A model kit of a airplane I have wanted or years is finally on the market. It is the Transavia PL.12 Air Truk from the Mel Gibson movie “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” The resin kit is from a company in France called Sharkit. I have two questions which I hope those who have seen the movie can answer. As the Air Truk is taking off it appears to have bags of stones under the wings. How do you duplicate this on a 1/72 scale model? The other question concerns the color. And before you comment I realize this inquiry should be in the paint section but i didn’t want to have to post my questions in two sections. I cannot tell from the watching the movie if the color is flat black or olive drab. Can anyone help me?
Just thought I’d post a pic of the (sorta) airplane in question…
Looks like a Cessna O-2 and a Volkswagen Beetle had a “Special” kid…
Here’s a three-view drawing, just so one can see that it’s a sesquiplane rather than a monoplane…
I’ll try this one out on ya, Gordy…
In 1/72 scale, model railroad ballast would work pretty well, I’d think… I’d use white glue and water mixed 50-50 (and add a drop of dish-soap for a wetting agent. Stir, do NOT shake, to mix)… Take a piece of modeling clay and make a mold… Put the ballast in, then add the water-glue mix, allowing it to dry completely… Then remove the “stones” from the mold… If the rocks are bigger, use gravel from the driveway or cub…
As for the bag, was it netting or solid-color bags? If it’s netting, use a piece of nylon stocking… Wrap it around the “stones” and brush wth Testor’s (or whatever you like) liquid cement… That will soften the netting and allow it to conform to the racks…
If it’s a “regular” cloth-bag, just shape one out Sculpy clay or whatever epoxy putty you like… Then paint and mount…
Hey Hans, long time no see. How ya doin’? Welcome back!
Gary
What is the point of that plane? Is it a crop-duster or something? And Mad Max movies are pretty cool btw.
Life was gettin’ in m’ way here at the bar, Tex… Glad to be back 'n thanks… Was really cut-off for a spell there… Everything’s back to norbal now…
Part Two:
That’s the best pic I found, Gordo… Appears to be camouflaged in something similar to the USAF TO-114 colors, with brown and black along with the two greens and the tan…
It does have crop-dusting capabilities, yes… According to Wiki, it’s an “agricultural aircraft”… But then, Wiki says it’s a monoplane too… It ain’t, technically… It’s a sesquiplane…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transavia_PL-12_Airtruk
Here’s the specs:
http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsmovie/madmax/pl_12_airtruk.html
You make the call…
The pictures at this site might help, Gordo…
And it is their second child. Because the PL-12 has an older brother. The PL-11:
apperently you can make a living out of designing ugly aircraft:
http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/australia/kingsford_pl-7.jpg
You can find the whole story of their designer, Luigi Pellarini her:
Ugly little spuds, ain’t they?