Intra DAKOTA

[Paul J]

My next build for this GB will be this:

I will doing G-AMPY as this coming November it will be the 40th Anniversary of my flight in the real 'MPY. A bit of an anniversary year for me regarding my flying experiences. Having earlier done the Auster for the 50th since 1966 and reworking my Airfix VC10 in Air Malawi colours( flight on 02/03/1976) and also having already built the Monarch Boeing 720 'ZFB from the Roden kit(flight in 06/05/1976), my collection is taken shape rather nicely. And thanks to 26 Decals for producing appropriate markings!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Looks like a nice scheme. I have the new tool Dakota in the stash and I am interested in seeing how it goes together for you.

[Paul J]

Hi. I have already built one and found it to be quite enjoyable to do. No real dramas. For this one, I need to add an extra window forward of the forward one (?)! Just need to find photos of the actual aeroplane in the Intra colours. I have slides of it somewhere but "googling" will be quicker. Also an extra window by the main entry door but a smaller one. Fortunately, I have the passenger seats from one of the ESCI issues of the Dak,so I can fit these and have the entry door open.

[CliffB]

That's an interesting background story Paul

Cliff

[snapper_city]

Watching with interest

[specky]

Hi Paul

Interesting choice since Intra DC-3's were a common sight here on the apron of Jersey airport back in the days when I was a bit of a plane spotter!

A story that always sticks in my mind about the airline is that after a series of 'dramas', in-flight mechanical problems and 'lumpy' trips due to turbulence, a member of staff had some T-shirts printed with the words 'I flew Intra - and survived!'. My father, who worked for Shell on aircraft refuelling, managed to get hold of one and made a point of wearing it under his overalls whenever he had to service one of their aircraft! But, before long, management caught on and, presumably, sacked the culprit - miserable b******s!

Craig

[Paul J]

Cheers for comments. I like Craigs story. The Caa would have kittens nowadays. And I entrusted my life on the Dak. 'MPY was the secondn one I flew in the first being G-AGJV of Air Anglia. It was about a 15 minute circuite from Greenham Common on the 7th July 1974. 26 do the decals for this scheme too but I doubt I will build it as well.

Meanwhile I have made a start with dome minor preliminaries and painting. A break form the Avro Jetliner being done elsewhere in this GB.

I need to decide on the best way in adding those forward windows.

a) measure and mark out the opening to match the Airfix opening and beg fro a new transparency sprue for the extra windows.

B: As above but cut out the window to the right size and find some clear from my stock of clear bits or

c) replicate it with black decal squares cut to size.

B is my preferred option. What does anyone out there think?

[Paul J]

Done some pics now showing progress from this evenings work.

Some of the interior work. If you count the kit windows you'll see only 6 but compare to the photo and you'll count 8. One extar at the front and the small one by the door.

Filled in the small window but a new standard size cabin window will be added directly below.

New, extra,Starboard side window marked out...

.... and done. Needs a little tidying but I need to make sure it doesn't get bigger. Got to do the same to the port side and in same position. Then the smaller square one by the entry door.

[Paul J]

Managed to get all the new extra windows cut out and done this evening. Had to correct the positions for the front ones but no dramas!

It looks a little undersized but has been corrected BUT I am aware the openings for the windows in the kit are larger due to the way Airfix have tooled them. I made allowances for this and careful measurements and lining up has ensured they are in the right place ans size. One of the kit glazing parts has been fixed in place to measure from.

Note: I also cut away the venturi tube that sits about where the reinforcing plate is as the venturi is not visible so not fitted going by the photos I have.

The rear window by the door. What helped a great deal was the fact that on the inside where you have all the detail, in the area where the new window is to go the internal detail was left blank as if it was intentional by Airfix. This helped a lot in my lining up and readying for cutting out.

The ESCI seats. The bottom view shows them in place unglued just to see how they fit. One issue I now have is what the fuselage interior colour is! The colour pic I found on the net looks like it is a biscuity beige colour with blue seats and white head rest covers. The beige shade could be a trick of the light so the colour could be a light grey or even an ivory colour. Can any one assist with this?

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Looks like there are issues with the first 4 pictures in you last update Paul. last shot with the Esci seat looks fine.

Can't help with colours since I have only ever been inside C-47 with their basic seating and green interiors.

