Malair

Thank you all very much for your nice comments! Thanks Dave! The Pas and Rus-Air kits sure are nice. Luckily I bought most when they were still available, except for the Mercure kit, which I regret to this day. Also, I would love to see your MD-95 () someday, it's a really nice kit for sure (though maybe a tad too short) .

Really? That's weird, they work fine for me, both on pc and android. And I did nothing different from my earlier posts. They are hosted on a Dutch server, so maybe that's the problem? Anyone else not seeing the pictures?

Very nice build and such a nice classic livery. Makes me want to start building the Authentic Airliners kit in KLM colors that I have in my stash.

After my previous two projects, I feel like tackling something simpler for a change. That's why I set my sights on the Boeing 717 by PAS. I've already built the DC-9 and MD-82, so technically, there's no reason for me to build the Boeing 717. But, there will come a time when I've built all the Boeing aircraft, and this one would be missing. That just wouldn't do. The livery is that of Spanair, simply because it's an easy scheme to replicate. That's partly why I've specifically chosen the EC-KRO, as it's the only one without Coroguard on the wings. Spanair was founded in 1986 as an initiative of the regional government of Catalonia, aiming to position Barcelona as a significant aviation hub. The company commenced operations in 1988 with a fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft and primarily focused on domestic and European routes. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Spanair expanded its network and gained a reputation as a reliable airline with a focus on customer service and operational efficiency. Despite its successes, Spanair faced financial challenges. In 2008, the airline encountered a severe crisis due to the global economic downturn. Efforts to attract investors to improve the financial situation proved unsuccessful. In 2011, Spanair reached a tragic low point when an MD-82 aircraft belonging to the company crashed at Madrid-Barajas Airport, resulting in the loss of 154 lives. Following this tragedy, Spanair's financial problems worsened, ultimately leading to the cessation of operations. In January 2012, Spanair abruptly announced bankruptcy and suspended all flights, resulting in the termination of the airline's aviation activities. The kit is from PAS and as per usual is pretty good. The decals are from Classic-Airlines. Windows from Authentic Airliner decals, as are some details. Antennas are from Counting Rivets Models. Display bases made by myself. At any rate, the pictures: All in all I had a lot of fun with this kit and comes recommended for sure. My next project will be the Authentic Airliners ERJ-145 in the KLM Exel livery. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Thanks for the compliments guys! Thanks Dave. I know exactly what you mean regarding the flaps. That is something I thoroughly dislike from the kit. Because you have to glue the flaps from underneath, they end up slightly too low at the top. So, you have to push quite hard and glue well to get it right, and then fill (and I mean, really fill!) and sand afterwards, which compromises the details (so you have to scribe etc. to get it right again). Okay, I understand: you can't please everyone, but for me, this option really wasn't needed as it adds so much more unnecessary work.

Many thanks for all the nice words! Thanks Ian, You are absolutely right, it could do with some GSE. I have various airport service stairs from Eastern Express as well as a Jet bridge laying around that I should build. I will see if I can squeeze it in somewhere. It makes the models look more alive doesn't it?

