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"This was the last airplane in which the pilot literally got into the cockpit and wrapped it around him. The smallness of the cockpit, the close proximity of all controls, the reasonable clear vision above, to the side, downward and to the rear, and the overall smallness of the airplane gave the pilot the sense of being a part of the flying machine and being able to feel, see and easily command all of its flight requirements." Boone T. Guyton (Naval aviator and Vought test pilot) Sometime in 1932/33 aboard USS Saratoga... ... the leader of the 6th section of VF-1B 'High Hats'... ... ligns up his Fox-Four-Baker for take-off. This Entex Twin Wings model, built in 1977, is a revival of the 1958 Aurora kit. It was meant to be an F4B-4 but as I wanted it to represent 1-F-16 (BuNo. A-8911) I did a first basic conversion at that time. Not satisfied with the result I've undertaken two refurbishments since, the most recent one in conjunction with my P-12 project here. After many improvements over the past 40 years it's hard to remember how rudimentary this model had once been. Suffice it to say that there was no detail whatsoever, just an ungainly engine, a floor and a seat, and a massive bonnet with no troughs for the machine guns. But in the seventies we had not much choice in quarter scale and I was happy that at least a token of a golden age fighter existed! Since the fuselage is a little too wide I fabricated optional weather covers to shutter the cockpit aperture. The extra width, however, helped to fit a figure into the confined space. Like Boone Guyton put it: A plane wrapped around the pilot. With considerable scratch-building and a few aftermarket items (engine, wheels, tail, ailerons) I hope that my model has now become a fair reproduction of Boeing's grand old biplane. Thanks for your comments, Michael References Boeing P-12, F4B, Aero Series No.5, Edward T. Maloney, Fallbrook, 1966 Carrier Fighters Volume 1, J.V. Mizrahi, Northridge, 1969 Navy Air Colors Vol.1, Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, William A. Riley, Carrollton, 1983 The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide Vol.1, John M. Elliott, Boylston, 1987 P-12 / F4B in Action, Aircraft Number 141, Larry Davis, Squadron Signal Publications, Carrollton, 1993 Wings of the Fleet - US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special No.8, Peter Freeman and Mike Starner, Arlington, 2009 F4B - P-12 Scale Drawings, William A. Wylam, New York Act 1 and Act 2 together - the eternal twosome... Click here to read the P-12 story