Czech Master Resin 1/72 Boeing Model 40B-4 “U.S. Users” By Jim Schubert

Introduction

The Boeing Model 40 was designed, built and flown in 1925 in response to a US Post Office Department specification for a mail plane to replace the DeHavilland D.H. 4Ms then in service. The Model 40 was powered by a 400 hp Liberty V-12 and featured an Albatros-like fuselage of laminated wood from the firewall aft. Although the Post Office Deptartment bought the airplane the Douglas M series, based on their military O series observation planes, won the competition and ultimately about 60 of the M series mailplanes were built for the Post Office Department.

In early 1927 Boeing bid on the San Francisco-Chicago portion of the new transcontinental airmail route and redesigned the Model 40 to have a conventional welded steel tube fuselage truss and to be powered with the new 420 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine. The plane, thus redesigned, and redesignated Model 40A, could carry two passengers in a cabin between the wings and 1,200 pounds of mail in two holds; one behind the engine and the other in front of the pilot. Because the Boeing had greater payload, and the ability to carry two passengers as well, Boeing’s bid was the lowest and won the competition for this route. Twenty five Model 40As were built and Boeing Air Transport began hauling the mail.

Boeing’s business flourished. It’s a long story, set out in full in the references given at the end of this article, so I’ll just summarize here:

It is a bit confusing, isn’t it? The last operational Model 40 was apparently scrapped in the early 1950s in Mexico. The 40 series were in service from mid 1927 through into the early 1950s. A 23 service life at that time was pretty good.

SURVIVORS/REPRODUCTIONS

*msn = Manufacturer’s Serial Number

The Kit

We’ve waited a long time for this one. A long, long time ago, way back during the Cold War, the predecessors of Czech Master Resin produced a fair kit of the Model 40B-4. I’ve included a photo of one built up recently by Will Riepl for Pemberton & Sons Aviation. This new kit, just released by CMR, is absolutely at the top of today’s state-of-the-art of resin kits. As always, with CMR, the castings are near perfection. Most are in the standard pale cream-colored resin used by CMR but the landing gear and some struts requiring more rigidity are cast in an extra-strength black resin. The beautiful decal sheet provides comprehensive markings for four-color schemes on three airframes. Eduard die-cut, self-adhesive masks are provided to simplify painting the outlines of the tail group green. The decal sheet provides the orange pin-striping inboard of those outlines. An adequate rigging diagram is included but you would, nonetheless, do well to refer also to photos to be certain you understand the rigging.

To further gild this lovely lily, CMR provide a fret of pre-painted, photo-etched details by Eduard. Twelve pages of instructional materials are provided with the kit. These include four pages of reference photos and four pages of color and markings instructions printed in full color.

I have only one nit to pick with this great kit. The retractable landing lights under the lower wing tips were omitted. They are very easy to add with a pair of MV brand lenses from a shop selling model railroad supplies.

Conclusion

This is a great kit of a long awaited iconic subject in civil aviation – the Boeing Model 40 series. As the box art notes “U.S. Users”, I presume we can expect some more issues from CMR of the Boeing Model 40s

Whiskey Jack Decals already offer their sheet 72-062 for two Western Canada Airways 40B-4s.

Sincere thanks to Czech Master Resin for providing the review sample of this kit.

References

• Boeing Aircraft Since 1916: Peter M. Bowers, Putnam, UK, 1966, Library of Congress # 66-11374.

• American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Vol. 49, No, 2, Summer 2004 article by Walt Bohl, Boeing Model 40 and its Descendents and Vol. 32, No. 3, Fall 1987 article by Kenn Rust, Early Airlines Accidents List – 1926/1941.

• Air Enthusiast Twenty Two, article When Boeing Flew the Mails by H. A. Taylor.

• Pedigree of Champions – Boeing Since 1916: Boeing, USA, 1985, Library of Congress # 85-71915.

• Boeing Aircraft Cutaways, the History of Boeing Aircraft Company: Mike Badrocke & Bill Gunston, Osprey, UK, 1998, ISBN 1- 85532-785-6.

• Air Mail – An Illustrated History 1793-1981: Donald B. Holmes, Crown, USA, 1981, ISBN 0-517-541467.

• Skyways the Journal of the Airplane 1919-1940: Nos. 11, 19, and 78.

• Fine Scale Modeler, October 1986: Bob Rice, Scratchbuilt Boeing Model 40B-4.

• Boeing Model 40 Series Drawings by James A. Morrow.

I must also acknowledge the assistance given me by the Boeing Archives, the Library of the Museum of Flight and Will Riepl.