Fokker F.32, the Mighty Behemoth - Modified Execuform 1/72nd vacuform

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Fokker F.32

 

The Mighty Behemoths

(Image from the SDASM photostream)

 

 

 

Once in a while, to commemorate the Sanding Festival that was celebrated at the Shaolin Modeling Temple every time someone would complete a model, I build a Vacuformed Gentle Giant.

Here you may see the Zeppelin Staaken:

 

 

The HP42/45:

 

The Blackburn Kangaroo:

 

And the Sikorsky S.43, among others:

 

 

Execuform subject choices are very exciting, and the Fokker F.32 is no exception.

Execuform vacufomed kits are just a starting point for a modeling project. They do not provide details in the form or resin, metal parts or decals, although earlier issues did have white metal parts.

They do provide the very basic parts you will need to build a model as clean slate. You may then add surface detail and accessories as much as you please or like. For me, and for many others like me, they provide the opportunity to build a model not represented by mainstream companies, and in doing so Execuform allows you to have in your case or on your shelf a replica of an out of the ordinary plane.

I do build from time to time vacuformed kits, and I truly enjoy them. They give you the opportunity to learn, improvise and generally improve your modeling skills, besides the satisfaction of a more involving participation, beyond just gluing parts together.

Since when I want a model of an out-of-the-ordinary plane it is more likely that I will have to scratchbuild it, I am grateful I have vacuformed kits around that reduce the building time considerably if the subject coincides with what I am looking for. I also in the process learn a lot about the plane, its history and details, since I have to fabricate many interior parts and exterior details, which I do with satisfaction and pleasure. And even in the case when there is an injected model of the subject, I may go vac, since for me it is far more exciting.

Information on the Fokker F.32 is fortunately abundant, but you have to invest the time to find it. As a starting point have a look on the AAHS Journal of Spring 2012 article, the one on the Summer 1966 issue, and the online Flight Magazine archives. But always, always, always, cross-reference: the said AAHS Summer article has a photo of the interior of "Anthony Fokker cabin Air Yacht", that is actually the interior of an HP42, a very serious research blunder. There are photos and even drawings of that specific plane, NC342N.

Beware that there were, as it is usually the case, differences between the seven machines built. The first one had only two vertical tails, and the elevator was balanced, plus the wheel pants were much clunkier than on later machines of the series. Following airframes had three vertical tails and an unbalanced elevator, and as said more kindly streamlined wheel pants. Details in the engine gondolas also varied, having different exhaust arrangements and in some cases a sort of Townend ring on the front engines. Back engines also seem to show in some photos some kind of cowling, although unusual and tighter. The Beast had four Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp originally, later P&W R-1690 Hornet.

The props of the four engines (two blades in front, three blades pushing in the back) rotated anticlockwise, if you were standing at the front of the respective engines, which means that standing in front of the airplane the back props will be seen rotating clockwise. The windows on top of the cabin were tinted green (according to a Flight magazine article). Wheel pants exhibit slightly different designs and surface patterns, besides the difference stated above.

Interior arrangements also varied, depending upon company and service schedule (day or night, the latter offering sleeping bunks). One notorious Fokker F.32, the one used by Tony himself, had a very luxurious, unconventional interior. Wing was plywood-covered. Front tip of fuselage, cockpit sides and roof, engine nacelles and wheel pants were aluminum-covered. Most of the fuselage and tail were fabric-covered. Doors were located on both sides of the fuselage. Landing lights also varied. One was located in the chin of the nose, and two on the wings, although in some planes they are on the leading edges and in some others they are flat under the wing and deploy before landing, as they do nowadays.

 

Why the F. 32 didn’t quite make it? It was born during the depression, had problems with overheating rear engines –a common situation on similar tandem arrangements, like the Farman F3X Jabiru and Farman F.220/2/3- and later suffered the “no wood wings” syndrome catalyzed by the publicized crash of the F.10 where famous coach Knute Rockne and others perished. It was also reportedly a bit tail heavy.

But for sure it had other remarkable qualities: the number of passengers it could carry (32) and the comfort of its installations (ventilation, a galley, supple seats, lighting, two restrooms, wardroom, luggage compartment, and more). It was no doubt a precursor, a pioneer in its own right. They served basically for four years, from 1929 to 1932 and one ended up on Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, as a gas station, but no doubt this 99’ span behemoth was a sight to behold.

The F.32 was surely noisy and exposed to the whims of the weather, and yet I would travel on it any time, instead on the intolerably uncomfortable sardine cans of nowadays.

 

In one way or another, the F.32 left its mark on aviation history, being one of the earlier giants of its time.

