Ford trimotor, a corrugated wonder - Modified Airfix 1/72nd

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 

There are planes that become classics, and there are kits that become classics as well.

In this case the classic kit is of a the classic plane, the venerable Ford trimotor, an American product that drew so much from Fokker and Junkers ideas, design, and construction techniques that some even considered it blatant plagiarism.

In any case, the trimotor soon became an ubiquitous sight in the American and foreign skies, and was popular with airliners and passengers alike. 

Many were produced, and they operated wide and long, as the existing flying examples can attest.

 

As we all know there are two kits of it, Monogram's 1/77th scale of the 4AT, and Airfix's 1/72 scale of the 5AT.

The old Arfix kit depicts just one of the many diverse sub-types, and it is a good idea to check your chosen subject against actual photos of it, as you will be surprised to find that many details in the kit might not apply to your choice (or any choice), and the kit itself is peppered with inaccuracies that you may or may not like to live with. Some are easy to correct and/or not so relevant, while others are very difficult to correct and quite noticeable. Three of the latter are the really overly thick trailing edges, the absence of corrugations on the inner two thirds of the leading edges, and the "reversed" propeller blades. The mail holds in the wing are only suitable for some versions, as some did not have them at all, and others had a single-bay hold, not a double bay as in the kit. The frames for them in the kit is inaccurate, as the big hold was divided in two to clear a spar in reality. So you either fix that -photos in hand-, or just close them shut.

 

If you want to know more, you may visit the building thread:

 

 

If you are lenient or do not overly fuss about accuracy, you may consider that the kit still holds its own, but more demanding modelers may be eager for a more modern and accurate kit. I think they may as well pull up a chair, as this is not very likely to happen.

I believe it still renders a fair replica when in good hands, it's affordable and abundant, and there are aftermarket masks and decals available for it. Why this kit became a classic, with the completely horrid fit issues and inaccuracies it has, it's yet another of the modeling universe mysteries.

The Arfix kit can be built by a reasonably experienced modeler, with lots of work to fix issues: the locating points for the engine gondolas that guarantee bad fit, as well as the cabin and fuselage floor, that do the same, and the fit of the cabin inside the fuselage. All these issues combined explain the recurrent news of modelers going crazy and pretending, for example, that they are Martians. The cure is not easy, and the problem is compounded by confusing and poor instructions for the sub-assemblies involved.

The model is as problematic as Henry Ford, an execrable and confessed racist -pals with another racist, Charles Lindbergh, a perfect example of historical whitewashing, even up to these days.

 

The model:

In this case, the chosen subject is the SACO (Servicio Aéreo Colombiano -Colombian Air Service) airplane F-31, in which Carlos Gardel, the Argentinean world-renowned tango singer tragically lost his life -together with his entourage and part of the crew- in a catastrophic accident during take-off while on tour in Colombia.

There are so many attractive trimotor schemes, older and newer, that actually makes it difficult to chose one of them to replicate. There are even British-registered trimotors! I have already folders for potential candidates, in case I wanted to go through the ordeal again (which I very much doubt).

 

For those interested in lists, here is what has been modified on this model:

- Addition of a full restroom

- Fabrication and addition of the missing sections of the corrugated leading edge -an omission that lets the kit down, a kit that otherwise may deserve better marks

- Replacement of landing lights and addition of navigation lights

- Modification of the propellers to correct reversed parts on kit

- Substitution of the center (exposed in this case) engine for an aftermarket item

- Detailing of engine gondolas with shrouds, louvers and other bits

- Replacement of most of the original center engine exhaust

- Addition of antenna masts and cables

- Addition of cabin door step

- Addition of passing red light on the leading edge

- Thinning of wing trailing edges

- Removal of molded-in control arms and substitution for new parts

- Addition of all control cables on fuselage, tail and wing

- Addition of control cable guides along fuselage

- Replacement of tailwheel and all associated parts, adding missing details like bungee cords

- Re-location of the misguiding holes for the engine struts

- Replacement of aileron control horns

- Addition of tail rigging

- Fabrication of realistic wing mail hold and associated details

- Correction of kit's mail holds to fit the version

- Opening of all cabin and cockpit doors

- Addition of restroom discharge on fuselage bottom

- Deletion of details not pertinent to this specific version

- New decal sheet made by Arctic decals specific for the plane modeled

- Addition of instruments on the engine struts

 

My thanks to Ricardo Fiorio, a friend for many decades, who provided key information to replicate Gardel's plane. 

My gratitude to Arctic decals, who kindly (and surely patiently) allows me to commission sets so I can continue to present these off-the-beaten-path types.

