by Roger Shuffield

"Build it and they will come." I built it and small children came. With my 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood dead at my feet, I decided I would send it to heaven in pure style. Who wouldn't want to take this baby out for a spin?

The model is 1/25 standard scale from Revell. The boosters and main thruster were lathe turned from basswood and spray painted. The boosters are trimmed with 1/16" x 1-1/4" 'o'-rings.

The delta wing is made from some stuff called "Friendly Plastic" I had left over from the '80s. The main thruster and booster shrouds are from various model rocket parts. The vehicle's thruster shrouds were made from model rocket parts and cut-off ends of felt marker caps. The small thruster housings were made from quartered plastic easter eggs. The tail fin was carved out of basswood. The communication antennae were made from unknown spare parts.

Windshield and side window panels are painted flat black from the inside; white matte spray paint for the body and tops of the wing; black semi-gloss brushed on the underside, sides and tail of wing; gold metallic for the headlights and antennae.

The ship is hanging from the main thruster by a wire hanger mounted in front center. The model stands 17" high x 6" wide x 5 1/2" deep. The marble stand completing the display is made from old trophy parts.

Image: Side view

Image: Grille

Image: Business end

Image: Looking down