 

 Here are some newsreel clips that would give a good idea of the portly design:

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/men-push-airplane-away-from-hangar-pan-row-of-men-news-footage/1130782236

 

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/fokker-f-32-passenger-plane-is-christened-as-several-news-footage/893312492

 

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675027465_men_F-32-Fokker-airplane_Men-stand_men-watch-the-plane

 

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675027464_men_Fokker-stands-at-airport_men-gather_plane-takes-off

 

A PDF in Spanish

http://bibliotecavirtualdefensa.es/BVMDefensa/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.cmd?path=68203

 

 

Of the seven machines built, and in order to study my potential choices for a specific scheme, I started to group references for the prototype, NC124M, and the machine furnished in luxury for Fokker, NC342N.

A very interesting detail found during research is that one of the prototype's characteristics was a twin vertical tail, whilst the series machines had three.

Photos of the prototype show it bare, then with a Universal Air Lines scheme, then with an earlier Western Air Express one, and as it happens, I found an image of the prototype with three vertical tails in a completely different scheme, of which unfortunately not all the lettering can be read, but it states "Inauguration of the N.Y.N.H.& H Through Havan...", "The Everglades" and some obscured additional text.

The acronym seems to belong to New York & New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., perhaps one of those plane-railroad joint ventures.

 

Link to image:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8x10-Print-Fokker-F32-Airliner-1930-Boston-Airport-2203/201080125367?hash=item2ed14f37b7:g:Ec4AAOSwtC1dt2Xy

 

Not sure I would call the F.32 a beauty, as this publicity suggest, but I could call it "interesting":

 

Here is what you get:

 

I would perhaps scratch the vertical stabilizers, as it may take less time than sanding and shaping them:

 

The plastic is thick, something you need for this specific model:

 

Again, you only get the very basic shapes:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Now the sanding of the parts -to get a clean, true edge ready to glue- shall start.

 

The rumors that certain vac kits were actually a secret project of the US Dept. of Health to promote exercise among naturally sedentary (i.e. lazy) modelers are unfounded.

 

Here the product of a good couple hours steady sanding:

 

The kits provides the two types of pants, but the early one (to the right) is inaccurate, as the real thing was more angular and flat, not rounded.
The engine gondolas are of a simplified shape, as they were in fact constituted of truncated cone sections with visible joints. May be they can be covered with an adequate styrene or foil skin.
The horizontal tail may be the only usable part of the tail, as the vertical stabilizers are too chunky and rounded. They would need scratchbuilt replacements.
Beware, though, that the horizontal tail provided is only good for the series type, as the original had the compensating "ears"  typical of Fokker tails. If you are doing the prototype, you will need a new one. As I mentioned, the series planes had a straight elevator hinge line, while the prototype had compensated elevator tips:

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The fuselage completely lacks -as the rest of the kit parts- any surface detail, but corrugated sections and protruding stringers are a very visible feature of the original. Skinning and/or adding stringers may be a way to solve this shortcoming. The edges were of course much sharper, an undesirable consequence of using male molds to vacuform the parts:

 

The wing (L.E. on top) is of a considerable size in 1/72nd, as the original span was 99'. The shape of the tips is slightly inaccurate, and the ailerons protruded a bit in the series planes, but not on the prototype.
Once more, careful study of the intended airframe is a must:

 

Potential engines, props and right diameter wheels are scrounged from the spares:

 

Once the engine gondola halves are carefully sanded to a circular cross section, they are glued:

 

The wheels are sanded, and a cap provided:

 

They will be mostly hidden by the pants:

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The engine gondolas are tidied:

 

 

The way the engines may go:

 

An idea of the size:

 

The vac has the correct cross-section, with the flat area in the middle at the bottom:

 

Spacious, no doubt. 32 passengers.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Will this build go anywhere?

We'll see.

You have to work on those surfaces a lot adding the structural and external details, cutting the windows, doors, etc; you have to scratchbuild the whole interior, cockpit, four cabins, restrooms, storage.

New tail components need fabrication, and the way the engine gondolas tie to the wing, fuselage, and landing gear, is a veritable nightmare.

 

Too many things to add an too many things to fix.

 

Will it ever be completed?

 

Sincerely, I am not sure, and even more sincerely, I doubt it, it's jut too much, but whatever part of the road is covered, it will be posted here for the admonition, amusement, and horror of you all.

Cheers

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Anthony Fokker needs no introduction. He was a somewhat questionable character with a keen eye for business, a quick hand to profit from the work and knowledge of others, and the ability to circumvent restrictions (and occasionally the law).

I have absolutely no sympathy for him, and remain unmoved by his reputed "charm", that to me leans dangerously more to "con".

