Short Crusader Scheider Cup - Karaya 1/72nd scale resin

 

The beautiful lines of the Short Crusader didn’t help much with its performance, nor did the manufacturer’s choice of a radial engine over the predominant inline arrangement for the Schneider trophy. An unfortunate problem with the aileron rigging meant that after being assembled in Venice for the actual race it hit the water as soon as it took off, the pilot thankfully escaping unscathed.

After no little fuzzing here is Karaya’s Short Crusader. To arrive to a happy conclusion some hurdles had to be dealt with. Do not follow Karaya’s box artwork, as the blue struts are associated with an early stage in life of the plane that did not have the tail number as depicted, and used a wood prop. The artwork would be accurate if the struts were white (painted so after a repair) and the prop metal, as seen in Venice, and if it did have the red stripes over the floats (not provided on the decal sheet). The cylinder “helmets” need the prominent undercuts and a little carving -as seen in photos- to be accurate. These corrections and additions shouldn’t be a problem for an experienced modeler (the only kind of modeler that should be dealing with this type of kit anyway). For a full description of the caveats and some contemporary reference material you may visit the step-by-step building post:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2026/09/short-crusader-schneider-trophy-karaya.html

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

YES!

Sikorsky S.55 BEAtles - Conversion of Revell 1/72nd kit + Arctic Decals

 

An old modeling dream of mine becomes reality, as the BEAtles Sikorsky S.55 is completed in the scheme used for the final scene of “Hard Day’s Night”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf7mYCXmj5s

The Revell kit is pretty good, it has no real vices, it is cleanly molded, the detail is adequate for the scale and it’s relatively easy to convert to the civil version, especially now that Arctic Decals of Finland has released a very nice and superbly detailed sheet for the purpose, with meticulous and very useful instructions. My only criticism to the Revell kit is the inclusion of a windshield wiper molded in the transparency that is of course overscale and virtually impossible to remove. A really bad choice on part of the pattern maker. As it is sometimes the case, the kit conflates details from several versions, so you have to sort out details looking at photos of your intended rotorcraft.

Needed changes and additions for the BEAtles machine:

-Discard mil interior and fabricate a civil one (or close the cabin door)

-Discard from the sprue what belongs to other versions

-Remove boom downward-pointing antenna

-Add step to access the pax cabin

-Modify the aft left window to a bubble configuration

-Modify the volume detail on the belly by removing a section and restoring the surface

-Replace or reverse both bulkheads to obtain a smooth surface. If reversing, sand away potentially obtrusive detail and plug the holes in them (unless you close the door)

-Add whip antenna following photos

-Add thin “lip” above the upper ventilation screen on the nose, as per photos

-The BEA”tles” addition to the scheme was only on the left side

-Do not forget to add the indicated nose weight or you will get a tail sitter. Beware that the front landing gear legs are very weak so don’t buckle them

-Remove little pip aft the main rotor fairing

-Remove “discs” along the tail rotor shaft cover (I didn’t notice that until after the model was completed. There is always the little something you realize you missed after taking the photos of the completed model… isn’t it?)

-Add handle at the cabin entrance (if door open)

-Add Pitot to the right side of the roof

-Add small vent to the aft right window (I just added to decal circles, one on top of the other)

Be sure to look at photos of the machine as used in the movie, as details varied before and after that time. Just one example: the tail rotor is not aluminiun color, but black with red and white stripes when the Beatles used it.

More details in the step-by-step building post:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2026/09/sikorsky-s55-bea-tles-conversion-of.html

We are living now in strange times. There is too much hate, lies, racism, ignorance, intolerance, blatant ineptitude. It’s builds like this, because of their social and cultural connotations, what makes me feel that there is hope, and that this nightmare will (sooner rather than later) come to pass. Because, and in spite that it sounds naïve, who among those still sane doesn’t want peace and love? Yellow submarine in 1/72^nd scale anyone?