Search the Community

Fellow modelers my Work Health and Safety Certificate Course is nearly finished, one more assignment to hand in. Time to start a new kit and finish the backlog of kits started. I want to start a new kit because I have missed the smell of glue and the joy of cutting plastic, most of the kits I have started I have forgotten where I am up to. I would like to build Ellsworth's Antarctic Flight Northrop Delta but can only find 2 pictures of this plane. There is also VH-ADR I could do or the more colourful A61-1 of the RAAF. A61-1 will be my choice (all 3 are the same aircraft), unless I can find more photographs and I will attempt Ellsworth's Delta Enough Waffle here's some pics of the bits and bobs box art parts and decals Thanks for looking. Stephen

Delta 1D/ E US Transport plane (72329) 1:72 Special Hobby The Delta was designed by Jack Northrop alongside the the Gamma in 1932 when the Northrop Corporation was set up with as a joint venture with The Douglas Aircraft Company. The Gamma was to be a mail plane where the Delta was to be a passenger transporter. It was a low wing monoplane with a fixed undercarriage. The wings were common to both aircraft with the Delta having a wider fuselage for the passengers with the pilot being seated upfront behind the engine fighter plane style. Space behind was for 8 passengers. The Delta flew in 1933 but suffered from a change in the regulations in the USA which prohibited single engined aircraft from carrying passengers at night, or over rough terrain. Only three aircraft were made before this regulation came into place with the first being used by TWA, the second by Pan-Am's Mexican subsidiary and the third to AB Aerotransport of Sweden. A single example was built for the US Coastguard and 7 more were built as executive transports. Of these three were purchased by the Spanish Republicans for use in the civil war there. Two of these were captured by the Republicans and used by them. The third was later used by the Republican Airline LAPE until the end of the war when it was also handed over to the Air Force. In addition to the US Built examples the Delta was built under license by Canadian Vickers where it was used as a photographic survey aircraft by the RCAF. The first example was supplied to Vickers by Northrop part assembled, and 19 examples were then built by them. This would be the first all metal stressed skin aircraft to be built in Canada. These aircraft were capable of being used with wheels, skis and floats although the latter was not a success due to corrosion issues. Delta were used for anti-submarine patrols in early WWII, but were withdrawn to training roles by 1941. The Kit The kit was first released in 2017 under the Azur FFROM label. The kit has 4 main sprues of injected plastic , and a clear sprue. The plastic is more limited run than main stream, the parts are well moulded with restrained panel lines, however there are a lot of ejector pins to clean up, all though on unseen surfaces. Construction starts without any surprises with the cockpit. The single cockpit for the pilot sits in the middle of the fuselage slightly higher than the main cabin floor. The rudder pedals are moulded to the cockpit floor, the side consoles are added along with the pilots seat. The instrument panel is then added along with the control column. Next up the 8 passenger seats are added to the main cabin floor. The cockpit and main cabin floor can then be added into the main fuselage along with the rear cabin bulkhead. Lastly before closing up the main fuselage the cabin windows need to be added. Once the main fuselage is together the engine is added to the front of the fuselage. The wings can now be added. These have a main full span lower wing with left & right uppers. Once the main wing is on the tail planes can also be added. The Spats and enclosed wheels are then built up and added to the main wing. To finish up the exhausts, tail wheel, aerial, pitot tube and propeller are added. Markings Decals are printed by Aviprint and look in register with good colour density. There are are three markings in the kit 1. Aircraft purchased for use in Elsworth's Antarctic flight of 1936, then bought by the Australian Govt for war use. Earth & Foliage Green Camo. 2. Ex US Coast Guard Aircraft used by the US Corps of Engineers in Eritrea 1942. Dark Earth & Olive Drab camo 3. The previous aircraft as a US Coast Guard machine. Conclusion It is great to see more boxings of this esoteric aircraft being released. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Northrop Delta 1:72 Azur FR.ROM The Delta was designed by Jack Northrop alongside the the Gamma in 1932 when the Northrop Corporation was set up with as a joint venture with The Douglas Aircraft Company. The Gamma was to be a mail plane where the Delta was to be a passenger transporter. It was a low wing monoplane with a fixed undercarriage. The wings were common to both aircraft with the Delta having a wider fuselage for the passengers with the pilot being seated upfront behind the engine fighter plane style. Space behind was for 8 passengers. The Delta flew in 1933 but suffered from a change in the regulations in the USA which prohibited single engined aircraft from carrying passengers at night, or over rough terrain. Only three aircraft were made before this regulation came into place with the first being used by TWA, the second by Pan-Am's Mexican subsidiary and the third to AB Aerotransport of Sweden. A single example was built for the US Coastguard and 7 more were built as executive transports. Of these three were purchased by the Spanish Republicans for use in the civil war there. Two of these were captured by the Republicans and used by them. The third was later used by the Republican Airline LAPE until the end of the war when it was also handed over to the Air Force. In addition to the US Built examples the Delta was built under license by Canadian Vickers where it was used as a photographic survey aircraft by the RCAF. The first example was supplied to Vickers by Northrop part assembled, and 19 examples were then built by them. This would be the first all metal stressed skin aircraft to be built in Canada. These aircraft were capable of being used with wheels, skis and floats although the latter was not a success due to corrosion issues. Delta were used for anti-submarine patrols in early WWII, but were withdrawn to training roles by 1941. The Kit The kit has 4 main sprues of injected plastic , and a clear sprue. The plastic is more limited run than main stream, the parts are well moulded with restrained panel lines, however there are a lot of ejector pins to clean up, all though on unseen surfaces. Construction starts without any surprises with the cockpit. The single cockpit for the pilot sits in the middle of the fuselage slightly higher than the main cabin floor. The rudder pedals are moulded to the cockpit floor, the side consoles are added along with the pilots seat. The instrument panel is then added along with the control column. Next up the 8 passenger seats are added to the main cabin floor. The cockpit and main cabin floor can then be added into the main fuselage along with the rear cabin bulkhead. Lastly before closing up the main fuselage the cabin windows need to be added. One correction here is that if you are building C/N7 then this aircraft had an enlarged door with one of the cabin windows removed to make way for it. Ffrom provide details for filling the window and door panel lines, along with a template to scribe a new door in. Once the main fuselage is together the engine is added to the front of the fuselage. The wings can now be added. These have a main full span lower wing with left & right uppers. Once the main wing is on the tail planes can also be added. The Spats and enclosed wheels are then built up and added to the main wing. To finish up the exhausts, tail wheel, aerial, pitot tube and propeller are added. Decals - Civilian Version This boxing of the kit gives three choices of markings, all in BMF. C/N 7, SE-ADI "Halland" used by AB Aerotransport Sweden, 1934-37 C/N 3, X12292, TWA 1933, LA to Kanas City C/N 4, X-ABED, Aerovias Centrales (Pan-AM) 1933-34. LA to Mexico City. Decals - Delta Over Spain This boxing of the kit gives three choices of markings, all in BMF. C/N 7, ED-AGC LAPE airline, Spanish, ex AB Aerotransport Sweden. 1937-1938 C/N 7, ED-AGC LAPE airline, Spanish, ex AB Aerotransport Sweden. 1938-1939 C/N7, now 43-18 Spanish Air Force 1939-45 All decals are by Aviprint, look to have good colour density and be in register. Conclusion This is another left of field release from FFROM of an lesser well known but good looking aircraft from the earlier years of civil aviation. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

