Granville Brothers and the Gee Bee Z

This model was built, photographed, and sent in by my friend Chauncy. He's the clever chap who designed the free download stand that does such a good job displaying Fiddler Green models. Thanks Chauncy
The Gee Bee Model Z: was the first of the legendary Thompson Trophy winners making it's debut in 1931. It won that year's race at the average speed of 236 mph. In a later attempt to break the existing world's sped record, it hit 281.9 mph but broke up in the air killing it's noted racing pilot, Lowell Rayles.

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Purchase Information $2.95 Available immediately as a cyber model Back to Racing Aircraft

What people say... Looks like Chauncy chose to display this model without the inflight refueling probe that's included with the model pictured on the right. The probe was cleverly engineered to be dual purpose and used by the US Navy (in the mid 30s) to hook midair onto the Shenendoah Airship as a possible alternate to the Sparrow Hawk biplane...Chip I put together the GeeBee Z with some modifications. 2X larger version design and built in Beer can, 4X6 wooden prop, Flight Stabilizing System, Scale pilot, U-control and then powered with a COX 0.10 engine. The Results? 28 kph speed, above 3 minutes flying and very aerobatic racer hehe... thanks Fiddlers Green, good plane!!! Luis

Here are some good quality pictures of your Gee Bee Z you may like. It is in 1/72 scale (fuselage is about 2.75-inches long) with some tweaks of mine you may notice. It's a cutie ! A blister cap from a cold pill would have worked for the canopy, IF I made the plane a little bigger. As it happens, I had to make it by heat stretching some plastic over a female mold I made. Never an easy out. My advice if someone wanted to use a blister cap or something on hand for the canopy, first scale the plane to fit it ! Used Red River silver paper for the prop with a pin holding it on (that's a pinhead out in front). Dr John Glessner