'Things to Come' Triple-Spatted Threat

[Brian da Basher]

This may make sense only if you've seen the 1936 classic, Things to Come:

In 1972 in a final push to rid the world of the brigands and warlords who had spread like a plague after the cataclysmic Endless War and the ravages of the Wandering Sickness, Wings Over the World, led by John Cabal, entered a new design into service, the Cabal Bolide Mk. II. This aircraft was powered by two 1250 h.p. inline engines mounted in a tractor/pusher configuration and utilized the incredibly aerodynamically efficient wingtip rudder system that proved so manoeverable in its single-engined predecessor. The Cabal Bolide Mk. II also had tricycle landing gear encased in amazingly cool spats and carried a crew of one. This aircraft had incredible range and speed and was capable of carrying the Gas of Peace in its internal bomb bay. The Cabal Bolide Mk. II was used successfully in the supression of the Hill People and all the brigands and warlords north of Everytown and played a large role in bringing civilization back to all of the British Isles. The example shown here was flown by the great John Cabal himself and took part in the last combat sortie by Wings Over the World. It is lovingly preserved in the Museum of Peace in Everytown, where thousands of schoolchildren visit every year to learn of the history of the aircraft and its pilot.

1st of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I don't know how many of you have seen the afore mentioned film Things to Come, but it's always been an inspiration to me. There's some incredibly wonderful special effects in that film and some amazing aircraft too. I'd always wanted to build something inspired by that classic and recently, while trying to decide on my next project, an idea hit me while sorting through my spares box(es). I had two 1/72 scale propellors I got through the generosity of philp, and I was imaginging something twin-engined in a pusher/tractor configuration. Maybe I'd just seen too many Do-335 builds lately, but I was bound and determined to pull this one off.

2nd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The fuselage is part of an old pen that was of just the right diameter to mate with the spare props. The canopy is left over from my 1/144 B-47 and the wings were swiped from my 1/72 Testor's Spitfire Mk. XXII. I cut the wings at an angle to join with the fuse for that swept-back look. The wingtip rudders were scratched from part of a spare bulkhead and plastic bread bag clips. The exhausts were leftover from a Ju-88 and the air intakes were leftover from my Airfix Me-109G. I scratched the spats from lengths of sprue and pieces of plastic sheet and a little bit of putty to smooth over the joins. I also put a fair bit of putty and bits of metal in the nose to keep it from becoming a tail-sitter (just barely).

3rd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I had a fair bit of trouble coming up with a paint scheme. As you may know, the film that inspired this project is shot in black and white. It appears the original Bolide aircraft is either dark blue or black with white codes. Well, I didn't have any white Ws in my decal stash so I was forced to come up with something different. I decided on a red and black scheme as I had a lot of the correct codes in black.

4th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I used Polly-Scale Red (multiple, multiple coats) and Liquitex Artist Acrylics Mars Black for most of the paintjob. The exhausts were painted Tamiya Aluminum. The entire model is brush-painted by hand, including the decorative black swoops by the props, on the spats and rudders. As the decals were very old, I touched up some silvering around the edges of them with red.

5th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Here's the last shot, one that shows the underside and the unusual tricylce, spatted landing gear. I feel very lucky I didn't have to resort to attaching a piece of clear sprue to it to keep it from becoming a tail-sitter. As it is, it just barely balances on the nose wheel. I read with great interest the many posts about nose weight. This board is a wonderful resource of hints and tips. I hope you enjoyed this movie-inspired oddball aircraft as much as I enjoyed building it.

Last of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Scooterman]

Very nice BdB!  

Just a thought-the wing codes WTW.  Shouldn't those be WTF?!?    

[B777LR]

Wing codes should be WTF

Looking good

[Ollie]

Excellent Brian!

It would also look right at home in Crimson Skies.

 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Excellent Brian!

It would also look right at home in Crimson Skies.

That's E X A C T L Y what was in my mind !!!

Ian

[ysi_maniac]

Is there any other part that can be spatted?

Fine job      

[BlackOps]

Brian, this one is definately two thumbs up!  Very cool!!!

[nev]

Excellent Brian!

It would also look right at home in Crimson Skies.

That's E X A C T L Y what was in my mind !!!

Ian

Thirding the Crimson Skies shout   B)  

[Archibald]

Very cool... is Captain Sky there ?  

[Mossie]

Very nice BdaB!  Which end is which?!?