RUTAN VOYAGER (A-Models)

This is a very wide 1:72 scale plastic model of the Voyager (N269VA) designed by Burt Rutan and flown around the world non-stop and unrefueled by Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager 14-23 December 1986. It took them nine days, three hours and 44 seconds to travel 42 432 km around the world at about 194 km/hr. In doing so it became the first aircraft ever to do the trip unrefueled, and it broke all previous flight endurance records. The FAI formally credits the flight at 40 212 km at an altitude averaging 3350 m.

The A-Model kit is very rough and there are bad surfaces in the molds. It required a lot of sanding and putty. The landing gear is unspeakably bad, so it was replaced by closed gear doors (also bad) and mounted in flight configuration. Paint is Rust-oleum spray can gloss white. The four flat windows were horrible, and were replaced with white glue which dries clear. The decals were delicate and split apart. I mounted the aircraft on a bisected plastic globe filled with cardboard.

The model has a nearly half metre wingspan, so is tough to transport.

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

Rutan Model 76 Voyager

First Place trophy for Civilian Aircraft at the 27 Oct 2019 Ottawa Scale Auto contest.