Boeing Model 200 Monomail - Dekno 1/72nd resin with Arctic Decals

 

 

 

In photos with the mail truck the Monomail does not have a Townend ring, but the kit provides one.

The Boeing Monomail, one of the main contributors in the development of the modern plane as we know it, even if not a success itself, opened the door to a series of technical innovations that lead to great advances in design and configuration. Svelte, imposing, elegant, well-proportioned, it saw a short but interesting evolution and was used as a passenger and mail carrier.

For more information, contemporary articles, and the step-by-step building post, please go here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2022/07/boeing-model-200-monomail-172nd-dekno.html

Dekno has to be congratulated for releasing such an attractive plane part of its now extensive line of civil Golden Age kits. The kit is quite good, benefiting from a more experienced hand. I commissioned special markings and masks sets from Arctic Decals. The kit was modified to show open mail compartments, and to bring up the spice a quite so-so RPM Ford ambulance truck kit was modified to represent an Air Mail truck as seen in photos with the Monomail.

My thanks in the first place to the late Jim Schubert, friend and fellow modeler, who saw the kit project throughout providing the detailed plans and notes used by Dekno to produce the masters. My thanks also go to Arctic Decals for creating the very nice decal sheet and the painting masks, and to Tim Kalina for providing important input. 

Jim, don't be too hard on my mistakes. I see you smiling up there on your cloud!

 

 

SE5a Skywriter - Roden 1/72 scale kit conversion

 

 

 

 

What are you smoking?

In the early 20's a system was perfected in England to write on the sky. The advertisement possibilities soon became evident, and an American businessman imported civil conversions of SE5a planes, pilots and know-how across the pond. The art of skywriting has survived ever since.

An entertaining and educational conversion of an old mount, that is relatively easy to do and looks quite smart in its new decor.

If you have a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a in your pile and would like to display it in a more peaceful -and shinier- role, this is your chance. The roaring 20s are here!

Even if a few things in the Roden kit need careful hands, it must be said that the detail is fantastic.

You only need to add the extended pipes "wrapped in asbestos", cut the rudder, smooth the fuselage front top, give the impression of added metal panels at the sides of the cockpit area, and get the decals (the decal set is from Arctic Decals in Finland).

For some articles and background on the subject and constructions notes please refer to the step-by-step building post here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2022/11/skywriting-se5a-modified-roden-172nd-kit.html