Just prior to Beermat’s ‘Piltdown Man’ statement and then others above, I also began wondering if it was in fact a prop or model. OK it’s very well done and in fact looks like a very attractive machine, but there’s too much that’s not just right about it – for me the major one is the underwing serial/registration numbers: they don’t match a format or font that one would expect to see on a 30’s or 40’s aircraft.
John Aeroclub (I think) also mentioned the paperclip tailwheel strut and thinking about that item, why would you NOT put a tailwheel straight on the end of the rudder post? That part makes no sense.
Also that tail shape has had me bothered for some time and I think it’s either Harvard or Mitsubishi Zero – the latter especially with the extended base at the bottom of the rudder.
So I now think there’s a good reason why it looks like a number of different aircraft – because it is! I’m guessing it’s 1/48 scale and comprises a Hasegawa Zero tail, Testors Gee Bee outer wings, spats and engine, cockpit canopy from a Tamiya Brewster Buffalo and centre section from a Williams Brothers Northrop Gamma.
Do I win a tenner?
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