One of the models I made master parts for Fantastic Plastic models was the 1/72 scale “Whispercraft” helicopter from the movie “The Sixth Day.” This was, IMO, one of my more entertainingly engineered kits, with lots of movable parts and options. Due to financial restrictions, it had no cockpit innards. And due to something happening with the molds and/or the master parts, it had a very limited production run and has been unavailable for some time.
There has apparently been enough interest shown that we are looking at re-releasing the kit, this time with full cockpit details. Also of *potential* interest is releasing a few extra parts to make a military variant. This would be invented out of whole cloth. I created a few clay “mockups” of potential alternate forward fuselage configurations, shown below. These are not meant to be the final designs, but instead are simply quickly-sculpted “sketches” to show possibilities.
If you are interested in a Whispercraft model, let me know via comments. Also, if you are interested in a Whispercraft and find one or another of the “alternate configurations” appealing, let me know that, too. if there is enough interest shown, the project will go forward, and probably with the alternate configuration that there is the most interest in.
First: a “conventional” configuration
Second: a “duck nose” configuration
Third: a tandem-seater like the Mil-24 “Hind”
Fourth: an asymmetrical configuration, like the Boeing AAH entry.
Fifth: a faceted “stealth configuration
10 Responses to “Whispercraft Revival”
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Funny, I just drove past the mil surplus store in Mojave yesterday where one of the full scale mockups is, and has been sitting for years. IIRC it still have the full cockpit interior too.
Is it photographable?
I believe it is yes, I will take some shots next time I am in the area, I don’t go to Mojave that often. Not sure if I can get into it though, they have the door padlocked.
Anything inparticular you want pictures of? I might be heading that way tomorrow.?
1: Overall shots
2: Shots of “details” (basically, anything that’s not a plain surface… landing gear, the NOTAR exhaust, inlets, panels, etc.
3: If the cockpit interior is visible, and obtainable shots of that.
Scott,
I’d keep the original nose shape and size to as much as possible. That way it remains recognizably a Whispercraft and not something… else.
A chin turret would be better than sticking it on top of the nose – better pilot visibility as well as aesthetics.
I am also VERY supportive of having a full cockpit interior. Models without such have always seemed… lesser… to me.
Madoc
> I’d keep the original nose shape and size to as much as possible.
Keep in mind, these alternate configurations would be *additional* parts in the kit, in addition to the “standard” configuration.
I’d be interested in the Whispercraft model, but i’d want to be able to have the other cockpit configurations, too.
Scott, I’d be interested in a Whispercraft, and find the original & stealth variants most compelling.
Agreed – Original and stealth are the best.
I would love to have a model considering Fantastic Plastic stopped production several years ago of theirs and are a little difficult to find. Let me know how it goes 🙂