Challenger350Pilot

Now this is impressive! Nice work, and the conversion work is quite nice. Didn't even know there WAS such a thing as a DC-5...learned something new today from this post! Thanks for sharing.

Yep...and there are a handful of reasons for that........

Thank you, Ian! Much appreciate your kind words, as always. The FOD deflectors come in the kit, mounted thickly to the sprue. Which only means they come off with great coaxing and high probability of breaking, which the nose one did. Replaced it with cut pieces from the PE fret, cut down to size. The main gear deflectors are attached at only one point, and separated just fine. The detail in the engine intakes was pretty easy; just studied a few pics of the actual airplane's engine intakes, and improvised the result using some spare decals that I had in the stash cut to fit properly. Ordered the livery decals from Draw, "sans windows," so that I could specifically use the AA ones. The cheat lines are quite thick and challenging to handle, but they dry beautifully once in place. Difficult to cut to size, and overlapping is not recommended.

Thanks, Dave. Always appreciate your comments. I began this project with a Minicraft kit, and liked it very much. Parts go together well, and that kit is a great example of the MD-80. I switched to the EE kit after studying it a bit closer, and looking at photos of the built model. I like that the brakes are molded onto the gear, but did not like that the tires come in halves and have to be cemented together. They don't fit well, so they require filling and sanding, thereby losing the detail of the tire tread. There are no guide holes on the EE kit, so putting together halves of anything can be tricky, and require extra support. The largest issue, I think, is with the nose gear...requires that the gear box and strut be installed prior to the fuselage halves going together...apparently that's an EE trait for all their airliners. I actually installed the gear box, then installed the gear strut near the last, so as not to break it...went in just fine with no issues. EE also gets the gear placement correct, and the finished model sits slightly nose low, like the airplane. The wing dihedral on the EE kit is also correct, and molded on the bottom half of the wings as one long assembly, including the wing box. Mine was slightly warped, but straightened easily with some heated air from a blow dryer. Minicraft kit is a good one, so is the EE kit...I just preferred the better details on the EE one. Can't go wrong with either one...they are just different in different ways.

Quite a collection...looking great! Thanks for sharing!

This is the Eastern Express 1/144 scale MD-80 finished in the earlier American Airlines livery, as ship #567. N567AM was the last MD-80 delivered brand new to American in 1992 from the factory in Long Beach, California, serving well for 24 years before being retired in 2016. She was stored in ROW before being returned to service in 2017 as a cargo carrier still active and operating south of the border. This model was a first for me in a few areas; my first attempt at an Eastern Express model, use of acrylic paints (I usually use enamels), and first use of Xtreme metal (I usually use Alclad) for the finish. Quite a few challenges for sure, but the model came together well in spite of the issues that the EE kit presents. Painting and finishing challenges were new to me, as I am sure they are old to many, but didn’t prove impossible…just different from what I have done in the past. Good learning experiences and I would most definitely build this kit again. To mix the AA gray I used Tamiya X-1 and X-2 until it “looked about right,” using photos of the actual airplane in sunlight from different angles. Tamiya gray surface primer, then Tamiya TS-14 gloss black as a base coat for the metal finish (I usually use the Alclad base coat, but thought this time I'd try the less expensive Tamiya gloss black...won't do that again!). Xtreme metal airbrushed along with light polishing to achieve the natural metal finish. Flying Colors details; Draw Decals details, cheat lines, and livery markings; Authentic Airliners life like windows; Platz PE parts for the landing gear, antennae, and pitot tubes. Of the pictures below, a few are taken while she was still on the workbench; the rest were taken on a bright sunny day while clouds occasionally passed overhead, giving a shaded look to some of the shots. Hope you enjoy!

Very nice indeed, Corbin. The Vanguard is such a lovely lady, and you’ve done her proud! Beautiful work, and a very welcome livery to accentuate her beautiful lines. Its really nice to see a “clean” model, too, as if she has just rolled off the assembly line. Really looking forward to seeing more airliners from you, and maybe even a WIP...we all would benefit from schooling with you.

She’s finally finished!!! And she looks like a proud bird! Nice work, Alistair. You jumped head first into the deep end with this project, and your persistence has paid off. Thank you for the inspiration. Like some others, this inspires me to pursue a 777... never built one before! I’m enjoying your weathering, too...looks like she’s worked hard. Really good job!

Just beautiful, Dave, as usual. I really like the old Airfix DC-9, and in spite of the issues its a great kit, representing the airplane pretty well. Built one of these some hears ago, finishing her in Southern Airways livery. It was a fun kit. You’ve done a fantastic job with this one. Love the livery, too. The decision to meld in a Minicraft cockpit cover is genius. And it really DOES improve the final product. I’d bet getting that thing mounted, trimmed, and flush presented a challenge, but obviously a great result. I did notice the FOD deflector on the nose gear...didn’t realize that the 9s actually had these. Really appreciate your history and mini WIP narrative, too...especially the instructions and detail as pertains to mounting the engines. Very good turn out indeed!

I’m currently at work on an MD-80, my first Eastern Express kit. I have to agree that it (they) are terribly overpriced, even when finding one for a “reasonable” cost from somewhere deep overseas. The MD-80 is a pretty good kit, presenting some issues that really aren’t too large to overcome with so e patience and ingenuity. Parts fit is good, though there are no guide holes, which requires some foresight and careful planning when the glue goes on. There some small parts, for sure, and a good number of them, some not to correct scale and requiring trimming if they’re used over a good PE part. My main complaint is the same as most EE kit builders...the nose gear. It’s supposed to be attached to the fuselage in the gear well at the very outset of the build, which means that it almost certainly will be broken off during sanding or painting, unless its protected, probably by wrapping it in thick tape, which really is no real protection at all. I decided to wait to attach the nose gear towards the end of assembly, after fuselage assembly and prep, and after painting. Other than that one major point, I would most certainly buy other EE kits, particularly the B717, L-1011, and MD-11. These look like fine kits, even if the prices are way high and the challenges are..well...VERY challenging.

