I was at Hobby Lobby today and noticed they had a slew of 1/144 kits on sale, not the least of which were some airliners. These were Academy’s, a bunch of different 727-200’s in 2-3 varying schemes and one 737 in BA livery. The best part, they were $6-6.50 on sale! These same kits are being hawked by the eBay fascists at upwards of $15, before shipping - so I grabbed a couple.
I got the box opened on them just to have a look and I was impressed. Pretty nice moldings with the ‘de riguer’ overscale engraved panel lines common on everything these days. The landing gear were actually pretty good for their tiny size and the decals were really nice. I noted a few details amiss, like the lack of landing lights, but overall, pretty nifty.
I gave the engine nacelles a shot after supper and what a dream! Before I knew it… they were done. No super detailing or worrying over every little wire, nut and rivet. I can see this is gonna be nice and will end up being about the finish, and not the minutae. Sweet!
I may have to go back and snag a couple more of those kits before it’s over; Xmas that is!
To you experienced airliner heads, I’d like to ask for some pointers. Any little tricks that help would be great. There were a few threads around here, too, on airliner items, lately. If someone can recall them and point me to them, that would be nice, too. Is there time to still get in the airliner GB?
There’s nothing really that different about making an airliner model compared to just about everything else. And since it appears you’re not doing any rivet-counting, I’d say just have at it! It’ll be fun! Which kit are you making anyway?
I must have hit the same sale when I was home a couple of weeks ago I Mini craft kits I got a DC4,DC6,C54 coast guard, Delta DC8, Connie, and a post office 727 All marked down 75% I wish I would have picked up the 777 for $11.00 [:)]
There’s nothing really that different about making an airliner model compared to just about everything else. And since it appears you’re not doing any rivet-counting, I’d say just have at it! It’ll be fun! Which kit are you making anyway?
Sorry, I didnt say. Im starting on the 727-200. I have always liked the trimotors and they have become one of the most popular and successful aircraft in history. I simply have wanted one in my collection for a long time. Im drawn to them like a moth to a flame.
But I dont really think the United Airlines markings that come with the kit have enough “pizazz,” so I am looking for something else. I found some of the old Alaskan airlines markings which I fancy. We’ll see.
This is my first and I wrongly thought it might be an easier beginning. There is no such thing. These small models magnify even the tiniest of mistakes - doing the job well is as important as anywhere else.
I must have hit the same sale when I was home a couple of weeks ago. Mini craft kits I got: a DC4, DC6, C54 coast guard, Delta DC8, Connie, and a post office 727. All marked down 75% I wish I would have picked up the 777 for $11.00
Those are the ones. I dont have an interest in most of those, but I DO want to snatch a Connie. And maybe another 737, 727 and add a DC8, or two…
Hey- those are great! You’ll have room to display them too.
Umm… paint before assembly as much as possible. These guys have real sharp demarcations, plus most everything is mirror imaged, so it helps me to mask on a flat surface and compare side by side. Also, engine pods get tricky to mask around.
You’ve got window decals, right? I’ve tried to use the plastic window inserts every which way- paint each half, glue them in, join halves. Or, glue them in, mask the window stripe where the decal goes, paint, decal. It depends on the scheme. Or use Krystal Klear. Masking each window is never a good option for me.
I’m actually on my first airliner as well, an ancient Airfix 1/144 DC-9-30. Since I’m using it as a learning tool, I decided to try the windows two ways - filled in, sanded down and using decals on one side, and using Testors clear parts cement for windows on the other side. So far, just getting the filled-in side smooth has been a real challenge, because, yes, gloss white paint makes every little tiny frickin’ flaw stand out like dominoes on a pool table. exhales There, I feel better now.
My only tip is to make sure you check out oldhokker’s landing light fix for these kits. It’s on page 2 of the airliner group build thread. If you’re brave enough to do a little hobby knife surgery and lay down metal foil, it’s a really easy fix.
I sure appreciate the support and comments. Thanks!! Let me address each in turn:
Okay I got you. I can do a lot of it that way and I wont forget the tight edges.
Im going to use the window decals that came with it, or in whatever AM markings I come up with. The kit has no surface details for windows so Ill need decals. The flight deck clear plastic windows are also crap and I will surely use the decals for them. I had tossed around the idea of masking them, but I dont think Ill bother this time.
