Curtis XF6C-6 "Page Racer" (Fisher Model & Patern 49001)

Category Scale Modelling, Subcategory Scale Modelling, Scale 1 : 48, ISBN/Box 49001, Publisher/Brand Fisher Model & Patern, Version Resin

Our first foray into 1/48 scale is this little known, but beautiful racer converted in secret from a Curtiss Hawk by Captain Arthur Page of the US Marines, with a little help from his friends in 1930.
The top wing was altered to carry flush fitting surface coolant radiators much like the Schneider Trophy planes, the lower wings were simply eliminated.It carried a unique supercharged Curtiss Conqueror V-12 "borrowed" from another pursuit project, and the fuselage and cowl were totally re- built into one of the most streamlined parasol monoplanes anywhere in the world at the time.Rigging was held to a minimum.
The ship was bult under the XF6C-6 designation to mask it's true purpose, which was to fly the Thompson Trophy race and beat the Army ...Sadly, the close fitting cockpit coaming and tight fuselage skinning proved to be the racer's undoing as Capt.Page was overcome by carbon monoxide gasses trapped in the fuselage, causing him to crash on the 17th lap of the race when he was over a lap ahead of the competition.
The beautiful "Page Racer" was destroyed, Captain Page was killed and a number of careers wrere ruined when the truth of the racers' shadowy construction came out...quite the scandal!
Still, the XF6C-6 was a milestone in aircraft streamlining and has never been available in a 1/48 scale kit before.If you love the Golden Age, or just race planes, this kit is for you.A simple , fun build, and very colrful.