1/72 Scratch-built Gurney-Grice Mosquito

by Gabriel Stern

--------------------

 

-If Mini Me would have a plane, what would it be?

After scratch-building the Mignet Pou-du-Ciel and the Mihail Stabiloplan, I discovered that there is room to shrink even more (room to shrink? Humm).
So here it is, the world famous Gurney-Grice Mosquito, a.k.a. The Flying Coffin.
I was acquainted with this plane thanks to Richard Hopkinson at the Wings of Peace forum, who dared to call it “ugly”, mind you.
He stated –and I am quoting him:
"...It does have two outstanding advantages over most aircraft:
1. It is the box it came in.
2. After flight the pilot can be interred directly after simply removing the wings, engine & undercarriage.
Economical & practical!”

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

There is only one photo that I know about published on Aeroplane Monthly, a 2003 issue about the ugliest 100 planes. Unfortunately, due to copyright issues and the current state of the hobby where Big Companies want the kit manufacturers to pay for using the names of the planes, I am afraid somebody may sue for making an article that may produce some laughs and eventually even make somebody happy for a few minutes.

The Mosquito achieved control by changing the angle of incidence of the fore wing and by tilting the aft wing –anchored at fore and aft central struts -side to side. It is generally thought that the word “control” here is an overstatement.

What? 3 view? Are you kidding? I had to sketch my own ones. They deserve the same trust as the dinner your in-laws may serve you when you visit.
What? If it did fly? Why always that pesky question? ‘Don’t know. But being a coffin, perhaps it could qualify for subterranean flight?
Anyway, the usual recipe: styrene here, styrene there, hocus pocus, Aeroclub Models wheels –the tail one is scratched, but I got tired quickly-, brass “Strutz”, wire lengths, in-laws visit, prepare dinner, entertain the office party, airbrush out, sunny day, life is good.

For the ones with AMS and/or small shelves/budgets.

Gabriel

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Gabriel Stern