Chrisgold Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) Hi Enthusiasts, I'm a plastic modeller building a diorama of the attached image of Mr Sikorsky and the VS300 helicopter. I would like to know any information (make, model, year) of the two handsome vehicles in this image. The photo is from Connecticut circa 1941,42. Any help appreciated. Thanks Chris London, England. Edited January 14, 2020 by Chrisgold Typo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 1942 Lincoln zephyr, and a 1942 dodge pickup truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgold Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Many thanks. Interestingly both new vehicles at the time. I wonder if the Lincoln was a press vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Frazee Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 That poor truck looks abused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) That's a fascinating photo of a very early helicopter. I hate to think of what eventually precipitated the decision to shield (enclose) the pilot from the blade. Ouch! Edited January 14, 2020 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 2 hours ago, Chrisgold said: I wonder if the Lincoln was a press vehicle. I doubt that! Newspapers would want operating economy, and back then, a business coupe or a 'utility sedan' with no rear seat would have been their prime choice for a news reporter to drive, with lots of room in the back for their camera gear. Plymouth or Dodge, Fords, Chevrolets, Studebaker Champions, or other inexpensive two-door offerings is what was commonly seen driven by news reporters. Craig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 2 hours ago, Roger Frazee said: That poor truck looks abused. Back then pickups were “working” vehicles not suburban housewives/husband oversized daily drivers. Have fun Dave S 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 2 hours ago, Hudsy Wudsy said: That's a fascinating photo of a very early helicopter. I hate to think of what eventually precipitated the decision to shield (enclose) the pilot from the blade. Ouch! That one was an improvement. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 The truck could even be earlier like 1939. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) That helicopter has another connection to automobiles. "The ship consists mainly of a tubular welded framework that includes near its center of gravity a 90 horsepower engine of the Aircooled Motors Corporation...…… " https://www.sikorskyarchives.com/VS-300_Helicopter.php That air cooled motor was an offshoot of the Franklin automobile. The company was formed by the two chief engineers of the former Franklin Automobile Co. Their engines were used in many small aircraft, helicopters, and trucks. And converted to water cooled in Tucker's cars.. Franklin air cooled aircraft engines are still being produced. Paul Edited January 15, 2020 by PFitz (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I believe the Pickup is a 39 or 40. The headlight was down on the inner slope of the fender. In 41 it went up on the crown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 As a modeler myself I can tell you neither the car or truck are available in plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lump Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 13 hours ago, Dave Mellor NJ said: I believe the Pickup is a 39 or 40. The headlight was down on the inner slope of the fender. In 41 it went up on the crown I wondered how to tell those Dodge pickups apart of that era, Dave. Thanks for that insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 on the modeling, in a reversal of actual history, you might kit bash a Continental for the Zephyr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgold Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Yes. Good tip on the kit bash. I'll look at doing that. Thanks. On 1/14/2020 at 2:51 PM, 1937hd45 said: That one was an improvement. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 On 1/14/2020 at 1:48 AM, Chrisgold said: Hi Enthusiasts, I'm a plastic modeller building a diorama of the attached image of Mr Sikorsky and the VS300 helicopter. I would like to know any information (make, model, year) of the two handsome vehicles in this image. The photo is from Connecticut circa 1941,42. Although no one has mentioned it, but I will. We want pictures of your completed project and even some in progress shots. 😃 We, here love all things automotive and would love to see your work. And there are some here, like Billy, that are very into scale models as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgold Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Thanks for the interest and I will post some photos. As I am scratch building the helicopter in 1:32 scale (there are no kits) it will take me some time. I plan to have it completed for the scale modelling nationals in Telford U. K. November. Many thanks to all that have taken time to reply to my questions. You guys are awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 The 1939 Dodge trucks have a V shaped chrome grill trim, in 1940 it’s more straight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 If that bottom truck is a 40 then the 39 is the only one with the headlight mounted on the inner slope. It also still had the bulb behind glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 I came across this YouTube video of early helicopter development efforts. At 11:24 it shows the helicopter bounce and throw the test pilot upward into the blade and get thrown a short distance. He only suffered a broken arm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k562IriqnlA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Hudsy Wudsy said: I came across this YouTube video of early helicopter development efforts. At 11:24 it shows the helicopter bounce and throw the test pilot upward into the blade and get thrown a short distance. He only suffered a broken arm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k562IriqnlA Now that’s a hard headed guy! Dave S Edited January 17, 2020 by SC38DLS (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Great video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) Here's a '39 Fargo. It, likewise, has the inboard mounted headlights.It has a neat hood ornament: Edited January 17, 2020 by Hudsy Wudsy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 13 hours ago, SC38DLS said: Now that’s a hard headed guy! Dave S I slowed down the video and you can see the pilot kind of turn and lift his arm just before the blade makes contact. Raising his arm most likely saved his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgold Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) As mentioned plastic kits are not available for the Zephyr or the Dodge truck. I've managed to find a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr (convertible) and a 1948 Ford pickup in the scale I need (1:32) in die-cast (photos attached) My plan is to take the apart both cars and recast in resin using the die-cast body parts as moulds. I will need to put a roof on the Zephyr to make it a hard top and convert the Ford pickup to look like a Dodge. Question for the experts. Are there any astetic differencences aside from the hard roof I need to be aware of between my 1939 model Zephyr and the 1942 Zephyr in the (original 1942) photo? Thanks Chris London, England Edited January 20, 2020 by Chrisgold Grammar (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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