fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) The Phoenix raises again! For the step-by-step building post you may go to: To avoid any confusion, let's start by saying that the plane in the movie was...several planes. As you know, the Fairchild Packet is the plane that crashes. Then a (not actually flying) plane is "made from it" that is used in the film scenes as a static prop. At the same time, a flying plane was designed by Otto Timm and built by Talmantz Aviation for the filming of the flying scenes. After the crash that took the life of Paul Mantz, another plane was converted to have a vague resemblance to the general lines of the Phoenix, a North American O-47. The model I am presenting here is that of the Timm-Tallmantz Phoenix P-1, the plane flown by Paul Mantz to film the flying sequences, and not the non-flying prop used for many other scenes on the ground. All those planes differed noticeably from each other. Knowing that a AT-6 Texan nose, engine, propeller, cockpit and wheels were used, plus the wings from C-45 Expeditor, I used those -combined with the measures of the actual plane- to draw a set of sketches as a guide for the construction of the model. This plane never took off or landed on the desert (real or film location), but operated from a local airfield. It had silhouettes to represent the "passengers" in order not to have drag and weight added. The only windshield was that of the pilot, the ones for the passengers were just frames. Yet once again I take pleasure in transforming bellicose machines into higher-purposed birds. The construction of the model employed known techniques and utilized a few already-made kit parts cited above. Some long hours were spent needless to say checking photographs (there are much less images available than one would have thought) in order to adjust and re-adjust the home-made construction sketches. I usually don't weather models, but the plane was stained to show signs of (in the movie) its "problematic origins". The only decal was -as usual- commissioned from and provided by Arctic Decals from Finland, the country as you all know where all the planes' fins are made. Mantz obituary in the New York Times (at the Cloverfield.org page: https://cloverfield.org/people/mantz_pa/index.php goes as far as stating that the movie was based on actual events, mentioning that during WW2 a mechanic refashioned a twin-engine plane into a single-engine one and took six men strapped to the wing to as nearby base, which is absolutely bogus, as far as I can tell, and no records whatsoever exist of that. I think the Times was the victim of an ethically-questionable movie studios ploy to sell more. Ethics were as scarce then as they are today in much more important places, if you get my meaning. Finally, as those who are familiar with the movie know, the Phoenix, born from the ashes, returned to the ashes after its crash, only to be re-born again an again in our models to illustrate one of the most beautiful metaphors about life. Edited September 8, 2018 by Moa 24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Wow what a fantastic model great work Moa. I love the pictures too. Fantastic project. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spad Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Brilliantly designed and executed - great work, Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Another superb result Moa. Very nice indeed. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massimo Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Unusual subject but great result!!!!!! Well done!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I really love the result, what a great build this is and it perfectly matches the real thing.. Cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Nice evocation of a great movie. Always a fan of James Stewart, and his aviation movies,- a skilled pilot himself (and model maker)-I once flew into Tibbenham where he flew Liberators in the war. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Great story and superb model (as we've grown used to)! I missed the movie(s) but read the book twice, at least… Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I really enjoyed your build log and the completed model has even surpassed my expectations of what was obviously going to be a first class model. Brilliant modelling in every way. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 A beautiful build I was always excited to read new WIP posts about. Bravo Moa, she looks fantastic. A wonderful tribute to Paul Mantz. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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