Racing planes

Air Classics printed an article sometime in the mid to late 1970s about Roscoe Turner with lots of race plane photos.

Unfortunately, my copy was destroyed during a flood in Sept 2008.

Don- yes, I've found it difficult as well to find good reference material on the racers, especially the 'golden era' planes. I did resort to Youtube, and did find a clip from 1931 of Lowell Bayles climbing into and flying a Gee Bee Z. There's a closeup of Bayles in the cockpit. Unfortunately, the clip also documents the demise of plane and pilot- he was attempting to set a speed record.

Stage_Left

Don- yes, I've found it difficult as well to find good reference material on the racers, especially the 'golden era' planes. I did resort to Youtube, and did find a clip from 1931 of Lowell Bayles climbing into and flying a Gee Bee Z. There's a closeup of Bayles in the cockpit. Unfortunately, the clip also documents the demise of plane and pilot- he was attempting to set a speed record.

Yes, the big thing I came away from the book with was what a cruel sport it was!  The book covered 1909 through 1939, and the last few years were particularly brutal.

I found a copy of Foxworth's "The Speed Seekers recently and understand it's one of the better references on this subject.  I'll know for sure when I get it in a few days.  I do have Ken Wilson's magazine article mentioned previously about Roscoe Turner and used it when I built my Lindberg 1/32 kit.  I also have Charles Mendenhall's books which are not too reliable but useful in some ways, and 3 of Reed Kinert's books and I wish I had the rest.

It is indeed a scratchbuilder's paradise!

Fascinating subjects. I've got a bunch in my stash, but I don't ever seem to get around to building them. As kits, racing planes are pretty idiosyncratic.

Here's a Schoenfeldt Firecracker racer kit, Williams Bros. 1/32 that my good friend Dave gave me for Christmas. I have never known of this a/c, but I read the instruction blurb and then of course did some www research.

Here's a Airfix 1/72 Supermarine S.6B that Sean gave me. Still labeled $ 1.00 on the bag.

Card Model Macchi M.C.72 in 1/24. Bought that for a Swanny's Floater GB but it needs anew set of skills.

The Hawk 1/48 Curtis Racer and Travel Air Mystery Ship. I picked these up at a table at Reno in 2010 when I helped my late Father in Law go to his last Air Race.

By the way I picked this up at a show the other day, thinking about Don's Midget in the magazine

Speaking of Reno, the Galloping Ghost. Taken in 2010.

I'm game to build any/all of these. I wish i had more books too. Don, my FIL, passed on boxes and boxes of programs from Reno, hats and other swag, and thousands of photos over the last fifty years.

Hi Don

Figured I'd chime in on Schnider Cup models, They are truely beautiful aircraft. Here is my try at one. another 40 hours of work should make this a nice model to have.

artworks2

Hi Don

Figured I'd chime in on Schnider Cup models, They are truely beautiful aircraft. Here is my try at one. another 40 hours of work should make this a nice model to have.

 

Thanks for sharing.  Nice to see someone attempting a scratch project for a racing plane!

As you may remember Don I've just finished the Curtis R3X-2 and have a 1/72  DH88 Comet still in it's bag (old kit)

I've also looked a air racing -reno and 1930's air racers on google.

If you guys are on Facebook, look up "Precious Metal Magazine". It is loaded with tons of really incredible Air Racers and Warbird Photos. Currently they are running a contest for digital modeling of air racers.

It's a pity it's only on Facebook as I'm not!

I love racing planes also, here are some pics of my 1/48th Special Hobby Goodyear F2G Corsair I built a few years ago.  I'm not sure if this kit is still available but it sure made an impressive model.

Here are some pics of my 1/32nd scale Laird Turner Meteor.  It's the old Lindberg kit with a scratch built cockpit added.  I used a ton of plastic rod to frame out the fuselage stringers and the support structures.  The dash,seat, top scoop and starboard side scoops are also scratch built.

Looks great. I finished that kit about a year ago, and made some of the same mods, but your cockpit far exceeds what I did.

Check bobsairdoc.com for 3-views and photo references. Also DrawDecal.com for Raceplane decals (www.drawdecal.com/.../index.php).

High Planes does a bunch of 1/72 and some 1/48 racers. www.hpmhobbies.com/.../High-Planes-Racers

famvburg

High Planes does a bunch of 1/72 and some 1/48 racers. www.hpmhobbies.com/.../High-Planes-Racers

Are they any good? Or are they like Dekno, expensive resin kits that are so-so in detail?

Gents, in my usual need to stick my middle up to convention, current thinking and all that sheepish tosh I am working on a series of civil and experimental aircraft kits in 1/48th vac-form.  Kind of  "scratch-assist" in style.  Some w/m bits, but no expensive mucky resin.

The first in the line-up are the Fairey FD2 world speed record a/c and the second is the Supermarine S5 Schneider plane.  After that there will be such things as Cassutts, Edge racers and a lot of British civil types as that's where my interests lie.  Although, I could be tempted by a Stinson Reliant.  I have a Reliant car, you see?

I also rather like small twins.  Short Scion, Percival, Q6, Miles Gemini, Spartan Executive.

I will keep you posted on progress.

Civil kites have been the underdogs for too long.  I HATE cammo!!

Cheers,

Martin

Don, the Nemesis F1 racer was very well reviewed in 1/48th scale. It looks to be very nicely done. They are all Reno racers apart from Nemesis.  But include famous kites like Rare Bear and Precious Metal.

And some of the lovely Sea Furies like Furias.  A bit pricey in 48th, but they are coming all the way from Oz.

Martin

So the Nemesis is one of those High Plains kits?  I'll have to take a look!

Shame it was that boring white livery!  But yes, it's one of their's in 1/48th scale.

Martin

I just looked at their web page.  All I saw were unlimiteds, no F1.

If you just check their 1/48th scale section, you'll come to the Nemesis as I recall.