1952
Arrivals For the Week Ending November 16, 2024 –
November 18, 2024
Flying Flapjack Program
One of the more unusual models we used to sell was the Monogram (way before Revell acquired them) Flying Flapjack. What was more unusual was that Monogram sent us a working factory-built display model of it. You’d install a battery, flip a switch, and the wings would flap. It looked very much like a stork trying to take off. For years, I thought it was some sort of ‘joke’ model conceived by some insanely creative minds.
I’d forgotten all about that model until Shane Trosclair brought in one model he recently finished: the Flying Pancake manufactured by Sword Models. Shane’s version came with a resin cockpit and he painted it Chrome and Yellow.
This was part of the Navy’s Flying Flapjack program. The Vought XF5U “Flying Flapjack” wasn’t too successful. The Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake, which was a lighter version flew from 1942 to 1947. Charles Lindberg was one of the test pilots.
It also caused quite uproar as the folks who saw it flying thought it was a saucer from Outer Space. It’s on display at an air museum in Dallas.
November 10, 2024
Operation Cobra
“Where are we?”
by Brian Cavet
The idea for this Operation Cobra diorama came from a picture I saw in one of the Concord Publications books on the Sherman. It showed a 6th armored division tank racing through a French town in August, 1944 after the breakout at Normandy.
This Sherman was an early production M4, with the welded hull. The Tamiya 1/35 kit with the newly tooled upper hull and turret made for a nice kit. The newer type tracks were also very good, eliminating the need for an after market link-by-link set.
The basic kit was built up using Eduard photo etch, Verlindens early Sherman interior, and an aluminum barrel from Jordi Rubio.
Tamiya XF-62 was used to paint the tank adding Yellow to lighten the base color for fading. It was washed several times to add depth. Drybushing followed with various shades of light green to off white. For the final drybrush, I used enamel paint.
All of the figures are from Verlinden and Wariors, except for the infantry sergeant holding the coffee cup. He is a Royal Models figure.
I did swap out a few of the heads with ones from Hornet. I also added weapon slings and chin straps from lead foil. All figures were painted with Testors and Humbrol in various shades of green and brown. (Mainly Testors Olive Drab, Military Brown, Field Drab, Dark Tan, and Khaki Drab. Humbrol numbers 116,117, and 72 were also used.)
I cheated a little on the faces: I’m not much on flesh tones. I base coat them with Humbrol Flesh followed by a wash of flesh with brown mixed in for shadows.
Then I go back and added some highlight to the high spots like the cheeks, forehead, and nose.
The lips were done by adding a little red to the flesh color. For the 5’oclock shadow, I mixed in a little Blue into the Flesh. I then thinned it out and added it over jaw area.
The base is a Verlinden kit that comes with all the pieces molded on except the building which is two plaster parts easy to assemble and ready to paint. I added some detail to the building, floor remnants and window frames. Also the light pole and wire rigging. Some signs from Custom Dioramics were put on the building as a final touch. To fill up an empty spot I added the MG42 and the ammo cans. I cut up brass rod for the spent shell casings.
Rosebud
Hub Hobby’s original building on Broad St in New Orleans has been demolished. Word of it being torn down spread like wildfire.
One of our customers, Jim Letten, was emailed by his friend Martin about the demolition of their childhood hang-out.
The subject line was: ROSEBUD
“Rosebud” was the dying word spoken by Orson Welles in the movie Citizen Kane: a reference to his childhood sled – the symbol of memories of youthful innocence.
Read it here
“”Quarter Light” is copyrighted by William Wolfe and is used with his permission
New Orleans, Louisiana