This gas-powered model seaplane, with a six-foot wingspan, is displayed at the MONOVA Museum and Archives of North Vancouver in their BC coast transportation gallery. I restored it for the opening of their new museum in 2020.

Materials

Basswood
Model airplane tissue paper
Wire rope
Wood gussets
Glues and paints

Processes

Stripping
Cleaning
Fabricating
Re-skinning
Painting
Decal application

An Airframe Overhaul

This model seaplane was to be positioned up high from the ceiling in the museum. It was in poor shape and required an airframe overhaul. I stripped the tissue off the wings and fuselage and sanded the airframe. Throughout the plane, I found dead spiders and cobwebs. When I peeled off the layers of painted tissue, I discovered the original owner's name and address inside the cockpit. The old telephone number designation started with N-O. That's how old this thing was.

The original frame, in balsa, crumbled to the touch, so I repaired the frames, installed new section frames of basswood, strengthened the loose framework with wood gussets and glue, and cleaned the cockpit window.

Once the frame was sturdy and reinforced and the cobwebs were gone, the seaplane was ready for a new skin and paint.

new skin and paint

There are many reasons for a restoration. Natural elements and human contact can damage aircraft models like these. Some things made in the past are not necessarily safe to replicate. Solvents and paint are a significant concern to our health and expensive, too! You may remember the toxic effect of lead or toluene. Luckily, modern acrylics can mimic the same patina, shine or surface texture.

The tissue application for the body was next. I had to wait for the glue to set on the frames to apply a spritzing of alcohol and water to shrink the skin and remove wrinkles.

Many coats of paint began to stiffen the tissue and freshen the model. It was a cycle of painting, drying and smoothing wrinkles. I used a spray base and brush strokes to create the original look.

Wing and tissue drying

Torn fuselage underbelly

Protecting pontoons & Applying call-letters

The seaplane got temporary plastic bags as gum boots to protect the pontoons from wear on table surfaces, until it would be hung in the museum.

I carefully applied new decals after mapping out the call letters and arrow placements. The new white call letters were then ready to be painted onto the red wing skin, and I placed the arrows on top and underneath the port and starboard wings. The plane's body got a red arrow on both sides, and the wings got the new Canadian call letters.