Warcoupe float plane

[Green Dragon]

Great pice of work solidmodeler, wish I could do stuff like that!

Paul Harrison

[solidmodeler]

Thanks Dragon, I learned airplane carving a few years ago from a WWII-era U.S. Government handbook designed to teach school children how to make recognition models. I've been obsessed with carving ever since.

  Weaver, would that canal boat/tender have a catapult? That might solve a problem or two. I took a look at photos of the Caen Hill locks, fascinating! Would like to see the real thing.

Some decals and more paint added...

[jcf]

Here is, I believe, the handbook mentioned:
The cover,
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/manual-cover.pdf

the innards,
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/manual.pdf

The collection of WWII USN Bu Aer plans:
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/index.php?cat=13

The gallery of plans and models:
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/


Nice work on your solids, BTW.

Jon

[solidmodeler]

Jon,
   That's it, though originally I found the manual here http://www.ualberta.ca/~khorne/solid/solid.html with a lot of other interesting "old time" stuff on this well-made site.

[PR19_Kit]

A canal boat with a catapult? 

The mind BOGGLES!!!! But it would almost work, laid along the top rail of the cargo cover if it was strong enough. The floats would hang down nicely, one on each side. Of course the catapult would need to be decorated with tree and plant designs all along its length....... 

[jcf]

Jon,
   That's it, though originally I found the manual here http://www.ualberta.ca/~khorne/solid/solid.html with a lot of other interesting "old time" stuff on this well-made site.

Yep, Ken Horne's site is one long bookmarked and treasured.
You have good taste. 

Jon

[John Howling Mouse]

Jon,
   That's it, though originally I found the manual here http://www.ualberta.ca/~khorne/solid/solid.html with a lot of other interesting "old time" stuff on this well-made site.

Hey, that's my University!  I knew there was some reason why I went there....just didn't know what it was at the time!

And your model is terrific.  What's the largest aircraft subject you've ever carved?

[solidmodeler]

JHM, sorry, I didn't realize there was a new posting here. Most things I have carved are small (Ercoupe size). The largest made so far is the Airspeed Fleet Shadower, a WWII British experimental slow-flying observation plane. It never got to the painting stage because I wanted to give it theoretical operational colors, but my understanding is that it was meant to be a carrier-borne night-flier (even possible then?) so what scheme would have been used? It is smallish, 15-inch wingspan in 1:48.

[PR19_Kit]

Strewth, that's superb! Well carved indeed.

I think you're right about the Shadower's original purpose in life, along with the competing General Aircraft namesake. The rapid deployment of ship-borne radar took over the Shadower's task and neither reached production.

One can only guess at an operational scheme, but I'd imagine black would have featured prominently. 

Amazing aircraft really, they could fly at 40 mph and wouldn't have needed catapult spools or arrestor hooks to operate from a carrier.