Hi guys, does anyone knows if there is a manufacterer who produces the Lockheed Vega ?
I would like the build one in memory of Amelia Earhart who dissapeart in one of those.
MPM recently released a Lockheed Vega model 5 in 1/72 scale that has markings for “Lady Lindy”. However that wasn’t the plane she was lost in. A pretty nice little kit with good decals. Also includes decals for Wiley Post’s “Winnie Mae”. Sure wish it was 1/48 though. Oh Well, better than none at all.
Regards, Rick
Shhhhhh… there IS one in 1/48[:)]
Check your mail, Dan! [;)]
Frank
Thanks for the tip Frank, unfortunately none of the accepted payment methods is suitable for me (I have no cc and I’m in Europe), so I’m afraid bidding on her is useless [:(]
Oh, by the way, Earharts plane was called “Star of the Pleiades”
Dan-Amelia and her navigator disappeared while attempting an around-the-globe flight. They were flying a Lockheed Electra. Williams Brothers makes one in 1/50 scale with Amelia’s markings.
Frank, I forgot about the old AMT Vega kit. For good reasons.
Regards, Rick
I know, it’s a very basic kit that requires lots of TLC, but as far as I know, the only extant 1/48 example available. [:0]
Take care,
Frank
Long before the ERTL/AMT Lockheed Vega there was, and still is, the old Lindberg kit of the Vega. I read somewhere that there is going to be released another 1/48th Vega 5. I cannot remember who is going to produce it, but I think it is scheduled for next year. Maybe I am thinking of the 1/72 model by MPM.
If you are going to do Amelia Earharts Vega you need to determine which one you want to do. There is one that she flew solo across the Atlantic, and one that she flew solo from Hawii to CA. The first is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The other aircraft is in Philadelphia in a museum, IIR. And there are a few others. See the list below.
The one in washington is most likely the one the decals are provided for in the MPM kit.
The dark maroon color can be duplicated using testors dark red, (in the small bottles).
The aircraft was trimmed in gold. The side windows were covered over, except for the one in the door. Check photos for accuracy because the memory ain’t what it used to be.
Amelia Earharts Vega’s:
NC 538 M a Vega 5A “Executive”
NC 497 H Vega DL-1 (not a Vega 5)
NC 7952 Vega 5 B Solo across the Atlantic, and solo transcontinental non-stop LA to Newark.
NR 965 Y Vega 5C “Special” Solo from Hawii to Oakland California.
AE also flew the Pircairn Auto Gyro for Beach Nut (the chewing gum folks) Anyone know the colors on this aircraft? A model is made in 1/48 scale by Williams Bros. (not of AEs aircraft, but of the auto gyro) I have only seen black and white photos of this aircraft. I was told by an old newspaper reporter. who had the aviation beat back then, that the auto gyro was two tone green (dark and light) like the company’s gum wrapper.
A E learned to fly in a Kinner Cannary. There are no known models of this aircraft.
Willey Post and the Winnie Mae:
- NC 105 W Vega 5B Around the world flight (this was the second “Winnie Mae”)
- NC 7954 Actually the first Winnie Mae, a Vega 5
Amelia Earhart is one of my favorite subjects. I would like to see a 1/48th or 1/32nd scale Lockheed Electra model 10 E (NR10620)
See the Purdue University web site. The university has an extensive AE collection that they received from the Putnam family. Enjoy the Vega build. I would like to hear how the kit comes out. rangerj
Wait a minute there is a bell ringing, I may have been looking for the wrong aircraft.
Was it the Electra in which she and Noolan disappaered ???
If so, that is the one I’m looking for !!!
Yes, it is the Electra Model 10 that AE and Fred Noonan disapeared in. A model 10E (NR16020).
A 1/53rd. scale model is made by Williams Bros., and is readily available. There is also a vacuum formed 1/72 scale model of the Electra, but I have not seen it for many years.
The Orange paint on the aircraft is International Orange, and is available from Testors Model Master paints. The kit decals are way off. They are a red color, and this is wrong.
The rest of the aircraft was natural metal.
The Orange color was determined from a piece of the actual aircraft. How can that be?
Well, the aircraft was damaged on the first attempt to circumnavigate the world. One of the landing gear collapsed on take off in Hawii. The piece was taken by a Lockheed employee from the wing that had to be repaired (replaced).
A few years ago it was color matched to “International Orange”. I forget the FS number (FS 12197 I think).
The color was used extensively in the 1930s and was known as “Aviation Orange”, and was changed to “International Orange” later (in the 1950s I think).
The Williams Brother’s model is accurate to scale, fits well, but lacks detail, and has rivets a little like the models of the 1950s. The rivits are tiny, but still out of scale, and a PIA. Enjoy the build. rangerj