It's been a minute, but my latest build is the Zvezda Il-62. The Ilyushin Il-62 was originally developed in the Soviet Union. It was the first passenger aircraft in the Soviet Union designed for long-distance flights. The prototype of the Il-62 made its maiden flight on January 3, 1963. However, the Il-62 was only put into service with the Soviet airline Aeroflot in 1967. At that time, it was one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, boasting a large range and the capability to perform transatlantic flights. The aircraft had four jet engines and could carry approximately 200 passengers. The unique feature of the four jet engines positioned at the rear of the fuselage was shared with only a few other aircraft types, namely the Vickers VC-10 and the Lockheed Jetstar. This design similarity led to accusations of espionage between the UK and the USSR, but no evidence was ever provided by either side. It is more likely that the requirements for a new aircraft from British Airways on one hand and Aeroflot on the other hand were somewhat similar, leading engineers to arrive at comparable solutions. During the Cold War, the Il-62 was frequently used by the Soviet government for diplomatic travels and official state visits. The aircraft was also utilized by other airlines in countries friendly to the Soviet Union, such as Interflug and LOT. Over the years, various variants and improved models of the Il-62 were developed. The Il-62M, introduced in 1978, featured an extended range and several aerodynamic improvements. In total, over 280 Il-62 aircraft were built. With the fall of the Soviet Union and subsequent economic challenges in Russia, the usage of the Il-62 declined. Modern aircraft with better fuel efficiency and advanced technology became more popular. Nevertheless, some airlines and charter companies, including Air Koryo, still operate the Il-62 for cargo and passenger flights. It holds a place in aviation history as an iconic aircraft from the Soviet era. Now, about the title "Aeroflot/KLM." Did KLM operate the Il-62? Indeed! Or at least, partially. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union closed its airspace to Western airlines (unfortunately, history repeats itself in this regard). As a result, flights between Europe and the Far East had to detour and make interim stops for refueling. Most airlines opted for a layover in Anchorage, Alaska. To offer passengers a faster route to the Far East, KLM provided the option to fly with Aeroflot. Aeroflot operated flights from Amsterdam to Moscow and then to Tokyo, using the Il-62. Although the pilots were supplied by Aeroflot, the crew consisted of a mix of Aeroflot and KLM personnel. In the 1970s, it was unusual for two airlines to have such a partnership, let alone the national carrier of the Netherlands and the national airline of the Soviet Union. To celebrate this collaboration, the KLM logo was added to some Il-62 aircraft alongside the Aeroflot logo (https://www.airliners.net/photo/Aeroflot-KLM-Royal-Dutch-Airlines/Ilyushin-Il-62/2413817/L). Despite this joint effort, the partnership was not successful and was terminated after a few months. But it does beautifully demonstrates the strong trading spirit of KLM: West meets East - conducting business without paying any attention to geo-political tensions! The kit is the Il-62M from Zvezda. To make it an Il-62 sans suffix I used the NK-8 engines by Druz. The decals are from Ravero (which where incorrect in some places, so I had to make some modifications by using spares, especially near the nose). Details from the Zvezda decal set and windows by Authentic Airliners. Anyway, the pictures: Display bases made by me, by using purchased Shutterstock photo's, modifying them in Photoshop and have them printed on Canvas. Next up will be a an easier build (as a palate cleanser) with the 1:144 Boeing 717 from PAS with Spanair decals. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Beautiful build! Interesting to see a paint mask being used, instead of decals. It looks really good! Great work. Your recent A321 with the green stripes is also Excellent!

I very much appreciate all of your kind words. Thank you! That's awesome. Must have been quite the experience to have flown the A340-500. Such a magnificent aircraft as well. Thank you very much for sharing this. That is super nice to read!

Thank you all very much for the nice words! You are, of course, 100% correct. Emirates flew the -500, but not the -600. Duly noted. Maybe I should clarify a bit. I did not make the pictures themselves. I purchased some pictures from Shutterstock and edited the pictures in Photoshop so they would be (more or less) the correct scale for 1:144 and would fit in a 80 x 60 cm display. I then had the images printed on a dull Forex display board and presto, you got yourself a display base. It doesn't come cheap though, but I really love to go for realism as much as I can, so I think it is worth it.

Thank you all very much for your nice comments. It really is appreciated! Thanks Ian! Display space is definitely a problem form me as well haha. That's why I try to limit the wide-body's to about one a year, otherwise my display space would be filling up rather quickly. I'm happy you noticed the weathering. I try to keep it as subtle as possible, but I was afraid it maybe was a little too subtle. Then again, I once read in the Modelling airliners book by Aaron Skinner that "If you think you need more weathering, stop." and I couldn't agree more. Thanks as well Dave. KLM flying with the Il-61 is actually a very interesting story. During the 1970s, amidst the Cold War tensions, KLM and Aeroflot orchestrated an extraordinary collaboration. Back then, Western airlines faced a closed Soviet airspace (history repeats itself it would seem though unfortunately), but through the partnership with Aeroflot, KLM gained access to fly passengers over Soviet territory. This route significantly shortened travel to Asia, bypassing the lengthy Anchorage layover. Although Aeroflot pilots exclusively operated the planes due to geopolitical constraints, KLM contributed part of the cabin crew. The cooperation didn't last long though. Despite its brief duration and limited success, this unique alliance distinguished KLM as one of the rare Western airlines to have its emblem displayed on an aircraft manufactured in the USSR.

