On Miniature Wings: Model Aircraft of the National Air and Space Museum [Hardcover]

Thomas J. Dietz (Author), Eric F. Long (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

Providing a brief introduction to the world of model aeroplanes, Thomas J. Dietz then goes on to present a selection of model aircraft from the National Air and Space Museum, at the Smithsonian Institute. Fourteen years before the Wright brothers' famous 1903 flight, Samuel P. Langley, then Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, acquired a model of John Stringfellow's triplane and began the museum's model aircraft collection. Since then the museum's curators and modellers worked to develop what has become one of the finest collections of model aircraft and spacecraft in the world, exhibited today in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. Most of the 3000 models are hidden away in the museum's research and storage areas but this book will take you on a guided tour of some of the collection's highlights, from the simple wooden flying toys of the nineteenth century to a recent ten foot model of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise which took its modeller more than a decade to complete. Containing over 150 full colour photographs the book offers a fact-filled introduction to the miniature world of aeromodelling.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

(Location: USA) is a lifelong aviation enthusiast and modeller. Hhe served in the US Navy as an aviation electronics technician. Since then, he has contributed to exhibits on World War II air power and Cold War naval aviation. He is currently the Curatorial Assistant for Model Aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Lickle Pub Inc (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565660854
• ISBN-13: 978-1565660854
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 11.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to the world of model aircrafts., August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: On Miniature Wings: Model Aircraft of the National Air and Space Museum (Paperback)

I did not know anything about the world of model aircrafts until I picked up this book. This book does a wonderful job of interweaving the history of the Air and Space collection with the role model aircrafts played in the war effort. I would be remised if I did not strongly encourage the reader to really take the time to look at each picture in the book. Some of the pictures give you up close detail information on the the intricate work involved in the models (i.e. maps in the cockpits). This book gives you a new appreciation to a hobby that is finally getting the respect it deserves.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Scratch built Aircraft Models, November 6, 2010

By 

B. Kimball (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Miniature Wings: Model Aircraft of the National Air and Space Museum (Hardcover)

First, the Eric Long photography in this book is stunning. It's large format and printing brings all this scale models to life. It's a book you will refer back to and browse many times.

Most, if not all of these replicas are scratch built, from a multitude of materials. Aircraft range from the 1900s to concept designs. If you are a modeler of aircraft, or maybe just an aviation fan, this book is worth every penny.

The rear of the book lists all the models by aircraft type for easy reference.