Ford Trimotor - vintage Airfix 1/72 - Photos added

[RangerNeil]

EDIT: image hosting site back on-line

I bought this one to go in the stash for a duture build. It was advertised as still bagged. When it arrived the bag was open and, for me, a worrying number of loose parts were rattling about in the box.




In fairness to the seller it was very well packaged so the parts may well have come loose due to handling in transit.
Anyways - rather than set it aside to, potentially bite me in the backside later in life - I decided to start the build now.
Instructions








Clear Sprue




Having read the on-line reviews of the kit it would seem that I am lucky as the main canopy is intact, not in two pieces but it is flawed as described. I'll try polishing it - but no one else has managed to clear it without breaking it.

Parts Sprues












Loose parts


So far, so good working on the interior but time will tell. One thing I do know is the decals look like they are beyond recovery so I need to investigate the supply of aftermarket decals.
For now I'm trying the "leave in sunshine for a few days" trick.

Progress so far:




Only thing to note tbus far is the cabin seats as supplied have square topped backs butba quick google for Trimotor interiors reveals the seat backs had a domed shape. Nothing that snipping the corners off and then creative sanding couldn't fix.

.

[digger303]

A interesting kit, I do hope it's all there.

[KalebB]

Hopefully no parts are missing! Will be a cool lil plane once done

[RangerNeil]

Cheers guys. So far - so good - he says touching every bit of wood to hand!!

Got the fuselage all together. Not the simplest of jobs as its a 4 part constuction. Hopefully its gone together square! And first photo shows how the seat backs were reprofiled. I got the colour scheme from web photos of Trimotor interiors.
As of tonight the fuselae is more or less done the luggage panniers in the wings are assembled as are the two outboard engine pods. These were a pig as no clamp would hold them, just kept slipping off.....

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Think I've solved the decal issue - another Trimotor turned up today - this one in the "Classic Airliners" boxing so has 2 sets of decals - the original American Airlines ones plus a set for a USMC transport! Neither of which uses decal from the other....
Never knew this was coming - I bid on one on e-Bay and a bit later got a legit message saying the seller was offering it with £5 off. Needless to say I took the offer - must have been one I'd added to the watch list and forgotten to remove once I put a bid in on the other....

(Never realised the US Marines used Trimotors in the 1930's - learn something new everyday in this hobby!! )

[digger303]

Think I've solved the decal issue - another Trimotor turned up today - this one in the "Classic Airliners" boxing so has 2 sets of decals - the original American Airlines ones plus a set for a USMC transport! Neither of which uses decal from the other....
Never knew this was coming - I bid on one on e-Bay and a bit later got a legit message saying the seller was offering it with £5 off. Needless to say I took the offer - must have been one I'd added to the watch list and forgotten to remove once I put a bid in on the other....

(Never realised the US Marines used Trimotors in the 1930's - learn something new everyday in this hobby!! )

The system is failing, but it worked in a good way

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ahh there we go
Pics installed

[RangerNeil]

Ahh there we go
Pics installed

Indeed - status at close of play @ 02:20 Hrs this morning




And this is the second one that arrived:


Box was still sealed in cellophane from new - but this is how Airfix shipped parts back then:


No bags at all for anything. I thought at first the cockpit glazing was missing - but I found it trapped in one of the wing sections.......

[digger303]

Amazing they would even think shipping parts like that is acceptable. Thank goodness things have improved in that dept for most manufacturers.
Builds as usual coming along at a frantic pace. It has also puzzled me why a aircraft manufacturer would even build a plane with corrugations. I'm no engineer but it seems that all that extra surface area would result in poorer performance and cause some funny airflow problems.

[RangerNeil]

It's no wonder Airfix went bust again shipping like that. This was when Humbrol owned them going by the box bumf....

Anyways - progress. The wing assembly is joined to the fuselage and what a nightmare that was - close on 1mm too long for the space it fits into. I had to get creative with sanding sticks to finally get it in. Only to find the profile of the cabin roof section of the wing is a different profile to the main cabin roof. Normally not a problem - but... - that corrugated skin (same thing as used on the Ju-52) makes filling and sanding virtually impossible.....




The outer engine pods are done and fitted - lesson learnt is next time paint the pods before fitting. I have to say I'm damned glad I had the later kit as the assembly drawings are so much easier to understand.






