|
1959 "Winnie Mae" Airplane Kit, by Lindberg. A FANTASTIC kit...Wiley Post's famous "Winnie Mae" in glorious 1/4 scale. Delicious Ray Gaedke art adorns the boxtop...one of the greats. Wiley Post was an interesting icon in aviation history. He lost his eye while working in an oil field in the 1920's and bought his first aircraft with the legal settlement. He became friends with humorist Will Rogers when the fellow Oklahoman needed a ride to a rodeo. He soon became the personal pilot of a wealthy Oklahoma oilman, F.C. Hall, who owned a TravelAir. Hall bought a Lockheed Vega for Wiley Post's personal use, naming he aircraft "Winnie Mae" for his daughter. When financial times got tough during the Depression, Hall sold the Vega back to Lockheed. In 1930, Hall once again bought a Lockheed Vega, this time a model 5-C, and again named the aircraft for his daughter Winnie Mae. Wiley Post is best known for his feats in this aircraft. Together with pilot Harold Gatty, they circled the globe (northern latitudes) in eight days in June 1931. Post repeated the flight solo a year later trimming a day off the time in the process. Wiley Post invented the pressure suit that enabled him to fly Winnie Mae into the stratosphere. Tragically, Post and humorist Will Rogers were lost August 15, 1935 after a crash in Point Barrow, Alaska. Here is some history of its own right. This "Winnie Mae" is considered by collectors as one of Lindberg's finest kits! This kit features separately molded (and movable) ailerons, elevators, and rudder! The engine is reasonably detailed on its own and is inserted into the front of the assembled fuselages and closed in by the front of the cowl ring. The landing gear is also nicely done and the wheels can be left movable inside the wheel pants or fixed and weighted as you choose. A pilot figure is included...be sure to give him an eye-patch! A clear display stand is also provided to depict the aircraft in flight. Original instructions and decals included. Kit is UNBUILT, COMPLETE, MINT...box is shiny and new-looking, just as if it was still 1959 outside (take a look out your window...it isn't). Don't let this gem fly past. Only one in stock.
|