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Watch Artesanía Latina’s 1/16 Fokker Dr.1 Kit Come Together Through the Magic of Stop Motion

For his latest stop motion assembly video, modeler Tom Grigat tackles Artesanía Latina’s new 1/16 structure kit of the Fokker Dr.1.

The kit is said to be museum quality, boasting wood and injected metal parts, cockpit details and multimedia instructions with video tutorials and more than 600 photos. The completed model spans 17.72”W x 14.17”L x 7.24”H and includes an optional methacrylate engraved stand for display.

Tom reports that it was “relatively easy to build and well guided,” stating that his new video shows “how appr. 750 pieces of metal and wood could be combined to a beautiful aircraft model.” Click below to check it out.

Continue reading Watch Artesanía Latina’s 1/16 Fokker Dr.1 Kit Come Together Through the Magic of Stop Motion

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EAA Meets Fundraising Goal For Airworthy Restoration of B-25

The EAA’s $400,000 fundraising initiative to restore their B-25H to airworthy condition has been successful.

The aircraft (S/N 43-4432) was originally delivered to the USAAF in 1943 and went on to serve as an administrative aircraft at several bases around the US. Following the war, it passed through the hands of several owners, including Tallmantz Aviation, who used the machine in the 1970 film Catch-22.

The B-25 was donated to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1972 where it was restored to flying status as “The City of Burlington.” However, it was damaged in a landing accident in the 1980s, which resulted in cosmetic repairs and static display at the museum. Continue reading EAA Meets Fundraising Goal For Airworthy Restoration of B-25

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de Havilland Vampire Vandalized After Temporary Removal From Park Display

de Havilland Vampire A79-612, which has stood as an RAAF monument at Wagga Wagga, Australia’s Bolton Park for decades, was vandalized by graffiti after being temporarily removed from its perch earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the aircraft was lowered to accommodate nearby road work and was positioned behind a construction fence. However, within the first 24 hours it had been hit with spray paint – an incident that has been attributed to a recent increase in graffiti vandalism around the city.

A suspect has been arrested in connection to the surge, however it is not yet known if he is responsible for the vandalism of the Vampire. Thankfully, plans were already underway for the aircraft to be inspected and restored prior to being returned to its familiar position within the park.

Click below to check out news video detailing the project.

Continue reading de Havilland Vampire Vandalized After Temporary Removal From Park Display

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Airworthy TA-4J Skyhawk Offered For Sale [Video]

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A privately-owned McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk has hit the market.

The aircraft, S/N 14291 / N518TA, was originally manufactured in 1972 and has reportedly amassed a total time of 4,490 hours. The Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B-powered machine is certified in the experimental exhibition category and is said to have over 50,000 hours of labor invested in it, with every system “scrutinized, overhauled, refurbished and tested.”

Features reportedly include a large avionics package, complete/FAA approved maintenance manuals, flight hour recorder, oxygen system, dual controls and emergency locator beacon. A number of options are also available, such as autopilot, strobe lights and an operable ejection seat.

The list price is said to be about $2.9 million, although offers are reportedly being accepted. Click below to learn more.

Continue reading Airworthy TA-4J Skyhawk Offered For Sale [Video]

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Airfix to Release Two-Seat Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a/Avia CS-92a Model Kit

Airfix will reportedly follow up last year’s new tool Messerschmitt Me262 A-1a Schwalbe with a 1/72 scale example of the two-seat version.

The upcoming release will reportedly consist of the Me 262B-1a Luftwaffe night fighter as well as the Avia CS-92a, a two seat trainer flown by the Czech Air Force. Additional details appear to be scarce, although a number of CAD images are available (click below to see more).

The kit (A04062) is currently expected to be released in October.

Continue reading Airfix to Release Two-Seat Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a/Avia CS-92a Model Kit

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Spitfire RW388 Begins Journey Toward Restoration

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley, Staffordshire temporarily closed its Spitfire gallery on Wednesday as part of an extensive project that will see Spitfire LF Mk. XVIe RW388 “reborn.”

The aircraft, which was built by Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd. in 1945, served in a training role during WW2 and also towed targets for Navy ships. Following the war it was used as a gate guard at RAF Benson and RAF Andover before being officially presented to the city of Stoke-on-Trent by the Royal Air Force in 1972. It was installed at the museum in 1985 and has taken a place of honor in their Spitfire gallery, which is dedicated to the type’s locally-born designer, Reginald Mitchell.

The museum closed the gallery in order to begin the process of disassembling the aircraft so it can be removed from the museum for restoration “to its former glory.” The full museum will be closed beginning on January 22nd so relocation can be carried out, with reopening scheduled for February 10th. Continue reading Spitfire RW388 Begins Journey Toward Restoration

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Extremely Rare, Airworthy Lysander Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

National Steel Car Corp. (Westland) Lysander 3A C-FVZZ, one of only three airworthy examples of the type in the world, has hit the market.

The machine’s fuselage reportedly came from S/N 1206 (RCAF 2365), built by the National Steel Car Corp., while the wings were sourced from another unconfirmed ex-RCAF airframe. It was initially restored to airworthy condition by Harry Whereatt and later restored again by Vintage Wings of Canada before returning to the air in June 2010.

The Lysander’s airframe reportedly has a total time of 990.9 hrs since new. Since its rebuild, the airframe and Mercury XX engine (S/N 57337) have amassed 74.7 hrs. The livery represents National Steel Car Lysander 416, the first built by the company in 1939.

The Lysander is currently being offered for US$950,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(via Platinum Fighter Sales Additional Information via Vintage Wings of Canada Photo: Jean-Guy Pitre via Wikimedia Commons)

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2017: The Year in RC Model Mishaps [Video]

With 2018 in its infancy, YouTubers “RCScaleAirplanes” and “tbobborap1” have compiled their annual supercuts showcasing some of the most brutal RC model airplane mishaps of the year.

As the videos show, models encountered a variety of perilous situations, and while some were saved by the skill of their pilots, others were reduced to scattered piles of wood.

Hit the jump to check them out, and watch out for some NSFW language.

Continue reading 2017: The Year in RC Model Mishaps [Video]

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B-25 “Old Glory” Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

B-25 “Old Glory” has hit the market.

The aircraft (S/N 44-28938) was originally delivered in 1944 and served with the 12th Air Force in Italy before returning to the US in 1945. After initially being stored in Texas, the machine was put back into service in 1947, operating in an administrative role at McClellan Field, California.

After a decade at McClellan, the machine was declared surplus and sold. The following years saw it pass through the hands of numerous owners, spending time as a fire bomber before being restored to its military configuration and wearing the names “Dream Lover” and “Spirit of Tulsa” before being renamed “Old Glory” in 1995.

Pricing on the aircraft has not been reported. The full listing and contact details can be found here.

(via Barnstormers.com Photo: BrokenSphere via Wikimedia Commons Additional Information via B-25 History Project and Warbird Registry)

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Brickmania Releases Limited Edition P-51B , X-1 LEGO Model Kits

Among the latest limited edition releases from Brickmania are 1/35 scale LEGO model kits of the P-51B Mustang and Bell X-1.

The representation of the legendary P-51 reportedly includes 391 genuine new-condition LEGO elements, high quality sticker sheet, custom printed minifigure and retractable landing gear. Meanwhile, the model of the X-1, the first machine to break the sound barrier, includes 319 LEGO parts, a sticker sheet, a 360 degree custom printed minifigure, retractable landing gear, a display stand, and a removable hatch opening to the cockpit.

Click below for product links and video overviews of each model.

Continue reading Brickmania Releases Limited Edition P-51B , X-1 LEGO Model Kits