A couple of planes I would like to model

[Jimbo357mag]

These civilian planes from the 1930's are beautiful mono-planes without struts.

1933 Lockheed Vega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhiUKhjiwjc
 
or the LINDBERGH designed LOCKHEED SIRIUS on wheels or floats. A very interesting history. Lockheed_Model_8_Sirius
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvPdH6bRCME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot4xMgf9Kc0
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/lockheed-sirius-tingmissartoq-charles-lindbergh

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I'm really glad to see that you are interested in some of the best History of Aviation.
As you probably know the Vega was made famous by Amelia and Wiey Post.
I made a display for my Daughter from some of the Fabric off Amelia's Vega when it was recovered at the Smithsonian. She used the display and some other stuff we made to enter into a History Contest which she won and went to the Texas State Finales.
The one in the video is pretty rare.
This is John Magoffin's rare 1933 DL-1 series Lockheed Vega (DL stands for "Detroit Lockheed") and is the only one left of the 9 built with a metal fuselage. All the rest were made with plywood.

Now if you are really interested in the Lindbergh's Sirius you need to read the book by Ann Morrow Lindbergh "North To The Orient" In fact have your Daughter read it to see what the women of that time were made of.
What those two did is just outstanding which VERY few of todays pilots would be capable of doing today with the equipment they had.
Sleeping in the plane in the North Latitudes could not be fun. Lindbergh's did some Fantastic Navigation for sure. Probably more of an achievement than finding Europe :wink:
Their plane is also in the Smithsonian and I have seen it many times and I'm still in wonderment of it and what they did.

Slim was ONE Hell of a Pilot Amelia not so much.

 

[ned]

I second Jim's review on North to the Orient and add West into the night by Beryl Markham.
I gave west into the night to my daughter and she read it because of the extraordinary woman- and she is no kind of aviation buff. In all the years I have been flying she has remained strongly against it---her right I guess.

 

[Snake45]

There have been two kits made of the Vega, one by Lindberg and one by AMT. The AMT one was available on either wheels or floats.

I think the AMT kit was reissued at some point in the last few years so it should be available somewhere at reasonable prices. I have one of the floatplanes. Someday I'm going to build it in bright red on aluminum floats.

I think the Vega has also been done in a diecast. Just today I saw a diecast of the Lockheed Orion at a flea market, but didn't notice the price.

 

[Fox Mike]

There are many kits on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMT-1-48-Lockheed-VEGA-Float-plane-Plastic-Aircraft-Model-Kit-T637U/113016225867?hash=item1a504ac04b:g:dpIAAOSwX5ZbCEN6:sc:USPSFirstClass!21771!US!-1

 

[Pierow]

Just an idea for you guys. It's nice there are die-cast models out there but it's sort of fun to replicate these planes in wood as well. Snake, seems this would be right up your alley as I recall you mentioning you buy built models, take them apart and rebuild them. That's some serious passion which might lend itself to a bit of wood carving on the porch :)

I never carved wood before but when I got married I made musky / pike lures for all my groomsmen. A total of eleven I think. Did the traditional all black with white spots color scheme with stainless steal diving lips. Sort of like a big Rapala. Reason I mention this is they came out great and I'm not a wood carver. The sanding process really brought the design home.

Pierow

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Yes I forgot to mention that one. I think they made a movie about her CRS kicking in :D :D :D
Anyway a GREAT Aviator.

 

[montegomx70]

There have been two kits made of the Vega, one by Lindberg and one by AMT. The AMT one was available on either wheels or floats.

I think the AMT kit was reissued at some point in the last few years so it should be available somewhere at reasonable prices. I have one of the floatplanes. Someday I'm going to build it in bright red on aluminum floats.

I think the Vega has also been done in a diecast. Just today I saw a diecast of the Lockheed Orion at a flea market, but didn't notice the price.

didn't ESCI make a vega kit too? it could be the same molds.

 

[Snake45]

There have been two kits made of the Vega, one by Lindberg and one by AMT. The AMT one was available on either wheels or floats.

I think the AMT kit was reissued at some point in the last few years so it should be available somewhere at reasonable prices. I have one of the floatplanes. Someday I'm going to build it in bright red on aluminum floats.

I think the Vega has also been done in a diecast. Just today I saw a diecast of the Lockheed Orion at a flea market, but didn't notice the price.

didn't ESCI make a vega kit too? it could be the same molds.

ESCI now has the old AMT molds. Actually I think ESCI is now OOB and I've seen some of their old kits reissued by Italeri, such as the AD-4 Skyraider.

 

[RSIno1]

I've always wanted to build a 1/8 or 1/4 Staggerwing Beech. https://disciplesofflight.com/beechcraft-model-17-staggerwing-aircraft-profile/

 

[Scout943]

Paper,but they do come out nice if you take your time http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/ :) :) I use them as plans and build mine from aluminum from beer or soda cans .

 

[Don Lovel]

Back in the 30's, my dad got to meet Wiley Post in Bethany Oklahoma where he had the Winnie Mae hangered
My great uncle worked there as a mechanic and brought my dad and his brothers out to see the beautiful plane and meet Wiley. Too bad Will and Rogers and him had a bad day with it. Beautiful aircraft in it's day