Monday 3 February 2014

Start me up - started

As the Funny Little Wars project enters the age of powered flight I decided it was time to begin work on some ground crews.  And at some point I probably will.  Meanwhile I have distracted myself by embarking on the build (or, more correctly 'bodge') of a Hucks Starter Truck.  These things were developed when aeroplane engines got too big (and dangerous) to turn by hand.  Enter one Captain Bentfield Hucks of the Royal Flying Corps who rigged up a shaft driven from a motor car engine to spin an aircraft propellor.  

So take a good look at the photo above - of such a vehicle hooked up to a Hawker Hind - and expect a model which looks nothing like it.
I began with an old Revell kit of a Ford 'T'. To complicate matters this had the hardtop body so a certain amount of sawing was required.  A simple bench seat and small cargo bed were added from plastic card.
Now for the starter gear itself......

3 comments:

Paul Foster said...

Interesting bodge Tim. Well outside of the norm as you are renown for.

Tim Gow said...

Paul Foster
Just when you think you've seen it all!

Cem Özdoğan said...

good job!i guess matchbox staff car?advice you tin planes of ww1 but not in market nowadays.