1/72 Formaplane-based scratchbuilt Stinson "A" prototype

Gallery Article by Gabriel Stern on Aug 5 2014

 

1/72 Formaplane-based scratchbuilt Stinson "A" prototype 
After a lengthy but mostly enjoyable process the model is finally completed. 

It depicts the prototype (of which they were three configurations by the way) while still having round lower gondolas with landing gear doors.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The step-by-step building article is here:
http://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2014/05/formaplane-172-stinson-heavily-modifed.html
The full interior detail (for views of the interior please use the link to the construction posting) of course added some extra work, plus the many modifications, additions and adjustments the original kit had to go through in order to achieve a reasonably good model.

Was all that work worth it? There is no right answer for that. I enjoyed -most of the time anyway- the challenge, and the model produced is far away from what a straightforward build would have rendered. And since no manufacturer is likely to issue this beauty in 1/72 (they seem to have at their disposal a bottomless pit of war machines to which they tend to gravitate towards) I would say yes, it was worth it.

My thanks go again to Armando Gil, and to my companions at the Ornithopters underground unmodeling secret society for helping with input on this build, and especially to Mr. Christos Psarras of skunky­_labs from whom I got the kit in the first place.

Disclaimer: no Thursday's Irregulars were killed, harmed, maimed, minced, decapitated, hanged, painted in ridiculous colors, eaten, exported to Argentina, blasted to outer space, upset in any way or otherwise disturbed during the building of this model.

Gabriel Stern

Click on images below to see larger images

 

      

Photos and text © by Gabriel Stern