[Robert Stuart]

Images look OK to me. Maybe a refresh

[halcyonjet]

Lovely choice Paul, brings back happy memories of Intra Daks trundling into my local airport at Staverton (Gloucester) in the 70's. Sadly, they had gone when I worked there in 1980, as Dan-Air had the Jersey route using their HS748's and a chartered Skyways FH227 on Wednesdays. Ahhhh....

Dave

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Images look OK to me. Maybe a refresh

Must be one of those 'other side of the world internet issues'.

I have refreshed the page and still am getting nothing. I even copied one of the image links to a new tab and get an 'image has been moved' message.

Hopefully it sorts itself out.

[Paul J]

Sorry about the pics. I transferred the images from the library on photobucket to an album and the link is probably broke. Will fix it this evening as am at work and won't have the time.

Strange that on some it still works though

meantime thanks for comments. Hope to do a little more tonight.

[Paul J]

Pics all sorted out now. Will go off now and try and get a bit more done to the Dak or the Avro or both??

[Paul J]

Not a lot done last night. Just some sub assemblies like wheels, tail planes and preparing the wings. Need to find my scrap clear acetate to make the new windows in the fuselage with. Once these are done it will be the painstaking time in painting up those seats, fitting them and get on with main assembly then paint and markings etc.

[Paul J]

The new windows and kit windows are now all fitted. Pics to come.....

[Paul J]

Some pics of work carried out on Friday evening.

Umming and arrring about the seats. I was thinking of getting someone to make some resing copies of them but I think it will take this guy I know far too long to wait.

All glazing place. Note the extra one up front made to size. And bearing in mind the Airfix clear parts are done in such a way that incorporates the framing around each and the whole escape hatch where you see the larger opening and on the......

.....port side.

Some of the sub assemblies....e.g. the engines,

... and other items . All straight forward and standard stuff.

Saturday late afternoon and into the evening.. right past midnight in fact, I did a lot more and the next post will reveal all.

[Paul J]

Quite a bit done on Sunday. Pics tonight.

[Paul J]

More progress pics (Saturdays work):

Decided that the interior structural detail isn't fitting for a civvy bird but I do know that Air Atlantique did fly people in this layout. But, I sought a way of representing the main cabin lining. So the simplest way without too much fuss was to cut ordinary paper to size. I did this with strips and other pieces to go between the windows. Once glued in place with PVA it was painted with Xtracrylix white( which is a bit off white and effective enough for me. The top pic here shows a rough I prepared but improved on it once I figured out how to go about it.

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The paper 'lining' was tucked under neath the central cabin roof light strip. The bit that seems to be in mid air would go to the upper inside of the port fuselage half as through the coor a bit of the structure could still be seen when I did a dry run.

The engines finished in AK metallic paints. Very similar to Alclad at £5.00 a pot.

The port side lining isn't totally complete as it can't be seen.

Seats all painted up. I mentioned earlier that I would have liked to get copies done in resin but time consuming. So I prepared and painted them as you see here.

Fixed place loosely.

I placed the sets staggered so that the rearmost seat on the right hand side would be visible through the open door. The L/H side more forward but the blank space was fitted up with a single seat for cabin crew member. ( A bit fictional as I really do not recall how the interior looked like re seat colours except the cabin walls.

The red seat is the single seat I fitted. It came from an Airfix Ford 3M.

Fuselage closed up and a clamp to hold the rear portion of the floor in place. The white segment that can be seen through the emergency hatch is the paper lining.

Wing lower centre section in place....

Upper outer starboard wing fixed in place. When the bottom half was offered up to be glued I found the fit and join to be a bit troublesome. This happened on my firts new tool Dak kit too.

The rib that locates with the spar was fine for one half but not the other so I cut one awy to help make the fit/join better but...

Not really visible here, there is a biggish gap at the root. By the way, when I fixed the port wing I did the reverse by gluing the lower panel on first, let it set abit and then the top. A better result occured but still with a gap at the root and the leading edge between fuselage and engine nacelle. I used a slice of thin plastic card to fill the gap. Much easier to clean up than sanding down filler.

More in a bit while I upload more pics from Sundays work on this build.

