I know, I know. So easy to call it names. But look at it from another perspective, more art-like: imagine you see it in the MoMA, MoCA, or SFMoMA. That’s what I’m talking about.
I don’t know what intentions brothers Ervin and Lyle Joy
had, but I know what they achieved: A remarkable, out-of-the-ordinary design, considering that the year was 1935.
Regarding the flying abilities, one could say that it hoped
and it hopped. Eventually, a wire fence prevented what could have been a record
number of UFO sighting reports.
With five rudders, two engines and what can be considered as
a lifting body lodging a no doubt pensive pilot, this apparatus deserves our
admiration just for the mere fact of being.
The Joy JX quite precisely falls –in this case the use of
the verb depicts more than it intends- in the category of lifting fuselage
designs. Usually you have in “normal” planes different parts accomplishing
specific functions: The fuselage lodges
the payload, the wings are in charge of the lift and the tail performs the
control and gives stability to the whole. In the case of lifting bodies or
flying wings, those functions are accomplished blending, eliminating or fusing
some of the above-mentioned elements together, thus reducing drag, weight and
cost, and hopefully improving the overall efficiency of the system.
The search for information on this one was arduous and
rendered just enough to go ahead and concoct a three view.
Since this was bigger than what my Super-Mattel Psychedelic
Machine can handle in its little vacuforming plate, two styrene shells were cut
and formed as per images, trying to convey the underlying tubular structure of
the original. An interior was produced as well as the other, many, flying
surfaces –one fin/rudder, one stab/elevator, two auxiliary rudders under the
stab, two more following the engines nacelles, one fin under the fuselage and
last but no least a small wing between the engines.
Bombs from the spares bin were transformed into more useful
engine nacelles (I always like that part). The abundance of struts was dealt
with using metal Strutz, and aftermarket Salmsons and wheels. Decals of course were home made.
It wasn’t that difficult: just get a stork, an umbrella, a
pancake, two blenders and a fish. Mix everything well and Presto!
I can’t feel but admiration for the boldness, creativity and
gills of the remarkable bunch of designers, mechanics and pilots -some times
one and the same person- that contributed so much to aviation and, in the
process, to general amusement.
A real Joy.
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