I know, I know, but I saw the Williams Bros. Lockheed Electra in the local hobby shop and since my youngest is a big Amelia Earhart fan, went ahead and bought it several weeks ago. Finally got around to opening up the parts bags and discovered that NONE of the clear parts are included, not a single one (I assume they’re all on the same sprue).
I have read comments by others in here that this will be a dog of a kit to build, but has anyone else run into this problem with Williams Bros.’ kits - entire sprues missing? And if so, did they actually mail you the parts?
I can probably handle the flat side windows, somehow, but making the curved windshield is way over my pay grade. Anyone want to buy this kit, or have other suggestions?
You didn’t mention scale, so I am guessing 1/72. There are several “military guise” Lockheed Electras out there, e.g. Hobbycraft AT-ll or C-45. They are relatively inexpensive, and could be used as a “sacrifice kit” for detailing purposes. Hope this helps!
I thought of that, but … it’s a weird scale, 1/53 ! I’m going back to the hobby shop today to see if they have another one, maybe I can work a deal. If not, well … I guess now is as good a time to learn how to scratchbuild as any. [:(]
It MIGHT be … the problem is, the kit I just bought was wrapped and right from the factory as well, and it was missing all the clear parts. Hence my need for a canopy.
I did “win” it … a first for me. Ebay is an … I’ll be charitable and say “interesting” place … and I had NO clue what I was doing … which I was doing while I was supposed to be working.
Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, wait a minute, was that YOU that sent me that message???
I built it last year before I perfected some of my skills. For a moderately priced kit it wasn’t a very good novice entry. But I had to have too.
What you might try, is getting some transparent copy sheets and crystal clear glue or microsol clear glue and try to fashion one. I know it also acts as the roof in the top section but a pair of scissors is all you need.
If you can find someone who has a complete kit you could see if the clear parts can be vacuformed, especially the windscreen (canopy if you prefer). As a side note, the decals are not the correct color for the orange trim on the aircraft. Testors Model Masters “international orange” is the correct orange for AEs aircraft (the Electra).
On the first attempt to fly arround the world, at the equator, AE had a main gear collapse on the take-off roll. The aircraft was shipped back to Lockheed for repairs, including the replacement of the right wing. One of the Lockheed employees who worked on the repair kept a piece of the damaged wing with the paint color on it. This piece was compared to the Federal Standard color chart several years ago and the color was determoned to be “international orange” as reproduced by Testors. The color was very commonly used in the 1930s and was called “aviation orange” at that time. It was used for visibility from the air, especially if the aircraft went down, which was also common in the early days of aviation.
If your youngest likes Amelia Earhart he/she should visit the TIGAR web site. Purdue University also has an interesting web site dedicated to AE. Many of AEs personal affects were donated to Purdue by her husbands foundation, and some are displayed on the web site. The national Air and Space Museum also has her Lockheed Vega on display and it can be seen on their web site.
A 1/72nd scale model was just released of the Vega and the model includes decals for the “Winnie Mae” and AE’s Vega. AE is a true aviation pioneer and maybe some day we will get decent models in 1/48th or 1/32nd scale of the aircraft associated with her. (such as the Lockheed 10E Electra, The Vega 5B, the Pitcairn auto Giro, and the Kinner Canary to name a few.)
Revell/Monogram do you want to step up to the plate, please? How about a set of kits with the Electra and a Vega in one box in 1/48th?
I can dream can’t I? Good luck with your Williams Bros. kit.
I didn’t think it was you, Brian, it was much more … unsophisitcated, shall we say?
And rangerj, I was aware of the decal color issue. Among many other things, I’m a member of The International Group For Historic Aircraft Recovery, TIGHAR, which helped determine the FS number for the orange color on her aircraft. They have a ton of information on THE 10-E, and yes, my daughter has devoured most of it … I just hope I can produce a model worthy of her praise.
I did not mean to insult your knowledge on the AE model 10E, sorry if I did. You daughter could not select a better person in U.S. history to be interested in. AE was way ahead of her time. She promoted the equality of women and the idea of women having an equal oportunity to “be all that they can be”.
There is a book coauthored by AE’s sister, Murriel Morrisay (spelling?) titled “Letters from Amelia”. It gives a great insite into Amelia Earhart the “woman”. It has been long out of print but is available in many libraries. Doris Rich also does a decent job of delvinging into AE’s character, that is her honesty, intellegence, and integrity.
Another interesting fact about AE that you most likely know, but others may not know, is that AE’s pilots license was signed by one of the Wright brothers (Orville I think). I think he was the first head of the CAA (now the FAA), but that is another story. Anyways, best to you and your daughter in your quest.
PS your daughter may want to read Jackie Cochran’s book.
Not at all, rangerj - and I too am glad she is interested in Amelia.
I just wish more people were aware of TIGHAR’s work in answering the question, What really happened to Amelia and Fred? Their upcoming book, due out by the end of the year, should answer that question far more conclusively than anyone else has to date because it is based on facts and contemporaneous records, not speculation and “could have, would have should have” reasoning.
Received my SECOND Williams Bros. 10-E from Ebay yesterday - thanks again for encouraging me to take the plunge, Brian. And this one does have all the clear parts!
One thing is very weird, though. The one I got at my local hobby shop, which was missing all the clear parts, is molded in a medium gray styrene.
The one from Ebay is molded in a milky white styrene, which is how all the reviews I read said it came. I’m just wondering if the gray one was one of the last they produced and that’s why it was missing the clear parts? A little historical mystery, not unlike Amelia Earhart.
Glad I was of some small encouragement! Now that you have the proper clear parts, perhaps you could vac form a set for the first kit? As to the color change, I have no clue as to why the mfrs do that, seemingly random. Enjoy eBay, enjoy the build, and post us some pics of your progress!