1/32 Williams Brothers Gee Bee R-1

Thanks guys. Like is said, I still have some touch up.

It's a commission for the Lonnie Ortega, the WW2 aircraft and Ace artist. He also has a Gee Bee Z he wants me to do 

Lets get this thing back on the front page.

After scratching my head on how to go about painting this beast I come up with some ideas. I completed the fuse and engine and am working on the gear. I also started applying the decals.

I'm hoping to get er' done by Christmas.

Yeah!

 Now that is a weird looking Bird! have built about seven of them. Funny, I got to thinking one time. Why didn't they just put the pilot on top of the cowl and the wings sticking out of it?

She Looks; Mighty Fine. I like the Black separator stripe between the Red and White, Nice job there!

Steve, I gotta think you can see the finish line from here.

This is nice. I built this kit last year and for some reason decided the best way to get the black separator line was freehand with a brush. I think you did a very fine job with it. 

Heck of an exercise in masking. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your progress. 

T e d

I'm still finishing up the gear so theyr'e not attached

The prop, wires and a few more things and I'm finally done and can pass it on.

I used an ultra-fine marker to hand draw the black line.

very nice racer there .  gotta wear shades

Looks great.   I'm always amazed at folks that can pull that paint job off - nice job.  And red & white... tough for me.

Thanks guys. The guy this belongs to wants me to build the Z racer next.

It'll have to wait till I get some of the bench cleared.

The GeeBee looks great Steve!

I wish MY hand was steady enough to do the line that way!

jeaton01

I wish MY hand was steady enough to do the line that way!

 

It's a hand that's very braced.

Here it is almost completed. I ordered some heavy EZ Line to replace the monofilament the kit provided. Still looking at a pre-Christmas finish.

Steve!

 Okay, I have to admit, although she's a weird looking Bird, You have made her Beautiful! When I was younger I always thought someone forgot the rest of the Fuselage. I didn't know about Air Races then!

I'm with you TB, I NEVER liked the look of this silly little plane. That being said, I have a new appreation of it. After reading on it and building it, it has a simplistic beauty to it.

very interesting little plane 

I talked to the fellow that built the Gee Bee Z replica used in the Rocketeer, Bill Turner, when I was down looking and photographing the DH 88 he also built and flew.  He flew the Z for the movie and few more times, but soon gave it to a museum because he said it had a habit of slapping him on both sides of the head with yaw oscillations.  Given the modifications needed on the R-1 and R-2, and the Hall Bulldog fin, I think Bob Hall, the engineer on the Gee Bees, did not have a good handle on the tail volume needed for a good handling airplane.  Why Delmar Benjamin did so well is a mystery to me, although the Gee Bee eventually did him in too, apparently due to lead poisoning from the exhaust.

Here's a good read on Delmar Benjamin and his Gee Bee.

https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/delmar-benjamin-the-need-for-speed/

Thanks for that article John. I saw his little plane many years ago at the Santa Rosa Airport. I had completly forgotten about it until my wife found a picture of it.

You Know;

 After I learned to fly I still was amazed when I saw this bird. I always wondered how she kept from twirling around when the engine got started. On My old warbird, after new engine installs I could really feel the torque of those radial Engines!

Tanker-Builder

You Know;

 After I learned to fly I still was amazed when I saw this bird. I always wondered how she kept from twirling around when the engine got started. On My old warbird, after new engine installs I could really feel the torque of those radial Engines!

 

Open throttle very slowly, feel rudder take effect before going wide open.

I'm done with it! Just in time to deliver it for Christmas. I will exchange the built R1 for a Z. So that will come to your local fourm soon.

stunning build.. 

A very fine model, Steve.

Question - so You traced along the white paint tape line after spraying the red the removed the tape?  What kind of maker?

tks. Looks awesome. 

Mrchntmarine

Question - so You traced along the white paint tape line after spraying the red the removed the tape?  What kind of maker?

tks. Looks awesome. 

 

Thank you. Sharpie ultra fine.

Modelcrazy;

     I can't help it. Those older race planes make me chuckle. Reminds me somewhat of an old Texas and Oklahoma Saying "All Hat and No Cattle" Referring to " Hobby Ranchers"

    These looked like All Engine and no Plane. I bet they were a bear to handle too! Can you imagine the amount of peddle needed to counter that Radial Torque? With those Short wings!

Don;

 Yeah! Right On!

Thank you guys!

TB, I'll bet they were a bear.

After delivering the R1 to my friend, who just flipped out over it and gave me the original drawing of Rommel he drew.

My friend is Lonnie Ortaga, the aviation artist.

www.lonnieortegaaviationart.com

He also gave me his Z to build.

I had thought the paint job was going to be easer, but it has a red pin stripe instead of black . Do they make a red Sharpie ultra fine?

It'll be a little while before I start on it but I was thinking of building the WB Wasp Jr as well, to give him at the same time. I'll start a new thread for the Z when I start.