In Box Review of Esci-Ertl 1/48th Scale Lockheed Vega "Winnie Mae"
Kit no. 4100
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
However, it is available at Rare Planes Detective for $15.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
However, it is available at Rare Planes Detective for $15.00.
HISTORY:
The Lockheed Vega is an American six-passenger high-wing monoplane airliner built by the Lockheed Corporation starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record-breaking pilots who were attracted to the rugged and very long-range design.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic single-handedly in one, and Wiley Post used his to prove the existence of the jet stream after having flown around the world twice.
Winnie Mae – a Vega 5C, is on static display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. It was flown around the world twice and for high altitude testing by Wiley Post.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: transport
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Ltd.
Designer: John Knudsen Northrop and Gerard Vultee
First flight: July 4, 1927
Introduction: 1928
Status: Retired
Primary users: Commercial air carriers, U.S. Army Air Forces
Number built: 132
The Lockheed Vega is an American six-passenger high-wing monoplane airliner built by the Lockheed Corporation starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record-breaking pilots who were attracted to the rugged and very long-range design.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic single-handedly in one, and Wiley Post used his to prove the existence of the jet stream after having flown around the world twice.
Winnie Mae – a Vega 5C, is on static display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. It was flown around the world twice and for high altitude testing by Wiley Post.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: transport
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Ltd.
Designer: John Knudsen Northrop and Gerard Vultee
First flight: July 4, 1927
Introduction: 1928
Status: Retired
Primary users: Commercial air carriers, U.S. Army Air Forces
Number built: 132
THE KIT:
Esci was a model company based in Italy. They were at one time imported and sold by Ertl in Dyresville, IA. Both companies have gone out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type blousy box. The box is 3" too long and 2 1/2" too wide.
The box art shows the "Winnie Mae" flying above the clouds. It is overall white with 2 shades of blue scalloping along the sides of the fuselage.
There is unreadable text under the cockpit and black listing of it's flights under a blue Winnie Mae on the rear fuselage sides and a black Lockheed logo on the rudder and black serial no. NR-105-W on the rudder flap and in larger black lettering under the left wing.
Esci was a model company based in Italy. They were at one time imported and sold by Ertl in Dyresville, IA. Both companies have gone out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type blousy box. The box is 3" too long and 2 1/2" too wide.
The box art shows the "Winnie Mae" flying above the clouds. It is overall white with 2 shades of blue scalloping along the sides of the fuselage.
There is unreadable text under the cockpit and black listing of it's flights under a blue Winnie Mae on the rear fuselage sides and a black Lockheed logo on the rudder and black serial no. NR-105-W on the rudder flap and in larger black lettering under the left wing.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 5 pale-gray trees in a sealed clear cello bag, 2 loose clear trees, a large decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a large single-sheet, printed on both sides in 17 1/4" x 22 1/2" page form. It is folded 4 times to fit the box.
The face side has a 4-view on the left side of a Lockheed V1C-12 Vega, C/N 158, with the 8th Pursuit Group, 35th Pursuit Squadron, Langley Field (USA) 1937.
It has an overall green fuselage and yellow wings and elevators, red and white horizontal alternating stripes on the rudder behind a dark-blue vertical bar, a white fuselage band and a black 99 on the rudder, a white band around the cowling.
This is above the decal application instructions in multiple languages, including English.
On the right side is the parts trees illustrations over general instructions and a suggested color listing.
The reverse side has 4 assembly steps over a 4-view of Winnie Mae (already described above) and Ertl's address in Dyresville, IA and their office address in Ontario, Canada.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions and have no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Ertl-Esci !
The first pale-gray tree holds: wheel spats, a bulkhead, tail skid etc. (11 parts)
This kit contains 5 pale-gray trees in a sealed clear cello bag, 2 loose clear trees, a large decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a large single-sheet, printed on both sides in 17 1/4" x 22 1/2" page form. It is folded 4 times to fit the box.
The face side has a 4-view on the left side of a Lockheed V1C-12 Vega, C/N 158, with the 8th Pursuit Group, 35th Pursuit Squadron, Langley Field (USA) 1937.
It has an overall green fuselage and yellow wings and elevators, red and white horizontal alternating stripes on the rudder behind a dark-blue vertical bar, a white fuselage band and a black 99 on the rudder, a white band around the cowling.
This is above the decal application instructions in multiple languages, including English.
On the right side is the parts trees illustrations over general instructions and a suggested color listing.
The reverse side has 4 assembly steps over a 4-view of Winnie Mae (already described above) and Ertl's address in Dyresville, IA and their office address in Ontario, Canada.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions and have no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Ertl-Esci !
The first pale-gray tree holds: wheel spats, a bulkhead, tail skid etc. (11 parts)
The second pale-gray tree holds: the elevators, rudder and cowlings (8 parts)
The third pale-gray tree part tree holds one set of wings halves (2 parts)
The fourth pale-gray tree part tree holds the other set of wings halves (2 parts)
The fourth pale-gray tree part tree holds the other set of wings halves (2 parts)
The fifth pale-gray tree holds: the fuselage, engine, pilot, propeller, alternate tail skid (6 parts)
There are 2 clear trees in my kit, because one tree is missing the cockpit windows. So, Ertl threw in a complete tree. There are side compartment windows on this tree also (11 parts)
A frosted sheet is included to protect the face of the decal sheet from scratching. However, as I find in most model kits that include this sheet, it was floating around loose and not protecting a darn thing. So, I stapled it to the decal sheet.
I bought my kit years ago at the Ertl factory outlet store in Dyresville, IA (52 miles N.E. from my home). That closed when Ertl sold the company.
Nice civilian aircraft.
Nice civilian aircraft.
Recommended.