Douglas DC3, American Airlines,

1/144 scale, Minicraft.

Kevan James

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Minicraft's airliner kits were a boost to airliner modellers but came with a few caveats; some were not particularly accurate although this one wasn't too bad. It did have some fit problems but nothing that couldn't be overcome.

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A 1/144 scale it's also a small kit when built and probably falls into the category called 'cute'...

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But it does make a neat little model.

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Kaman Seasprite, US Navy.

1/72 scale, Airfix.

Kevan James

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Probably one of the lesser-known helicopters, the Seasprite was actually in service with the US Navy for thirty years.

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It's a neat little kit at 1/72nd scale, doesn't take up much space when built yet still contains a fair amount of detail.

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I confess to not knowing much about the Seasprite, my acquisition of the kit was really due to an increased interest in building some model helicopters.

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Some kit manufacturers are known for not providing the most accurate depictions of their subjects, but this one, to my uneducated eyes, looks like a Kaman Seasprite.

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Grumman F14 Tomcat

US Navy, 1/72 scale, Hasagawa.

Kevan James

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One of the most influential movies for me was 'The Final Countdown', in which a US Navy aircraft carrier goes through a time-warp and ends up back in WW2, just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

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It resulted in my interest in US military hardware, hence my build of the Tomcat shown here.

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It's not the most complex kit to construct and does make a nice model.

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As is usual for me, added detail includes extra work in the cockpit and nose gear bay.

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It might seem a little superfluous to add detail to the nose gear bay as it can't normally be seen. It is however, one of the little quirks of building models - I know it's there...

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British Caledonian Boeing 707

1/144 scale, Airfix.

Kevan James

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This is my second oldest model, close to 40 years old now (in March 2023).

It's an Airfix kit so to build this needed the kit to be converted to the type of 707 used by British Caledonian (BCAL).

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The model had a makeover a few years ago, with new decals specifically for the BCAL 707.

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However, the registrations provided were the wrong font and were too large so I didn't use them. Once I find a set that's right, they'll be applied and this model will represent the same aircraft that was used in the 1969 movie 'Airport'. 

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At the time owned by US-based Flying Tiger Line, the 707 later spent a period in the UK with BCAL.

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The modifications include Pratt & Whitney engines from the Revell 707 kit as the Airfix kit comes with Rolls-Royce engines, and altering the shape of the wing trailing edge.

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Swiss Airbus Airbus A320,

Revell, 1/144 scale.

Kevan James

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There are some who feel that the predominately all-white colour designs used by many airlines  is boring, and to an extent this is true. That doesn't mean a boring model however and by adding detail it becomes more interesting.

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I confess to being a detail freak anyway so most of my models have scratch-built visible interiors, including the cockpit and areas shown through open doors.

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Engines and pylons usually have considerable potential for extra detailing and even on a plain white fuselage by gently scribing panel lines, adding aerials and other bits that stick out, a more realistic depiction of a real aircraft is the result.

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All aircraft, civil or military, don't sit on the ground doing nothing. They are made to earn their keep flying so they will (like your car) get a little dirty. Some aircraft can actually be filthy - depends on the operator...

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But a little judicious grime can make a difference. As can the extra detail, even on a rather unimaginative colour scheme.

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