Trojan Thunder Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 (edited) With all the talk about the Airfix F-27 reissue I have started one of mine. I will sand all the detail off, it is hard to keep it intact with the sanding required. I have removed the undersized tail fillet here and will replace with a resin part, the replacement is still not the right size but I am not worrying about it (it is still a little short). I have also filled the cabin window openings with epoxy and superglue instead of using the undersized transparency pieces. I am using an aftermaket decal that has cabin windows on it so I am not concerned about keeping the openings clear. The replacement fillet is in place here as are the replacement intake scoop and the fairing behind the horizontal stab mount. Some more filling has been done since this shot was taken. Here is the dissappointing part of the kit, the new radar nose. You would think the guys that did the tooling would make an effort to at least get the nose shape right! In the left hand picture the nose has been attached, you can see the bulge after the join. I think it must be the AEW version that Fokker proposed to the RAF is using the leftover Nimrod radomes on. The nose is actually very pointed. I have tried to reshape it in the picture on the right, fortunately the new nose plastic is quite thick so a fair bit of material can be removed. Here is a side shot of the nose after a lot of filing. Back to the bench... Edited December 12, 2009 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thrushcom Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Looks like you are off to a good start. I am working on mine as well. I am building OOB. I have done the same and sanded off most of the raised panel lines and filled all the windows. The nose was a pig...I used alot of epoxy putty and resanded to a more respectable shape. What livery are you planning for it.....I am leaning towards the TAA scheme. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airplane88 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Does anyone know if any Hughes Airwest decals have been made for this kit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Filippos Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Im currently finishing the Turkish Airlines version Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 Looks like you are off to a good start. I am working on mine as well. I am building OOB. I have done the same and sanded off most of the raised panel lines and filled all the windows. The nose was a pig...I used alot of epoxy putty and resanded to a more respectable shape. What livery are you planning for it.....I am leaning towards the TAA scheme.Chris Mine will be in an Airlines of New South Wales scheme. I now have about 5 of these kits so I may do one in the kit TAA decals as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thrushcom Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Does anyone know if any Hughes Airwest decals have been made for this kit? Flightpath does a set of Hughes Airwest decals in 1/72. You can find them at AHS. The NSW scheme will look sharp. Are you doing custom decals for this sheme? Looking forward to watching your progress, keep us posted. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 Flightpath does a set of Hughes Airwest decals in 1/72. You can find them at AHS. The NSW scheme will look sharp. Are you doing custom decals for this sheme? Looking forward to watching your progress, keep us posted.Chris Chris, I am using a proof sheet for a soon to be released set from Hawkeye Models Australia. They are doing a series of Aussie subject F-27 sheets in 1/72 for the Airfix kit. They will also be useable on the Esci kit as a additional fin fillet decals are supplied since the Esci kit fillet is larger than the Airifx one. The Airfix fillet is undersize. I got some sanding completed last night and have attached a wing and horizontal stab. Some more filling required but it is progressing nicely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Got the wings and stabs on last night, as suspected some filler was required and there is a nice step between the wing and fuselage join. I have also started to clean up the resin replacement undercarriage struts. To say the Airfix parts are agricultural is an under statement! Anyway the resin replacements will look a lot better when installed. I will have some pictures onthe next installment. :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldHooker Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Great work so far Ray... :lol: There sure is a lot of dressing up required for the airfix kit! I've had fantasies of converting a "27" to an FH-227 for a long time; watching your progress is interesting and inspiring! Our primary car bit the dust a couple weeks ago, exactly one year after getting it paid off.... so I've been busy securing another one. Projects had to be put on hold in the meantime because I just can't concentrate when there's something pending like that. Got another one yesterday, so will be back at the bench soon. Looking forward to the updates! Take care, Frank Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Some progress to report. Here it is with wings on and a test print of the decal sheet to be used. So the big thing stopping me was the replacement gear, so I attacked them tonight. Here is a comparison of the kit and resin gear, you can see the resin attachement points are wider than the kit ones. because the rear part of the strut is straight I had to separate the top section and pin it at a more appropriate angle Side view test fit in the wells. and finally with one installed, I had to cut down the attachment points to make them fit in the locating holes and slots for the kit gear. Some cutting, drilling and pinning got the job done. So once I have the other strut assembled and in place I will need to putty and sand both nacelles before attaching to the wings. Did you notice the sink marks on the rear of the untaped nacelle? That's it for now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldHooker Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Wow, quite a difference between the kit & resin main gear strut! Where'd you get the resin? Keeping watch on this one.... Take care, Frank Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airplane88 Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Very nice work Ray! I have to second Franks question. The resin gear looks much nicer. Oh where oh where did you get those from? