From the archive (2010):
Classic planes from the Golden Age of aviation have a charm
that increases with time, as it should be with classics.
After finishing the Clark GA-43, it seemed natural that the
Vultee V-1 would follow, as they share some characteristics, not being the least
important their remarkable aesthetics.
They had the same weight, were single-engine cantilever low
wing monoplanes and featured modern metal monocoque fuselages. The Clark could carry ten passengers and the Vultee 8.
Although aware of the Special Hobby release, I choose to
exhume from my stash the Execuform vac. As described in the Clark GA-43
article, these are simple molds that should be regarded as a white canvas to
express yourself.
Once the research stage started, one machine immediately
caught my attention: the V-1AS variant that Russian pilot Levanevsky and navigator
Levchenko flew to Moscow from California
-where I live- via Alaska and Siberia
in 1939 (CCCP-H208 in Cyrillic). For this version a new vertical stabilizer,
front cowl and floats were needed. Fortunately adequate vac floats were found
in the spare parts’ bank from the same manufacturer’s Clark GA-43.
The kit I had was purchased some time ago from an online
vendor specialized in rare kits, since at the time I wasn’t aware that
Execuform kits are now available from the manufacturer. Nevertheless, mine
included an epoxy engine and prop that used to come with the kit before. Since
the plane I was modeling had a “winter” front cowl, which almost completely
blocked the view of the engine, I included the one that came with the kit. The
prop after some refinement was deemed usable, but I replaced it anyway for a
metal one. In some photos the plane sports a chubby spinner.
Plenty of images of the V-1AS can be found on the Net, and
some color clues that in some cases are not entirely accurate. After some study
the choice was a blue general color with red flying surfaces and trim, plus
black rubber boots on all leading edges.
Many attractive liveries can be chosen for the Vultee V-1, I
counted at least twelve when browsing the Net. The American Airlines and the
iconic Lady Peace come to mind. All these versions require some tweaking
because they diverged in minor details.
Strangely enough, the markings used for the plane modeled
here are the western version of the original Russian Cyrillic CCCP (actually
SSSR in western language); but the code H208 wasn’t translated as N208 as it
should have been, being “H” Cyrillic for “N”.
Construction started by marking, scoring and separating the
parts from the backing sheet, then sanding and adjusting carefully. Locating
and opening windows followed, and then the interior structure was scratched
from leftovers of the same kit, all of that depicted on the customary
in-process photos. It is worth of note that in the Russian Vultee, although it
flew 10,000 miles, the supplementary fuel tanks were in the wings, not in the
fuselage as in Lady Peace. N-208 had the full eight cabin seats compliment. The
bathroom was also scratched and even provided with a toilet roll for the long
trip.
All the cockpit and cabin detail, as it happens frequently,
would be almost hidden once the fuselage halves are glued together.
A vertical stabilizer was as said fabricated, considering
that modifying the kit’s one would have taken more time than making a new one.
Departing from the Execuform arrangement I separated the
stab parts in order to be able to deal first with the aft cone of the fuselage
and then add the stab halves via a spar inserted through the fuselage.
The wing halves were glued, and here Execuform devised a way
to “embrace” the fuselage by gluing the wing halves and later cut the upper
central section in order to lodge the fuselage. The joint will need attention. Styrene
“Contrail” and brass “Struz” airfoiled struts were used to prepare the attaching
structure for the floats; the later were trued and detailed as per photos. Bear
in mind that although wearing floats this machine had the landing gear
retracted, not deleted, since after reaching Russia it left the floats and reverted
to wheels. After arriving to Moscow
(where Nikita Khrushchev was present!) the plane was carefully examined by the Russian
aviation industry, finding it remarkably modern and intelligently built and
suggested that many of its features should be incorporated in Russian design
and production.
Once the interior was finished windows were inserted before
closing the fuselage as described in the accompanying images. One by one they
were cut and adjusted, because unlike men they were not created equal. You
could super-glue very thin rubber pads to your broad tweezers in order to hold
the window panes as you sand their edges to make them fit. I didn’t, and scratches
were the result.
Sometimes in these articles what it looks like a straight
line from zero to model is actually a winding, meandering, puzzling scribble
that involves a good number of boo-boos and their correction (or not). I had to
do a few parts more than twice, blotched, marred, patched and so forth a number
of times, so if it happens to you too, don’t feel alone.
While the fuselage was drying, it was time for engraving the
flying surfaces’ panel lines. I had a lot of fun filling and sanding the
results of the over-exuberance of my scriber. A few exterior details were
fabricated like the DF loop, carb air intake, “winter” front panel for the
cowl, hatches, Pitot, Venturis, exhausts, nav lights and so forth.
Especially tricky were the cockpit transparencies, due to the
strange angles of the panes at the front and the lack of positive locking
points. Four individual panes and some tweaking did the trick.
The floats were primed with their struts and inspection
covers already in place; the rudders, rudder posts, horns and “pulleys” were
glued and then the floats were set aside. Same for the engine, cowl, prop and
associated bits. The wing was fitted to the fuselage, then the stab halves, and
then the vertical surfaces were removed and replaced by the scratched, bigger
ones.
Then it was the somewhat dull job of puttying, sanding, re-scribing,
but all in good mood listening to the music of Fito Paez, Charlie Garcia and
Spinetta.
My plan was to white-prime the model and make masks for the
registrations before the other colors went on. That didn’t work.
The primer I used (RustOleum Plastic Primer) covered too
much detail and had a tendency to produce runs and spit little blobs. I changed
the nozzle twice to no avail. It sanded well, though.
After a rather complicated masking/painting session to do
the stripes and separate the colors the horizon looked better. A few minor
decals were applied at this time on the prop and the vertical stabilizer. All
the bits started to come together and flat black-sprayed decals were used for
the de-icing boots. The floats’ rigging was done and tiny cleats that came with
one of Khee-Kha’s sets of EDO floats were added (I ordered those detailed and impeccably cast
floats for the next model, the Wiley Post’s Orion/Explorer hybrid –more on that
matter later, stay tuned).
A well-hearted fellow modeler and friend, Christos of
Antikythera from Alabama,
that has a tendency for Dolmades and Spanakopitas sent me the white
registrations decals. Thanks to him the model could be finally finished.
Now the Vultee with its conspicuous shape is part of the
ever-growing collection of hidden beauties of the Golden Age.
-“How to Paddle Through the Bering Strait with Your
Balalaika”, by Larsevich Oplinsky, Published by I See Russia From My Backyard Editors, 1984 waterproof pocket edition, Wasilla.
-“How to Successfully Use Your Samovar to steam-power your
Mac”, by Jimilovich Schuberoff, published by Pugetopia Editors, Holographic
Edition, May 2024, Boing Town.
-“The Russians Stole My Dinghy” (same author and publisher
as above)
-“How to Sell Alaska
Back to the Russians”, by Chrismovich Psarraskolnikov, Malabama Editions, 2011.
-“Russian Planes Were Not in Color, But in Black and White”,
by Alaniev Bourrovitsky, Gremlin Editors, Canada Dry.
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