Posted 8 years ago
ohmyflyguy
(83 items)
In the 1920's and 1930's developments in Aviation was of popular interest. The speed increases were directly proportional to an airplane's power and streamlining. This factor lent itself to Art Deco interpretation. This model was once a hood ornament that featured a spinning propeller, oversized radial engine and a lamp that glowed inside the fuselage. Overtime the ornament had been broken off its cast-on support arm and lost its engine and prop (hugely out of scale). In addition the chrome experienced severe pitting. I picked it up on auction and looked at the possibilities. The airplane it represents in the Lockheed Vega. this was the design that put Lockheed into the airliner business. It was very popular for setting records, Amelia Earhart, wiley post and a host of others favored the Vega for its speed and durability. This means that the model had fame.
The good news is that it still hade its landing gear, most are normally sheared off at some point. The engine and prop though missing were oversized anyway. The amazing discovery is that the cast metal composite has a high aluminum content. This was good news as this meant the old chrome finish can be removed and the metal could be polished! The new cowling was created using a section of copper pipe and end cap that was soldered then sculptured. The prop is a vintage cast metal toy prop that has also been sculpted. It spins with authority.
The stand was made using various vintage parts with a plan to re-electrify to fuselage lamp. The model now forms the leading edge in the display of the airplanes that Lockheed designed and produced into the jet-age. It all started with the Lockheed Vega.
