Couple of interesting airliner kits.

[bob1179]

I was out with the missus this afternoon and thought I would pop in to a local kids shop to see if there was anything suitably Russian to bring home for my niece when I noticed a lot of plastic kits piled up in the corner.

I saw these two and had to have them:



I love Russian airliners and have never seen any kits before. Shame they didn't have an Ilyushin Il-62 or Tupolev Tu-134 as well!

I haven't built a kit in years and I am looking to get stuck into both of these. I won't starting them until I get home again in November though, but I will add some pictures of the build.

[Eric Mc]

These are brand new mouldings and, by all the magazine reviews I've read, are pretty good models. Revell do a 1/144 An-124 as well.

[bob1179]

Hi Eric, I've just had a look at their website and the models do look really good. They also do the TU-160 (which was also in the shop) but I really have a soft spot for the airliners. When I get home I will take a look at the Revell Antonov. When I was in Kazakhstan I used to watch them taking off and landing. They also had one as a 'gate guard' at the local airport.

It's been such a long time since I built an airliner kit. I think the last ones I did was an Airfix British Airways Trident and 707. Do they still make those? I made a Vanguard too which was a lovely model.

[dr_gn]

Zvezda were the first to kit the Boeing 787, and a fantastic kit it looks too. Apparently Revell are now using Zvezda moulds for their 787.

[bob1179]

dr_gn said:

Zvezda were the first to kit the Boeing 787, and a fantastic kit it looks too. Apparently Revell are now using Zvezda moulds for their 787.

I saw this on their website, I'd never even heard of Zvezda until today. It looks like they do a cracking Mi-24 gunship too.

Might have to go back to the shop tomorrow and buy a couple more! Only problem is getting it all home...

[Eric Mc]

bob1179 said:

Hi Eric, I've just had a look at their website and the models do look really good. They also do the TU-160 (which was also in the shop) but I really have a soft spot for the airliners. When I get home I will take a look at the Revell Antonov. When I was in Kazakhstan I used to watch them taking off and landing. They also had one as a 'gate guard' at the local airport.

It's been such a long time since I built an airliner kit. I think the last ones I did was an Airfix British Airways Trident and 707. Do they still make those? I made a Vanguard too which was a lovely model.

The Arfix 707 is stil generally available. It isn't bad for its age but is of the British specified 707-420 model, which was powered by Rolls Royce Conway engines.
If you want a mnore modern 707 kit, Minicraft do a nice range of 707s which feature the quite different 320B/C series.
The Airfix Vanguard is also available - in British Airways markings rather than BEA. The BA scheme on the Vanguard is not quite correct. Even though BA did operate Vanguards in the first of the BA schemes, by that time they only had the cargo modified Merchantman in service, which lacked passenger cabin windows.
If you want alternative Vanguard decals, there are some lovely after market decal sheets around for airliners. S & M decals do a great range for classic schemes of the 60s and 70s.

http://www.tahs.com/Kits/S&M%20DECS.htm

[bob1179]

Eric Mc said:

The Arfix 707 is stil generally available. It isn't bad for its age but is of the British specified 707-420 model, which was powered by Rolls Royce Conway engines.
If you want a mnore modern 707 kit, Minicraft do a nice range of 707s which feature the quite different 320B/C series.
The Airfix Vanguard is also available - in British Airways markings rather than BEA. The BA scheme on the Vanguard is not quite correct. Even though BA did operate Vanguards in the first of the BA schemes, by that time they only had the cargo modified Merchantman in service, which lacked passenger cabin windows.
If you want alternative Vanguard decals, there are some lovely after market decal sheets around for airliners. S & M decals do a great range for classic schemes of the 60s and 70s.

http://www.tahs.com/Kits/S&M%20DECS.htm

I will take a look around for the Airfix kits. I could see my old hobby taking off again (no pun intended!).

I didn't realise BA only flew the Merchantman, I loved my old Vanguard model, maybe it could be suitable for conversion into a cargo version.

Thanks for decal links, there looks to be a huge amount available. I think you could spend hours deciding what you want!

[Eric Mc]

Too much choice sometimes.

I'd do an Airfix Vanguard in one of teh BEA schemes.

Welsh Models do a vacform Merchantman.

[bob1179]

I have some pictures at home of some old BEA Vanguards that my dad took when he was younger. It would be quite good to model one of those aircraft. Could make quite a good project I reckon.

[Eric Mc]

Red wings - nice.

[NismoGT]

I was in TK Maxx today. They have Revell 1:144 A320 models. I saw a BMI and Iberia kit.

Not bad for £4.99 each.

[dr_gn]

NismoGT said:

I was in TK Maxx today. They have Revell 1:144 A320 models. I saw a BMI and Iberia kit.

Not bad for £4.99 each.

There are some real bargains around if you're lucky. I bought a couple from Modelzone (£4.99) just to practice techniques on such as bare metal foil.

[NismoGT]

dr_gn said:

There are some real bargains around if you're lucky. I bought a couple from Modelzone (£4.99) just to practice techniques on such as bare metal foil.

Indeed. Not a shop i like. But it does turn up some very good models from time to time.

There are also other Revell 1:72 kits there if anyone wants to check it out.

[dr_gn]

NismoGT said:

dr_gn said:

There are some real bargains around if you're lucky. I bought a couple from Modelzone (£4.99) just to practice techniques on such as bare metal foil.

Indeed. Not a shop i like. But it does turn up some very good models from time to time.

There are also other Revell 1:72 kits there if anyone wants to check it out.

I don't like them either, but I was passing and when I saw stuff at less than 1/2 price I couldn't resist.

[Eric Mc]

The Asda of the modelling world.