1/72 Fokker F.27 500, Air New Zealand
Oct 1, 2024 7:59:36 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, camtech, and 2 more like this
Post by harrysone on Oct 1, 2024 7:59:36 GMT 12
I've had this stretched F.27 conversion in mind for some time, however it was a matter of selecting which kit to base it upon. Both the ancient Airfix and the younger Esci/Italeri offerings are based upon the series 100/200/400 series of Friendship (that is the short fuselage model). Having built both of the kits over the past couple of years, my weighting was in favour of using the Airfix model as the basis for my conversion, having managed to accumulate a couple of 1970's "Troopship" boxings of the Airfix kit (at a reasonable price too). The fuselage was cut in two places, forward and aft of the wing and a scaled 14mm section constructed from plastic sheet (with stringers behind) was created for each half. Similarly a 7mm wide section was added aft of the wing, faired in and the tail section re-joined. Three additional cabin windows were drilled out and shaped in the extended portions. I decided to go down the Xtal Klear route for window glazing (probably just as well as the kit parts fit poorly into the window apertures anyway), as the model has no cabin interior, the windows were installed at a later time following painting.
The standard Airfix kit corrections were undertaken: the dorsal tail fillet was increased in height and and horizontal tail fairing were added. The "Troopship" boxing has the earlier non-radar nose, this was extended for my -500 series aircraft, resorting to my spares bin, I actually used the tip of the nose from a Matchbox/Revell Twin Otter and faired it into the F.27 fuselage with Milliput. Both Esci and Airfix models have missed the prominent chine line that is visible on the real aircraft at floor level. I have re-created this line on the model with 0.8mm plastic sheet. The kit's mk-100 propellers were re-profiled (the F.27 500 has square props). Finally the main landing gear from the Airfix kit was binned and replaced with a modified white metal casting of the Esci F.27 mains (much better, more detailed representation than the airfix, and also the correct length. The main wheels were also replaced from the parts bin.
I have put it in the colours of ZK-NFH 'Kahu' with Air New Zealand in the mid-1980s.
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on Flickr
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on Flickr
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on Flickr
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on Flickr
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on Flickr
Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr
Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr
Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr
Untitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr
The standard Airfix kit corrections were undertaken: the dorsal tail fillet was increased in height and and horizontal tail fairing were added. The "Troopship" boxing has the earlier non-radar nose, this was extended for my -500 series aircraft, resorting to my spares bin, I actually used the tip of the nose from a Matchbox/Revell Twin Otter and faired it into the F.27 fuselage with Milliput. Both Esci and Airfix models have missed the prominent chine line that is visible on the real aircraft at floor level. I have re-created this line on the model with 0.8mm plastic sheet. The kit's mk-100 propellers were re-profiled (the F.27 500 has square props). Finally the main landing gear from the Airfix kit was binned and replaced with a modified white metal casting of the Esci F.27 mains (much better, more detailed representation than the airfix, and also the correct length. The main wheels were also replaced from the parts bin.
I have put it in the colours of ZK-NFH 'Kahu' with Air New Zealand in the mid-1980s.
F.27 500 by Harry Follas, on FlickrF.27 500 by Harry Follas, on FlickrF.27 500 by Harry Follas, on FlickrF.27 500 by Harry Follas, on FlickrF.27 500 by Harry Follas, on FlickrUntitled by Harry Follas, on FlickrUntitled by Harry Follas, on FlickrUntitled by Harry Follas, on FlickrUntitled by Harry Follas, on Flickr
