Jump to content

1/144 BPK Canadair CRJ-100


Recommended Posts

I started my first kit of the ukrainian company BPK (Big Plane Kits) today. The CRJ-100 in 1/144 scale is a very small model. It's about the size of a 1/72 F-86 Sabre.

I'll finish it in Delta Connection livery (operated by Comair), on which I've flown several times back in 2001.

 

CRJ_1.jpg

 

CRJ_2.jpg

 

 

The kit has the option to have transparent cabin widows. The areas where a long clear part will be fitted into, is already recessed. If you don't want clear windows, you can simply glue the clear parts into the fuselage,sand it to shape and prime everything. I've choosen to go with the transparent windows, instead. I first removed the pre-marked areas where the clear parts will fit in. I've left a very small amount of material to give the clear parts something to sit on. This will prevent the parts from falling into the fuselage as long as the glue is setting.

 

 CRJ_3.jpg

 

 

The wing consists of three parts and goes together very nicely. A deep wheel well is also represented. I was quite surprised about the simple design, which I'll show you in the next pictures.

 

 CRJ_4.jpg

 

As you can see, there is a gap visible in the wheel well. However, this gap will be closed once the fuselage is joined with the wing.

 

 CRJ_5.jpg

 

 CRJ_6.jpg

 

 CRJ_7.jpg

 

 

Although there are no alignment pins, the parts fit very nice. There is some flash, but nothing a few quick strokes with a sanding stick can fix. The gap of the wing to fuselage joint is also well within limits. It seems that filler is not required there.

 

 CRJ_8.jpg

 

 CRJ_9.jpg

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you very much, guys!

 

I fitted the clear parts, which are very fragile! As the transparencies are almost twice as long as required, I had to cut them to length. According to Murphy's Law, one of the transparencies cracked during that process. I've  used some of the left over material and made a butt joint at a location between two windows. I triple checked this location with the help of the included paint mask for the windows by measuring from the aft edge of the cabin door.

 

CRJ_10.jpg

 

 

The inside of the transparencies was given several thin coats with Tamiya Smoke.

 

CRJ_11.jpg

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The fuselage halves were joined and filled with a very small amount of putty on the top. Once everything was dry, the forward end of the fuselage was made square with my new disc sander at 200 rpm. I love that tool! Very precise...

 

There is virtually no gap between the clear cockpit section and the fuselage when dryfitting the parts.

 

CRJ_12.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

This kit is falling together like a dream! I've really made some progress in the last day.

 

A bead of dissolved styrene was applied all around the cabin transparencies. This will aid as an additional glue jont and at the same time fill any gaps.

This was then sanded with a medium sanding stick. Of course, the clear parts are not clear anymore. You can see where the gap at the aft end is filled with the styrene.

 

CRJ_13.jpg

 

 

Next, was a treatment with a ladie's nail polishing stick. It had two sides, which were used as advertised: extra fine and a polishing side. The clear parts are shiny again.

 

CRJ_14.jpg

 

 

You can see all the way through the windows, whoch were tinted from the inside because of the sanding. This way, the tinted surfacees are safe from being damaged.

 

CRJ_15.jpg

 

 

While the fuselage parts were drying, I assembled and painted the cockpit, and attached the winglets to the wings.

 

CRJ_16.jpg

 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 12/29/2016 at 2:41 PM, mingwin said:

Cool! i don't see often Airliners WIP threads!

 

That's because they are mostly posted in the Airliner Modelling section of the forum.

 

Nice start. I have a couple of the BPK 1/72 kits including the CRJ100. Will be following this build

Edited by Trojan Thunder
Link to post
Share on other sites

It's nice to see this kit goes together so well. The Welsh kit was pretty rough. I ended up combining it with a Revell Challenger to bring it up to a decent level of accuracy. There is a build thread about it somewhere in the Airliners section.

 

Ben

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, I should have posted this in the Works in Progress forum, and not in either Jet Modelling or Airliners, as this is an ongoing build.

 

Today I rescribed any missing detail, installed the cockpit into the nose part and installed it to the fuselage. Again, a bead of dissolved styrene was used as filler and additional glue. Thisstill needs some drying time and a final sanding. The wing was also mated with the fuselage. It's a very close fit, which required some pressure to get the upper wing halves around the fuselage. The engine cowlings were glued together and then installed onto the intakes with CA glue.  The vertical tail was also glued with CA glue, but from the inside of the fuselage before I installed the wings. There is also a injection molded tail in this kit, but it has some sinkmarks, and BPK replaced that with a resin tail. Talk about quality control... Finally, I've attached the engine pylons and installed the horizontal stabilizer. The engines will be left off for separate painting and will be installed to the airframe after everything has been painted. The Extra Thin botle is for size comparison.

 

CRJ_18.jpg

 

 

Edited by Lancer512
Link to post
Share on other sites

This morning I attached the flap actuator fairings. This was probably the most annoying part of the build, as I could not grab the small parts while trying to sand the mating surface even. They kept launcing into space, but didn't make it into orbit. The only parts that are left are the landing gear and doors, as well as the PE parts. So far, it has been 2 1/2 days since start.

 

The next step will be a few of the PE antennas. I'm really reluctant to even put any of them on, as I know I will lose them while handling the model for masking and painting.

 

CRJ_19.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm glad you posted this build here, instead of the In Progress forum. Otherwise, I never would have seen it.

 

I usually save antennae for final assembly. Even then, I usually knock a couple off and have to redo them.

 

You're making me want to buy another one of these to replace my Welsh kit in Midway livery. You've already inspired me to get back to work on the US Airways Express decals!  :thumbsup2: 

 

Ben

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

What a great job.  It's nice to see a kit of this, didn't know it even existed.   Totally OT but this is by far my most hated jet in real life.  Never been in anything more uncomfortable and claustrophobic.  Those tiny windows at elbow level don't help either.  I got to the point that when I traveled for business, I refused to fly on them.   Thankfully most of the 100's are gone now.  The later versions are a bit better (not by much though).

 

Keep up the good work!

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, 11bee said:

Totally OT but this is by far my most hated jet in real life.  Never been in anything more uncomfortable and claustrophobic.  Those tiny windows at elbow level don't help either.  I got to the point that when I traveled for business, I refused to fly on them.  

 

After flying on a 767 from Orlando to Frankfurt, a ride back home in a CRJ felt like a ride in a limo... I'm not sure why CRJs bother people so much, unless you are of above average height.

 

As for the build - I'm following closely, as I will be building Adria Airways one in the future! Keep up the good work!

Edited by Sebastijan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Masked and primed the model tonight.

The  masks are nice to have, but are a PITA to put on correctly. The only reference is the door frame on each side, which was partly rescribed. The windows on the right hand side were too low, while the left ones were too high. I was using the engine pylons as the aft reference. After redoing the right side, the windows are now offset aft by half a window. I can only hope that I can hide this with the decals. There is no good way to check the alignment before the decals go on.

 

CRJ_20.jpg

 

 

Everything was primed with grey Stynylrez.

 

CRJ_21.jpg

Edited by Lancer512
Link to post
Share on other sites

After sleeping over the window issue, I've decided to repaint the windows. Rather a few days more work in order to get a nice model than a half-hearted job to only get the model done. I just need to make a set of new masks with my vinyl cutter. This may take a while, so bear with me. I will keep you updated on the progress with the masks. If it works out as I imagined, window masks for this model (and the CRJ 200) will be available from me.

I need to take some measurements... If I can find my verneer...

 

Edited by Lancer512
Link to post
Share on other sites

Below are some pictures of how the windows look like after unmasking. Please keep in mind that I removed and reapplied each window mask, hence the masks are not as sticky as they were the first time.

 

CRJ_22.jpg

 

 

The right hand side emergency exit window is offset by half a window width. And consequently all other windows, too. I did not realize that because it was hidden under the mask. I've rescribed the emergency exit frames after unmasking. I guess the horizontal panel line, which is an intentional gap from attaching the transparency, will be my new reference.

 

CRJ_23.jpg

Edited by Lancer512
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...