(The completed model is here:)
http://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2013/05/gee-bee-ascender-172-scale-scratchbuilt.html
The Gee Bee Ascender.
Less traditional spellings of the last word of its name have
been frequently quoted by my disrespectful friends.
Not the chubby racer that the household name Gee Bee would
normally evoke, but an experimental plane of canard (duck, in French)
configuration (stab first), reputedly built from some Aeronca parts, and
propelled by an Aeronca engine of mere 26 hp, according to Aerofiles.
In case you are interested, Bill Hannan dedicated an article
in one of the issues of his publication Hannan’s Runway. It was translated and
reprinted in Le Fanatique de l' Aviation, No 161.
And yes, you skeptics, it flew, and well.
There is a Youtube clip here:
And yes, you skeptics, it flew, and well.
There is a Youtube clip here:
The model is being scratchbuilt using the common techniques; the
images as usual tell the story. As you can see, the engine and prop are tiny. Small wood blocks were carved to get the contours on a couple of places on
the fuselage.
A door was opened and an interior was created.
The tiny registrations of the rudder were made with a dry transfer
sheet, character by character, on a clear decal sheet, then applied to
the model. Something you do not want to do often.
In the image bellow you can barely make the text (white on white):
The area behind the engine has been painted a metal color.
The landing gear added with pieces of brass tube simulating the shock absorbers.
The nose wheel sub-assembly has an aftermarket Aeroclub white metal item, a wire inserted in it and a bent piece of aluminum sheet pierced through to represent the wheel holder:
The wing spar has been added and the front wheel painted:
Interior bits being readied:
Ready to go inside:
and closer to completion:
The logo minuscule decals were printed and applied:
