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USNAVYKC, thanks for the question: For the Flivver, this is how i simulated wood for the propeller. I first primed it with Tamiya White Primer from rattle can. Then spray painted it tan from Testors Model Master rattle can. Once dry, i sealed the tan with Future or SC Johnson Acrylic Floor Finish and let that dry. I made a mixture of Burnt Sienna Oil Paint with Mineral spirits to thin it. I did the same with Raw Umber Oil Paint. Using a stiff short bristle brush I ran the thinned Burnt Sienna in the same direction simulating wood grain. Then did the same with Raw Umber. Oil paints take days to dry. Once dry, i sealed the propeller with another final coat of Future to give it that shine finished wood look. I think it turned out pretty good. I've done this technique several times with propellers and aircraft flooring except i sealed it with Testors Dull Coat from a rattle can. Give it a try and do variations. I think you'll like the results.
neat little plane well done.
Nick.
mawright20Dearborn and The Henry Ford (current official name of the museum). My old stomping ground growing up. See the one on the museum many times. Looks like it would be fun to fly.
Raised in Detroit, and even got to visit the HFM on a school trip. Been back several times. Absolutely worth seeing. Plan two day trip- one day for museum, second for Greenfield Village, a tract with many historic buildings- Menlo Park lab, Wright Bros bicycle shop, etc.
Don Stauffer in Minnesota
Nice job. Such a tiny plane. The Model T of the air!
Thanks,
John
Hi SteveFL:
Very nice job. Based on the size of the plane even in that scale makes me think of the " Mad mosquitos" Post I just did! Neat little Bird! And a very Neat Build. As Bill(G.Morrison) said. Williams Bros.models are not easy to find. I do have the Aerhart plane and a C-46. The 46 cause I just plain liked the step up from the tried and true C-47. The Aerhart plane and others I grew up around. True, they were old then but no less fascinating! I even bought the " Sky King" limited editon " Bamboo Bomber" for that reason.
Nice job Steve!
Buddy- Those who say there are no stupid questions have never worked in customer service.
usnavykc Can u tell me how you made the propeller look like wood color? THank you.
Can u tell me how you made the propeller look like wood color? THank you.
Are you asking Steve or me? I did mine by brushing on a coat of yellow, then drybrushed some medium brown. Both were flat enamel. I then put on two coats of glosscoat.
GMorrison They are on sale at Oshkosh for several millions. models? Maybe eBay?Williams Bros kits are hard to find. I’d look for the Boeing 247 first, the Martin B10 second, the Flivver and the C46 a very distant third. im doing a racer on another thread.
They are on sale at Oshkosh for several millions.
models? Maybe eBay?Williams Bros kits are hard to find.
I’d look for the Boeing 247 first, the Martin B10 second,
the Flivver and the C46
a very distant third.
im doing a racer on another thread.
It might help for folks to write/email Williams Bros. My attempt to get them to repop the Wright engine has gotton nowhere, though. I wanted them to repop the Wright, since I had already built the Wasp. However, after they did I was glad, and got ahold of a new one. Maybe my email helped get the Wasp, though, since they did repop a couple of their engines.
I figured my modeling skills have advanced in the 20+ years since I built the first Wasp. I will be doing a wip on it in Aircraft.
Modeling is an excuse to buy books.
Those Flivvers are cute .Where can I find one ?
Outside. I have never been able to duplicate collimated light that covers the large area of the model and backdrops. I remember the solar simulators I used to work with, big parabolic mirrors 24 to 36 inches in diameter!
Tell you guys what. I can post a few on postimage, and you could download them from there. I get them printed from some of those photo printing places that offer a bargain on poster printing. Then I use contact paper to glue them to pieces of foamcore. Anyone interested? You can google poster printing to get an idea of what they charge for 16 x 20.
The tarmac (or grass for my WW1 setup) requires distorting a partial image, so you need a photo editor that allows you to change size differently for horizontal and vertical. I clip out the tarmac area (usually a wide but short vertical rectangle), leave the horizontal width the same, but increase the height back to 16 inches.
Don,
She's a beauty. That airport backdrop really compliments your models and gives them context. You ought to consider selling copies of your back drops! Was that shot taken outside in direct sunlight or indoors?
As a result of Ford's influence, Detroit also made advances in commercial aviation infrastructure, like concrete runways and terminal design.
