DC-9-30 USAir Completed Project

Hello everyone,

Here is my completed DC-9 model. This one is special to me because it represents my first flight as a child during a family vacation to Orlando 26 years ago. It was one of the first experiences to spark my interest in aviation and surely influenced me to pursue such a career. And during this time of not flying, it’s nice to have a reminder of that spark!

I built out of the box from an Airfix kit. Scale 1:144 (forgot to mention before). I split off the elevators and repositioned them in a more “free floating” fashion as is notoriously seen during taxiing. I took out most of the raised details and scribed lines instead. Various small details were added such as spray deflectors, aileron actuators, thrust reverser sleeve holder thingys, elevator feel pitot probe, and turbine blades (although you can’t see them lol), and other things. The USAir insignia comes from FlightDesigns decals. However, I decided to paint all of the red and blue stripes instead of using decals. I made decals for some details like static ports, lights, and an outflow valve. The windshield lining was edited but came from an old TWA decal sheet I had laying around.

Paints were a combination of Tamiya lacquers and acrylics followed by a TS13 clear coat. Then Alclad chrome was used for the main polished aluminum airframe. I sealed with Aqua gloss and then used AK Xtreme metallics to add some panel shades. Decals were added and then another coat of Aqua Gloss (I hated to do it but figured the model needs the protection). Then came some weathering.

The most tedious part was four rounds of wet sanding. The most strenuous part was the multiple iterations of masking lines!

Comments and critiques are always welcome.

Very nice. What scale is your model?

Thanks! Sorry forgot to mention the scale is 1:144.

Very nice! Isn’t Alclad great for airliners?

Very nicely done!

thanks! Alclad works great. first time I used it. I also like the AK xtreme metallics. But the alclad chrome seems to look just a touch better than the AK chrome

Well done Jon! Great subject and livery. Metalwork looks fantastic.

Nicely done. The DC-9 was my first flight as a kid as well and to Orlando to boot. Great job.

Thanks everyone. The kit was a fun build!

Hi,

Your build looks great. The DC-9 (and its derivatives) was always my favorite plane to travel on. It was bigger than most the regional stuff, but small enough to not taje too long to load or unload, and if you flew on the left hand side, there was no middle seat to deal with [:)]

Pat

80% chance of no middle seat

Very nice work, indeed, Jon. Love this old livery…its missed, along with the beauty and noise of the DC-9! great work on the metal finish, too. Takes a lot of work and patience, and yours has paid off! Thanks for sharing. [:D][Y]

Paul

Thank you!

the Boeing 717 just isn’t the same

Hey Boss!

Da Plane-Da Plane !

And whatta pretty one ! Very well done my friend!

Good job, it came out great.

I have that same kit. It’s been sitting with the 737 for years, but I want to do it as a C-9 Nightengale medical transport and the 737 as a T-43 navigational trainer.