Piasecki HRP-1 “Flying Banana” 1948
A helicoper, such as this, has a peel…. OK, so much for whirly bird humor.
Helicopter models are not as exciting to build as a fighter or bomber but they have a certain attraction especially colorful helos that are used in search and rescue. The Piasecki Company was an early proponent of twin rotor aircraft and produced a fabric covered fuselage capable of 140 mile range at the crusing speed of 64 knots. The US Navy, US Air Force and the US Coast Guard were all Piasecki customers in the early days of helicopters. The Coast Guard purchased three of these aircraft for evaluation with the option to buy another 13. Although the helos were considered a success, the Service considered them too “short ranged” at only 140 miles. One helo crashed in April 1951 when the engine failed and the other two were given to the Navy. Nick named by the CG crews, the “Flying Banana” was the only large twin rotor helicopter flown by the Coast Guard, the Service utilizing Sikorsky aircraft almost exclusively. Still, the “Flying Banana” was a revolutionary aircraft, it was the first equipped with a rescue winch and flotaion bags attached to the fixed landing gear for water rescues.
The model of the HRP-1 is resin cast and 1:72 in scale. I only used the fuselage tossing the kit supplied landing gear and rotor assembly in the trash. A 1:72 twin rotor chinook was looted for the rotor assembly, seats, and wheels. I fashioned the landing gear from brass tubing and wire. The windows were filled in with krystal clear liquid and the “bird” was spray painted with Tamiya paints. I made the USCG decals on my computer and the star and bar insignia came out of the scrap box. And like all my Coast Guard aircraft models, the Piasecki is on display at the Coast Guard Heritage Museum on Cape Cod.
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on February 9, 2015
You did an outstanding job on the ‘real’ kit…it looks great – but where did you get that ‘headline’ model? Is it an actual kit or some photo shop wizardry or what?
Mike Maynard said on February 10, 2015
I purchased the “banana” at a craft store, it’s made from a soft plastic material, perhaps vinyl. The rotors are from an old Aurora Piasecki H-21 “Work Horse” helicopter kit. The landing gear is brass tubing with wheels and decals from the scrap box. I added the landing pad and wheel chocks to dress it up for a model contest. It didn’t win the most humerous award, but a lot of folk got a good laugh from viewing. Thanks for the comment!
Craig Abrahamson said on February 10, 2015
Oh….like a piece of wax fruit for a centerpiece display – I didn’t think of that. Nice job on both, Mike.
Phil Steele said on February 9, 2015
The predecessor to my HUP-3. I love it !!
Morne Meyer said on February 10, 2015
A great rendition of a most ungainly looking creature of flight 😉 Well done!!!
Simon Whitney said on February 10, 2015
Nicely done Mike, how those things flew I never know.
Tom Cleaver said on February 10, 2015
Helicopters don’t fly – the earth repels them. 🙂
Rob Pollock said on February 10, 2015
That shows some real dedication, to turn a perfectly good machine into a tropical fruit. Stand is nice too.
Greg Kittinger said on February 10, 2015
I love unusual subjects – and you really picked a doozey! Nicely done. I’m also curious about the headline shot…
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on February 10, 2015
wow, man! Electric banana, gonna be the very next thing!
Marvelous choice of subject! You can see how it got it’s nickname!
Tom Cleaver said on February 10, 2015
As usual – great work, Mr. Maynard.
Mike Maynard said on February 11, 2015
Thanks for all the nice comments. Mr. Hackett, If you remember the lyrics to “Mellow Yellow”, you’re either a Donavan fan or old like me….Tom C, the “rotor head” pilots at the CG Air Station I was based at told me helos don’t want to fly, you have make them fly.
Steven Davis said on February 11, 2015
Is it fast? will it peel out? Sorry I slipped on that one…….
They both look great, glad we could enjoy the fruits of your labor
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on February 11, 2015
Mike: Both. He was a History Major, like yours truly, and made his money in another, unrelated field, ditto. Appraising tortured sheet metal in a tow yard ain’t academic.
Call me Bernie, Mr. makes me feel even older than I are.
Love them first generation helicopters, and I had no idea there was one of these!
Now, if somebody will do the first Sikorsky, V whatever, with the Igor Sikorsky (wearing a fedora) figure in the cockpit, and a good 1/48th S-55, I’ll be happy as all get out.
Yeah, unstable in all three axises, and if you lose the tail rotor or the jesus nut, you gots a problem.
bob mack said on February 12, 2015
imagine if they had sent a squadron of those against “King Kong”…great fun
Mike Maynard said on February 12, 2015
Bob, great comment! Picture King Kong swatting at a squadron of 1930’s Air Corps bi-planes with bananas for a fuselage…
Marek Halas said on February 12, 2015
Very appeeling!
Bernd Müller said on February 13, 2015
Modelling the sense of humor, i really like this, great Banana, Mike
George Williams said on February 13, 2015
Great post, Mike, and great modelling, too!
Frank Cronin said on March 4, 2015
Mike,
Like the humor and a great job on the model.