BTW, here is a shot of my Flivver against a photo backdrop.
Some books you may want to look at:
Hentry Ford's Airport and Other Aviation Interests 1909-1954, Tim O'Callaghan, Proctor Publications, 1993.
The Aviation Legacy of Henry and Edsel Ford, Tim O'Callaghan, Proctor Publications, 2000.
Ford in the Service of America, Mass production for the Military during the World Wars, Tim O'Callaghan, McFarland, 2009.
Oh, and wonderful job on the Fliver!
That's some great information. I appreciate you sharing this. I'm fascinated with Henry Ford and his contributions to aviation. I've always wondered what course of history would have taken if his Flivver hadn't crashed and killed his test pilot....I also wish that someone would come out with a 1/48 Ford Tri-motor.
Ford's aviation interests were extensive and little known, he and Edsel are actually credited with being some of the very early innovators in the airline industry not only in operations, but in the business model. Ford Airport was the first airport with concrete runways, a passenger terminal, an airport hotel (which still exists), a beacon, and it's own airship mast. The Stoudt Aircraft company was bought by Ford, given hanger space at Ford field and proceeded to build the predecessors of the famous Trimotor as well as a series of airmail planes to meet government specifications and enable the Ford Airmail Service. At the same time Stoudt inaugurated one of the first passenger services. The crash of the Fliver and death of one of Fords favorite pilots soured Henry on aviation a bit, but there's now some evidence three Flivers were built as well as a very advanced looking tailless flying wing very reminiscent of the Northrup wings. The B-24 story is well known, but Ford also produced an improved version of the German pulse jet for the Navy's Loons (our version of the V-1).
gregbale Don Stauffer Lovely! I too am a great fan of WB. I was glad to see them back in business. Now, I wish they would put their 1:8 scale Wright Cyclone back in production. That is the only one of their old engine kits I have not built- I am on my second Wasp Jr. now! Don, one is tempted to ask...with a pair of R-985's in hand...are you going to scratchbuild a 1/8 Beechcraft Model 18, or perhaps a Grumman Goose, to hang them on??
Don Stauffer Lovely! I too am a great fan of WB. I was glad to see them back in business. Now, I wish they would put their 1:8 scale Wright Cyclone back in production. That is the only one of their old engine kits I have not built- I am on my second Wasp Jr. now!
Lovely! I too am a great fan of WB. I was glad to see them back in business. Now, I wish they would put their 1:8 scale Wright Cyclone back in production. That is the only one of their old engine kits I have not built- I am on my second Wasp Jr. now!
Don, one is tempted to ask...with a pair of R-985's in hand...are you going to scratchbuild a 1/8 Beechcraft Model 18, or perhaps a Grumman Goose, to hang them on??
Nope, a nice model engine on its own is fine. I have several around the house on display including a few scratch built.
Looks great. I never knew the story behind the plane. Too bad it didn't work out - could have changed travel as we know it!
Nice little ship! Great job!
My dad had a Buhl Pup when he was in high school---
Greg
George Lewis:
I love anything Williams Bros., and yours is a little honey! Lovely work on a rarely-seen build.
Very nice Looking. I guess the decals behaved?
This is my second Williams Brothers model I’ve built—the historically important Ford Flivver. This was a fun quick build. Here again, all the pieces are on one sprue. They also provide you with a short coil of fine fishing line to be used for rigging the tail. I absolutely love their instructions as they provide a nice background on the subject at hand and why it’s important. Interesting note, Mr. Henry Ford only allowed Charles Lindbergh to fly his Flivver in addition to his test pilot. Shame that one crashed. The remaining one resides at the Henry Ford Museum. Even at 1/48 scale, this little bird fits easily in your palm; she is small ! I used Testors Aluminum and Blue Angel Blue both right from the rattle cans and was pleased with the results. I can’t wait to start my Amelia Earhart edition Lockheed 10 also from Williams Brothers. They seem to only tackle subjects none of the other manufacturers will touch, which I greatly appreciate. I can only imagine how terrific these Golden Age of Aviation planes would be if Tamiya, Hasegawa, or Trumpeter tried to produce them. Oh well, I guess if the subject has no guns, bombs, or rockets, it won’t generate a profit. Anyway, please enjoy the pics and all comments are greatly appreciated.
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