Scratch building the Short Mayo Composite

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TerryP
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:58 pm

Scratch building the Short Mayo Composite

Post by TerryP »

The Composite was designed to make a same day mail delivery to the United States possible. It was designed by Major Mayo.
The lower component was the named the Maia after the mother of the greek gods.
The upper component(the mail carrier )was named Mercury, who in Greek mythology was the messenger of the gods.

The starting point. A pre-war 1/72 scale plan was reduced to 1/144th, some wood and some tracing paper.
0001
0001 Composite.jpeg
One half of the fuselage is carved in outline, it will then be glued to the second piece to give the required thickness.
0002
0002 Composite.jpeg
the main planes and fuselage are carved and prepared for joining. The fin is already fitted because all of the aligning will be referenced to it.
0003
0003 Composite.jpeg
The wings are fitted and the engine nacelles and the nacelle locating cut outs are prepared.
0004
0004 Composite.jpeg
The engines and the tailplanes are fitted and the floats are carved ready for fitting.
0005
0005 Composite.jpeg
Now for Mercury, the fuselage is carved and the tailplanes are fitted, the wings engines and engine nacelles are carved and prepared for assembling.
0006
0006 Composite.jpeg
At last the two airframes are seen together.
0007
0007 Composite.jpeg
Carving floats for Mercury, it can be a messy business.
0008
0008 Composite.jpeg
Mother and son are united and nearing completion.
0009
0009 Composite.jpeg
A Little paint and some decals and they're done.
0010
0010 Composite.jpeg
Seen from another angle. Mercury still holds the worlds distance record for an aircraft of its type. Only one operational mail delivery was completed before WW11 intervened. Sadly Mercury was destroyed in a German air raid on Poole Harbour.
0011

TerryP
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:58 pm

Short Composite Pt2

Post by TerryP »

It's not really Pt2 it's just that I couldn't get the last photo on, so I am assuming that maybe only 10 attachments are allowed on a topic.
0011
Attachments
0011 composite.jpeg

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Tim R-T-C
Posts: 290
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2020 9:16 pm

Re: Scratch building the Short Mayo Composite

Post by Tim R-T-C »

Fascinating prototype and really cool to see the whole process of the build.

AndrewN
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2020 8:11 pm

Re: Scratch building the Short Mayo Composite

Post by AndrewN »

Wonderful work! :D

Stick & Strings Joe
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 9:18 am

Re: Scratch building the Short Mayo Composite

Post by Stick & Strings Joe »

Now that's what I call skill.
Cheers
Joe M

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