To purchase this print, please to order the item from HobbyLink Japan, our distribution partner.
Only seven examples of the Short Calcutta were ever built. Operated by Imperial Airways in the Mediterranean starting in 1928, this three-engined seaplane had a somewhat unique configuration, in that the pilot and co-pilot flew the aircraft from an open cockpit, while the radio operator and up to 15 passengers flew in comfort in the enclosed cabin. Koike's painting features G-EBVG, the first Calcutta to fly, with a beautiful panorama of Mediterranean scenery in the background. The blue tones of the sea seem to spill elegantly onto the airframe and land as well in this work, creating a sense of airy freshness.
This print is reproduced on heavy art board and sized identically to the original, measuring 400mm x 315mm (15.75 x 12.4 inches). It's offset-printed, and the color reproduction has been approved by Koike himself. The art board measures 625mm x 453mm (24.6 x 17.8 inches), leaving white borders around the image to give you the freedom to have it framed as you please. The prints are packed in a special sleeve inside a sturdy shipping box designed to prevent any bending while on their way to you (for this reason, they cannot be combined with other types of items for shipping, they will be shipped separately, even if ordered with other items).