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Showing results for tags 'Minicraft DC-8'.
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Now that the Sabre is ready for painting, and I'm struggling to work up the enthusiasm for the Buffalo (I'll get to it), it's time to start another build. This is the Minicraft DC-8 which I'll be building as a CP Air DC-8-53 using Two Six decals and Bra.Z resin engines. First job is to shorten the fuselage. The kit represents a DC-8-71 with a stretched fuselage, but there are engraved lines on the inside to help with shortening to both the original fuselage length and the slightly longer -62/72. So the job of cutting the fuselage up is fairly straightforward - here's what I've ended up with: I've not started reassembling the fuselage halves, that's the next job. More soon Julian
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For cheatline lovers everywhere here is the Minicraft DC-8 finished as EC-BSE “Playa de las Canteras” an ex-Iberia -63 operated by Aviaco between 1981 and 1983. After leaving Aviaco the aircraft spent time in Canada with Quebecair and Nationair before the inevitable freighter conversion and service with Airborne Express until retirement in 2005. When I was a regular spotter at Glasgow 40-odd years ago Aviaco’s Spanish charter flights were normally the domain of DC-9s but once in a while a DC-8 would turn up. Much as the rare sight delighted us spotters, it can’t have been fun living under the flightpath since the arrival and, even more so, departure of a DC-8 involved an ear-splitting noise level which is hard to imagine in the modern era of high-bypass turbofans. Happy days provided you didn’t have a DC-8 in full cry passing over your house! I used the S&M bagged version of the Minicraft kit which comes with alternative engines, wingtips and noses but no decals. Anyone planning a -70 series from the bagged kit should note that they will need to find an alternative source for the prominent nose grills which are on the Minicraft decal sheet. The kit has been around for many years and apart from the need to straighten the wings (do it before assembly, use a hairdryer and be careful) it’s an easy and pleasant build. I used an Extra Tech PE set to add some bling mainly around the undercarriage. Aerials, pitots and a few other small details not provided in the P/E set were made from plastic sheet and strip. White is Halfords Appliance White. Natural metal is mainly AK Interactive and the light grey on the wings and pylons is Mr Hobby Aqueous 338. Decals are by Two Six. I added an Authentic Airliners windscreen (actually a leftover from an MD-80 set) and some detail decals from the spares box since, as already mentioned, the bagged kit comes without decals. Thanks for looking and as always constructive criticism is welcome. Dave G- 32 replies
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Time to start another Navy build. I'd been planning on a Skyhawk next (I should still get to that) but somehow the inspiration to build the unique EC-24A struck me. Here's the 1/1 scale version: The EC-24A was operated by McDonnell Douglas for the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group as an electronic aggressor - its role was to simulate attacks on the US Navy surface fleet. It was converted from a DC-8-54CF acquired from United Airlines in 1984, supplementing two NKC-135As in the same role. I'll be using the Minicraft 1/144 DC-8 kit, which includes suitable engines for a CFM-56 powered 70-series aircraft or for a DC-8-62 or -63 with the later style of nacelle for the JT3Ds, but not the earlier JT3D nacelle of the -50 series. So I'm using resin engines from Bra.Z. The various fairings and antennae will be scratch built, including some 3D printing, and I'll print my own decals. Here are the sprue and resin engines: First job is to shorten the fuselage. Minicraft kindly give us engraved lines inside the fuselage halves to guide the necessary cuts so this was pretty straightforward: and it's gone together quite nicely, with some scrap sprue used to reinforce the joints: So, off to a good start. I'm hoping to move it along quite quickly so as to get time for that Skyhawk. cheers Julian
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