If you want a trimotor, this kit may deserve the effort and time you invest on it to cure its many issues in order to obtain a replica of this iconic corrugated metal classic.

It's up to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Space Ranger]

Exquisite model, gorgeous photography! But I think the lady needs a step stool to help her enter the cabin, and the well-dressed gentleman seems somewhat impatient to get going. Or maybe he badly needs to use the on-board restroom before takeoff?

[janneman36]

Simply love it Moa🏆🏆🏆

 

cheers, Jan

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

3 minutes ago, Space Ranger said:

Exquisite model, gorgeous photography! But I think the lady needs a step stool to help her enter the cabin, and the well-dressed gentleman seems somewhat impatient to get going. Or maybe he badly needs to use the on-board restroom before takeoff?

Thanks Michael.

The plane already has a step (see last photo).

The gentleman in a hurry is Carlos Gardel, he wants to squirrel away from fate.

 

 

1 minute ago, janneman36 said:

Simply love it Moa🏆🏆🏆

 

cheers, Jan

Thanks, Jan!

 

[Space Ranger]

6 minutes ago, Moa said:

The plane already has a step (see last photo).

The gentleman in a hurry is Carlos Gardel, he wants to squirrel away from fate.

Yes, I see the step now. It was partially obscured in some pix and I took it for another antenna of some sort.

 

So Carlos is already doing the tango. I thought he might appear to be dancing for another reason, hence my restroom reference.

[Alpha Delta 210]

Beautiful model complemented by stunning photography!

[Epeeman]

Superb build, Moa -

 

Great metallic look painting on your Tri Motor too

 

Regards

 

Dave

[Skodadriver]

Lovely photos but when do we get to see the model....? 

 

Seriously, that is absolutely wonderful. Exquisite modelling and stunning photography.  I can almost hear the three radials firing up!

 

Dave G

 

 

[Abandoned Project]

Meh........... Only joking!

Wow! another work of art!

[hadzi]

Superbe Moa!

[dolphin38]

Beautiful work yet again 

[SAT69]

Moa, every time I see one of your models I'm all the more amazed. Beautifully rendered, just as beautifully displayed and photographed. My awe is in awe!

[bigbadbadge]

Another stunner Moa it is Gorgeous,  great work and some cracking photos. 

Chris

[noelh]

Absolutely stunning as usual. I always liked the Trimotor. As a testimony to its ruggedness two of them provides flights at the EAA at Oshkhosh. Non stop for a week. It's the only place in the world where you can look up and see a Ford Trimotor and say 'Just another Trimotor'. You can also say the same about an overflying B17. But not the U2 which suddenly appeared.

 

Great work Moa. Always look forward to your contributions.

[ColinChipmunkfan]

Indeed great work again, only Indiana Jones missing from the scene.

[Spitfire31]

A beautiful flying machine!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[Courageous]

That first pic, says it all, absolutely stunning.

 

Stuart

[Alejandro Martinez Colombres]

Excelent, Moa. My first impression when I saw the first picture rapidly was that you posted a real plane photo as a reference for the rest of us, simple mortals. Afterwards, I realized it was your model, and that the character in hurry was “El Zorzal”. 
Congratulatios on a beautiful recreation. 

[billn53]

Super duper! The corrugated leading edges turned out great. I’ll borrow your technique whenever I get up the mojo to do another Trimotor. 
 

(I would say more, but you’ve been posting so many excellent builds recently that I’ve run out of superlatives. I had to dig deep to come up with “super duper” 😉 )

 

[occa]

Holy moly, this is simply indescribably awesome, simply breathtaking

[billn53]

“Holy moly”. Yes, that’s a good one. I’ll add that to my list, for Moa’s next revelation.

[Lightpainter]

I almost thought the first picture was of the real aircraft. That is a true testimony to your modelling skills!

Edited October 5, 2020 by Mike
Removing the biggest unnecessary photo-quote ever - please reply at the bottom of the page or use @MEMBERNAME to call attention to the member.

[Quiet Mike]

What a breathtaking model 👏    It's been a roller coaster ride to follow Moa!  So glad it didn't crash and burn! Well done for seeing it through and producing an absolute stunner.

 

[Courageous]

I know that this isn't my thread but @Lightpainter, although I totally agree with your post, you didn't need to quote all of Moa's post, quoting a pic would've been sufficient. 

 

Stuart

[thorfinn]

5 hours ago, Moa said:

All these issues combined explain the recurrent news of modelers going crazy and pretending, for example, that they are Martians.