FRROM-Azur is to release a 1/72nd Northrop Delta kit Source: http://www.frrom.com/index.php?page=Accueil-2 - ref. FR0032 - Delta Civilian Version "Swedish, TWA and Mexican Service" Source: http://www.frrom.com/index.php?page=frrom-fr0032-2 - ref. FR0033 - Delta over Spain Source: http://www.frrom.com/index.php?page=frrom-fr0033-2 V.P.

Ok so I've called time on this build. Those that followed the WIP will know the trials and tribulations I've had with this kit regarding the decals and although the plan was to weather the shell a bit, I've just lost complete interest now that the assembly has actually finished. WIP thread here for those that are interested: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234998842-lancia-delta-hf-integrale-1993-monte-carlo-rally/ So anywho on with the pics: The kit was the Acropolis '93 kit and when I brought it, it came with replacement decals from Shunko. Luckily when the kit arrived I noticed the decals also allowed you to build the '93 Monte Carlo car, which I much preferred anyway; as well as the fact that Hasegawa doesn't supply the correct gravel wheels used during the '92 and '93 seasons. They just give you gravel tyres to fit on the tarmac ones. So I raided a spares and repair Delta I have for it's slick tyres and it's window piece too in the end lol. I also lowered the suspension 3mm in the front and 2mm in the rear, as even though the kit is supposed to be Tarmac spec using the same parts as all the other Deltas, the ride height is way too high. As always comments and such are welcome. TTFN Ashley.

And so here it is as promised in my Lancer build. Pic of what I'm starting with: For those that haven't followed my Lancer I wont be building the Acropolis Version depicted by the box top. It be Monte car I's a knocking into shape. (Title gives it away a bit ) Although I have a couple other Hasegawa Delta's in the stash this is the first I'll be building. Therefore like with the Lancer i'll leave the suspension till last to gauge wheher the ride height needs lowering. Given Hasegawa's history with these rally kits I'm fully expecting it'll need a couple mm taken out but you never know lol. There's quite a bit to drill and sand on the body shell. Even had to fill a couple marks after removing the moulded on side indicators. The body is currently under it's first coat of primer and may even get some white on by tonight. I assembled and painted the rollcage: I did deliberately miss that small section. After all I did have to hold it somewhere haha. Next up was removing the moulded on detail from the instrument cluster. Some very creative use of a needle file and sand paper was needed lol. Not the best pic but it's hard to photo lol: I've painted the interior tub too: I have read in an Abarth book written by ex Abarth staff that all the cars they built featured grey interiors, but all the pics I've seen of these cars seem to show them either unpainted or maybe it was a silver/aluminium colour paint So I just went with Humbrols 56 Aluminium lol. Strangely there were some large recessed parts on the rear spoiler that I haven't seen on the real car so those have been filled: That's all so far. Thanks for looking. TTFN Ashley.