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Canadair CL-215 Buffalo Airways


Leonl

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Hello all,

 

This has been a marathon build, whilst I have enjoyed the build, I am pleased to call it done present it to you all for your comments....

 

The kit is the old Heller kit. With a bit of TLC it builds into a nice model. No major issues but it needs nose weight, I'd prefer a better wing/fuselage joint and the main gear is very fiddly and hard to get equal on both sides. 

 

I have added a fair amount of my own detail, opened the crew door, scratch built the crew door, opened up the water tanks, scratch built the internal tanks, water chute doors/actuators, flame retardant tank (can't be seen!), seat belts, throttle levers, added landing lights in the wings and some plumbing in the main gear bays. Oh and opened out and added the dome windows....

 

The version I have built is Buffalo Airways tanker 282, as seen on Ice Pilots. As it spent some time near my home in South Wales it was a plane I had to build. Luckily a fellow club member is very good at creating decals so I was able to have a go at this version. 

 

The aircraft is quite rivet heavy, as is the kit. During construction a lot of rivets were lost. These have been replaced using Archers Rivets. They went on really well, if you follow the instructions, ask me how I know!!

 

The masking was a challenge but I'm very happy with how it turned out....

 

WIP is here. 

 

Thanks for looking I hope you enjoy...

 

Leon

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsash68jhu.jpeg.html]image_zpsash68jhu.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zps4lvewzjj.jpeg.html]image_zps4lvewzjj.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpst88n3upy.jpeg.html]image_zpst88n3upy.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsxt42xgmd.jpeg.html]image_zpsxt42xgmd.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpshev8afvp.jpeg.html]image_zpshev8afvp.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsrjuncah4.jpeg.html]image_zpsrjuncah4.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsstp14t4k.jpeg.html]image_zpsstp14t4k.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpswyfgdrgs.jpeg.html]image_zpswyfgdrgs.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsdrpsiepc.jpeg.html]image_zpsdrpsiepc.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsdrpsiepc.jpeg.html]image_zpsdrpsiepc.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsu0ptv0yn.jpeg.html]image_zpsu0ptv0yn.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsworseedk.jpeg.html]image_zpsworseedk.jpeg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/leonlloyd1/media/CL-215/image_zpsa7cxmx38.jpeg.html]image_zpsa7cxmx38.jpeg[/URL]

 

Thanks again....

 

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A brilliant build Leon. I saw the original during a 2013 trip to Yellowknife. I am nearing the end of the painting stage on my build, but I think that your masking job has the edge on mine. As for decals, when the search for  a Leading Edge set proved fruitless, I was lucky enough to find a picture where the aircraft carries neither Newfoundland or Buffalo titles so that will do me until something comes along.

 

 

   Well Done,   Trev.

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Superb result there Leon, all that hard work and attention to detail has really paid off.

Really captures the look of the real aircraft very well. 

I was contemplating this build myself as I got to work with the aircraft at St Athan, but yours is so good that ! won't bother now!

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Re the decals, I'm absolutely sure that I have seen a set for 282 & 283 with the Buffalo titles as I remember thinking that I could make one using them, but for the life of me I can't remember who made them, and I can't find a trace of them now.

8062788486_31cf486499_c.jpgCanadair CL-215 282 C-FAYN Buffalo Airways 6 Oct 12 by James Thomas, on Flickr

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Very nice Leon great work with the masking and the painting.

 

:goodjob:

 

Guy

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14 hours ago, Scott Hemsley said:

71Chally:  The mfgr for the decals you mentioned was Leading Edge.  Unfortunately it's currently OOP & I don't know if he has any plans to reprint.

 

Scott

 

13 hours ago, 71chally said:

I'm aware of the Leading Edge set, the one I have in my mind covered both aircraft and Buffalo titles.

 

Keith, the 215s left in June 2015, for a veeery long journey home.

 

I hunted and scoured the internet for a set of decals. I also contacted Leading Edge who confirmed that it was out of production with no plans to reprint in the foreseeable future. 

 

I had had hoped to find a set at shows, fleaBay etc but no joy. 

 

Thanks everybody for the comments, I'm truly overwhelmed and humbled be the response to this one...

 

Thanks,

 

Leon

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Gorgeous model!

 

I grew up in Alberta, Canada and got to see these beasts quite a bit; though the Alberta ones were yellow overall with some red trim.

 

I remember once getting a tour of the Airspray hangars at Red Deer and getting up close to their A-26 Invaders as well as a couple of CL-215s while there. Amazing stuff.

 

I had heard somewhere that Leading Edge had planned to cease trading. It's sad if true, they made some interesting subject matter.

Edited by upnorth
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