follasha Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 I flew in an Aerocommander 690 a couple of years ago from Samoa to American Samoa return...have been thinking about how to recreate one as a model in 1/72nd scale. I knew that the Croco resin Aerocommander 560 kit might be a good starting point, however then there were the issues with extending the fuselage, the wings and the engines to consider. A bit of research and some scale drawings indicates that a fair part of the 690 encapsulates components from the original. The wing extension in the '690 just incorporates a new parallel chord centre section (plus some winglets which were incorporated later versions of the aircraft: B model onwards) A parallel search on the Jet Commander which used a stretched Aerocommander fuselage got me thinking (ahh---Aurora did a Jet commander kit, however now unobtanium & expensive!). The jet commander design however was sold to IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) and marketed as the Westwind!! I decided to taKe a punt and bought both the Croco resin kit and a Broplan vacuform IAI Westwind 1123 & do a bit of a kit bash. Engines for the project were donated by a Hasegawa Mitsubishi Mu-2. Here's progress so far, its very much a build this bit...check drawings...put aside...think about how to do the next bit...contemplate...contemplate...measure up, build some more... Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr The dis-membered parts fortunately fit together like they were meant to Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr Interesting to compare next to the Croco Aerocommander 560 IMG_5856 by Harry Follas, on Flickr Engine nacelles built up around the MU-2 components, the rear of the nacelle is largely formed with milliput. The wheel wells came from the IAI 1123 model Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr 23 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Following! I love Aero Commanders and you are doing a great job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Outstanding! We need more civil aircraft models like this one. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Great stuff and lucky that it all fits together nicely👍 Cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
follasha Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 yes very lucky everything fitted together! looks like both model manufacturer's must've used fairly accurate drawings when they designed/scaled their kits 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I forgot to ask where you found the Broplan Westwind. I’ve been looking for one since Moses was a child, or so it seems. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 33 minutes ago, Space Ranger said: I forgot to ask where you found the Broplan Westwind. I’ve been looking for one since Moses was a child, or so it seems. The aviationmegastore in the Netherlands does have three kinds of westwinds from broplan in stock in a pricerange of a little more then 40 euro's...could not paste a link via my phone☹️ Cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Not the regions where I usually post (for massive knowledge deficits), but seeing the Commander mentioned always causes amazement why such an important GA/commuter type has been almost overlooked in kit form. Well almost - Aurora also had a 680 Commander, apparently née Comet. OK, it's to the internationally acclaimed standard scale for GA types of 1/81.5 ... but I don't think that rare, and given what Atlantis already have unearthed from the Revellogram toolbank, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes on the list soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moggy Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) The force is with you young Skywalker Impressive... Most impressive! Perhaps you're stronger than the Emperor has forseen. 😜 Jedi-class kitbashing AND interesting subject. Cheers, Darth Moggy (owner of both Aurora Jet Commander and Aerocommander 😎 ) Edited October 12, 2021 by Moggy picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 7 hours ago, Space Ranger said: I’ve been looking for one since Moses was a child And he got his one cheap from Noah as it was flood damaged... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Absolutely fantastic kit bash! Inspirational. Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
follasha Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) ...some subtle shape changes around the forward fuselage and nose + the repositioning of the nose wheel to its correct location. I have also added winglets seen on the '690B model onwards and cut out the triangular notch in the base of the rudder (on all '690s) and added gear doors. Yes I also sourced the Broplan IAI Westwind from Aviation Megastore along with the Croco Aerocommander kit. There are very few Aerocommander kits left anywhere now, they must've been a very low production run IMG_5884 by Harry Follas, on Flickr IMG_5879 by Harry Follas, on Flickr Edited October 12, 2021 by follasha 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 This is brilliant! Very nice work with the conversion. I'm looking forward to see more. "Turbo Commander" was my first HPA (High Performance Aircraft) type back in the 90s. She was fast (cruising some 320 kt.) and could fly well above Flight Level 300. The fuel system was a nightmare as was the crew oxygen system. Also the engines required extra care from the air crew as they had to be manually cooled after shut down (Garret turbo-prop differs from Pratt&Whitney engines by having a long engine shaft running all the way from propeller to the turbine). Disregard the cooling by turning the engine by hand and you'll ruin the engine. Cheers, Antti 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 I have factory 3-view scale drawings, with dimensions for the following Aero Commander models: 500S (1970 model) 520 680 680FL Grand Commander 690 Turbo Commander 690C (Jetprop 840) If any are interested in copies, send me a PM with your return email address. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
follasha Posted October 15, 2021 Author Share Posted October 15, 2021 Progress...painting this up as Talofa Airways 5W-JMJ. I built up the little aircraft tug provided with the MU-2 doner for a bit of fun 4 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 1 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 3 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 7 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 Very nice work Harry! This really comes to life with some paint on. Cheers, Antti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
follasha Posted October 17, 2021 Author Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) livery & detailing in progress...not looking too bad for a kit bash 9 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 4 by Harry Follas, on Flickr 7 by Harry Follas, on Flickr Edited October 17, 2021 by follasha 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
follasha Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 I worked on one of these for a while. You've done a great job of scratching up a faithful reproduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin-42 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Great work! Kitbashing used to be required for even mainstream types. We are spoiled now for choice-except for General Aviation. Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Lovely work Harry! Both Commanders look superb, but for a reason or another I like the "Turbo Commander" more. Are you going to show us more GA types😉 Cheers, Antti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Lovely work indeed! This is a triumph of your modeling skills! You've really made quick work of a complicated project and executed it smoothly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 On 28/10/2021 at 02:06, TheyJammedKenny! said: Lovely work indeed! This is a triumph of your modeling skills! You've really made quick work of a complicated project and executed it smoothly. Indeed! Couldn't have put it better myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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