Flight of the Phoenix Diorama

1
July 8, 2022
The cover of my 40-year-old copy of "The Flight of the Phoenix. The illustration shows the ski arrangement described in the book. The 1965 film used a different ski design.
2
July 8, 2022
Shot from the 1965 film showing the skis with wheels arrangement.
3
July 8, 2022
Illustration from the book showing basic design and construction of the Phoenix, as well as placement of pilot (Towns), Stringer, and passengers. The 1965 film used a different placement.
4
July 8, 2022
Shot from the 1965 film showing placement of pilot (Towns), Stringer, and passengers.

8 8 July 2022, 14:26

gorby
Looking forward to this one. 🙂

8 July 2022, 14:41

Spanjaard
very interesting.

8 July 2022, 14:41

Mike Szwarc
At this point, I'm still trying to decide what I want the diorama to show the Phoenix under construction, or completed. I'm leaning towards showing it under construction because that would tell the story of how the men were able to build the plane.

8 July 2022, 16:27

gorby
I've seen a couple of completed models of the Phoenix, but none showing it under construction so that would make yours stand out from the rest.

8 July 2022, 16:45

Alex K
When I started modelling as a kid... this was one of two dioramas suggested by my (now late) father... Needless to say, I was never capable of tackling it. So, it goes without saying, I'll follow with great interest. Two things, if I may... (1) Since you are going for the 1965 film and not the atrocious 2004 remake, shouldn't you looking for a C-82 Fairchild C-82A Packet (Anigrand Craftswork AA-4082, 1:144) instead of a C-119? And (2) just in case, here's one of the completed models of the Phoenix, by the great Gabriel Stern: wingsofintent.blogsp..ix-scratchbuilt.html and wingsofintent.blogsp..atchbuilt-172nd.html Best of luck! 👍

8 July 2022, 18:15

Mike Szwarc
Alex K, actually my intent for the diorama isn't to do a scene from the film, but rather to model the story told in Elleston Trevor's novel. The plane in the novel was the fictional Salmon-Rees Skytruck, which is described simply as "a passenger-conversion freighter, a twin-boom short hauler". As can be seen from the illustrations and film shots, the design of the Phoenix in the book differs from the design of the 1965 film Phoenix (and both are different from the 2004 film Phoenix). The story isn't which particular aircraft was used, but rather that a group of men in a particularly bad situation used their ingenuity and managed to save themselves. That's also why I'm leaning towards a diorama showing the Phoenix under construction rather than finished and ready for takeoff.

8 July 2022, 19:11

Alex K
I stand corrected - and your reasoning is perfectly sound, thank you for explaining this, Mike! Two thumbs up! 👍 👍

8 July 2022, 19:23