ajmm Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 I recently finished the second of two 1/144 models of somewhat obscure Sikorsky flying boats which I thought might be of wider interest here. The silvery one is the XPBS-1 and the camouflaged one is the VS-44A 'Excambian'. Both were build from the Anigrand kits and I used the absolute excellent reference book reviewed on BM here. Invaluable, even in the age of the internet (does that make me sound old?). Background These are both pretty niche but fascinating aircraft, forgive a bit of context... The XPBS design emerged first from a 1935 US Navy request for a new long range patrol bomber larger than the Catalina, with better performance and more bombs and guns. Both Consolidated and Sikorsky submitted proposals, and the XPBS-1 (dubbed 'The Flying Dreadnought' seemingly by nobody other than Sikorsky's marketing department) first flew in 1937. The Navy accepted the Sikorsky aircraft, even though the contract went to Consolidated for what became the Coronado. But the Sikorsky prototype was retained by the US Navy and between 1939 and 1942 it was assigned to a Naval Transport Unit flying staff between San Diego and Hawaii. It crashed when it hit a submerged log in 1942, sank and was lost. Admiral Nimitz was lucky to escape from the wreckage with his life. It's a funny-looking thing. Quite aggressive, with that jutting jaw. As my brother said when I showed it to him - "it's like an ugly Sunderland". Apt. From the XPBS, Sikorsky developed a civilian version, the VS-44A. Basically, when the Navy rejected the Flying Dreadnought, Sikorsky pitched it as a civilian airliner. It secured a contract from American Export Airlines (the air subsidiary of a major shipping company, American Export Lines... see what they did there. Golly branding was uncomplicated in those days). The three VS-44s were delivered to AEA after Pearl Harbour and were rapidly repainted into US Navy colours and designated, as far as the Navy was concerned, the JR2S-1, though AEA retained each aircraft's official name: Excalibur, Excambian, Exeter (also the names of AEA's flagship sea vessels). I love that that bit of the 'Golden Era' of air travel lived on amid all the drab camouflagery. The VS-44 exceeded all of its design expectations - being faster and with greater range even than the larger, more famous Boeing Clippers. During the war, Excambian - as I've built here - flew back and forth across the Atlantic and was the only aircraft in US service capable of doing so non-stop, establishing some notable records at the time for the fastest crossing. It ferried VIPs, cargo and mail, both on the main New York to Ireland route, but also from Bathurst (now Banjul, The Gambia) to the Caribbean, and around Latin America. Humphrey Bogart hitched a lift in one, as did Eleanor Roosevelt, Admiral Andrew Cunningham and General Omar Bradley, along with Dutch Queen Wilhelmina (incidentally, one of the few monarchs to reign during two world wars - quite a character). Many of the pilots for AEA were also former AVG Flying Tigers, which I didn't know. So a pretty hot airline in its day - somehow also crying out to be the setting for an Agatha Christie novel. Very 'Orient Express'. It was helpful for the Navy to be able to contract out some of this transport duty to AEA, both to free up Navy planes to do war stuff but also because, technically operating as a private company, AEA could land in neutral ports (like Foynes, Ireland). But by 1944, this was less essential and the Navy had enough long range aircraft to operate its own air routes, so AEA's contract was cancelled in early-1945. In June 1945, AEA merged with American Overseas Airlines (what is now American Airlines) which saw little future in flying boats given the vast increase in the number of landing strips across the globe during the war. Probably quite sensibly, it put its dollars into a fleet of DC-4s. In late 1945, Excambian and Exeter were put up for sale. Postwar they were operated by a hotchpotch handful of owners before Exeter crashed gun running for South American rebels, and Excambian essentially became derelict. The sole survivor of the 'Flying Aces' as the three were known, Excambian has since been restored and is now at the Connecticut Air Museum. Which I shall visit some day and bore all of the museum staff rigid. Builds Both are built from the Anigrand kits released in the last five years. Anigrand also produces a 1:72 version but 1:144 is my poison. Neither were complicated or particularly challenging, and I enjoyed both building them and learning about something new. First the Flying Dreadnought And it's younger, sleeker cousin. Both builds were fairly straightforwards (though there is one flaw on the VS-44 that I failed to correct to do with the inboard nacelle shapes) but happy to answer any questions. Full build threads for both are here and here for any that are interested. Hope that might be interesting or helpful for someone. Thanks very much for looking! Angus 50 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in a shed Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Beautiful models Angus and the watery bases frame the models perfectly. I thought they were much larger until I saw the match, those figures cant be much bigger than the match head! and is that a fire extinguiser I can see? Great skills. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roginoz Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 As a lover of all things "flying boat", gotta say this is a magnificent brace of models from the era when the US was girding itself for future wartime operations. The Sikorski looks like it borrowed its nose gun turret from a B-10 bomber ! A flying boat I was only vaguely aware of. Great subjects, great builds, great photography, great historical detail, GREAT !! Rog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Fantastic work. The models look great and the ramp scenes make for terrific pics. Quote does that make me sound old? Yes 🤓 Just like me. Quote These are both pretty niche but fascinating aircraft, forgive a bit of context... No. In fact, thanks very much for the the historical detail. As you say, these are most interesting aircraft with intriguing histories. Considering that no Boeing 314 has survived, it is extra extraordinary that one of these magnificent machines can still be found in a museum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 They look fantastic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 They are very very nice. A pleasure to look at. These sea-going planes have a special fascination. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred piket Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Say what? The match stick puts it all in perspective.. Great job, nice planes! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Two beautiful builds, excellent modelling ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Magnificent 'little' models in perfect settings! And thank you for the interesting background write-up! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Nice planes and good story behind. Not a plane I heard before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmm Posted April 21, 2022 Author Share Posted April 21, 2022 Thank you all very much for the very kind comments! I’m glad you like them and gold star to those who read my potted history. Glad it was of interest. Thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted April 21, 2022 Share Posted April 21, 2022 Stunning work on these lovely flying boats. Also nice to see those reference photos. Inspires me to build my old Airfix Boeing Clipper, but I desperately need some replacement props for it. Yours look superb on that watery slipway & surprising to see how small they are in your build photos. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweener Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 The New England Air Museum is every bit worth the effort to go - I've been twice and I'll almost certainly be back this summer. Be sure to bring a hundred dollars or so if you do, as they have a bookstore filled with amazing reference material at as low as 10% the typical costs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wlad Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Great builds. I didn't know about this plane until now, so I appreciated the backstory you included. Cheers, Wlad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Tremendous work, Angus. Thank you for sharing the back story and the photos, I was oblivious to these and I consider myself a fan of the esoteric. The seaplane ramp is a solid piece of modelling as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomthounaojam Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Thank you sharing these beautiful models here, they are truly piece of art. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanm Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 Brilliant - love the finish and the way you have displayed them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted April 22, 2022 Share Posted April 22, 2022 A superb job on both of them and how nice to see some Anigrand kits that bear a close resemblance to the a/c that they are supposed to represent. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmm Posted April 23, 2022 Author Share Posted April 23, 2022 Thank you all very much for the kind comments. I really appreciate them. Those interested in the base - I cannot take credit. It’s off the shelf from Coastal Kits and among the best in their range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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