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Prelude
Updated 2024, April 30
Free admission by the author; James Hood is a “scale model geek” who has been building scale models since age 6. Primarily these have been plastic (hard polystyrene), though balsa wood airplanes were given a go on occasion. Machines in particular have been a source of fascination since childhood and choice of models to build has reflected that.
Specializing in a particular subject matter and scale is tremendously common among long-time scale modelers. A typical example of this would be someone who builds veritably nothing but World War II, single-engined airplanes in 1/48 (4 feet of actual subject = 1 inch of the model’s dimensions).
Even in childhood, (then) young James Hood had too wide a range of interests to focus on any narrow area and therefore built models, “with no particular regard to or focus on any subject, scale or era.”
“Free-spirited scale modeling.” Examples?
- Aircraft from the dawn of fright, through modern jets, in scales of 1/144, 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scales
- Military vehicles in 1/285, 1/72, 1/35, 1/32, 1/25, 1/16 scales
- Automobiles and trucks in 1/87, 1/64, 1/48, 1/32, 1/25, 1/24 and 1/8 scales
- Boats and ships in 1/2000, 1/1200, 1/700, 1/600, 1/500, 1/350, 1/144, 1/125, 1/72 and 1/35 scales
- Figures of people and animals (and a few long-ago, movie monsters) have received a fair amount of attention. Figures of people have been about equally divided between molded polystyrene and cast metal, with a few poured resin ones. Figures of people were built in 1/72, 1/48, 1/35, 1/32 (also known as 54mm, as that would be the height of a average person), 77mm, 100mm, 1/12, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/6 scales
- Animals and movie monsters in scales from about 1/400 (“Godzilla”) to 1/12, 1/8, 1/4 and a number of birds in 1/1 scales
- Spacecraft in varied scales (there are no really common scale standards for kit manufactures in space, either fact or fiction)
Without reservations, in those decades from single digits age until now, well over a thousand model kits have been assembled (an a number of subjects built from scratch or converted from existing kits). James Hood continues happily, still building scale models…and yes, still without regard to any subject, scale or era loyalty.
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What does scale modeling have to do with writing the Adventure– series of books?
Adventure– is action-adventure-exploration with a slight science fiction flavour, loosely between “Dieselpunk-lite” and “Atompunk-lite,” in genre.
Therefore, machines feature heavily in the Adventure— stories…
…a great gob of machines.
Being equally a visual-kinesthetic-auditory learner, scale modeling satisfies the first two learning styles quite well. As long as one has a vivid imagination, adequate references and an ability to “think in scale.”
However, seeing actual prototypes of the subject often allows additional senses to be brought into the learning. Touching an actual ship, hearing an airplane engine, smelling exhaust or lubricants…is an enhancement to further understanding-experiencing the machine-subject. This for sure was helpful for James Hood, in addition to building models.
Hope and intent is, to ultimately post images of “models from Adventure–” on this page.
But wait, there’s more; since the Alternate World is an admittedly picturesque place (look at the covers of the novels on the “Books” page of this site.
Perhaps this section will see some featured artwork, as well?
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A list follows, of scale model kits which have been “consulted” during the research for, draughting and writing of the Adventure– stories. Some are listed below, which will or may appear in Adventure— volumes beyond 2.
If you want to give a go at building a “model from Adventure— “, this section is for you. Use Adventure I and II as references, and where colours and markings are not described or inferred, use your imagination!
NOTE! As the Adventure-– stories take place in the 1970s, machines used in the stories are of this and (especially) previous decades, manufacture.
For reference, Adventure–Into the Neverland and Adventure–Dragons of the Neverland will be referred to below as, “AV 1” and “AV 2.”
The Open Water Exploration Company will be referred to as “OWEC,” in the entries.
Model kit manufacturer names and kit scales used for reference (and can be used to model machines in the Adventure— stories) are given.
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AC Cobra Roadster, Dr. Valerie Chandler’s automobile as featured in Adventure–Into the Neverland. (AMT 1/25 and Monogram 1/24 kits can be used as basis for this vehicle)
Consolidated PBY Catalina, propeller-driven, 2-engine (14-cylinder radial) WW II patrol bomber flying boat or amphibian. The “Island Princess” and “Coconut Queen” are war-surplus PBYs owned by OWEC and mentioned in Adventure–Into the Neverland and Adventure–Dragons of the Neverland. (Minicraft 1/144, Airfix 1/72 and Monogram 1/48 PBY kits can be used as basis for OWEC’s PBYs.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, single-engine jet light attack plane, aircraft carrier capable, built during the 1950s and 60s. Lt. Christopher Archer, USN, flew A-4s from the aircraft carrier USS Gettysburg off the coast of Vietnam, in a detachment from squadron VA-155 “The Great Owls.” He was shot down by North Vietnamese antiaircraft fire in modex number “405,” detailed in Adventure–Into the Neverland. Airfix and Hobby Master 1/72 and Hasegawa and Monogram 1/48 A-4 kits can be used as a basis for Lieutenant Archer’s “Owl 405.”
Douglas DC-3 Skytain, Dakota, Gooney Bird (and several other names), propeller-driven, 2-engine (9 or 14-cylinder radial) transport and passenger airplane, built during the late 1930s to abut the end of World War II . Hundeldt Airlines’ DC-3, “Delta Tango Zulu” in Adventure–Into the Neverland is configured to carry 21+ passengers on the Singapore-to-Mecca pilgrimage route. Minicraft 1/144, Airfix 1/72 and Monogram 1/48 DC-3 kits can be used as basis for Hundeldt Airlines, Singapore DC-3s, DTZ and KKF (Kilo-Kilo Foxtrot).
