilled and lenses added

-missing runners under the belly fabricated and added

-aileron linkages fabricated and added

-elevator counterweights fabricated and added

-pants modified

-skis fabricated

-nav lights added

-wire antenna added

My thanks to Lars Opland of Khee-Kha Art Products and Mika Jernfors at Arctic Decals.

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer - Modified Halam 1/72nd scale vacuforned

 

The second Scottish Twin Pioneer is ready to take off. The step-by-step building article can be consulted here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2025/07/hallam-vac-172nd-scottish-aviation-twin.html

Using the vintage Hallam vac this time around demanded more work –and resulted in a more protracted build- than the Valom kit build that can be seen here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2025/08/scottish-aviation-twin-pioneer-twin.html

Still, it’s always good to exercise those modeling muscles with a challenge. This vac -which is rather simple- needed quite a bit of additions and improvements to elevate its standards, being a vintage kit. But hey, I love vacs as much as I love injected kits. And building them you learn a number of tricks that spill over to your “normal” builds. In this case a good one was to create the missing corrugations on all control surfaces with Archer “panel lines” transfers painted over. 

A full interior was provided, restroom included, as well as home-made decals and some small details, as the vac kit was very basic: 

This is not (and can not be) a comparison build with the injected Valom kit, as it’s not apples-to-apples, but it’s interesting to see the two different approaches to the same subject. Still, honestly, you are better off with the Valom kit unless you love the challenge, or have this vac kit in the stash and don’t mind the extra work and time.

Note: If for some reason you like the livery used in this build, beware that Valom's boxing of this very plane, G-APRS for the “Air Atlantique” livery has some decal and painting guide inaccuracies: The font for the wing registration letters is different than the ones on the fuselage sides of the real plane. Valom erroneously used the fuselage font for both. Valom also missed a black cheat line that borders the green areas on the fuselage sides and vertical tails, and erroneously states in the instructions that the Air Atlantique plane had green wing struts (they were grey as the rest of the undersurfaces). Valom made the wrong call again indicating green for the stab top, which is actually white like the top of the wing. The green fuselage bands do join where the tailwheel is, they don't end just on the sides. The surface under the wings (minus slats) and half the engine nacelles is light grey, as are the struts, lower fuselage half, stub wings and under-surface of the stab. The links below to photos online show that clearly. Not to mention the array of antennas and beacons that are not included in the Valom kit and are different for the two schemes offered. Valom even got the colors reversed (white and red) in the little square decal that goes close to the exhausts.

https://www.alamy.com/scottish-aviation-twin-pioneer-3-g-aprs-msn-561-of-atlantic-airlines-image560854126.html

https://www.alamy.com/scottish-aviation-twin-pioneer-3-g-aprs-msn-561-of-atlantic-airlines-image560854123.html

Regarding the previous build of this plane, I appreciate the effort Valom makes releasing civil kits and do buy them, even if they make me work more than other manufacturers, and need to be approached with more than a pinch of skepticism regarding accuracy.

As for this vac kit, for those of us who from time to time enjoy vacs or vintage kits in general, it’s always pleasant to take a walk down memory lane.