Too, I am tossing around the idea of a window-less cargo bird, so a whole fuselage full of them may not be needed at all .
Ive been a regular visitor to airliners.net for a long time and have marked AHS in my list. I’ve also found some other sources in the US and England for decals.
Your DC-9 is about the same thing as my 727. Except I have no molded in windows. This makes my choices easy = decals or nothing. The gloss paint job is the scariest part to me, but it’s time I cross that chasm.
I have it saved to my file. The surgery looks easy enough, when taken in steps. Ive performed similar before on other builds. The greatest aid to such things I’ve found is a good magnifier. If you dont have one, I urge you to get one.
I’ve also noted that some marks of the 727 have a landing light in the midwing leading edge slot. We’ll see how if I do that one, depending on what markings I use. Im saving myself some effort with landing gear, as Im doing this as an inflight build. The gloss paint is what I dread.
I’m building my first airliner, a Conair DC-6B Firebomber right now. I’m almost done. This was a Hobby Lobby purchase as well. I figured it would be an inexpensive try at something new. I found a cargo door that was going to be half covered up by the belly tank, so I filled it in. I took my time got the thing painted, futured and decaled. That’s when I saw that the doors on the decals don’t line up with the recessed panel line doors on the model (damn). A buddy of mine told me that they hardly ever do. If I had known that, or checked before building I would have filled them in as well. So be carefull with that. Also, painting white can be a bear. I used a silver base coat as someone on the forums here had suggested and it helped alot. I thought it would be a boring build, but it wasn’t. I bought a few others and will build them in the future. Good luck on your build.
"…I found a cargo door that was going to be half covered up by the belly tank, so I filled it in. I took my time got the thing painted, futured and decaled. That’s when I saw that the doors on the decals don’t line up with the recessed panel line doors on the model (damn). A buddy of mine told me that they hardly ever do.
Also, painting white can be a bear. I used a silver base coat as someone on the forums here had suggested and it helped alot. I thought it would be a boring build, but it wasn’t. I bought a few others and will build them in the future. Good luck on your build." – Ken
The misaligned airdoor is a recurring theme, it seems. Mark Hembree noted the same thing when writing about HIS first airliner build in the most recent FSM. Ill just fill them right off. The silver base coat was what I had planned, too. I will sand it fine with fine grit polishing paper and then apply the white. Thanks for the very helpful tips.
Once you build a couple stock, you might want to try a little ‘converting’ especially if you can pick the kits up cheap. I cobbled a 727 mating 707 wings to it.
Then onto a shortened concept of a 777 tanker.
Both are good ways to exercise and practice techniques before you tackle a complex build using an expensive kit. I’m now looking forward to doing a double decker 777!
The newer Minicraft released subjects are a vast improvement over their earlier kits. Though I haven’t built the DC-8 it is much better than the 777. These kits give a modeler a change to improve their skills as well as accomplishing something to boost confidence.
I’ve never used silver as a base coat. Just primer and then a few coats of white and then a carefull polish with Tamiya fine grit, and then extra fine polishing compounds. It’s hard to get a nice, high gloss finish that is consistent. For wings I use MM Voodoo Grey FS16515. As far as I know nobody makes Boeing grey but the MM grey is very close.
A tip somebody told me but I never tried was to use flat white and then a clear gloss coat. The gloss colours are very hard to get consistent.
Here’s a picture of my last airliner:
I also won best civil at show. [^]
I never posted pics of this model and infact those are the only two I have of it. I should take some better ones showing the gear and the belly. The decals made that model and there is a lot of them.
I guess I should say a little more. I will use silver IF the livery of my models calls for a NMF on the plane. Many airliners are painted white or another color, but have an NMF belly. Almost always the wings are, as well. So it seems logical to use silver. I had also thought about the glosscoat approach. No matter how oyu do it, thoguh, it will take some fine polishing work to get the clean look we’re after.
But Ill keep the primer idea in the bag of tricks just in case. I found some striking Air Jamaica markings on AHS that I may use and pics of their aircraft on airliners.net. When the two come together se’ll see which way it goes.
As for your build, it looks brilliant! Very nice looking finish and a prize winner, to boot.
