1/144 Canadian Clipper

[Brian da Basher]

In 1935, seeking modern, long-range aircraft for overseas routes, Sir John Howe Ling-Meese, Chairman of the Canadian Civil Aeronautics Ministry, went on a junket (along with his mistress and secretary, Miss Hot Boots) to Boeing Aircraft HQ in Seattle, Washington. For a case of fine Nova Scotian Scotch and some risque photos of his secretary, Sir John Howe Ling-Meese was able to return to the Great White North with preliminary design studies for what would eventually become the Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat. Sir John passed the plans on to the talented designers at Alberta Aero Engineering, Ltd. who tweaked the plans to meet the uniquely Canadian conditions and in the process, created something truly remarkable...

Continued...

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Sir John Howe Ling-Meese was impressed and ordered the design into production at Canadian Car & Foundry. The new "Canadian Clipper" began rolling off the line in the spring of 1936 and immediately caused a sensation. While it kept the original "tall tail" of the Boeing design study, the team at Alberta Aero Engineering Ltd. had replaced the orginal Wright engines with York Factory "Voyageur" 2400 h.p. double-row radials and added two additional engines in pusher configuration on the inner trailing edge of the wings. Not only did this change make the Canadian Clipper instantly identifiable but it raised the top speed to 300 m.p.h. and shortened the take-off run. The Canadian Clipper was able to cruise on just the two pusher engines which increased the range to 5500 miles.  

The main operator of the Canadian Clipper was Eastern Provincial Airlines. Based out of St. John's, Newfoundland. EPA put the Canadian Clipper on the Gander to Reykjavik, Halifax to the Faroe Islands and Moncton to London routes. Able to carry 75 passengers as well as cargo, the aircraft helped return EPA to profitability following the Wrong Way Newfie incident of 1935. Passengers enjoyed spacious seating and the cozy bar and lounge just aft of the navigator's station. A rear cargo hold could be converted into a bridal suite and many Canuck couples honeymooned at 20,000 ft. with concierge service.

By far, the most famous flight of a Canadian Clipper was when EPA's "City of Gander" flew Winston Churchill in for a top-secret conference with Mackenzie King and Franklin Roosevelt at Bath, Maine in July, 1940. Canadian Clippers served until the 1950s and helped greatly expand the international reach of Canadian airlines. The last surviving Canadian Clipper, "City of St. John's" is seen here in publicity photos and was sold for scrap in 1954. Still, for those who flew her, the Canadian Clippers will live on in memory.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The basis for this project is the 1/144 Airfix Boeing 314 Clipper. Here's what a Boeing 314 Clipper should look like:



Oops.

I know, I feel horribly guilty about what I've done to this beautiful kit, but I just couldn't help myself. When I first got it, a set of EPA decals I had in the stash seemed a natural choice. Unfortunately, after that, I started listening to those famous voices Eddie always talks about...

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Right off the bat, I decided to replace the tripple rudders and tailplane from the kit with something closer to that found on an XB-17, as I imagined this as a preliminary design the Canadians worked from. A 1/72 Breda Br-20 donated a horiz. stab. for the new fin and rudder and two more horiz. stabs from a junked 1/72 Me 210 replaced the kit parts. Next I decided to save the kit engines and replace them with wheels and use the props and spinners from a DC-6. I also found two B-24 cowlings which seemed a nice fit as the additional pusher engines. Scrap plastic and the front of two wingtip floats made up the pusher engine nacelles. The exhaust stubs were cut from sprue and as I managed to snap the kit windscreen, a piece of clear shipping tape was used instead. The last small modification was replacing the navigator's astrodome with a sighting blister from a B-36. I thought the round dome worked better than the teardrop shaped kit part.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics, Polly Scale Reefer White mostly. The engines were painted gunmetal and the props with Model Masters Steel with Model Masters Yellow tips. I custom mixed the blue on the tail to try and get close to the blue of the EPA letters. The wonderful EPA livery I got for a song from Airline Hobby Supplies. The entire project only took me about six days to build which was unfortunately stretched out over three weeks due to things being crazy at work.

This is my final entry in the Flying Boat GB and I want to thank Rat and Comrade Anthony and all who participated for helping me have a whale of a time!

Brian da Basher

[Doc Yo]

 Mighty striking, Brian-well done!

[jcf]

Very interesting.

BTW as originally built and test flown the 314 had a single fin and rudder.
The second configuration was a twin-tail setup, they settled on a combination
of both for the production aircraft.

Jon

[Brian da Basher]

Thank you for posting that, Mr Carrfarrelly. I always learn something from you. Since the 314 Clipper was derived from the XB-15, I wonder if they initially thought of keeping the XB-15's tail too, even if the one that ended out on the final product was a lot easier on the eyes.

Brian da Basher

[kitnut617]

Good to see you back Brian and with another stunning build too, done in your usual masterly fashion.    and another great backstory to boot.

[The Rat]

Just yer average brilliance from BdB again! Next you have to model THE BOOTS!

[frank2056]

That looks great, Brian. Hand painting acrylics (especially white) is always a trial for me, so the nice even white coat is really impressive... and a great looking plane as well!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Brian,

That is definitely a great looking WHIF.  Now you really should find another Model 314 and kit bash it with a B-17E/F/G so you can graft that huge B-17E/F/G tail onto the Clipper :^)

[Ed S]

Nice one Brian.  An excellent job of brush painting a white finish.   

Ed

[John Howling Mouse]

Ah, yesh, Sir John Howe Ling-Meese, the great-grandson (via marriage) of famed Voyageur Claude le Claude----the man whose portrait graces our three-dollar bill.

Fantastic model, as always BdaB----makes a guy want to take Missus Howe Ling-Meese on a vacation.

Did you know that applying white paint by brush is illegal in Canada?  They said it caused too much domestic violence.

Really good job, Brian.   

[sequoiaranger]

I never knew that the Environmental Protection Agency had such a beautiful plane!

Another nice one by you BdB.

On my "to do" list from a long ways back is a Boeing 314 I will call the "Kalispell Klipper" executive transport for my brother who lives in Kalispell, Montana. It'll be kinda like a flying cruise ship with a small theatre, dining room, etc. I will take inspiration from yours!