1/72 Scratch-built Demonty-Poncelet “Cyrano”

From the archive (2008):

The Demonty-Poncelet was the first Belgian enclosed cockpit, side by side, foldable wing plane. Also reportedly it was the first plane that caused ladies to faint at its sight at aero-shows and the first plane that used a corset, hence the sinuous lines of its waist.

It was very active in the 1924/25 period participating in aerial meetings and even won a few prizes (not the beauty contest, though).

The first incarnation had a Gregoire engine, an adaptation of a 4 in-line car engine. Then an Anzani of 6 cylinders was installed, modifying noticeably the nose area. It sported a not very common 3-blade propeller and had an all-flying stabilator. That fist version also had to carry the Lamblin radiator on its back, adding to its already notable aesthetics.

This first machine was named “Cyrano”, most likely due to the prominent nose that the Gregoire engine imposed on the design. At this stage the plane had only painted the word “Cyrano” on the nose side and no visible registrations –on the existing photo of that early version-. Looking at pictures of later modifications it can be seen that at least 4 more different schemes were painted: Numbers 3, 8, 30 and one with just the registrations and no number. One unreliable source (the Lübeck Marzipan Fliegende Tageblatt) states that Hercule Poirot was a passenger in one flight.

The model was built with the usual methods you would apply when using sheet styrene. The wheels came from Aeroclub Models. The tiny prop was made of aluminum sheet, glued to a styrene tube hub that had a metal pin inserted though it. The blades were warped to get the pitch and a photo-etched boss was added at the front.

This was one of those builds were you can “feel” the pleasant design of the plane by just handling the components, like a stab or a half wing, even before the parts are put together.

Colors are somewhat speculative, but most likely in the ball park. A “wood” treatment was applied to the corresponding model surfaces. The windshield area is not very clear in the photo of this particular version, so again some speculation was necessary. A generic interior was added to give at least the impression of something going on inside, although graphic data in that regard is missing, besides the side by side arrangement.

The making of the model was possible in part thanks to information gathered by Tracy Hanckok and Alain Bourret, although they are not responsible for my potential mistakes.

Now you know why they called the twenties “Les années folles” (the crazy years).