https://sites.google.com/view/biggles-m ... authuser=0
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Modelling the aircraft from the books is my primary theme.
(UPDATE: as of the end of 2022 I have built 42 of them)
I deviate occasionally for generic WW1 or interwar flying boats or bush pilot aircraft but ultimately I'm trying to model as many of the types featured in the series, particularly the more escapist adventures of the interwar era.
For this era, for some reason WE Johns always used fictitious aircraft, but they were always based on something real at the time. The nice thing about this is it allows some flexibility and what-iffery and any degree of personalisation.
I have two approaches - I'll either work out from the story what the closest match is or I'll take the first edition illustrations and go from that. The biggles.info site has been invaluable in this regard.
First up, the eponymous Vickers Vandal from Biggles Flies Again and Biggles and the Black Peril. All illustrations show this to be a Walrus but sporting an inline engine and a thumping huge radiator from the Vickers Viking IV.
I did a kitbash using the Matchbox Walrus and a cast Napier Lion from Hannants and a scratchbuilt radiator.
Sadly it was largely destroyed the next morning after I stupidly left it on the bench and my (at the time) 18 month old got to it
I have plenty more Walri kits though and a couple more Nape Lions so another build is easy enough down the track.
Currently I'm working on the "Condor" amphibious biplane. More info to follow....