But he propelled from the very bottom an aviation enterprise that guaranteed him, and his creations, a place in history.

His planes are an example of linear evolution up to the point of the plane we present today, starting with his WW1 types and evolving basically in size, more than in any other aspect. He took advantage of early designs that worked, and squeezed the juice of the basic elements for a long, long time. 

Tony knew where the bucks were, and the company installed a subsidiary in the US to fabricate his designs, among them the one I am building of 1929/30.

It could be said that in a certain way his F.32 was an F.II / F.VII* in steroids. Same wood wing, some welded metal tube structure, same high-wing monoplane formula (in a time were lagging designers were still insisting with biplanes).

 

*

 

Other Fokker designs (and models) from my early efforts:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The three replacement vertical stabilizers just scratched:

[TheyJammedKenny!]

Wow, Moa, this is going to be interesting.  Looking forward to seeing this mass of indifferent shapes turned into an airliner!  How did you achieve the raised rib detail in the scratch built vertical stabilizers?

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

6 minutes ago, TheyJammedKenny! said:

Wow, Moa, this is going to be interesting.  Looking forward to seeing this mass of indifferent shapes turned into an airliner!  How did you achieve the raised rib detail in the scratch built vertical stabilizers?

I hope so.

The sheet is measured, penciled, and then scored with a ball point pen from the interior against a padded surface (a couple layers of thick paper, pasteboard, etc.).

A sort of repouseé.

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Spar in the making:

 

[SAT69]

Any time you undertake a modeling project, I prepare myself to be awed. This will surely be a learning experience for me.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

1 hour ago, SAT69 said:

Any time you undertake a modeling project, I prepare myself to be awed. This will surely be a learning experience for me.

And every time I undertake a modeling project...I think of the undertaker

Too much stress!

[SAT69]

34 minutes ago, Moa said:

And every time I undertake a modeling project...I think of the undertaker

Too much stress!

But you keep building and, even more, keep amazing us. And each time the level of amazement goes higher than the last. If it gets too much, back away, but know that what you do and what you teach us is most assuredly appreciated.

[Bengalensis]

7 hours ago, Moa said:

Will this build go anywhere?

We'll see.

I am quite confident it will, and I know I will enjoy every moment of it.

Just let it take the time it needs and add to it as inspiration allows.

[bigbadbadge]

Another Moa Masterpiece.  Excellent stuff great start.

 

All the best

Chris

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

10 hours ago, Bengalensis said:

I am quite confident it will, and I know I will enjoy every moment of it.

Just let it take the time it needs and add to it as inspiration allows.

Wise words.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

14 hours ago, SAT69 said:

But you keep building and, even more, keep amazing us. And each time the level of amazement goes higher than the last. If it gets too much, back away, but know that what you do and what you teach us is most assuredly appreciated.

Too much kindness.

I am blushing.

9 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Another Moa Masterpiece.  Excellent stuff great start.

 

All the best

Chris

Thanks, Chris, we-ll see what comes of it.

Cheers

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 

Mrs. Moa:

 

"Flicking up and down the visor of your Optivisor magnification helmet you look like a Knight ready to rescue kits in distress".

[SAT69]

Sounds like your Mrs. is a most supportive lady. You're a fortunate soul.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

9 minutes ago, SAT69 said:

Sounds like your Mrs. is a most supportive lady. You're a fortunate soul.

Yeah...well...as long as I cook, do the laundry, take care of the garden, repair what is repairable at home, solve computer/router/modem/printer issues, take the trash out, deal with all remodeling issues, etc., etc.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

I see this as an improvement:

 

I am thinking of scratching the horizontal tail too, as it's too thick and also need the ribs relief:

 

Let's play the game of the three mistakes. What is wrong with this plan?:

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 It has the three vertical tails associated with the balanced elevator, where it should be a straight hinge line in that case. The prototype with two vertical tails is the one that had the compensated elevator, and the lobe of the compensated area was rounder, as in early Fokker designs, thus did not have a straight leading edge all the way. So the drawing is inaccurate in all accounts.
Moral: in scale modeling, don't trust your own shadow:

 

QED:

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

We better scratch a replacement horizontal tail.

 

Here, @TheyJammedKenny! :

 

 

 

 

 

[Bengalensis]

30 minutes ago, Moa said:

Moral: in scale modeling, don't trust your own shadow:

So very true, a good rule in all genres of modelling.

 

Scratching a new horizontal tail will be time well spent.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

1 minute ago, Bengalensis said:

Scratching a new horizontal tail will be time well spent.

I just did before you posted this 😄 look above your post

 

Speedy Gonzalez