Steve Pace
Aviation History Writer
- Joined
- 6 January 2013
- Messages
- 2,266
- Reaction score
- 211
"More's the pity."
XB-70 Guy said:Nevertheless, there wasn't much room left over for fuel tanks.
Test demonstrates flight tests of a 1/8-scale model of the Bell D-188A Jet VTOL Airplane at NASA Langley Reseach Center in the Free Spinning Tunnel and Full Scale Tunnel, respectively. The test was conducted by Charles C. Smith, Jr in 1958.
You're viewing the one and only Bell Aviation design studio built, in-house produced display model of the D188A from the 1950's. This design was the prototype of the still-born Bell XF-109 VTOL interceptor, fighter-bomber aircraft submitted to the USAF. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own the original and only Bell factory display model of the D188A / XF-109 produced by Bell in the 1950's. USA quarter dollar coin is next to model for size comparison. News article and professionally framed official Bell Aviation picture are also included. Own a REAL piece of aviation history!
I used 12 of the 33 pictures I took (ebay only gives you room for 12) that I think gives a good overall physical description. Scale seems to be roughly about 1/18. Size is almost 3 feet long at 33.5 inches. Width is 13.5 inches and height (to the top of the rear vertical stabilizer) is 6.25 inches tall. Weight seems to be about 8 to 10 pounds. From what I can determine, some of the material used in the manufacture of this incredible one-off aviation treasure seems to have been fiberglass and other aviation grade resins of some sort, possibly with a dense wooden core. As you can see, the workmanship is absolutely superb. The twin General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines nacelles on the tip of each of the two wings can be physically rotated horizontal to vertical, just as the real ones did. When vertical, the twin jet engine nacelles on the wing tips look like they're angling outward, but that's in the pictures only. Physically holding this Bell design model of the D-188A by hand on the bottom center of the fuselage will show both of the twin-engined nacelles to be exactly right-angle vertical, just as Bell designed them both to be on the real aircraft. Both left and right rear horizontal stabilizers also rotate per the real aircraft, as they do on an F-111. The entire wing unit lifts out, the two rotating rear horizontal stabilizers are also removable, as is the rear vertical stabilizer. There's minor chipping at the tip of the rear of the top of the vertical stabilizer. While so inconsequential that it's difficult to show in pictures, there's also a few minor surface scratches. When viewing the pictures, you may notice some minor decal loss, while other decals are loose. In my estimation, this makes overall decal condition (while relative to interpretation) about an 8.5 to a 9, out of a 10. The left wing top "star n' bar" insignia (see picture) has had a small part of the missing interior of its star painted. Any of the aforementioned minor issues could be easily rectified by a competent modeler, or left in its original state for display. As you can see, all the painting and movable details are in very good to excellent original condition.
Structural condition is sound and solid. Under careful examination it appears that no part of this still completely original Bell Aviation built, in-house design model, was ever cracked or repaired. There's no stand to hold the model aloft, but a slot in the bottom of the fuselage (see picture) might have originally been meant for the placement of one, if one was ever even made. I've recently been informed that the original engineer of the Bell Aviation program for this aircraft had taken the original Bell metal wind-tunnel test model for the D188A/XF-109 home, at the time when this entire project was terminated.
This one-off, in-house Bell Aviation produced model of their prototype D-188A design should reside within an aviation museum, or within the professional collection of a true aviation enthusiast. If you're seriously considering adding this extremely rare one of a kind manufacturers design study model to your museum or private collection, please feel free to ask additional questions, or for additional pictures.
overscan said:Down to a mere $17,500 now.
Q: Nice early proposal model... one I never had in my collection of 3000 plus.. but I must say one thing.. where on earth did you get that silly price from? The MOST I EVER sold one of my one-of-a-kind models that makes this one pale in comparison was $7500...and it was a GREAT economy back then....
A: I have no idea whom you are, nor would I ever really care to know. Why you, some stranger out there in cyber-space would feel the need to use the ebay contact email system the way you did to make contact (with no intent of making any kind of an offer) is beyond me. I know your need to write me was all that really mattered to you, but (FYI), that's why they call it a ^^best offer^^ auction, no matter what the starting price is. Have a nice day and please remember not to run with the scissors, TTB
Orionblamblam said:overscan said:Down to a mere $17,500 now.
I need to study at the feet of this master of marketing:
Q: Nice early proposal model... one I never had in my collection of 3000 plus.. but I must say one thing.. where on earth did you get that silly price from? The MOST I EVER sold one of my one-of-a-kind models that makes this one pale in comparison was $7500...and it was a GREAT economy back then....
A: I have no idea whom you are, nor would I ever really care to know. Why you, some stranger out there in cyber-space would feel the need to use the ebay contact email system the way you did to make contact (with no intent of making any kind of an offer) is beyond me. I know your need to write me was all that really mattered to you, but (FYI), that's why they call it a ^^best offer^^ auction, no matter what the starting price is. Have a nice day and please remember not to run with the scissors, TTB
Also pure awesomeness:
Ships to: Local pick-up only
Item location: My Website,
Orionblamblam said:overscan said:Down to a mere $17,500 now.
I need to study at the feet of this master of marketing:
Q: Nice early proposal model... one I never had in my collection of 3000 plus.. but I must say one thing.. where on earth did you get that silly price from? The MOST I EVER sold one of my one-of-a-kind models that makes this one pale in comparison was $7500...and it was a GREAT economy back then....
A: I have no idea whom you are, nor would I ever really care to know. Why you, some stranger out there in cyber-space would feel the need to use the ebay contact email system the way you did to make contact (with no intent of making any kind of an offer) is beyond me. I know your need to write me was all that really mattered to you, but (FYI), that's why they call it a ^^best offer^^ auction, no matter what the starting price is. Have a nice day and please remember not to run with the scissors, TTB
Also pure awesomeness:
Ships to: Local pick-up only
Item location: My Website,
Mar-09-11
Q: Hello, I am vary excited to see this model, what a beautiful and important piece! But please tell me, how or why is the price 38.5K??? In 23 years of collecting models, I have never seen such a high asking price. And I have paid 8.2K for a model myself. Sorry to ask, but I was just wondering what makes its so expensive? Thanks for your time, and for the look at your model!
A: Hello. Thank you very much for your very courteous, inquisitive, respectful and legitimate email. Per your email, please realize that you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. When I get a nice email like yours from a fellow collector, it's enjoyable to answer. The reason for the high starting price is that I already have a standing offer from a very serious collector. However, I wanted to put this one-off Bell factory mock-up model on ebay for a bit, to see if any other serious offers might come in. What's incredibly laughable is the way some people use the ebay email system to just vent on me in the most juvenile manner about the starting price, albeit (and of course) without any offers whatsoever. Are these people just off their meds, to even think they matter? It's obvious they have no money, or maybe the high starting price for some reason just intimidates them. In any case, if this continues to just be a feeding-frenzy for those who were mistakenly released, I might just call and accept the proposed offer I've mentioned. Thanks again for writing and for your interest. My kindest regards, TTB
shockonlip said:Like, where is local pickup?
shockonlip said:Now it says "ended" at $6995.
Maybe some last minute bidding or its all bogus and just posturing.
circle-5 said:Expect to see this D-188 back on eBay for more entertainment.
Mark Nankivil said:Truly excellent work Jared - thanks for doing it and here's to many more posts to come!
Enjoy the Day! Mark