What would have been of us without the 60’s…
The Beatles, the Mattel Vac-U-Form, so much good stuff.
But before the 60’s there were the 50’s. And before the
50’s, in case you didn’t notice, were the 40’s. And the Eldred Flyer’s Dream
was born exactly then. In 1946.
Many would argue that Eldred’s creation is not a Flyer’s
Dream, but a Flyer’s Nightmare. There will always be those who are impervious
to beauty. The Eldred was apparently impervious too, to criticism and also to
water.
If, as many of you apparently do, you think I am a shameless
generator of apocryphal stories and planes, just have a look at this one,
thanks to Youtube (and to the gentleman that posted it):
As you probably guessed, there are no three-views for this
clunky baby; so I had to make mines. They self-destructed after the well-known
five seconds period.
The model was made utilizing the best cutting edge
technology available, namely the above-mentioned Mattel contraption. I used it
already in previous projects, as many of you know, but this is the first time I
made a whole fuselage shell out of it, not left side and right side, but bottom
and top.
As you will discern from the accompanying images, the lower
part was made of white styrene, while the top was made of clear styrene for
reasons that will also become clear -no pun intended- later. The technique was
inspired by the contemplation (and avid ingestion) of Argentinean empanadas.
And as convenient filling some interior was fabricated. The floats came –as
well again as for previous projects- from the Aeroclub Models generic vac float
sheet. Some little tweaking was necessary to get it right for the project.
Given the unusual “W” dihedral arrangement –no, it is not
for “Weird”- and the car-like fuselage pod, this creature was referred to as a
“StukaBaker” by enthusiast Richard Weber.
Now, tell me, isn’t it the Mattel Vac-U-Forming a
psychedelic experience?
Escape to paradise in your Eldred Flyer’s Dream.
I did!
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