Challenger350Pilot

Finally completed what began as a fall project of building a pair of 727s; it stretched into winter, and just now finished in spring. This was a first for me…building two models at once. Proved to be quite a challenge that was not only time consuming, but pushed the limits on space! My workbench just isn’t large enough for more than one-at-a-time, so new rule…just one…finish it…start another. No more “two-fers.” Here’s some history and photos posed in the bright sun and “in the hangar.” First is the somewhat historic Northwest Airlines 727-51 (-100), N467US, that became infamous during the only unsolved incident in aviation history…the D.B.Cooper hijacking on 24 November 1971. After jumping from the deployed rear air stairs of the airplane, Cooper was never seen or heard from again. Only remnants of the $200,000USD was ever recovered, found by a small boy buried in a river bank nearly completely deteriorated, but still clear enough to read the traceable serial numbers as the bills from the ransom. The incident led to a new mandated installation of the “Cooper Device,” a small vane that attaches to the rear fuselage, activated by airflow from the slipstream preventing the rear air stairs from being deployed in flight. The Airfix 727-100 is completed in the original livery as she rolled out in 1965. During the years leading up to the hijacking in 1971, she went through the paint shop at least twice as Northwest changed and updated the livery. She was sold to Piedmont Airlines in 1978; then in 1982 she went to United Technologies Flight Dynamics testing navigational equipment. In 1984 she was sold to Key Airlines for which she operated daily charter flights from Nellis Air Force Base to Tonapah Test Range, northwest of Las Vegas. She was retired and stored in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1985 then finally scrapped in 1996. The Minicraft 727-200 is of N272US, an airplane that really has no “distinct” or famous career. She served at Northwest first following her delivery in 1969. She was leased to Pan Am in 1988, returned to Northwest in 1989, then retired and stored in 2007 at Smyrna, Tennessee, where she still stands on her own gear as a parted out hull to this day. Both 727s were primed with Tamiya gray primer, painted with Tamiya TS-26 white and Alclad black base and polished airframe aluminum. Tamiya XF-8 dark blue was used for the cheat line on the -100, and Tamiya TS-49 bright red was used for both tails. Corogard on both models is an airbrushed mixture of Testors Modelmaster Metalizer Non Buffing aluminum and Testors Modelmaster Flat Light Ghost Gray. Wings, wing fairings, and horizontal stabilizers were airbrushed with MRP Boeing gray. Livery decals on the -100 are from Microscale; on the -200 are from Draw and 26. Windows on both are from Authentic Airliners with details from Nazca. Nose gear on the -100 is from Authentic Airliners, while the main gear is SAC metal struts, Authentic Airliners wheels, and scratch made doors. Nose gear on the -200 is from the kit; main gear are modified from the Airfix kit, with Brengun wheels and scratch made doors. Both airplanes received a brushed on clear coat of Future to finish. Hope you enjoy!

Nicely done! You've managed to skillfully dress up an old dinosaur of a kit, but a beautiful lady of an airplane...into something quite nice. I've always thought that the BEA black stripe livery made her look so so good.

Hi Piotr..... Wow. This one even gets two WOWs! I have to say there certainly is NOT anything “small” about this project. Everything about it is VERY large!! Absolutely amazing. Your work here is beautiful, and very meticulous; I am enjoying the detail, and the attention to detail that most would overlook. Makes this one look about as real as real gets, without being “real.” Even down to the chocks under the main gear. Quite ingenious and imaginative! The cargo floor looks so real. Thank you for sharing...so very inspiring. One more time.....WOW. Cheers! Paul

Haha! Thank you, Alex! I always appreciate your fine work...to be noticed by you, even if you’re “scratching your head,” is quite a welcomed compliment! She was fun to build, especially converting the -71 kit to the -61, which gave a large challenge throughout the process. Cheers!

Thank you for the kind words. Unfortunately, both of the Minicraft kits I have, including this one, have warped wings. Next build, at least I’ll be a little ahead in knowing what will need to be done to straighten them. Glad hours weren’t warped. Happy modeling!

Two beautifully done classics! Really nice builds, indeed! Love the old BOAC livery, too...this one is very stately. Very nice job with the AA 707; refreshing to see one of those! Quite nice! I see your bio shows you as a "newbie?" Welcome to BM! You'll find this is a fine place to learn, practice, participate in really good and constructive conversation, take part in complimentary forums, and peruse enjoyable posts. Looking very forward to seeing more of YOUR work here. Cheers! Paul

Just beautiful, Ian...as usual. I have to agree with Dave, as I usually do...the best word here is "inspirational." The 757 is such a beautiful bird, and you have once again captured the beauty by your choice in livery. The Caledonian colors and lines just lend the airplane a classic look that is really unmatched. I'm so glad you made some remarks about the paints used for the BA Landor colors, as I am possibly finishing an AA 777 soon in that livery. Can you elaborate a little on the Humbrol Metalcote Polished aluminum? I really like your bright work on this particular model...just wondering how the Humbrol compares to the Alclad products. Nice nice work, indeed. And I've left comment on the "pushback" diorama as well. Just beautiful. Inspiring. Wow.

WOW! Yep...she gets a WOW! Twice! Very very nice indeed, Ian. saw the posted pics on your standard base in the RFI, but this really grabs my attention. I love the tug...its beautiful. You've even included the line man's long headset cord! What did you use for that?? Just fantastic, Ian.

