http://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2012/11/wright-bellanca-wb-2-paris-new-york.html)
As some of you may know, Charles Lindbergh wanted to purchase a Wright-Bellanca WB-2 for his epic Atlantic crossing flight. The plane had widely demonstrated its capabilities and potential several times, one of them with an endurance record in closed circuit that had miles to spare to cross the Atlantic. But Wright (company of engine fame) had sold to Bellanca and Levine the rights of the plane, now owned by their recently-formed company, “Columbia”. Levine tried to manipulate Lindbergh into a not very good deal, so Charles left and went to buy the soon-to-be universally famous Ryan NYP. Too bad for Levine. Nevertheless Levine was committed to demonstrate the plane’s worth, and since Lindbergh had accomplished the famous feat, he planed for a flight to beat Lindbergh’s record, that will reach Berlin. Chamberlin was its pilot, and Levine jumped in at the last second before departure. They actually flew to Germany, but had to unintentionally land twice in two little German towns before actually reaching Berlin.
This plane, as many others, went through some minor
modifications during its life. You may notice in photos a temporary annular
exhaust ring between the engine and the front of the cockpit, a “pointed”
spinner, or a visible propeller boss, many changes in the livery of the plane,
too many to be described here, even a different propeller that was lend to the
crew when they broke theirs in a nose over on route to Berlin.
A sort of Townend ring can be seen in a few photos too.
Bear especially in mind that the “replica” Columbia in an American museum is not at all a WB-2, but a Bellanca Skyrocket with some cosmetic treatment and it is as far removed from the real thing as a merry-go-around wood horse from the animal galloping on the prairies.
A sort of Townend ring can be seen in a few photos too.
Bear especially in mind that the “replica” Columbia in an American museum is not at all a WB-2, but a Bellanca Skyrocket with some cosmetic treatment and it is as far removed from the real thing as a merry-go-around wood horse from the animal galloping on the prairies.
Some times the Columbia is represented with yellow wings,
that’s not accurate, since the wings were covered in clear-doped fabric, which
has a yellowish tinge to it, but it is not at all like yellow paint.
The lettering over the plane, once the record attempt
started to be prepared, said “New York / Paris”; “Paris” was later changed to a
hastily-written “Berlin”, then a more properly “Berlin” although in a different
font than the rest, then other cities were added as the plane made its way around
Europe.The base for this adaptation is the wonderful vacuformed 1/72 scale Bellanca CH-300 issued by Khee-Kha Art Products of Alaska. I won’t review again here Khee-Kha’s kits,
I have built a number of their excellent kits and their
reviews are here:
They can be reached at
The Bellanca kit includes resin detail parts cast to a very
high standard, vacuformed windshield and material to make the side windows.
Some of these items could not be used given the differences between the CH-300 and the WB-2. A new Wright J-5 engine was located, together with adapted white metal prop and wheels from Aeroclub. The resin nose of the kit was modified to represent the WB-2 one, adjusting minimally its shape, erasing most of the louvers, and adding a couple of other details. A left-over spinner was modified to adapt it to this particular plane.
Some of these items could not be used given the differences between the CH-300 and the WB-2. A new Wright J-5 engine was located, together with adapted white metal prop and wheels from Aeroclub. The resin nose of the kit was modified to represent the WB-2 one, adjusting minimally its shape, erasing most of the louvers, and adding a couple of other details. A left-over spinner was modified to adapt it to this particular plane.
First the wings have to be modified by erasing the “baleens”
under the wing tanks and puttying, sanding and re-scribing the wing tanks and
ailerons, which had a slightly different position. Then a new vertical
stabilizer was built.
I have dealt with about 20 vacuformed kits, of the hundreds
of models I built. The more I build them, the more I like them. Now, sanding is
not really my favorite activity, so that part I do not enjoy. But with this one
I tried another approach: scrapping with an Xacto, very carefully and evenly. The accompanying photos will show
you the very good results, obtained in a fraction of the time I would have
spent sanding the same parts. Eureka!
16) Deletion of aft access panel on left-side fuselage
17) Anemometer
18) Pitot
List of changes (as a general guide, some areas of course involve further detail changes, like cockpit and cabin, etc)
1) Wing tanks
2) Ailerons
3) Engine / carburetor intake
4) Nose cowling
5) Prop/spinner
6) Vertical stabilizer
7) Wing struts (no “break” on the front strut geometry)
8) Landing gear
9) Windshield / side windows
10) Erase baleens under the wing tanks
11) Under fuselage fuel jettison fairing
12) Stitching visible on the fuselage sides
13) Stitching (some times taped-over-) over the cabin/aft
fuselage joint
14) Interior
15) Deletion of right-side fuselage door
16) Deletion of aft access panel on left-side fuselage
17) Anemometer
18) Pitot
Khee-Kha's kit has some optional parts, not used for this model, but nevertheless left semi-prepared for future endeavors:
"Stitching" home-made decals:
