Salineated Michigander Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Does anyone have an experience building this thing? It's damn big, although not quite as big as Trumpeter's same scale TU-160 Blackjack. If you've built it, what was your opinion of the kit? Well engineered or not? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 I found a Gallery-entry here: http://www.arcair.com/Gal15/14601-14700/gal14660-A-400-Hakim/00.shtm And a WIP of a german modeller who built the kit-prototype. Apparently the gear is a bit sensitive, and he recommends to build the gear as last item. http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Flugzeuge/Wiegmann/Rev_A400M_Prototyp/Rev_A400M_72.html HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235026549-airbus-a400m-revell-172/&tab=comments#comment-2817080 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) I built one back in 2018 and I enhanced it with a few little bits and pieces. Build thread is over on BritModeller and display thread here Construction went pretty well, the only big issue I had was getting the fuselage together, it needed a lot of tape to hold it all together when gluing the fuselage around the cockpit/cargo bay cylinder. I did add some lighting (which may have affected the fit) to it and modified position of flight controls. The other thing I will add after transporting to and from model shows is the the axles are flimsy and should be replaced with brass rod. I will do that on my next wheels down build (I have another two kits). Edited November 19, 2020 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Another beautiful build, Ray! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 I am well into building this beauty. I concur with the comment about needing lots of tape to hold the fuselage together, both internal and external. I did it in steps, starting with gluing the internal floor first, letting that set solid overnight then gradually working my way from front to back. There's a lot more room to manouver at the back! I have read other comments that there is a big gap when fitting the outer tube, but I believe that is due to mistakenly fitting the inner tube OVER the foward bulkhead that forms the back of the cockpit. It's easy to do, (🤭oops!) but it should sit flush BEHIND the bulkhead. With that ensured, the outer tube closes up easily. I've built the wings separately and will be fitting them next. Also I thoroughly recommend taking the time to detail the internals if you are leaving the ramp down (and why wouldn't you!🙂) The only slight disappointment so far is that the internal seats are moulded in folded position, it woud be nice to have a deployed option, but I suppose it would be possible to create some with card and fine thread. (except there's 40 of them 🙃) I'll check back later with a further report! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 And don't forget the nose weight. I taped everything together to get an idea of the weight required. About 90Grm (just over 3oz in old money) I used 2*1.5 oz Bullet Cube fishing weights which fit inside the nose under the cockpit. I've seen elsewhere leave the ramp down to prop it up, but strictly speaking that's cheating since the ramp doesn't actually touch the ground on the real thing 😁. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Good to hear you are getting on with one of these beasts Billos, what markings do you intend to add to yours? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 52 minutes ago, Trojan Thunder said: Good to hear you are getting on with one of these beasts Billos, what markings do you intend to add to yours? Straight out-of-box Luftwaffe. Here's progress so far. Dry fitted wings and tail, initial primer applied. It's a monster. But a beautiful monster! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Nice! I had to use an aftermarket sheet (which is now OOP) for mine, I plan to do a Malaysian one as my next attempt. Are you going to do any updates? The kit is a base prototype and I added a few sensors to the wingtips on mine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) I built it nearly 7 years ago! The landing gear is so fragile. Otherwise it is not bad. I enjoyed building it. What I did not like was having to research the revell paint conversions. That was the hardest part. Edited January 6, 2022 by Kurt H. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 KurtH - your paint comment - yeah - 14 subtly different shades of grey! Sheesh! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 1 hour ago, Billos said: KurtH - your paint comment - yeah - 14 subtly different shades of grey! Sheesh! I looked up the instructions for that kit again, and you are right... so many grays. Now Revell Paints are available in the US so I would at least have a chance of getting the right colors. I did not realize how long ago I built the A400M so it was interesting to look back on how I did things before. I cringed at some of what I did in that thread. It does show what to expect if one were to build the kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 9 hours ago, Kurt H. said: I looked up the instructions for that kit again, and you are right... so many grays. Now Revell Paints are available in the US so I would at least have a chance of getting the right colors. I did not realize how long ago I built the A400M so it was interesting to look back on how I did things before. I cringed at some of what I did in that thread. It does show what to expect if one were to build the kit. "so it was interesting to look back on how I did things before/. I cringed at some of what I did ......" sounds like a life lesson not just modelling !😄 Anyway...gonna need a bigger table.... All in all This is not really so different/difficult from any other model, just on a larger scale.. needs more time for everything. I found that there were some injector pin on the wing underside with a considerable amount of flash, which neded to be removed to get the wing to sit flush Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Engines on. I have to say, there's an absurd amount of detail inside the engines, very little of which can be seen. But You Know It's There. I thought the instructions were none too clear on how the internals actually sit. In the end, I found fitting the internal to the Chin fairing first, and then seating the chin fairing and tailpipe worked best. You can still fit the prop pivot after the chin fairing is in place. I also took that opportunity to add a few more grams weight in the front of the engines, because I found it stills seemed to be teetering tailwards, especially with the tailplanes fitted. Then a little bit of fiddling to close up each side. Be sure and note which engine is which. They are Not the same. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Looks good Billos, nicely progressing This is how much nose weight I put in mine! Also, here is a link to my build album if you are interested https://flic.kr/s/aHsmthwUYC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 In truth there's nothing particularly complicated about this model. It's fairly straightforward and conventional in structure, with the exception of the "Twin-Tube" fuselage , but even that is straightforward, and results in a very rigid and robust model. Even the parts count (212) is actually not that high. For comparison, the Airfix 1/72 Shackleton MR2 has 272 parts, and I found that actually more fiddly model to build than this Atlas. ... (I think it's a fair comparison, four engine, multi blade prop, wingspan only 6 cm less, huge amount of internal detail....) I decided it would be a shame to discard either set of props, so searched around the interthingy, and found evidence of mixed feathering! Admittedly only during Taxi tests.... So I've got both prop configs. It may technically not be valid, but I feel it makes amore interesting model. Although masking painting and decalling the props is mind numbing.... I'd estimate four hours each prop... there are 96 (ninety-six) decals just for the propellors.... In short don't be intimidated by the sheer physical size, just take it slow, use lots of tape to hold parts, and have a LOT of room to handle it. And you'll need a huge spray booth..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Looks good, I did not bother with all the prop decals, maybe on the next one 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mercury Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Almost finished my "Beast"; Built it separate parts at a time - engines, props, wings and join all to complete. Yes, the undercarriage is the one thing I'm concerned about...get the metal set available? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Almost There. Wheels fitted, ramp installed (correctly not touching the ground (!) I will probably make some extensions from thin card for the plates that actually connect the ramp to the ground. I'm surprised they don't come with the kit. Test fit of refuel boom and canopy to check assembly order. Best to fit canopy first then trim boom to sit properly, I feel. For all the comments about flimsy wheels, I find they are pretty robust when assembled carefully, using copious cement. I appreciate they are probably fragile if you move the model around a lot, but if it's just going to sit on a display shelf, they seem fine. Although I have come across wheels that seem robust and over time sag under the model weight.. (Hello Airfix 1/24 typhoon... that one I did reinforce with metal pins.) We'll see how it goes. Check back in 6 months.... ;-0 Be careful with the nosewheel. The instructions seem counter-intuitive, but they work! Fit the strut to the nose leg before inserting in well - it's a bit fiddly, but works out the easiest (I tried several different dry fit approaches, and as per the straight instructions work best. So pretty much just the decalling to go. All in all a very satisfying three and a half week build (I'm lucky I can do this full time). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Ok So the nosewheel axle is indeed very weak and susceptible to the slightest disturbance. I'll look into some way of pinning it. Probably a metal rod right through the wheels and leg, unless anyone has another suggestion. Not had any trouble with the main gearthough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 (edited) Looks good BIllos, I had the same issue. thought the axles were OK and found they damage easily. I pinned mine once they broke Edited January 29, 2022 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billos Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 OK so here she is finished, with a small freind. Quite pleased, even if the spraying didn't quite come out as well as I'd hoped...lesson learned leave it 2000% longer than you think after spraying before you touch it! 😉 Odd to think that there's 100 years between the EIII and the Atlas..... and you could fit a complete Jagdstaffel: of EIII in an Atlas.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Nice result Billos 🏆 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Gola! Gola! Gola! Billos, you scored! Great work! The Fokker E.1 definitely gives it perspective. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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