Fly Models Iberia DC-9-32 in 1/144

[Einar]

In the 1970’s and 80’s, the Spanish flag carrier Iberia had a fleet of some fifty DC-9 aircraft. As a 14-year-old plane spotter in 1969, I snapped a picture of the company’s DC-9-32 during a visit with my dad to the Copenhagen Kastrup Airport. The plane was registered EC-BIS and christened "Ciudad de Alicante". In a sudden nostalgic plane spotter mood I decided to build a model of that very plane.

 

I ordered a 1/144 scale Fly Models kit, which was pretty simple but in my opinion all the essential details were there. The model went easily together although some sanding and putty was needed. For the old Iberia livery I ordered a high-quality sheet from the BOA, which contained the registrations and names for 24 different Iberian DC-9’s including the EC-BIS. I also used Authentic Airliners Decals decals for the cockpit and cabin windows. The dark gray cabin windows were printed in the cheat line of the BOA decal but since I wanted a more authentic look and decided to attach the AD decals on top of them. The windows were exactly of the same size but the distance between them was just slightly different so I had to cut out each window from the AD sheet and stick the 70 windows in place one by one. An entire day was spent in that job!

 

I painted the white areas of the plane with Tamiya Fine surface primer, which I coated with Tamiya gloss varnish spray TS 13. I used Alclad's white aluminum on the wings, stabilizers and the lower part of the fuselage.The edges of the wings and stabilizers were sprayed with Alclad's polished aluminum. I also used Humbrol and Vallejo colors for the smaller details. I also scratched several details into the machine, e.g. pitot tubes, beacon lights, antennas, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the summer of 1969 I made a round trip of the Scandinavian capitals with my dad. In Copenhagen I insisted that we visit the kerosene smelling Kastrup airport instead of seeing the Little mermaid statue or the Tivoli theme park. Well, my dad wasn't at all amused but after all we did go to the nice and busy airport where I could snap a picture of the Iberia DC-9-32 🙂

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by Einar

[Vesa Jussila]

Nice story about and photo. Well made model as well. Your story started me to think my first flight and what was the plane. It might have been Finnair DC9 from Tikkakoski to Helsinki. But I cant't be sure anymore. And that was in mid 70's.

[Einar]

46 minutes ago, Vesa Jussila said:

Nice story about and photo. Well made model as well. Your story started me to think my first flight and what was the plane. It might have been Finnair DC9 from Tikkakoski to Helsinki. But I cant't be sure anymore. And that was in mid 70's.

Thanks / kiitos Vesa

 

Cheers,

 

Einar

[Skodadriver]

Excellent model and great back story Einar.

 

I sympathise about the windows. A couple of years ago I built a Zvezda 738 and discovered that the Authentic Airliners windows didn't fit. I ended up applying a set of Daco windows then overlaying 84 individual AA windows one at a time. I know exactly how it feels!

 

Dave G

[Mig88]

Wonderful!! Very nicely finished.

If you put an airport background to the first photo, it would like the real thing! 😉

 

Miguel

[Einar]

13 minutes ago, Mig88 said:

Wonderful!! Very nicely finished.

If you put an airport background to the first photo, it would like the real thing! 😉

 

Miguel

Thank you / Gracias Miguel

 

Einar

[Einar]

28 minutes ago, Skodadriver said:

Excellent model and great back story Einar.

 

I sympathise about the windows. A couple of years ago I built a Zvezda 738 and discovered that the Authentic Airliners windows didn't fit. I ended up applying a set of Daco windows then overlaying 84 individual AA windows one at a time. I know exactly how it feels!

 

Dave G

Thank you Dave for your comments. Yes, the window-gate was a real pain in the neck!

