Darren Rhodes Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) Greetings folks, Another one saved from the shelf of doom, however, I still wonder if it was worth saving - does it look like an MD-90 to you? This is the Welsh Models conversion for the Minicraft MD-80 kit. The conversion includes a replacement vacform fuselage and a pair of resin engines. The fuselage nose is a poor representation of an MD-80/90 and so as recommended by N5016R, I chopped the nose off and used the Minicraft kit nose. For all that effort, I might as well have just extended the kit fuselage, sigh. Then the resin engines, err, look nothing like IAE V2500 engines, sigh. I used milliput and plastic strip to add some girth to the engines, to correct the engines as best as possible, but the fan diameter is still too small. I wasn't prepared to commit to the BraZ engines at this late stage, but in hindsight I could have used the spare V2500 engines from the Zvezda A320 kit. The Delta decals came with the Welsh Model conversion and are laser decals so a bit soft, however they responded excellently to Microscale Set and Sol, and with the use of a hairdryer (first time attempted) conformed perfectly around all the raised and recessed detail on the tail fin. I will definitely be using the hairdryer for complex decals in future. Paints are Zero Paints white, Xtracolour Boeing Grey and Alclad aluminium, all sealed with Alclad Aqua Gloss. On with photos. Darren Edited March 1 by Darren Rhodes Updated photo links 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Was it worth saving? Absolutely, looks like new. Great job. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCD081 Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Nice tidy finish! Glad you rescued it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Good result Darren! That Minicraft nose is much better than the Welsh one isn't it! And the engines definitely look better with your surgery. My only criticism would be the lack of weathering. Have you considered some light weathering to give it a little 'depth'? How do you apply the Aqua gloss, can you brush it on like future? I've got a bottle but not used it yet. Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
426 Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 That is a fabulous scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Another great airliner off the production line today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Thank you guys very kind. Ian, quite agree, it looks too clean. I did weather the wings, but the panel lines have swallowed under layers of paint and didn't hold much wash, umm, and I just wanted it finished. The fuselage got so heavily sanded (vacforms have quite a rough finish) there are no panel lines left and this was a built a few years when I couldn't scribe my way out of a paper bag. Noted for the next build! Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Aqua Gloss, yes goes on beautifully with a nice flat wide brush. In fact I cannot spray it half as good as I can brush paint it. I also dip canopies in it, just as good as Future, if not better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Simple scheme but you've rally pulled it off. Excellent save Darren - thanks for persevering and getting it off the shelf of doom. :thumbsup2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Looks great Darren. Delta, to me, had this timeless livery, as every other kid on the block kept reinventing themselves. All of a sardine, Delta changes their livery, and does so like three times in a few years. Euch! I believe 'Wavy Gravy' and ' Beach Towel' are the same design ( this one ), but so disappointing. Recently, standing up on the observation deck at Johannesburg ( it is still sealed inside - but it is designed to see out over the runways, and most everyone up there is an enthusiast ) the worlds' airlines came and went, and when the Delta flight from Atlanta came in, it looked like some third world country's military transport - all stained white fuselage with a hint of colour on the stab. Sorry about my rant - your build is awesome! Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 No need to apologise Mike! I'm amazed at how many liveries Delta have gone through in the last 10-15 years, something that will become evident as my Delta series progresses. That's my last airliner off the shelf of doom, so will be while before the next one is posted. Much as I am still not completely happy with this model and another shelf of doom save, there is definitely something satisfying in emptying the shelf. Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timo Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hi Darren That is a superb end result - the conversion, paint job and decals all look first class. I'm one of those who prefers to build model airliners that look as though they have just come out of the paint shop - all gleaming and new. I'd be well happy with a finish like yours. Well done. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringbag Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Nicely done Darren. It's a pity the Welsh fuselage doesn't capture the nose shape correctly considering how expensive they are. Having said that, the use of the Minicraft nose is a good idea and although it was obviously a lot more complicated, you have certainly made a lovely job of it. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skodadriver Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Does it look like an MD-90 to me? Absolutely yes and a very good representation at that. The hard work has clearly paid off. I'm with Tim on weathering - less is usually more. Weathering airliners is easy, weathering them well is very, very difficult and something I prefer to leave to people whose skills are considerably greater than mine. Just one small suggestion. Adding the ADF fairings and the anti-collision beacon to the top of the fuselage and adding aerials all round would be worth considering - hardly any work and an easy way to make the model look a bit more "busy". Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) Lovely build Darren and she looks like an MD-90 but i'm a DC-9 fan so the MD series (and 717) never looked right anyway,glad she still has the eyebrow windows though... Edited November 22, 2015 by Vince1159 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 Does it look like an MD-90 to me? Absolutely yes and a very good representation at that. The hard work has clearly paid off. Just one small suggestion. Adding the ADF fairings and the anti-collision beacon to the top of the fuselage and adding aerials all round would be worth considering - hardly any work and an easy way to make the model look a bit more "busy". Dave Thanks, will bear the fairings and beacon in mind. Agree, it looks a bit 'sterile at the moment', long term I think I will re-do it with the BraZ engines and perhaps the current scheme (using MD-80 decals). Lovely build Darren and she looks like an MD-90 but i'm a DC-9 fan sothe MD series (and 717) never looked right anyway,glad she still has the eyebrow windows though... Thanks, sometimes I still think of the MD-80 as the DC-9 Super 80 as it was originally called. Well I some Decals de Guido for the DC-9-51 in the current livery, already researching the best way to make a -51 series - the decals recommend a Flying Fish Models resin Dc-9-51, seems non-existent. Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now