fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 (edited) Before we continue to enjoy our hobby -as he would have liked-, I want to make a brief homage to James (Jim) Schubert, who passed away just a few days ago. Jim was a very good friend, a Boeing engineer for many decades, with a long and successful career. He was as active at his 85 years old as he ever was, and regaled us all with his vast, seemingly inexhaustible knowledge on aviation and modelling and a plethora of other matters. I knew him for many years, and often, sometimes seriously, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, embroidered his name in my modeling posts, many times here at BM. He was a very, very, very good friend, to me and to many. Aviation and modeling is what gather us here, and that's how I met him, and he was an extremely important mentor for me (and again many others) in those matters. But there is something, for me far more important than his aviation career or knowledge, or his excelling modeling skills: he was an extraordinary human being, a classy gentleman, educated, polite, intelligent, humorous, witty, kind and always friendly and ready to help. His models are extraordinary, but what I admire the most is his true quality as a human being, sadly not very common nowadays. Dear Jim, your laughter and your incomparable, kind, warm, sometimes mischievous smile, will stay with us; even as you fly yonder. This is an old build, from 11 years ago, with the original text: Between 1929 and 1931, Mr. McClary developed a series of prototypes of which not much photographic evidence remains. The Model A is what you see here, according to Aerofiles. It seems that it was considered a motorglider. Unfortunately there is no record of it ever flying, but I am an optimist. Control was obtained mainly by fervent praying, but also through elevators and rudder, and some sort of ailerons protruding from the…-I guess I should say wing, although I am not totally certain. This sort of flattened zeppelin ,although simple in appearance, offers certain challenges, not being the lesser one the absence of 3 views. I concocted one in my periods of lucidity. Areas that will need attention are the engine (55 parts) the wheels (of the spoke type) and the various struts and protrusions. On the engine and its cowling aluminum sheet, styrene, solder and a home-made metalized vacuformed part were all used. Some generic interior was built into the pilot gondola too. It looked simple enough at the beginning, but after all the dust settled down the count of parts surpassed the 140 mark. Nothing a normal modeler can’t deal with. If we could only find a normal modeler. In 1/72 the model has a reasonable size, not too small, not too big, which makes handling easier. Nevertheless, a number of parts had to be made twice or three times in order to get a reasonable result. The unusual shape dictated equally unusual production of parts and assembly procedures, not to mention that you normally make the fuselage and then glue the wings to it, but in this case you make the (only) wing and glue the fuselage to it. Then you glue the tail surfaces to the wing too. Feels strange, but the same can be said of the plane, isn’t it? McClary went on to design other interesting places if on slightly more conventional lines. Is contemplating these kind of designs that I start to see fine art in aviation. A link to some photos of the real thing: https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Shumaker/6191L.htm Edited January 13, 2019 by Moa 25 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 That's the most unusual one yet. It's a fascinating little aeroplane nonetheless. It's as if a parmesan cheese shaver too to the skies. Beautifully crafted as ever from your fine stable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 The most unlikely looking contraption to date? On closer examination, I suppose the design must have had some foundation in logic and in aerodynamics. Did it actually fly? What a beautiful conversation piece, in model form! It would go well in a dio with the sort of roadster visible in the background of this photo, to give a scale reference and general era indication: Wonderfully delicate little model! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 1 hour ago, Spitfire31 said: Did it actually fly? Hi Joachim As it says above: "Unfortunately there is no record of it ever flying, but I am an optimist." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 3 minutes ago, Moa said: Hi Joachim As it says above: "Unfortunately there is no record of it ever flying, but I am an optimist." Oops, sorry – missed that sentence in my eagerness to pore over your lovely model photos. I take it that your optimism concerns the wellbeing of the potential pilot and, God forbid, the passengers – should the 'A Motorglider' ever have left terra firma. Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 That's a really odd looking plane, Great tribute to your friend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Extraordinary, both the real thing and your beautiful model! I would like to think that it could and did fly - it does look sort of possible? God Speed Jim. Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 I thought at first that this was a joke or a WHIF! A superb piece of scratchbuilding of a most unusual type. It remind ed me of the experimental types that proloiferated in the first decade of powered heavier than air flight... athrowback. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 At Interview.. "I'm sorry young man, but I don't see a career in Aviation for you". Great model. John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 9 hours ago, Baldy said: t does look sort of possible? Stranger things have flown..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massimo Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 This subject is really something!!!! Where did you find it? You said no flying record? I don't know why, but...I believe you!!! Of course this is another piece in the aviation history puzzle you're dilighting us with!!! Bravo!... I don't have any more superlatives!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 9 minutes ago, pheonix said: It remind ed me of the experimental types that proloiferated in the first decade of powered heavier than air flight... athrowback. P Indeed, for the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 Just now, Massimo said: Where did you find it? Where I find most of these, in old aviation magazines, or Popular Mechanics, or rummaging through aviation-related publications on the Net. They are not difficult to find, the challenge begins when you want to build them and need more information, not to mention 3 views or plans, which are almost invariably unavailable. Still, they make your modeling fires light up! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 10 minutes ago, John Aero said: At Interview.. "I'm sorry young man, but I don't see a career in Aviation for you". Great model. John You are very kind John, and you made me laugh. Still, he went on to design interesting types. Here from the National Air and Space Museum: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 "All I said was take a look at my Stinson". That tail skid is balanced on a stick, at what point did it pierce the aeroplane? Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Author Share Posted January 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, John Aero said: "All I said was take a look at my Stinson". That tail skid is balanced on a stick, at what point did it pierce the aeroplane? Cheers John If the tail leaves the ground, does it count as a flight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 That’s a very eloquent tribute. Jim was clearly a very special kind of person; to be remembered in that way would be very special. The world needs more genuinely good people. I’m sorry that you have lost him. Once again, a fantastic model of a bizarre machine. Intriguing and inspirational in equal measure. Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Nice tribute to Jim. Thanks, C. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 14, 2019 Author Share Posted January 14, 2019 1 hour ago, jeaton01 said: Nice tribute to Jim. Thanks, C. Thanks John. No word makes him justice, really. But respects must be paid when due, even when we fall short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 And look what I just found!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Now that is a weird one,looks like one of Dick Dastardly aircraft ,from cartoon series catch the pigeon. But my congratulations on a fine model well done 👏 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 7 hours ago, Homer said: Now that is a weird one,looks like one of Dick Dastardly aircraft ,from cartoon series catch the pigeon. But my congratulations on a fine model well done 👏 😄 It does indeed. I truly enjoy the freedom of design the pioneers had. Magnificent machines! Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Your usual lovely build, this one is obscure even for you, it would take a very bold pilot to fly it ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted December 11, 2020 Author Share Posted December 11, 2020 42 minutes ago, Wulfman said: Your usual lovely build Thanks! 42 minutes ago, Wulfman said: it would take a very bold pilot to fly it ! Hum..not a terrible of danger of this one flying methinks. 43 minutes ago, Wulfman said: this one is obscure even for you, Oh, but there are many hidden gems posted here at BM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now