The Flat Aluminium (XF61) went on today - this is drying overnight then the wngines can be fittedto the nose and wing pods. That will just leave a gloss coat and the decalling.

[digger303]

Nice bit of tonal variation going on.

[RangerNeil]

Nice bit of tonal variation going on.

And thats with an airbrush!! That corrugated skin is a PITA in so many ways......

[digger303]

Nice bit of tonal variation going on.

And thats with an airbrush!! That corrugated skin is a PITA in so many ways......

I wasn't having a go at you. I like the tonal variation I was thinking that your going to whack another coat on and tone it down to get a very interesting weathered effect.

[RangerNeil]

Nice bit of tonal variation going on.

And thats with an airbrush!! That corrugated skin is a PITA in so many ways......

I wasn't having a go at you. I like the tonal variation I was thinking that your going to whack another coat on and tone it down to get a very interesting weathered effect.

Correct for 10 points.... Needs a second coat on the upper surfaces - I'm laying it on in 4 passes, each pass at 90⁰ to the last. As you can see - it still leaves an odd finish.......

[DRUMS01]

Hi Neil... Been watching you tackle this one. I believe I had this model kit in the early 70's. Back then with my lack of experience and patience it did not come out real well. On the opposite side of the spectrum, you build while demanding, seems to be coming along well. Keep it up!

[RangerNeil]

Hi Neil... Been watching you tackle this one. I believe I had this model kit in the early 70's. Back then with my lack of experience and patience it did not come out real well. On the opposite side of the spectrum, you build while demanding, seems to be coming along well. Keep it up!

Many thanks for the kind words

Second top coat is on. Looks a bit better now, just waiting for a new gloss top coat to arrive.








So whilst waiting work starts on Trimotor Number 2. This will use the airline markings and - hopefully will incorporate the lessons learnt on build #1. Fingers crossed.

First step is modifying the seat backs to the correct profile as was done on build #1. Top one is the modified one.

[digger303]

That last coat is helping tying it all together nicely.
I've got a Ju-52 to do sometime in maybe 2024 I hope the corrugations behave them selves when it's time to line them up.

[RangerNeil]

That last coat is helping tying it all together nicely.
I've got a Ju-52 to do sometime in maybe 2024 I hope the corrugations behave them selves when it's time to line them up.

Cheers Digger I was thinking of doing a Ju-52 in Lufthansa markings to go with the Trimotors. Best of luck with yours.

This one the main issues are:
* The join between the wing centre section and the cabin roof

* The undercarriage stuts being too wide, holding the fuselage sides apart.

The latter is an easy fix - cut a section out of the strip running across the fuselage floor.

I am thinking for the first it might be worth trying to join the wing section and fuselage top BEFORE adding it to the fuselage sides to see if I can lose that join line.

[RangerNeil]

Gloss coat on over the second coat of Flat Aluminium and then the decals applied to build #1.








Just needs a gloss coat over the decals and the masking removed and it will be finished.

Meanwhile the build of Number 2 continues.

[cor]

That one looks great. Nice model

[RangerNeil]

That one looks great. Nice model

Many thanks - crunch will be when the masking comes off!!!

So - Build #2!
First lesson learnt was the undercarriage supports inside the fuselage are too wide. Used "as is" the undercarriage struts push the body sides out.
Solution: Cut 3mm out of the internal supports and use CA to secure the two pieces in place. This gives a MUCH neater join.




This in turn results in a neater, tidier fuselage assembly (only dry fit at this stage):




Other work includes almost finishing the flight deck:




And cracking on with the passenger compartment:

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Going to be a long-ish one this so bear with it please....

Firstly - Build #1 is 100% completed - one US Marines VIP transport:












And now build #2 is underway - this one will use the Eastern Airways markings. I am trying to incorporate all the lesson learnt in build one on this.

Firstly the undercarriage braces are too wide internally and push the sides out. So I snipped a section out of the internal brace out such that the the bracing struts sat in the niches correctly:




The seats were reprofiled to the correct "gothic arch" form and painted in a colour scheme I found on-line and, after painting added to the cabin floor:






Cockpit was finished and this time the two flight crew were added:




Fuselage fit was tested and adjusted till I was happy.