My latest build is the 1:144 Authentic Airliners A340-600 kit in Iberia colours. I made the sister of the A340, the A330, a few years ago and I didn't want to simply create an "A330 but with four engines." I didn't want to use Bra.Z's conversion (it has quite a few issues), so I was waiting for a new kit. Fortunately, Authentic Airliners came out with one, so I jumped on it right away when that one became available. Took me several years to finally complete it though. The Airbus A340-600 is a wide-body, four-engine commercial passenger aircraft developed in the late 1990s by the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. It is the largest variant of the A340 family and is designed for long-haul flights, with a range of up to 14,600 km. The A340-600 can accommodate up to 475 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. The A340-600 was designed to compete with other long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and 747, as well as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. At the time, the aircraft featured several innovations, including a new wing design with a higher aspect ratio and larger wing area for improved lift, as well as more powerful engines. It also incorporates modern avionics and a fly-by-wire control system for enhanced safety and efficiency. The first A340-600 was delivered to launch customer Virgin Atlantic in July 2002 and entered into service the same year. Other major users of the A340-600 include Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, South African Airways and of course Ibera. Despite its advanced features, the A340-600 has faced challenges in the modern aviation market. Due to its four-engine design and higher operating costs, it is less popular than twin-engine aircraft like the Boeing 777, which offer similar performance and lower fuel consumption. Airbus ceased production of the A340-600 in 2011 after delivering a total of just 97 aircraft. In recent years, some airlines have retired their A340-600 aircraft or converted them into freighters. However, the A340-600 continues to operate with several major airlines and is known for its spacious cabin, comfortable seats, and pleasant flying experience. Overall, the A340-600 remains a remarkable aircraft in the history of commercial aviation. As said before, the kit is from Authentic Airliners and is truly fantastic. It captures the essence of the real thing perfectly (as usual). It’s quite a heavy kit though (0,7 kg) and as such metal undercarriage is supplied with the kit. Decals are from 8a Decs. Cockpit windows are from Authentic Airliner decals, as are some of the details. I’ve also used some details from various spare decals that I had laying around. The “metal” parts of the engine pylons are also decals, that I made and printed myself. The red navigation light on top of the fuselage is from Counting Rivets Models. At any rate the pictures (The display bases are made by me): All in all this was a very pleasant build and the largest kit I've ever build. The only problem I had was with the 8a Decs decal set. The decals are very thin and have a tendency to crumple. Also they didn’t line up at the top of the fuselage, so I had to cut them several times to get it just right. With six completed models, this will be the last one of the year to be finished by me. Next in line is the Zvezda 1:144 Il-62 Aeroflot (with the KLM logo) , but that one will most likely be completed next year. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Wow, your aircraft model kit looks absolutely incredible! You've captured the essence and beauty of this eye-catching livery perfectly. It's clear you've put a lot of care and passion into this build. Great job! I love the Authentic Airliner 727 offering as well. I've build an Air Holland version of the 727-200 years ago. The best kit on the market for sure.

Thanks for the nice words guys! Much appreciated. Very nice choice! Is that the PAS models kit? I have two in my stash as well, which I will build in the KLM Excel livery Thanks for sharing that anecdote! I had similar experiences years ago when I regularly flew to Lviv from München with Austrian Airways. At the time they were renovating the runway, so only half of it could be used. As such, Austrian had to use the Dash 8 Q400 aircraft instead of the usual E190 and still had to hit the brakes very hard to no overshoot the runway. Take off was also done with full power. It was quite the experience! That's right! They recently updated their Airspeed ambassador to resin for example (another kit I really want to build soon)

Thanks for the compliments guys! No, this is their resin offering. I have yet to build a vac form kit. I have a few in my stash, but I'm hesitant to actually starting one. We'll see in the future. I was plane spotting on Schiphol not long ago with my seven year old son. We were there for two hours and we only saw four different types: E190, A320, A340, 737 and 777. It makes sense that there is less diversification as time goes on from a business and environmental point of view, but I still think it’s sad to see so few different types nowadays. The Saab 340 is good example of that, you almost never see them anywhere anymore. Since Cityhoppe fased the type out, I don’t think I ever saw one again on Schiphol (at least not when I went plane spotting)