Miles Aerovan -Mikro-Mir 1/72nd

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

This release has been posted and commented on somewhere else in Britmodeller, so I won't abound much in disquisitions.

The variant released by Mikro-Mir is the IV (fourth), and includes several liveries in its decal sheet. But, if like me, you tend to diverge and follow your own path, there were other many liveries out there. Just be careful to see if they are the right variant, and not the ones with different windows or engines. Some adventurous modelers may even convert this kit to those other variants, perhaps the most extreme of which was the Hurel-Dubois/Miles HDM 105, with a high aspect ratio wing.

In any case, you also get a fully detailed interior, nice for the scale, but beware that some variants used the cabin as cargo hold. Photos show one even loaded family cars! Another of them had installed neon signs for night flying. An interesting and well-produced model.

Logical breakdown:

Nice transparencies and decals that look nice:

A much welcome set of masks:

Very tiny and fragile parts, dealt with with a razor blade (cover the other edge):

The big partotas:

Assembly of the fiddly seats (five parts) begins:

Seats ready and other sub-assemblies in progress for the cockpit area (side console, front console, pilot's seat):

More sub-assemblies for the structure of the fuselage area:

 

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Looking forward to this, near the top of my stash. Did a dry fit of the wings and the leading edges dont fit too well so think some sanding will be required but great to have a decent kit of a fascinating aircraft. Cheers, Paul

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Agreed, Paul, have to keep the sanding stick at hand, some parts do require a swipe or two (and may be three); as you said, the fact that it was released is already an occasion for celebration ;-)

[Aeronut]

I'm just a little behind Moa building mine. I haven't got around to assembling those seats as I still have it in mind to build it with the rear of the pod open and some sort of cargo on board. I can confirm the need for  the parts clean up but that is to be expected with a kit of this nature, what is novel is the delicacy of some of those parts - probably the reason I've not touched those seats yet with my sausage fingers.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Hi Aeronut:

Yes, only some parts need a bit of adjustment (bigger parts) and the smaller parts go on quite well.

I have built other Mikro-Mir kits and I am very satisfied with them (and their subject choices!).

Here the engines are being put together as we speak:

 

 

[Martian]

Nice start! I too have this kit and have been scratching around for ideas for a diorama, probably some srt of cargo loading scene.

 

Martian

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Hi Martian

It would be great to have some cargo going on, there are a couple of images on the Net showing that. Any suitable 1/72 vehicle would do I guess.

Meanwhile, a bit more progress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

I know very little about kit manufacturing, and perhaps there is a valid reason, but why the master maker (or, more unfortunately, CAD person) did not make the parts' separation where the hinge line is (or the curve in the case of the flaps), instead of in the middle of the panel, that now has to be filled in and sanded?:

 

[stevehnz]

Watching with interest. One at least of these was trialed by the RNZAF & although i tend to think of it as an oddity rather than a main stream RNZAF type, I could maybe change my mind, depending........, I'm a tart like that.

Steve

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Thanks Moa for very clear assembly photos. Most useful.

Cheers, Paul

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Steve: 😉

Paul: thanks.

Assembly proceeds:

The tail part of this structural top fuselage assembly, as it comes, it's angled upwards, which seems to be at odds with the instruction drawings and general lines of the plane's backbone:

There is no side drawing for this assembly, so I am kind of lost here:

 

Hoping I am doing the right thing, I sanded it to accompany the top line of the general assembly:

The engine nacelles are comprised of two side shells, a pan, a front "fake" part and the nose:

The small pan has some detail underneath (four rectangular bumps, as per the real engine) that will never be visible, but will hinder a bit its positioning. The front "fake" part will also be mostly invisible, is kind of odd and doesn't really adjust to reality, nor it touches either side of the shell. I think that it should have represented the first cylinder as seen through the nacelle nose opening :

There is an hemispherical light bucket that goes on the cockpit nose septum. I hollowed it a bit in order to add an MV lens for realism:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The nacelles' interior is painted black and dry-brushed:

 

But as said not much will be seen:

There is an air outlet that can be carved:

The horizontal stabilizer halves are given a pass on the sanding block, and it shows that the matting surfaces need further truing and thinning:

After a bit more sanding, it's wise to drill the marked holes for the central fin location:

Now that's better:

The box drawing inaccurately described the central fin as going over the elevator:

If you plan to pose the rudders deflected, beware that the central rudder was balanced:

The kit maker forgot to trace the line that divides both stabilizers. As is, that stab could not deflect in real life either. The line is thus engraved:

On both sides, of course:

The halves are glued, the rest of the parts are presented in the photo. The prominent seam in the kit aft cone (parts already glued in the photo) I believe was not so prominent. Will have to check and correct if necessary:

 

[Martian]

I am pretty sure you have done the right thing with the spine, there is absolutely no reason why the part should angle upwards. You are also correct abut the engine front. What you should see is the first cylinder of the engine. A most educative and valuable build.

