Scratch-built 1/72 Flick-Reinig Apteroid, 1911

From the archives (2009):

I saw a sketch of the the Flick-Reining Apteroid (apteron means literally no-wing in the language of Pericles) in a yellowed-paged book titled “Airplanes of the World”, by Dawydoff and Rolfe. Years went by until recently a post on the Aerodrome forum shed more light on the matter. Not that a 3 view appeared, mind you, but just a blurry photograph and patent papers, for which nevertheless I am immensely grateful.

Using those abundant references I concocted a 3 view and finally decided to get at it.

Now, it may be “Apteroid” –wingless- by name, but believe me, that didn’t sound right when I had to make the varied flying surfaces, which were double-surfaced as per patent description. Of course this model involved some speculation, but that’s the only way to deal with these very arcane machines that surely deserve a place in history (and the shelf).

A Sculpey-made fuselage master was fabricated for the vacuformed parts to be made, and the rest of the model was also scratchbuilt. As per photos a cockpit interior was provided.

The sketch on the book depicts two occupants, but the photo and the patents seem to aim at just one, and that is what I did. Once the fuselage shell was closed, the engine compartment was cut out and its contents -engine and radiator- built, as were the six spoke wheels. A wood prop was carved and stained.

Once more or less all the parts were lying down on my building board, a strategy had to be devised to put them all harmoniously together. I know, “harmoniously” is an expression of desire. This is –believe it or not- a biplane, not a side-to-side, span-wise biplane, but a fore-and-aft biplane. Or perhaps a sesquiplane, given the fact that the lower “wing” is less than half the size of the top one.

It made sense not to proceed as usual (being this model itself not really “usual”) and attach the wings to the fuselage, but to operate vice-versa, since the configuration was very “cagy” –pun intended-.

I managed to confuse myself and had to do a couple of parts twice, but that aside construction didn’t mandate a visit to the Shaolin temple to reestablish peace of mind.

Although it has no wings, the twelve “flying surfaces” kept me busy, and they were painted before general assembly proceeded and so was the embryonic fuselage.

As per images two main assemblies were prepared, and then united with the struts. Lots of struts. Additional parts were added and the rigging finished all.

Look mom, no decals!