With very simple
lines that somehow resemble a Renault 4 family car (see: http://www.geocities.com/richardirl/dando.html
)
The Caudron firm developed an amphibian prototype as a
two-place, twin-float, cute all-metal touring amphibian in pusher configuration,
using an inverted Renault 4 cylinder inline power plant.
A few mods were made to the prototype during its life, most noticeable on the
engine enclosure, according to photographic evidence.
Both positions could pilot the plane, but usually one member of the crew was in
charge of making the omelettes while the other took care of the croissants.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The Plane was named
Caudron P.V. 200, and that could mean “Palos Verdes”, “Provenance
Villipendie” or perhaps more likely the initials of its designer, Pierre
de Viscaya.
The model was made using the well known techniques that characterize the
scratch-building entrepreneur, namely: get what you can from the spares
bin, get an engine, wheels and prop from Aeroclub, purchase the generic
vacformed floats sheet from the same provider (none of them was a match,
so some cutting ’n grafting was in order); and for everything else
recruit the help of the Brownies that escaped the last assault of the
dreaded carpet monster.
Remember that plans and three-views constitute, more than anything else,
great decorative pieces, and when possible check them against photo
documentation. If the part you are checking was already made, then you can
always argue that the photos are wrong too.
To follow the
model scratch-building sequence, use
the provided images in order to get confused, and if any apparent mishaps are
spotted, assume it is you who is mistaken. If you attempt to build one of these,
avoid, under any circumstances, being exposed to the varied array of
experimental rays aimed to your model or your persona by modelers that switched
to the dark side, like Doktor Soenke. If unsatisfied by the results, take out
your glasses and grab the glass. That will make things better.
These kinds of
projects are often inspired by the beautiful "BY AIR Classique"
aviation-themed postcards and paper models made by "Contour Creative
Studio"
(Check: http://byairclassique.com
)
There is always the question of the color when dealing with scarcely documented
beasts like this one. A not very educated guess was made between these three
more likely options: light blue, orange and white-silver.
Considering that this was 1932, one could say that those French do know their
design, don’t they?
Thanks to Jon Noble who provided a great deal of info that contributed to the
making of this model and also to the unruly crowd at the Wings of Peace forum.
Gabriel
Click on
images below to see larger images
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