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Wow, quite a difference between the kit & resin main gear strut! Where'd you get the resin?Keeping watch on this one.... Take care, Frank Very nice work Ray! I have to second Franks question. The resin gear looks much nicer. Oh where oh where did you get those from? Thanks gents, The update set is from Hamilton Hobbies. A very nice gentleman operating out of Sydney, Australia. He has no website but posts his merchandise on the Aussie Modeller Forums. Here are some links to his For Sale Ads on that forum. F-27 Update RAN F-27-500 CSIRO Research F-27 These sets all come with the basic parts from the F-27 update: * Replacement Tail fillet * Extra Windows (x2) * Main wheels (x4) * Rear fuselage intakes (x2) * Tail fairings Plus the specifis parts for the other types like fuselage plugs for the -500. They are limited run (life of the moulds) so it is good to get in early to get what you want. Hope this helps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted November 5, 2009 Author Share Posted November 5, 2009 I now have the nacelles together and on the wings. I just thought I would point out a trap for young players. I had one nacelle glued and and test fitted the other putting it on its gear...and gues what? It was a tail sitter! I thought I had enough lead in the nose cone, it was not the case. Fortunately I was able to slip some more weight into the forward part of each nacelle. So after ensuring it would not be tail sitting I glued the other nacelle in place. So next is masking the windscreen and installing it and then cleaning up the resin wheels and finishing up the other fiddly bits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Kev Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Nice work Ray. It really is quite a large model in 1/72, eh? I'll be getting one myself when I can, and your build will be handy reference when the time comes. Kev Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 Thanks Kev I have fitted the windscreen now after a little hassle. I had futured and masked it up only to find the clear peice is slightly too wide. So I glued it in and had to sand it back flush with the cockpit walls. So much for the masking! After polishing it up I re-futured it and found some glue had got on the inside of one of the panels. I am in 2 minds about painting over and using a decal or remasking it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted December 3, 2009 Author Share Posted December 3, 2009 I managed to mask up the cockpit and prime the seams: Cockpit masked Seams sprayed underneath Seams sprayed on top ...and looks good eh? Well as I thought a bit of work to do to tidy up some divots and seams. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ross blackford Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 :), G'day Ray, great work there on the F-27. I noticed one of the pics you put up shows VH-MMV. I have just bought 2 of these kits and one will be built in TAA colours. The other will be built in the original MacRobertson-Miller Airlines livery as VH-MMS. 30 odd years ago I went up one Friday night with a friend out of Wagga around the Riverina area in a Cessna 182. WE planned to land at Griffith and twenty miles out MMR called an all stations Griffith area call with his intentions. We replied and asked if he would like us to orbit and allow him to go first, to which he answered "No, we have quite a few drunks aboard tonight and they've been giving our hosties a hard time since we left Sydney. They can wait, we'll follow you fellas in with a 120 knot approach if you could kindly do a cruise approach for us." We replied that we could oblige him, no worries at all. My friend was an old WW2 22 Sqn Boston observer and a devout Christian and we had a good belly laugh at the Friendship captain's comments. When he landed we saw what he was talking about, some could hardly stand up. :o, Ross. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Doppel Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 It's getting there Ray. Looks good. Can't wait to see it with some clothes (paint & decals) on Regards Andrew :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ross blackford Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 , I'm another one who can't wait to see the final product Ray. Please keep us all up to date with your progress. , Ross. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samuraj77 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Looks great so far... Can't wait for more photos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Update time, first paint colour is on. I have found a few blemishes that need sanding and paint reapplied, hope to carry on with it this afternoon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Been following this and well its looking really BRILLIANTand IMPRESSIVE.. Ray looking forward to more shots of your progress. thank you, HOLMES :wacko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony in NZ Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Yes, I too have been following along with this build. You are doing a great job indeed. She's really looking good now. Thanks for all the traps along the way as I have one to build one day..............actually I got it because of this build thread! Cheers Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotty100368 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 This should demonstrate the shape issues with the Airfix kit: The blue silhouette is the 1/144 Doyusha outline enlarged to 1/72... ...and the Airfix is placed over the top. Scott. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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