Bell D188A and Model 2000 VTOL Fighters (Navy F3L / USAF "XF-109")

[Steve Pace]

"More's the pity."

 

[sferrin]

Nevertheless, there wasn't much room left over for fuel tanks.

Those long ducts to the two tiny engines in the back have to be a big waste of space. Eight engines, tilting nacelles, six afterburners. . .what could go wrong?

 

[Triton]

Flight Tests of the Bell D-188A Jet VTOL Airplane

Description:

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p7UJEDG4E0

 

[Triton]

Model of Bell VTOL XF-109 D-188A Fighter Interceptor Prototype found on eBay from the estate of Emerson W Stevens.

This model can be yours for $38,500.00 or best offer.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/BELL-VTOL-XF-109-D-188A-FIGHTER-INTERCEPTOR-PROTOTYPE-/160554967040?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2561d26000

Seller's Description:

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.

 

[Triton]

Model of Bell VTOL XF-109 D-188A Fighter Interceptor Prototype found on eBay from the estate of Emerson W Stevens.

 

[circle-5]

I wonder how much they would ask if it had the original stand... Probably over $50,000.00.
I also wonder how much they paid from the estate sale... Probably $100, maybe $150.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Well, it is kinda big, at about 3 feet long.

Still, I could build a better and more accurate 1/18 scale D188A for a client for less than that.

 

[InvisibleDefender]

Waaaayyyy too much money for that kind of model. You'd be lucky to get $5k I think.

 

[Triton]

I ignored the eBay listing for quite a while believing that the model was yet another third-world mahogany reproduction. It wasn't until I saw the price that I inspected the listing more closely.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Down to a mere $17,500 now.

 

[Orionblamblam]

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,

 

[sferrin]

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,

The response you got makes me want to go email him and ask him WTF is up with the outrageous price just for the lulz. ;D

 

[Stargazer]

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,

What an idiot! Who would spend #38,000 on a model, however rare? Not even an aviation museum! The guy has no idea of the real value of the stuff and figured that by putting up a very high price there was always a chance that someone would be silly enough to bid... And worst of all, he has a chance to talk with a specialist and brushes it off in a very rude manner. Leave him with his model, he doesn't deserve the money he would make out of it.

 

[Steve Pace]

I sure would like to know what the USAF s/n on its vertical tail is?.. -SP

 

[Orionblamblam]

There isn't one. No SN visible on the model anywhere.

 

[shockonlip]

This guy claims to be a collector, but he doesn't act like one.

He acts more like a con man!

Has anyone bid say $100 for it yet?

 

[Triton]

This is even better than the first one:

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

Source:
http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ShowAllQuestions&ShowASQAlways=1&frm=284&iid=160554967040&ssPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI&redirect=0&requested=toybum-is-fun!

 

[shockonlip]

So I bid on it !

Not even close to $17,500 !

I bid $100 !

I am being ignored.

Interesting.

 

[Triton]

Now down to $8,500.00.

 

[Orionblamblam]

That's an alternate form of auction. Instead of starting at zero and going up until people stop bidding, you start Ridiculously High and step it down. First person to bid wins.

I've no idea which system is better... but I do know which system is used more.

 

[shockonlip]

I had hoped that by making a legit. offer, although small, I could talk to the
guy a little. Like, where is local pickup? But since I'm being ignored, I tried
to send him a message. eBay wouldn't let me do that even, saying he doesn't
want any messages. This thing stinks actually!

So if you buy this thing and go see this guy, meet in a public place!
And bring lots of people !

 

[Orionblamblam]

Like, where is local pickup?

On his website, obviously.

Just bring a truck.

 

[circle-5]

Now at $3,850, or 10% of the original asking price. Pickup is still from his website.

 

[shockonlip]

Now it says "ended" at $6995.

Maybe some last minute bidding or its all bogus and just posturing.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Take a look at the other items the seller has available. A lot of 1/43 scale die cast car toys. They might be nice, I dunno, diecast cars ain't my schtick. But his "buy it now" prices tend to be over $1200 for these things. I *really* can't see why such toys would be worth so much.

I've seen movies where everyday items were sold for shockingly high prices. Those movies tended to involve the mafia and money laundering. Just sayin'.

 

[circle-5]

Now it says "ended" at $6995.

Maybe some last minute bidding or its all bogus and just posturing.

$3,850 was a "Buy-it-Now" price, so it would have been impossible to pay more. The seller probably raised his price up to $6995, then closed the auction, so people would believe they missed out. It's surely part of an deeply elaborate marketing strategy that even the seller barely understands. Expect to see this D-188 back on eBay for more entertainment.

 

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys and Girls, here is an article in French about the Bell D-188A VTOL jet fighter "project"......

The article comes from the 23rd December 1960 issue of Les Ailes......

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[jzichek]

Check out the latest article on RetroMechanix.com presenting some early reports on the Bell D188A VTOL fighter:

The first report, dating from December 1956, presents the earliest known D188A configuration (at least as presented to the Navy), along with a pair of other designs that share characteristics with the earlier D188 design of October 1956. The second report, dating from February 1957, describes a revised version of the D188A powered by six J85 engines. The gallery features 72 images reproducing the reports and includes several high resolution drawings. This is the first of a multi-part series on the type which will be published over the next several months, so please check back frequently for updates.


-Jared

 

[Stargazer]

Thank you so much Jared. Every Retromechanix day is like Christmas right in the middle of summer! Especially when it deals with one of my all-time favorite aviation programs. Keep' em comin' my friend!

 

[jzichek]

You're welcome; there's plenty more to come, so stay tuned!

 

[jzichek]

The second article in a series on the Bell D188A VTOL fighter is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

The article reproduces a Bell brochure dating from July 1957 which presents a further refinement of the six-jet configuration first illustrated in the February 1957 report covered in Part I of the series. The accompanying gallery features 25 images with numerous schematics and illustrations. More installments to follow in the weeks ahead, so please stay tuned!


-Jared

 

[Stargazer]

Fantastic! Keep 'em coming my friend!

 

[Orionblamblam]

Expect to see this D-188 back on eBay for more entertainment.

Nope. That's crazy. No way. Never gonna happen.

Oh.

Wait...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BELL-AIRCRAFT-VTOL-D-188A-FIGHTER-DESIGN-STUDIO-MODEL-/160644188126?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256723c7de

Overpriced Wacky Seller Giant D-188A Model 2: Electric Boogaloo

 

[GeorgeA]

Fifteen G's? Seriously?

 

[sferrin]

It'd be fun to offer him $20 and troll for the lulz. ;D

 

[Orionblamblam]

If you ask him a question, be sure to point out that if it didn't sell for three grand the last time, why should it sell for this much *now*?

 

[jzichek]

The third article in a series on the Bell D188A VTOL fighter is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

The article reproduces correspondence and progress reports from September through November 1957. The accompanying gallery features 21 images with many interesting drawings, photos and illustrations. More installments to follow in the weeks ahead, so please stay tuned!


-Jared

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Truly excellent work Jared - thanks for doing it and here's to many more posts to come!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Grey Havoc]

Truly excellent work Jared - thanks for doing it and here's to many more posts to come!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Seconded.

 

[jzichek]

The fourth installment in a series on the Bell D188A VTOL fighter is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

The article reproduces the first third of a design data summary report submitted by Bell to the Navy on November 15, 1957. The accompanying gallery features 74 images with many interesting high resolution drawings, photos and illustrations. Additional installments to follow in the weeks ahead, so please stay tuned!