Then the fuselage was assembled. This time I fitted the cockpit glazing and worked back - wing centre section followed by cabin roof. This is the reverse of the instructions but it went together a lot better.


Next job will be the wings. As this is a civilian airliner build the luggage trays in the wings will be displayed in the open position. So extra care had to be take with the hinge mechanisms




Situation at end of day now is thus - note the tail plane and vertical stabiliser are now added too.

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Progressings.....

I am convinced Tamiya X1 gloss black hates me and air brushes - it always dries matt unless I let the paint pool by moving the air brush very slowly. So I end up using a hairy stick anyway. Think I might investigate other makes.....


Reason I mention this - to me - highly annoying issue is the Airfix paint guide for this model specifies gloss balck for the trim colour. However, black trim on a 1930's American airliner struck me as odd so a quick google turned up a Trimotor 5AT in the US National Aerospace Museum actually in American Airways colours/markings.


As can clearly be seen the trim colour is actually a royal blue. And the leading edges of the wings are red - as per the box art for the kit but oddly not shown in the painting guide. So I've gone with the royal blue and it looks good too

In keeping with the "bin the instructions" thus far the next step was to build the engine & strut assemblies off the wings, dry fitting them to the loose outer wings until the adhesive had set. Next step is sand the joins between upper and lower wing pieces before joining the wings to the centre section and then sanding that join.

[digger303]

Progressings.....

I am convinced Tamiya X1 gloss black hates me and air brushes - it always dries matt unless I let the paint pool by moving the air brush very slowly. So I end up using a hairy stick anyway. Think I might investigate other makes.....


Reason I mention this - to me - highly annoying issue is the Airfix paint guide for this model specifies gloss balck for the trim colour. However, black trim on a 1930's American airliner struck me as odd so a quick google turned up a Trimotor 5AT in the US National Aerospace Museum actually in American Airways colours/markings.


As can clearly be seen the trim colour is actually a royal blue. And the leading edges of the wings are red - as per the box art for the kit but oddly not shown in the painting guide. So I've gone with the royal blue and it looks good too

In keeping with the "bin the instructions" thus far the next step was to build the engine & strut assemblies off the wings, dry fitting them to the loose outer wings until the adhesive had set. Next step is sand the joins between upper and lower wing pieces before joining the wings to the centre section and then sanding that join.

What are you using to thin the black paint with ?

[RangerNeil]

<snipped>

What are you using to thin the black paint with ?

Straight from the bottle after a minute on the paint shaker. Seems to be the same viscosity as all the other Tamiya paints which go on well. Compressor is set at 27 PSI.
Hataka and Ammo paints are a thinner viscosity but also go well on this setting. Its just the Tamiya gloss black thats a pig!!

[digger303]

<snipped>

What are you using to thin the black paint with ?

Straight from the bottle after a minute on the paint shaker. Seems to be the same viscosity as all the other Tamiya paints which go on well. Compressor is set at 27 PSI.
Hataka and Ammo paints are a thinner viscosity but also go well on this setting. Its just the Tamiya gloss black thats a pig!!

I always thin all my paint and with Tamiya and Mr Hobby I use Mr Hobby levelling thinner.
Goes on so smooth 50/50 or 60/40 is what I mix at most of the time it's fairly forgiving.

[RangerNeil]

<snipped>

What are you using to thin the black paint with ?

Straight from the bottle after a minute on the paint shaker. Seems to be the same viscosity as all the other Tamiya paints which go on well. Compressor is set at 27 PSI.
Hataka and Ammo paints are a thinner viscosity but also go well on this setting. Its just the Tamiya gloss black thats a pig!!

I always thin all my paint and with Tamiya and Mr Hobby I use Mr Hobby levelling thinner.
Goes on so smooth 50/50 or 60/40 is what I mix at most of the time it's fairly forgiving.

Cheers Digger - will give that a try.!!

[RangerNeil]

Whole plane got a coat of Tamiya Surfacer/Primer last night.


First coat of Tamiya XF16 flat aluminium went on today - and I promptly ran out so had to order a new bottle. Which means work has to stop until it arrives. I've also invested an an AK Natural Metal set - be interesting to see how that looks.....
Engine pods and undercarriage have had a coat of Royal Blue and are read to.fit once the aluminium paint, red stripe on the wing leading edge and fuselage trim colours are done.

