"Mad Hornet to Tower, request taxi to runway 1
6."
"Tower to Mad Hornet, Roger that, clear to taxi to Runway 1 6 via
taxiway Alpha. Winds are currently out of the south at 1 8 0 at 10 knots. Clear
skies, visibility is 10+. It's a great day for flying!"
Every day is a
great day for flying with your Ugears Mad Hornet vintage racer. Inspired by the
Granville Brothers' Gee Bee Model R-1 Super Sportster and other vintage racing
aircraft of the 1930's, the Mad Hornet Airplane has a fat, teardrop-shaped
fuselage and a cockpit located well aft, to give the pilot better visibility for
tight turns around race course pylons.
The 1920's and 30's were the
"Golden Age of Flight." Aircraft design evolved from cloth and wooden biplanes
to metal monoplanes, and ever more powerful aircraft engines opened up new
possibilities for military and civilian use. Air racing, as depicted in the
popular "Rocketeer" comic books, became a spectator sport. The Gee Bee R-1 won
the Thompson Trophy (one of the most prestigious U.S. air races) in 1932,
piloted by Jimmy Doolittle, who would go on to win the Medal of Honor for
leading a daring bombing raid on Japan after Pearl Harbor. With a maximum speed
of 294 mph, the R-1 lapped all but one of its competitors in the 1932 race
because it was able to stay high on the course owing to its excellent
maneuverability at high speeds. In Doolittle's words, "she is the sweetest ship
I've ever flown."
The Ugears Mad Hornet Airplane is a "Medium"
difficulty DIY wooden model with 354 parts, promising 8 hours of enjoyable
assembly time. The airplane model is powered by a wind-up helical spring motor,
often used in watch mechanisms and other precision instruments. Various gear
sets transmit power from the spring to the aircraft's movable parts. The Mad
Hornet features two modes: pre-flight check mode and taxi mode. Choose the mode
by setting the rotating drum in one of two positions. Insert the special key
into the stopper slot, then give up to 21 pulls on the winding string. Place the
aircraft on a flat surface, then remove the key and watch as your Mad Hornet
comes to life. In check mode the propeller spins while the wing flaps and tail
rudder wiggle, before the aircraft switches automatically to taxi across the
airfield to the runway for takeoff. In taxi mode your aircraft starts taxiing
immediately, traveling up to 2.5 meters!
Ugears is known around the
world for producing beautiful wooden DIY models and 3D puzzles, including all
types of vehicles—cars, trucks, motorbikes, trains, boats and airplanes. The Mad
Hornet is our most beautiful, complex aircraft model to date. We're also known
for our throwback, steampunk sensibility, so this short and stout 1930's speed
ship seemed perfect for a signature Ugears flyer. The Mad Hornet is an
attractive decorative item for your home or office shelf, but with all that
engineering it's really meant for imaginative play, especially showing off the
pre-flight sequence. The Mad Hornet's spinning propeller and moving tail rudder
and wing flaps working in tandem are plenty cool, but the sequential action of
having the model aircraft taxi after ground checks are complete is unique in our
collection.
No glue or special tools are required to assemble this DIY
model kit, just punch the pre-cut pieces out of their composite wood boards and
snap them together. When assembling your Mad Hornet Airplane model, remember to
lightly sand and wax the moving parts to make them run smoothly. This is a
"Medium" difficulty model so meant for somewhat experienced modelers or those up
for a challenge. The model kit includes detailed, illustrated instructions in 11
languages (Ukrainian, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese,
Polish, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean) to guide your assembly. If you're not
yet familiar with the Ugears catalogue of 3D puzzles, DIY model kits,
automatons, robots, wooden puzzle boxes and STEM Lab models you could order one
of our simpler models together with the Mad Hornet as a warm-up build.
The Mad Hornet Airplane is sure to appeal to aviation enthusiasts, model
airplane hobbyists, those who appreciate clever design, and admirers of "those
magnificent men in their flying machines." Looking for a thoughtful, unique
gift? Check. Are there any aircraft lovers among your circle of friends and
family? Check. The Mad Hornet is the perfect gift for birthdays or holidays. For
anyone who's dreamed of piloting a one-seater from the Golden Age of Flight and
dancing among the clouds, this flyer's for you!
Model size: 10.4*9.6*4.9
in (26.5*24.5*12.5 cm) Package size: 14.9*6.7*1.3 in (37.8*17*3.4 cm)
Number of components: 354 Estimated time for assembly: 8 hours
;)