Douglas DC-6, large (55,000 lbs empty, maximum loaded, 107,000 pounds, 40-80 passengers or mixed with cargo to 28,000 pounds load) propeller-driven, reciprocating 4-engine (four 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800s) transport and passenger airplane built during the 1950s. The DC-6B in Adventure--Dragons of the Neverland is a mixed-load, aircraft operated by OWEC for supplies-and-passenger transport and delivery. Heller’s 1/72 DC-6 kit can be used to build the Open Water Exploration Company’s “The Great Silver Bird.”
Ford Thunderbird, 1958, Seafoam Green, Christopher Archer’s automobile, modified with a 390 cubic inch V-8 engine, 3 – 2 barrel carburetors, 4-speed transmission and racing suspension, California license plate, “Maynard.” Monogram’s 1/24, 1958 T-Bird hardtop can be used as basis for modeling “Maynard.”
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, slang nickname, “Dollar Nineteen”, twin-engined (18 cylinder Wright R-3350 radial) with 2 auxiliary underwing jet engines; ex-military transport airplane, built in the early 1950s and sold surplus a decade-plus, later. OWEC-operated, civil-registered C-119, G-KELY (registered in Great Britain) is featured in Adventure–Into the Neverland. Italeri, Testors and Roden 1/72 C-119 kits can be used as a basis for modeling the “Dollar Nineteen.”
General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division FM-2 Wildcat, single-engine, propeller-driven (9-cylinder radial) carrier-capable fighter built during latter part of WW II, based on Grumman F4F. OWEC operated FM-2s from the survey aircraft carrier Venture in Adventure–Into the Neverland and the pirates continued using them in Adventure–Dragons of the Neverland, from the mutiny-seized, renamed New Mayflower. Airfix 1/72 and Sword and Hobby Boss 1/48 kits can be used as basis for Expedition FM-2s.
Grumman (and Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors) TBF / TBM Avenger, single-engine, propeller-driven (14-cylinder Wright R-2600 radial) torpedo bombers built during WW II. OWEC operated TBMs from the survey aircraft carrier Venture in AV 1 and the pirates continued using them in AV 2 from the mutiny-captured, renamed New Mayflower. Academy and Airfix 1/72 and Accurate Miniatures 1/48 TBM kits can be used as basis for Expedition TBMs
International Harvester Scout, Valerie Chandler and Lelanie VanGhent’s onshore encounter with a dragon in Adventure–Dragons of the Neverland, takes place in and around an IH Scout. Ertl-AMT’s 1/25 (hardtop) kit of an IHC Scout sport-utility-vehicle is representative of the vehicle in the book.
Jaguar Mk II Saloon, Lady Anne Tradescant’s automobile, mentioned in Adventure–Into the Neverland. (Tamiya’s 1/24 kit can be used to model this vehicle)
North American T-6 Texan (US Navy SNJ) single-engine, propeller-driven (9-cylinder radial) advanced training airplane built during WW II. OWEC operated several SNJs from the survey aircraft carrier Venture in AV 1. (Heller 1/72 and Monogram 1/48 T-6 kits can be used as basis for Expedition SNJs)
Venture — see USS Mackinac Strait
USS Gettysburg, CVS-50, US Navy WW II era aircraft carrier from which Lt. Christopher Archer flew, operating in the South China Sea. Gettysburg was a modernized Essex class ship with new island structure, hurricane bow and angled deck. (Revell 1/540 issues of USS Essex, Hornet, Wasp and Kearsarge, and Gallery 1/350 USS Intrepid kits can be used as basis for modeling Gettysburg)
USS King’s Mountain, CVL, US Navy WW II era light fleet aircraft carrier, purchased as scrap from the Italian Navy in Adventure-– 2 by Mungo St. Valentine. (Ship will appear in Adventure– 3. High quality injection-molded polystyrene kits of USS Independence class ships Independence, Princeton and Belleau Wood are available in 1/700 and 1/350 and can be used as basis for conversion to ex-King’s Mountain.
USS Mackinac Strait, CVE-125, US Navy end-WW II / early Cold War era escort aircraft carrier. After the US Navy put the ship up for scrap, OWEC purchased Mackinac Strait, renaming her Venture, which became flagship of the First Expedition in Adventure— 1. After the mutiny, the ship was renamed New Mayflower by the Pirates and is also featured in Adventure— 2. (Niko resin 1/700 kit of USS Commencement Bay is the only kit available of a Commencement Bay class CVE and is suitable for modeling Venture / New Mayflower.).
Westland Whirlwind (License-produced Sikorsky H-19 design) helicopter, flying from OWECS Venture and Surveyor, in Adventure— 1, can be modeled from Airfix’s 1/72 Westland Whirlwind polystyrene kit.
Willys MB “Jeep,” 4-wheel drive, 1/4 ton capacity light utility vehicle, the immortal WW II Jeep. A number of (mostly ex-French Army) MBs were purchased by and operated by, OWEC. Airfix 1/76 and Heller, Italeri and Tamiya 1/35 MBs and 1/16 Takom MB can be used as basis for Open Water Exploration Company, Expedition “Jeeps.”
MORE COMING SOON
JAMES HOOD 