 

Cheers,

 

Einar

[Swamp Donkey]

That’s lovely. I really liked that old Iberia livery and remember the DC8s, DC9’s and the odd DC10 at LHR in that scheme. I never did like the subsequent scheme, but that’s true of most airlines. Super model

 

SD

[Einar]

1 hour ago, Swamp Donkey said:

That’s lovely. I really liked that old Iberia livery and remember the DC8s, DC9’s and the odd DC10 at LHR in that scheme. I never did like the subsequent scheme, but that’s true of most airlines. Super model

 

SD

Thank you Swamp Donkey!

 

Einar

[Alex1978]

Wonderful DC-9 and a nice backstory to it.

I would also choose a kerosene smelling airport over a mermaid😉👍

Mermaid's probably still there but the classic airliners are all gone,so that was a good choice

 

Thanks for sharing another neat airliner

Alex

[Einar]

13 minutes ago, Alex1978 said:

Wonderful DC-9 and a nice backstory to it.

I would also choose a kerosene smelling airport over a mermaid😉👍

Mermaid's probably still there but the classic airliners are all gone,so that was a good choice

 

Thanks for sharing another neat airliner

Alex

Thank you Alex! We clearly have the same interests 🙂

 

BTW, I undestand you are from Switzerland. I have a couple of photos that our family friend, a Finnair steward snapped at Kloten  circa 1970. Would you be interested in seeing them? I could send them over to your e-mail.

 

Cheers,

 

Einar

[Alex1978]

3 hours ago, Einar said:

Thank you Alex! We clearly have the same interests 🙂

 

BTW, I undestand you are from Switzerland. I have a couple of photos that our family friend, a Finnair steward snapped at Kloten  circa 1970. Would you be interested in seeing them? I could send them over to your e-mail.

 

Cheers,

 

Einar

Thank you Einar,

 

Yes,I am from Switzerland.I would be delighted to see those photos.

Thanks again

 

Alex

[Malair]

Great build, very nicely done!

 

Yeah, I can relate to the window story. I had that problem more than once.

 

I also build the fly kit years ago and indeed it isn't too bad.

[Einar]

1 hour ago, Malair said:

Great build, very nicely done!

 

Yeah, I can relate to the window story. I had that problem more than once.

 

I also build the fly kit years ago and indeed it isn't too bad.

Thank you!

Cheers,

 

Einar

[Einar]

18 hours ago, Alex1978 said:

Thank you Einar,

 

Yes,I am from Switzerland.I would be delighted to see those photos.

Thanks again

 

Alex

Hi Alex,

 

I sent the photos to your e-mail a while ago

 

Cheers,

 

Einar

[foxhandybread]

Beautiful job! And I love that it's based on a photo that you took—brilliant stuff. 10/10

[Einar]

48 minutes ago, foxhandybread said:

Beautiful job! And I love that it's based on a photo that you took—brilliant stuff. 10/10

Thank you very much for the comments!

 

Cheers 

 

Einar 

[Maginot]

Excellent, smart-looking result. Good work with all the passenger windows; it was worth it. I liked your connection to the modelled aircraft. Yes, Dads need to be managed and organised sometimes.

[Einar]

1 hour ago, Maginot said:

Excellent, smart-looking result. Good work with all the passenger windows; it was worth it. I liked your connection to the modelled aircraft. Yes, Dads need to be managed and organised sometimes.

Thanks Maginot!..you're quite right, dads need a bit of firm guidance every now and then 😂

 

Einar 

[Viking]

Ah the days of classic jet airliners! Lovely job again Einar!

 

Cheers

 

John

[Einar]

2 hours ago, Viking said:

Ah the days of classic jet airliners! Lovely job again Einar!

 

Cheers

 

John

Thanks John!

 

Einar

[Bertie McBoatface]

Another beauty. One day you should post pictures of the entire collection of fabulous airliners

[Einar]

33 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said:

Another beauty. One day you should post pictures of the entire collection of fabulous airliners

Thank you very much for your comments Bertie! Maybe one day I'll put them on display (it's quite a bunch, though, built during some twenty years) 🙂

 

Cheers,

 

Einar