Hi John...congratulations on a great build. Really like the old Trident, and what you've done with this one is superb. I always get thrown by a nose-on shot, showing the off set nose gear...that's just plain weird! Good catch on the translucent cockpit windows...glad you caught it before they dried in place! And the Classic Airlines decals are quite nice for this livery. Nice job indeed!

Wow, Alistair...you are REALLY coming out of your comfort zone, and inspiring those of us that are still "stuck" in ours! Nice work so far, and very bold. Are you planning to airbrush this one? I am just thinking that if you are venturing this far out, why not go on out all the way...be adventurous?!?!?! Obviously you are learning a great deal with this project, and it will surely be rewarding, provided you move slowly and with great patience. Watching with interest as you go....

Great old bird. She looks so real. Very nice job on the weathering too. Looks like she's waiting to be loaded, cranked, and flown.

Nice work in deed, Mark. And this is your FIRST airliner?? Wow. Hope to see more from you for sure! You mentioned that the gear are fragile...know that there are aftermarket metal gear and wheels for this scale 727; I've used them and they are fantastic...much more detailed than the kit supplied ones, and very strong, and very easy to work with. The only complaint I had was that I had to make axles for the mains...but that was pretty minor compared to the inadequacies of the kit gear. Very good job!! Thank for sharing. A beautiful airplane with a stunning livery!

She's a beast! Really a nice job! Congratulations on a very well researched and presented B707! Probably my favorite airplane ever...and most especially in 1/72 scale. Really like the write up, too...I wish you HAD done a WIP...would have lended some very good details, and no doubt some very good lessons! Nice job on the decals, too...something not many of us would tackle under any circumstance, especially since, as you say, there are scads of available liveries in decal form available. I would agree with all of your experiences, as I built a Heller B707 a few years back. Took a very long time, mending gaps and sanding sanding sanding...thought my arms would fall off. Each time I thought I was finished, I detected something else that needed....more sanding. Didn't use the PE parts as they were not available (to my knowledge) when I was building. I have 3 more of these in my stash, one is used as a mule for testing paint. Someday, I'll scrub the old stuff off and build her up, and get to super detailing the gear...after I've done some arm strengthening! Nice job, for sure! Thanks for sharing. Here's a link to some photos of the Heller 707 I built......posted these when I first came on to Britmodeller.

Very nice build indeed! Love the BAC 111, and you have captured it beautifully!

She looks stunning...even as dirty as she is...she must be a "working" girl. I'm sure you know this, so please forgive the redundancy...but...on the MD-11, the center bogey rotates/rolls fore and aft in the extended position, depending on weight, which is why it is never chocked while parked. You must have known this evidenced by first attaching the main gear to the wings and leveling them properly. The center bogey would be attached after the mains and allowed to "fall" naturally, depending on how you depict the model, fully loaded or empty. Very nice job on the gear. Very nice work on the whole model. This is so inspiring, and I am always thankful to peruse through this thread. Looks like I'll be ordering one for myself.

Such a better technique than what I have done in the past. I really like the idea of using Mr. Surfacer; its thicker than what I have used and makes more sense. I have blended a small amount of paint from the surface with thin cement, then slowly and sparingly injected it into the gap. The liquid blends to both surfaces and closes the gap completely...takes two or more applications, but as it dries is quite effective. But....if I inject too much, a disaster ensues that really makes cleanup and correction very difficult...if I inject just enough, it goes quite well. I would think Mr. Surfacer, being thicker, wouldn’t run, and thereby would avert that disaster. Thanks for this lesson...brilliant!

Love the landing gear! The Tamiya Accent color used as a wash is brilliant, and works so well. How about the hydraulic and brake lines on the gear struts...what did you use to do those? They look like they might be rigid...how would you make them rigid?

Wow, what a great build! Always good to see an Authentic Airliners kit nicely done, and the KLM livery makes her very classy.

Nice build, Norbert. The backgrounds add justice, too. Really like those...almost diorama-like. Haven’t built the Minicraft 737 though I have a couple in the stash...interesting about the right engine tilt. Could that be corrected?

Very nice build, Robin. She looks quite sharp. I suppose I’m one of the last yet to build the Zvezda 737...I appreciate everyone’s perspective on them...every one! Yours is nicely done! By the way......what mistakes? Can’t see any.......

Taking on her own life. She's beautiful. The livery decals are looking really nice. And the cockpit windows are gorgeous. Wow. Now....how to fix the nose gear.......just another challenge to surmount. No worries.......

WOWOWOWOWOW! She looks gorgeous! When she's RFI, would you take close ups of the details...especially the gear? Can hardly wait to see her!

Very nice as usual, Alistair...and especially photographed with the retro fleet...just looks great. I love this livery on the -400, and like everyone else, I lament too over her retirement. You've discovered now that the AA windows lend a bit of realism and detail to the finished model...glad you are using them...makes your build look really nice. I've built the Revell 747-400, and like you, had some fit issues with the wing box to fuselage. I also struggled with the wings being too "droopy," causing the BraZ P&W engines I used to nearly touch the tarmac. After a lot of trimming and sanding on the pylons, and curing after joining the wings to the fuselage at the proper dihedral, everything turned out alright. Takes a great deal of patience...and persistence for this bird. So after my own experience with this particular model, I more deeply appreciate YOUR work. Practice, practice, practice, makes for better modelling over time. And you are definitely showing and proving that to all of us who are following your builds.