 

Martian

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Thanks, Martian.

Here some images of the smaller parts, of really nice quality, like the Venturi, to the right of the sprue:

It's for me always difficult to properly clean minute prop spinners of the remains of their attachments to the sprue, so I made new ones from rod:

 

The wing halves seam underneath is puttied and sanded with no problems:

 

The aileron hinge, solid in the mold, is easily drilled to match photos:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

And the moment has come to ask for the help of the distinguished membership.

I am inclining to represent the model as the machine of Meridian Airmaps Ltd., as seen here:

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-AJKP

(I hope I am not getting into trouble for posting this link, if so, please let me know)

As you can see there is a logo for this company, still discernible and workable, but I would appreciate it if anyone can come up with a sharper image.

Colors, as we all venturous modelers of arcane types know, are more than occasionally a magnificent opportunity for head-scratching.

Unless someone can certify otherwise, I am going for general dull aluminium, blue fuselage bands and registrations, red engine nacelles and red company logo on white circle background.

I couldn't find any other images -than the ones in the link- of this particular livery, so if anyone can uncover more, it'll be appreciated.

You may notice the necessary changes: what seems to be Reed pressed metal props and different spinners, absence of fuselage small ventral strakes, absence of wheel mudguards, thin antenna whip on top, unusual tailskid loop, and a few other miscellaneous things.

Any help welcome!

Thanks

 

 

[Sabrejet]

How about here:

 

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000556423.html

 

or here:

 

[Ptmvarsityfan]

Interesting photo of the Aerovan, must have been one of the last of the type existing in Britain.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Thanks, Sabrejet!

The images are very helpful, being the one in the link the closer figure/background tones (dark subject on light field)

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Having realized that the interior can slide in, I went for the heretic bold step of gluing the fuselage sides, disregarding the kit's instructions:

 

This was fortunate, because I realized that -as it was the case with the aft part of this particular sub-assembly- the fore part "natural fit" was wrong, being the "angle down" too much pronounced, thus not contacting as it should the roof:

 

Original, "natural fit" (as the part fits from the sprue) angle:

Detached and re-glued to the correct angle:

With good fit now (dry run):

 

 

 

[Der Lingener]

Hi Moa,

I haven´t noticed your online-build until now and will follow your progress with veery watchful eyes: I am planning to do the Israeli Aerovan and assume I can learn a lot from you construction-wise!

 

Thanks for building and explaining - perfect!

Michael

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

My pleasure, Michael.

Modelers helping modelers.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Looking at photos I didn't find evidence for the airscoop on the left side of the nacelles (looking from where pilot seats):

 

The body of the tadpole:

 

The cabin slides-in easily as said before. Related parts around. Beware that the cone shows in photos, when posed opened, closing panels front and top, the ones that the instructions have you glue to the fuselage back (that is ok if you close everything, but not if you open the tail).

So, if you are representing the tailcone opened, you may use the "back wall" part to close the cone's front, and a replica on styrene of the ogival (triangular) part for its ceiling (the original part will have to be somehow inserted inside the fuselage tail to represent structure). I'll come back to this point later in construction:

 

The wing/fuselage fit is fair enough to start with, but needs careful adjustment by trimming material from the fuselage (dry-run here). The wing comes with pips to represent the navigation lights, but I obliterated them. Not all planes had them, and if I need to represent them in my model I will drill a small hole and insert a section of tinted clear rod:

At this point I already managed to lose some components from my eight seat, one window (there are two spares, don't dispair -or dispare-) and perhaps a couple of the smaller items. All a happy occasion for future joy scratchbuilding them.

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Now, to represent the above-mentioned Meridian Airmaps Ltd. machine, questions arise as to where was the photo camera, what type was it, where was the window on the fuselage floor to allow for the taking of pictures, and how many -if any- chairs where in the cabin.

One would assume at least a couple chairs for the photographer and assistant.

I am sure that among the prestigious members there is somebody that may bring forth that information.

Meanwhile, looking for alternate liveries. The work of the divergent modeler is never done.

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Engine nacelles are glued on the wing. They need some adjustments to get a neat fit:

 

Dry run of wing and spine, to be sure the alternate building sequence I have chosen works:

 

A neutral grey is airbrushed in order to be able to proceed. Details will be added and painted, windows will be glued from inside:

 

[stringbag]

Enjoying this one Moa.  Nice work on show, particularly on those spinners.

 

 

All the best.

Chris.