1/72 Amodel Scaled Composites Voyager Part 2

Gallery Article by Andreas Gordes, ARC member ‘Goggo’ on Dec 23 2016

 

      

December 23, 1986 the Rutan Voyager safely landed at Edwards AFB 8:06 local time after 9 days of flight, completing the first ever non-stop unrefueled flight around the world. Now remember part 1 of this article and then imagine how it would be to stay that long in an aircraft?

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Amodel released this important aircraft in 1:72 scale. If this kit is considered as a short run, than this would still be a compliment. Due to bad molding some parts cannot be used. The push propeller cannot be used at all, because it is a pull and same like the front one and in real it did not have a spinner. There are some imperfections in detail and decals, but in the end it looks like a Model 76 and there is no other kit around.

Some hints on the kit: Started with the duck wings, then inner main wing together with the pylons. There is no lead needed in the nose, the author forgot it anyway (like almost every time), so upper fuselage half was added, after drying the outer wings were attached. For the push propeller, the one from the 1:48 O-2 was used. The windows were made from 2-component clear glue, dumped from inside while the holes were covered by clear tape which was removed later. There is nothing visible inside of the cabin. Figures are from Revell’s NATO Pilots set. Jeana Yeager is laying the wrong way, the front cockpit bulkhead was the instrument panel full of instruments, since the Voyager had the most sophisticated avionics in those days. The crew did wear grey jogging suits.

Thank you and have fun!

Andreas Gordes, ARC member ‘Goggo’

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Photos and text © by Andreas Gordes, ARC member ‘Goggo’