BIG BIRDS
Rich Minnick's 10 foot (3x scale) 1938 Rocketeer
Page 1 of 3
Commentary by Andrew Tickle
Photography by Aric, Tom Northen and Jay Beasley
|
|
|
BIG BIRDS
Rich Minnick's 10 foot (3x scale) 1938 Rocketeer Page 1 of 3 Commentary by Andrew Tickle
Photography by Aric, Tom Northen and Jay Beasley |
|
|
Rich Minnick has always had a fascination for the pot bellied duration models of the 1930's. He has built an 'A' size Rocketeer prior to the big bird10 ft Rocketeer featured here. He also built a Speed 400 version of the pot bellied Diamond Demon, with which he made the 'A' team in the 2009 Speed 400 Postal Contest. And then a 10 ft version. He also built a small and large versions of the Quaker. |
 |
 |
| Andrew with Rocketeer wing. You can see the right side of the (black and permanently attached) stab sticking vertically out of its sarcophagus (upper left of photo).. |
 |
| Out comes the fuselage, carried by John Trumbull. At far left is the plywood sarcophagus in Rich's truck used to carry the fuselage with the 5 foot tail and fin permanently attached. Jay Beasley photo |
 |
| That bit goes here, Andrew Aric photo |
 |
| This is the next step after learning to chew gum and walk. Turning the wing hold-down bolts two at a time, closely supervised by Rich. Good view of the famous potbelly. Jay Beasley photo |
 |
| Uhmm....That feels about right now. Big, shiny, band new airplane, almost ready. Aric photo |
 |
The Big Birds attract the crowds. Rick Minnick's 3x 1938 Rocketeer almost ready for its maiden flight. Looks like a little Champ laying on its back underneath about to be crunched. Andrew Tickle photo
We are now ready for final check, but.... See next page