Lockheed Vega Wikins Antarctic Expedition - Special Hobby 1/72nd + Arctic Decals

 Finally completed is this Antarctic Vega, the second plane used by the Wilkins expedition backed by W. R. Hearst.

Both flew on skis, wheels and floats, but the momentous Antarctic flight that produced much relevant data was made by this Vega on wheels, taking off from a cinder field. 

More historical information, related miscellanea and the rationale behind some modeling decisions can be found on the step-by-step building article:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2026/05/lockheed-vega-1-antarctic-expedition.html

A really beautiful model of the other Vega in the expedition (in the guise of its previous Arctic flight) -a highly modified airframe- was not long ago presented to the modeling community by modeler extraordinaire Tim Nelson. To him and Tim Kalina (should we call them a helping Tim's Team?) I owe a debt of gratitude for their contribution to this build. Needless to say, without the set from Arctic Decals no model would have been possible, so my thanks also to Mika Jernfors. 

In rigor, this model should have been presented on a surface resembling the cinder field it took off from, or at least an Antarctic landscape where it stood for weeks, but that is a job for another day.