LSP_Kevin Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Are we sick of new airliner builds yet? This one is Minicraft's 1/144 scale MD-80, much like K2 is currently building: I've ordered some decals for obscure, short-lived (twice!) Aussie airline Compass (Mk II), from Hawkeye Models Australia. No idea when they'll arrive, but I can still complete most of the assembly before lack of decals is a worry. I've already done my usual preliminary work: This looks to be another relatively straightforward build; or at least, I hope it will be, because that's the entire point of this airliner build series! In fact, the reason they're nearly all Minicraft kits is because their kits rarely (if ever) feature window holes in the fuselage, which means less work for me to fill them! Kev mpk, Alex, MikeC and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 You've reminded me that I still need to chase down a 777, either Revell or Minicraft. LSP_Kevin and mpk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 2 minutes ago, LSP_K2 said: You've reminded me that I still need to chase down a 777, either Revell or Minicraft. I think the Revell kit is a re-box of the Zvezda kit, if I'm not mistaken, so that gives you another source to seek out. I have one of each, and at least one will feature a Hobbit livery. Kev mpk, LSP_K2 and MikeC 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, LSP_Kevin said: I think the Revell kit is a re-box of the Zvezda kit, if I'm not mistaken, so that gives you another source to seek out. I have one of each, and at least one will feature a Hobbit livery. Kev Any idea what kit is best? mpk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 10 minutes ago, LSP_K2 said: Any idea what kit is best? Ah, now that I've checked, it turns out that both my kits are in fact Minicraft examples. So the Zvezda kit is actually unknown to me. Apologies for the confusion! My guess, however, would be that the Zvezda kit would be better. Kev LSP_K2 and mpk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I am amazed decals for Compass air lines exist. I recall they made touring around Australia far easier. Great subject. I can't wait to see it completed. LSP_K2 and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 2 hours ago, mpk said: I am amazed decals for Compass air lines exist. Hawkeye Models specialises in Australian subjects (with some NZ thrown in for good measure), and I don't imagine they'd be available from anywhere else. I just wish they'd put a proper web store together! Kev Derek B, mpk and LSP_K2 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Wow. I had no idea. Thanks. Derek B and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 11 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said: Ah, now that I've checked, it turns out that both my kits are in fact Minicraft examples. So the Zvezda kit is actually unknown to me. Apologies for the confusion! My guess, however, would be that the Zvezda kit would be better. Kev OK, I'll look into it. Thanks, Kev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 I'm pleased to report just a tiny bit of progress on this one. I got the fuselage joined up and the cockpit glass in position, but forgot to take a photo of it. After that, I got the wings out, and decided that I wasn't prepared to put up with the open main wheel well bays. I boxed them in by building up side walls with stryrene strip: I then trimmed the top edges to match the upper wing profile, and gave their faces a brushed coat of Mr. Surfacer. Good enough just to block up the holes I think: After that, it was a simple matter of gluing the wings together, and then adding the underwing details: You can see from these photos what looks like a weird texture in the Minicraft plastic, but it's really just some just-as-weird silver speckling. Minicraft's plastic is generally quite hard, and slightly brittle, so it's not much fan to sand the seams out of! I doubt I'll be doing any more additions or improvements to the remainder of the kit, but I do need to determine which of the two provided tail cone options is appropriate for the Compass Airlines livery I'm hoping to go with (still waiting for an update on my order, so that's in limbo at the moment). Hopefully more soon! Kev LSP_K2, mustang1989, LSP_Ray and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 On 1/8/2021 at 1:20 PM, LSP_K2 said: OK, I'll look into it. Thanks, Kev. Based on my experience, having built Zvezda's 787 and 737 kits, I'd go with them. I had a little hassle with rough surfaces on the 787 fuselage that needed to be polished out, but the fit on both kits was stellar, and the detail, trailing edge thinness, etc are the best I've seen on any 1:144 scale model of anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Great to see more airliners underway! Got a photo of this plane in Compass Air livery to post? LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 39 minutes ago, Alex said: Great to see more airliners underway! Got a photo of this plane in Compass Air livery to post? Will try to find one. We have a family connection to this airline, so I felt it was important to build at least one of its aircraft. Kev Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Interesting. I have no idea if the wheel wells are open or not, as I've never checked. As a gift to the individual in question, I really expect that he won't ever handle it at all, aside to move it, base and all, from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 OK, something like this: Kev Model_Monkey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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