[Paul J]

Right. Now to what I did on Sunday:

The gaps at the roots mentioned above. Not much one can doo but fill'em.

And thats what I did. But I had a bit of a thought. If I was to use regular filler it would mean much sanding and loss of detail. But earlier in the day I was doing some DIY decorating and needed to fill some small gaps and used decorators filler also known as 'Painters Mate' (Other brands available). Hmm I hought, I think I'll try this on my Dak.So that I did and it worked really well as any excess is easily wiped away with a damp tissue and voila! A nice smooth filled gap. And, it dries hard and takes paint!! I know Milliput does the same but my rolls have never been used and felt far too hard to measure up to mix. So I took the quicker option.

Rest of the gazing all in place.

Adding masking to the windows. I cut pieces of Tamiya tape which was the right width( luckily ) and only had to cut the depth which in this case was 4mm for each one!!

Propped up on foam sponge block undercarriage tucked in to the wheel bays and primed with white. Slightly denser wher the white upper fuselage is.

Wings protected from overspray when the glossy white was applied.

Masking the curve line for the white light grey separation was a little tricky but hopefully when the decals go on it will be perfect..( )

And finally for tonight, the build so far. Light Aircraft grey yet to be applied. Waiting tor the white to really dry and harden before I mask to do the lower colour. But, still a little bit to do. I left of the tailplanes to spray them light aircraft grey as it would be easier than spending a lot of time trying to mask out the white areas!!

A big BUT now!! After all this I realised that I didn't do anything about the hole on top where the domed astrodome goes!! It doesn't feature on very many civvy Dakotas and now that I have got a very pleasing finish with the gloss how am I going to get around the filling of the cabin top??/ What I do know is I need a flat round clear part or solid circular part to pop in without having to do mauch rubbing down ruining the surrounding paintwok. Maybe Kristal Klear will do the job or something similar. Anyone out there make a suggestion or can come forward with what I need please??

Se you later in the week with progress report. Happy modelling!

[CliffB]

Looking very good so far Paul

I don't think there's a totally pain free solution to your astrodome hole issue, but personally I'd probably insert a plastic disc, set just below the upper surface of the fuselage, and then make up to the finished surface level using your Painter's Mate. You'll hopefully get 99% there with a wet wipe, leaving just a gentle final sand to get a perfect finish (that's the theory anyway!).

Good luck, whichever way you go.

Cliff

[Paul J]

Cheers Cliff. I found something that did the job. One of those half wheels in the Airfix 1/144 Boeing 737 . The one that depicts retracted u/c. Just the right diameter. It fits a treat but because it stands proud from the upper fuselage it needed sanding down a fair bit and shaping to the Dak upper fuselage. I masked around the opening to protect the surrounding paintwork before respraying, Pics showing this later tonight.

[Paul J]

Pics of last nights work:

A spread of some of the bits still need to be done.

Belly view showing demarcation of the white and grey etc.

Tailplanes loosely fitted just to show the advantage of painting these before assembly and easing maksing work for two tone fuselage colours for civvy Daks.

Window masking starting to be peeled away. The windscreen framing still needs a little tidying. Thin white decal stripes at the ready.....

Rear fuselage port side. Note the new smaller window by door. And, sadly the slightly too deep a fitting window of the kit. It was only the last rear windows on both sides on this kit that were like this .

Tailplanes in place after the de icing boots were painted. Again easier done before fixing in place.

Front end again with all window masking removed.

Motor units ready to be fitted. Note; I opened up the carb intakes of the kit parts. An added improvement.

Now for the upper forward end. The B.737 half wheel in place and in process of being rpaired down but soon followed by masking to protect the area. I initially followed the surrounding panel lines and then closed it down to just around the opening.

Here, you can see the 1/144 parts of which just one wheel half was used to close the hole.

And here, all sanded down flush with surround area immediately around hole. i removed ome of the masking to check how the sanding had gone and was pleased with the result. I then, removed more of the masking and masked the resat of the model with sheets of tissue taped gently to it and sprayed a couple of light passes of white primer and gloss white.

Again satisfactorily done. But, the colour difference shows slightly as my first two coats of gloss were quite light but I reckon with some buffing down with very fine polishing pads I can get it fairly uniform. And that is what I am off to do now.

See ya later!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Nice save with the Astrodome Paul