Thank you, Eric! I appreciate your kind words. Really glad you like it! I truly enjoyed this one...took a while to gather everything needed to do a -61, but patience paid off! Hope you were able to take a look at the work in progress as well...there's some detail there that isn't included here. Regards! Paul

Thanks, Mike! Looks like you indeed did NOT miss it! Glad you got to see the post. It was a fun build. Hope you saw the work in progress, too...there's a link at the beginning of this post. Thank you for your kind words! Paul

Thank you, Phil. This one was a joy to build...the Minicraft kit is truly a welcome addition to the DC-8 model builders' bench. Everything fits so well, and with the exception of just a small handful of misfits, the kit is quite good. Be very aware...and you can see this in the work in progress post I made here...the wings tend to be warped badly, but not so bad as to evade correction. With some patience, they can turn out quite nice. Check out the WIP...the link is at the very beginning of this post. Cheers! Paul

Hi Diogo! Very nice work indeed! Looks like she's been worked very hard without a bath in quite sometime. The BA Landor livery on the 747, and pretty much all other aircraft, is so stately and royal looking. You've done a fine job with this difficult kit. In spite of the challenges with the Revell kit you've done a cracking job of presenting her well. good work! Paul

Hi Alex; I have to say this one is probably my favorite of what you've posted...and you are a prolific builder! I love this livery...it just fits the baby bus beautifully. You've done a fine job as usual. Thank for sharing. Paul

Oh my.... Now these are just WAY WAY cool. Love them ALL. Nice builds, Paul. Very nice finishes too. Wow. Paul

Nice build as usual, Neil! Really like the BA livery on the A380. And you built it for your parents?!?!?!? That automatically gets a "WOW!!!" My mom used to complain of sorts of all the models in my room whilst growing up. My room was only about 8 feet by 10 feet, in the middle of the house, with shelves on one wall that was full of model airplanes. I think the most I had at one time was around 50...all built and displayed. I suppose the complaining was because they were all dust magnets. Really glad you still have your parents to share such a great work with. Really like the finish, too. I've only recently discovered the advantages of using the Tamiya finishing polish. Truly hides some paint unevenness and makes the model shine beautifully. Very good work here. Thanks for sharing! Paul

Hi Paul; This is a nice little beauty. Very little but, big on nice. Cockpit windows are clear? can one actually see inside to get a glimpse?? Interesting! Nice build. Thanks for sharing. Paul

Very nice work, Neil. Love the old classic A300s...especially in the old Lufthansa livery that lends a beauty to her and just seems to accentuate how beautiful that airplane really is. I am pleasantly surprised that you had no issues with warping. I have one of these in my stash, and she has some fuselage warping. Haven’t even begun to decide when or in what livery shell be finished, or how to tackle the warping. But yours here is most assuredly inspiring. Not surprised you had some trouble finding corogard...those old sheets are as rare as hen’s teeth! Thanks for sharing! Really a nice build, as usual.

Quite nice, Chris...add these to your album of outstanding builds! Love the Trident...and your corrections for accuracy are greatly appreciated and admired. Well done!

Very nicely done, Chris! You've done a beautiful justice to a beautiful classic bird in a very striking livery that suits the 720 nicely. Good choice, too, in utilizing the Welsh engines...adds a perfect and accurate touch to the finished model. Very nice weathering, too...all too often modelers add weathering that draws too much attention to...the weathering. Yours is beautifully done, and makes the model look real...and the lighting is good too! Natural sunlight? Really really like this one...and never mind posting it where it "shouldn't" be...the more postings THIS one gets, the better appreciated she'll be!

Very nice work, indeed, Matijn. Really like this build. A fine representation of a grand bird! The KLM livery has always been one of my favorites, being stately and complementing the beauty of the airplanes it adorns. KLM is also one of my favorite “rides,” as I have been a very satisfied passenger on more than just a few occasions through Amsterdam’s Schipol from the US. The weathering makes her look like a well utilized airplane, barely having time for a decent bath! Very nice job!

Very nice build, Mark. Thank you for sharing. I am sure that you found, as all of us that have built this kit, that the Minicraft DC-8s are a great addition to the fleet of 1/144 airliners...a very good kit that is clear and concise, with good fit and accurate detail. And here, you have done her well! Nice job! Paul

Beautiful build, Alex. I don’t recall a nicer build out of the box of this RV 747. You’ve done the proud queen great justice. I bought one of the original issues in its original box in TWA twin globe livery at a collectibles show a few years ago, before this particular kit was marketed as the re issue. Pretty sure the guy selling it didn’t know what he had, because I got for it for a steal! Thanks for sharing this build...really really nice job.

Nice, Dan...really nice. Particularly like the ATR airliners, and you’ve done a cracking job on this one!

Hi Robot.... i am very partial to Tamiya sprays...primers and colors, too...but in particular the TS-26 white just can not be beat. With a properly prepared surface, the spray applied in small thin sprays, I always achieve a superior finish that requires nothing....not even a final acrylic clear coat of Future, though I do apply the clear coat for decal protection. I suppose the only advantage to airbrushing a white finish would be saving paint, as an airbrush is way more precise in application than a spray can, which tends to blow more paint “by” than “on.” A matter of taste and preference, I suppose. Glad you’re tackling the Revell 727-100...it can be a challenging kit. I’m currently working on two 727s, a -100 (Airfix) and a -200 (Minicraft) at the same time. They are quite different and pose separate hurdles to cross, never mind building two at once...my workbench is crowded! Paul

Beautiful build...AND presentation, Dave...as usual. Did you accent the rudder lines on the tail? Sure looks like you did...makes the tail stand out just a little bit...just enough to catch my eye and say...wow...and the sealing lines around the wing root...how is that done? Decal? Small pencil? Patience and a huge magnifying glass??? Thanks for sharing, Dave...really is beautiful. And I LOVE the last pic with Air France standing tall. You’ve got a large journey ahead building hour way through European national carriers! Enjoy! Paul