fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Two builds from 6 years ago: Unjustly ridiculed, mercilessly laughed at, the chubby Gwinn Aircar seems to be puffed in turn with justified pride. The Aircar flew flawlessly and accomplished the goals and hopes of its designer in every possible way, participating in numerous demonstrations, airshows, air meetings and other public events. In spite of that, the only fact normally known about this remarkable plane is that famous pilot Frank Hawks was killed while flying it. Even that fact is only partially known, since it is hardly ever mentioned that the plane itself was not to blame, but Hawks, taking off in a demo flight with a passenger from a Polo field, squeezed between two tall tress only to encounter high voltage lines he could not avoid. There were two Aircars, another fact not vastly known, and the surviving one faded in the mid-forties without leaving a trace, its final fate unknown. There is enough about it on the Net so I won’t tell you more, but the Gwinn Aircar incorporated many innovations, was a pleasure to fly, extremely safe, and was designed and marketed as an aerial-car of sorts, proposing to bring the simplicity, low maintenance and low cost of the car to the aviation field. Unfortunately it did not succeed, but surely not as a result of its own fault. The plane was small, and so of course consequently is the model. In the photos you can see it compared to a “normal” monoplane to give an idea of its relative size, with a span of only 24 feet (7.31 meters). Nevertheless it could carry its pilot and a passenger, even if only propelled by the smallish 90hp Pobjoy (later replaced for an 110hp model of the same brand). The engineering approach I took to model it can be seen in the photos, and I think needs no further explanation. An Aeroclub Pobjoy engine was used. Sources: Skyways Magazine # 33, Jan 1995 Critical Past clips:http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675038359_auto-plane_taking-off_running-on-road_biplane http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675056259_Frank-Monroe-Hawks_Gwinn-Aircar_hits-high-tension-wires_damaged-aircraft Golden Pylons newsletter, Mar-Apr 2013 My thanks to James Schubert-Boing, Helga, the Florida Unbuilders, Zönke Evil Enterprises, Wasilla Styrene Mines & Co, and Mr. C. Psarras and the Woof-Woof team for their kindness and diligence in providing the decals needed for this project. Edited January 5, 2019 by Moa 37 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 thats a odd looking aircraft. lovely looking model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 They are SO cute! I must applaud the amount of work you've put in these models and please accept my thanks for sharing them with us! Cheers Hans J 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Again, absolutely fabulous. I think that's a rare outing for my Pobjoy engine. John 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Once again Moa, you astound us with a beautiful replica of a truly astonishing aircraft! This should have a face and be in the movie "planes"! Cheers Malcolm 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_opland Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 You remain one of my favorite flightless flying birds, Moa! I love these models, in spite of the aesthetically-challenged nature of the (very) original design... The Wasilla Styrene Miner 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Well, you did it again, Moa! 😀😀😀😀😀 Edited January 5, 2019 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckwizard Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I guess this was the archetype for those "eggplanes". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 3 hours ago, John Aero said: Again, absolutely fabulous. I think that's a rare outing for my Pobjoy engine. John Thanks John Long may Aeroclub accessories live, for we need them for scratchbuilding projects! My fair but ever-dwindling stock (increased by the generosity of fellow modelers like Jim Schubert and Armando Gil): 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 4 hours ago, HansReggelsen said: They are SO cute! have to agree, just about the first thing that sprang to mind 3 hours ago, John Aero said: I think that's a rare outing for my Pobjoy engine. & that confirms what I was wondering, thanks John. You've come up with another wee stunna Moa, such a pity its potential was never realised. Thanks for sharing it with us. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 You forgot Corpulent Corpuscle in your description, C. I had no idea there were two of them. Very nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 A SLUF if I ever saw one! Superb little model and interesting story to go with it! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Now that's scratchbuilding. Brilliant. Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Pete Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Admit it... You have a gang of elves in your workshop, right? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 What they all said. Looks like you've got the world's stock of Aeroclub parts! Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 6 hours ago, Uncle Pete said: Admit it... You have a gang of elves in your workshop, right? I wish, I like elves. I wouldn't mind Galadriel at all, but my wife has a different opinion. Instead I got a shady deal with the Borg Modelling Collective. BUT they didn't want to include Seven of Nine, the buggers. Cheers The Help is Not What it Used to Be 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Pete Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 48 minutes ago, Moa said: they didn't want to include Seven of Nine Seven was a babe, to be sure... I'd gladly surrender to the collective for her. (Well... I would have in my younger days. At my age even 23rd century Geritol wouldn't help). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Great job!!! I've never seen this before, but it's a hoot! I've love to do this guy in 1/48! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 6 minutes ago, dnl42 said: I've love to do this guy in 1/48! 1/48? Oh, the horror! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 19 minutes ago, Moa said: 1/48? Oh, the horror! Once you go quarter scale, all others pale... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 50 minutes ago, dnl42 said: Once you go quarter scale, all others pale... Blanched already! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wlad Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 Cute and chubby airplane. Now, I don't recall seeing many biplanes with tricycle landing gear. For that time is seems like one step forward and two steps back. Cheers, Wlad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
politicni komisar Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 Really rare aircraft and well done build from scratch,I saw a picture of aviation magazine a few years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 The first thing I do now when I log into Britmodeller is look for Moa's posts. They always deliver some high quality modelling just like this! BM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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