[RangerNeil]

Either I m cursed or karma is paying back big time!!
Last night I cut out 6 propeller decals and laid them on the table, face up, in 3 rows of 2.
Applied 5 of them, went for number 6 and it has vanished - no sign of it anywhere.....

[RangerNeil]

The paint arrived today - very impressed with the service from the Scale Model Shop. Ordered Friday evening, arrive 10:00 this morning.
So the Trimotor now has a coat of "Polished Metal" - I figured an airline would keep its machines nice and shiny. Instructions on the paint say leave for 24 hours, not a problem as the missus has me clearing garden growth in the day and then tomorrow is my weekly HEMA class.
Once its had the 24 hours next steps will be masking the leading edges for the red and the fuselage for the body accent in blue. With all the attendant issues of masking a corrugated skin.....

[digger303]

Big plane and the natural finish is looking good.

[psmithmags]

Great job Neil Using the Boulton Paul as reference, you can see just how large this is. How did you get on with building the Boulton Paul? I really enjoyed doing mine, turned out canny as well. I think I have the opposite jinx to you though, my problem lies with Tamiya white (or white in general)as opposed to the black.

[RangerNeil]

Great job Neil Using the Boulton Paul as reference, you can see just how large this is. How did you get on with building the Boulton Paul? I really enjoyed doing mine, turned out canny as well. I think I have the opposite jinx to you though, my problem lies with Tamiya white (or white in general)as opposed to the black.

The Defiant was a joy to build, no filling needed at at all, just a little sanding required - primarily on the turret base as it was too big to fit into the hull. It was so good I am going to get another to finish in the night fighter scheme.

I don't have a problem spraying white through an airbrush - but its a nightmare using a hairy stick!!

[psmithmags]

The Defiant was a joy to build, no filling needed at at all, just a little sanding required - primarily on the turret base as it was too big to fit into the hull. It was so good I am going to get another to finish in the night fighter scheme.

I don't have a problem spraying white through an airbrush - but its a nightmare using a hairy stick!!
[/quote]

Glad you enjoyed the Defiant build, I bet it'll look superb in the night fighter scheme (when it get done.) That's probably where I'm going wrong with the white. My brain was in the 'if its this bad with a brush, it'll be a mare with an airbrush' mode so I have tried to avoid using white in this way. I'll have to give it a go

[RangerNeil]

Spent an hour or so today masking up the wings to paint the leading edges. What an utter performnce that was!! I laid a strip of 18mm tape across the wing span on top and approx the same underneath then spent the hour with a sharpened toothpick pushing the tape down into every single corrugation to prevent bleed through. But it was worth it.
The actual red has turned out quite well indeed.
Bonus points for anyone spotting the accidental cock-up....

[digger303]

Flaps ?

Looks good to me.

[RangerNeil]

Flaps ?

Looks good to me.

Nope. I forgot to cover the areas of wing behind the masking tape and wound up with the back half of the wings - upper and lower - a faint red colour....
Not making that mistake again......


Today saw the first of the Royal Blue body accent colour going on - the strip along and around the cabin windows. And the tail plane struts....




Still got to work out how to mask the nose up..... Giving me a headache is this!!
The one in the Smithsonian looks like this:

[digger303]

Once you took the masking off I can see the over spray. Yep I've done that too. No matter how much I dial the pressure down it still can happen. I just have to mask it all in future.
Yours is looking good. Can you use the instructions as a template ( maybe enlarging them ) in order to get the right shape to do the nose ?

[RangerNeil]

Once you took the masking off I can see the over spray. Yep I've done that too. No matter how much I dial the pressure down it still can happen. I just have to mask it all in future.
Yours is looking good. Can you use the instructions as a template ( maybe enlarging them ) in order to get the right shape to do the nose ?

Lesson learnt mate This time I covered EVERYTHING!!

And on that note the last of the body accent went on to the fuselage today. Doesn't look too bad I think. Next step is decals then gloss coat - then final assembly......

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Decals are on and drying. I want to see how well they've conformed to that corrugated skin before moving onto the next step . I suspect more application of Microsol might be needed......

[RangerNeil]

And the second Ford Trimotor is finished!!
Quite pleased with this one.

[digger303]

Looks very good and you said you were going to have trouble with painting the nose....Pfff !
Time to hunt down a Gigant maybe ?