Steve Murdzek, Simsbury, Connecticut
“The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing interested me as a kid in the 1950s when I saw an article on it in Popular Mechanics magazine,” Steve writes. “I modified a Dumas balsa-wood flying model to 1/24 scale using a set of 1936 Cleveland plans as a guide. I scratchbuilt the interior, propeller, engine, and landing gear. Interestingly, the top of an aerosol can happened to be just the right scale for the cowl. I made the decals using decal paper and a copying machine. The silkspan is covered with a mixture of white glue and water. The finish paint is Testors Model Master flat white Acryl.”