GeeBeeZ1931

The R2 replica was built about 15 miles from me and I watched its progression with great interest. Except for a couple items like modern brakes it was built as close to accurate scale and construction methods as possible. The means of steel tube framing with formers and stringers was very common in that era so reinventing the wheel was not needed and would have been a LOT more work to change things. There was help from one of the Granville brothers as well as Bob Hall if I remember correctly which made this one a bunch easier than the Model Z as there were no plans for that one. When the R2 superstructure was finished and all painted red it was a wonderful work of art and a shame to cover it up with all the framing and skin. Exceptional craftsmanship and a work of love and I feel very privileged to have seen it happening. I was also blessed to see the Hughes Racer being built as that was only about another 10 miles down the road. As for building your model please allow me to make a suggestion. Build the Lindberg model as it is for practice and get the Williams Brothers kit for better details. They can be gotten easily off of Ebay and I would recommend getting the model made of the yellow plastic instead of the white plastic kit. Also if you do the R1 it has a slightly bigger R1340 motor and will be marginally easier to do detailing than the smaller R985 motor. If you finish it or do progression photos please send me some of them. It happens that the Z is my all time favorite plane.

Thanks very much for the answer. Very interesting. Bill K

Many may be familiar with the great scale display engines made by Williams Brothers. I am wondering if there is an equivalent scale engine maker for the Bristol Mercury radial and/or the French licensed version by Gnome(I think). These could be in any scale from about 1/12 to 1/4. Thank you for any help. Bill K

Many may be familiar with the great scale display engines made by Williams Brothers. I am wondering if there is an equivalent scale engine maker for the Bristol Mercury radial and/or the French licensed version by Gnome(I think). These could be in any scale from about 1/12 to 1/4. Thank you for any help. Bill K

I need to find a propeller from/for a 1/32 Douglas Skyraider or other 1/32 scale plane using the Wright 3350 Radial engine. This is for an Air Racer and a prop for a smaller engine will be too small. I've had no luck finding a Skyraider by anyone in this scale. I would also like to find a Wright 3350 engine in 1/32 scale. All help would be MUCH appreciated. Bill K