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1/144 British Airways A380's with 'What If' Utopia World Image Liveries


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On 23/08/2021 at 21:01, Abandoned Project said:

I have 8 747's with 7 on the go (to my chagrin) and now I have started 2 A380's and I'm planning a third. Please note, I'm not boasting, I'm confessing.

I have a similar number in the stash...! 😆

 

I sprayed the wings with Halford's Racking Grey, having masked the aluminium slats first:

 

rg.jpg

 

As you can see, the corogard decals are also printed - hopefully they will look the part once applied.

 

 

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I'm enjoying the comparative builds. I too have both the Zvezda and Revell 747's in production. Like you I think I might go for more Zvezdas if I build wheels down.

2 hours ago, Back in the Saddle said:

I have a similar number in the stash...! 😆

All destined for What-if Utopia liveries? Enquiring minds would like to know.....

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After removing the masking tape I was not happy with the middle slat on the right hand wing... Reluctantly I sanded it back:

 

alc.jpg

 

The other wing looked good, (and the homemade corogard decal worked a treat!), so I glued this into position:

 

wng.jpg

 

The other wing will be added in a few days once it is repainted.👍

 

 

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On 14/09/2021 at 16:29, desert falcon said:

The left wing looks really good! 

Thank you!

 

On 14/09/2021 at 19:47, Alex1978 said:

This is great looking.

The corogard decal is superb👍

Cheers Alex. The decal was well worth the effort - especially with more of these kits in my stash! 😁

 

On 14/09/2021 at 20:59, Terry1954 said:

Love the way this one is taking shape Matt, and your decals are superb!

Thanks Terry!

 

The dodgy slat has been fixed. I masked the area and resprayed the aluminium:

 

fx1.jpg

 

Then I masked the slat and resprayed the grey:

 

fx2.jpg

 

The decal went on, the nav lights were glued into place then the second wing joined the fuselage:

 

a2.jpg

 

She's big - the white cardboard is an A2 sheet!

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On 17/09/2021 at 21:38, (ex)Sgtrafman said:

My word that looks really very good in deed - love it!

Thanks Iain!

 

On 18/09/2021 at 08:42, Romeo Alpha Yankee said:

That is looking great Matt! 🏆

Cheers Ray👍

 

On 18/09/2021 at 09:14, desert falcon said:

Just like the real thing, 80 x (almost) 80 meters 🙂

Pretty impressive!

 

On 18/09/2021 at 09:14, desert falcon said:

Yours is looking really good 😍 

Thanks Johnny!

 

On 18/09/2021 at 09:43, mackem01 said:

Not a huge airliner fan but you decalling work from start to finish is something else! Absolutely great look

Thank you! I'm quite enjoying the decal design/application - it's giving me some unique models!
 

I dry fitted the tailplanes today:

 

dri.jpg

 

The pylons are painted - once they are masked I can spray the cowls:

 

py.jpg

 

And I've finally started painting the tyres. I've been putting this off for a while, just because there are so many:

 

whs.jpg

 

It's been a productive few days!

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 19/09/2021 at 15:17, Alex1978 said:

Very nice.

That livery is spot on and your decal work is very inspiring.

I wish I could do that...

Thanks Alex.👍

 

A working knowledge of Photoshop (or similar), a printer and some decal paper is all you need. Oh, lots of time and patience too!

 

Not much progress to report. I had accidentally thrown the tailplane decals away but fortuitously found them again this morning in the bin!

 

They are now safely applied and the tailplanes are completed. I've shown them below next to my ATR-72 model, to give another indication as to the size of this beast!

 

fnn.jpg

 

Time to attach them!

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12 minutes ago, Back in the Saddle said:

Time to attach them!

You better do before you find them in the bin too 😉

 

They are looking good and yes they are big like anything else on this aircraft, about the same size as the wings on an A320. 
 

By the way, there is a story going from Airbus that the wings were made larger on purpose to increase lift and thereby saving fuel and increasing payload. Must have been dufficult to sell that to  the management, that by adding weight you could save fuel 🙃 

 

Not much remaining now I guess? 

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22 hours ago, desert falcon said:

You better do before you find them in the bin too 😉

They're attached now!

 

22 hours ago, desert falcon said:

they are big like anything else on this aircraft, about the same size as the wings on an A320. 

Despite having seen these aircraft numerous times, I hadn't appreciated the size until I started this model.

 

22 hours ago, desert falcon said:

Not much remaining now I guess? 

Just the undercarriage and engines really, plus some probes!

 

I'm researching exactly where to cut the body gear doors, as there are no indications on the instructions. As previously mentioned, these incorrectly show the doors hanging down, rather than flush with the fuselage. However, a cutout will be needed somewhere to allow the gear to poke through!

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14 minutes ago, Back in the Saddle said:

I'm researching exactly where to cut the body gear doors, as there are no indications on the instructions. As previously mentioned, these incorrectly show the doors hanging down, rather than flush with the fuselage. However, a cutout will be needed somewhere to allow the gear to poke through


Maybe the top photo here can guide you?

 

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/a380-landing-gear.html

 

 

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On 30/09/2021 at 16:49, Alex1978 said:

Very neat wheels.👍

Thats something I always try to avoid as long as possible,esp. on a multy-wheeler like the A380...😉

Thanks Alex.👍

 

I'm installing the undercarriage today and tomorrow, so depending how well this goes the next A380 might be gear up and displayed on a stand!😁

 

Here are the completed bogies:

 

abw.jpg

 

The belly panel does not quite fit and will need a sliver shaving off the edges...

 

The body gear was then installed:

 

wbg.jpg

 

Then the slightly smaller belly pan was attached at the rear - I will glue the front down once the back has set:

 

bpp.jpg

 

Ironically the extra detail with the addition of steering rams is almost impossible to see...🤨

 

Nose and wing gear next, once this has all set👍.

 

 

 

 

 

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