Fletcher FU24 topdresser ZK-CBG

KiwiZac · February 01, 2015, 11:46:40 AM

Hi all,
You may remember the exciting saga of me instigating the production of a run of 1/72 resin Fletcher FU24 topdressing aircraft kits through Unicraft a couple of years back?

Well my first one is - FINALLY - nearing completion, representing how I'd like to display my 1/1 example when complete. Here's a couple of WIP pics:

On one side is its own identity in the colours of James Aviation Limited c.1979, who operated it from manufacture until the mid-1980s, and on the other the scheme of Wanganui Aero Work. Wanganui is my home town, my father and I used to work at the company, and I would ultimately like to display it there.

Considering the real aircraft currently looks like this in my parents' driveway:

I think this build counts as a hypothetical or What If? build!

The Rat · February 01, 2015, 12:18:39 PM

A couple of the images aren't showing up for me.

KiwiZac · February 01, 2015, 01:35:50 PM

Same here. I'll try and get them back.

pyro-manic · February 01, 2015, 01:41:21 PM

You have a plane? Cool!

Quite a handsome little thing it is, too. Looks good so far - how is the kit?

PS: Pics all seem to be working here.

Martin H · February 01, 2015, 02:28:55 PM

bleeding ell! you got enough of them kits?

KiwiZac · February 01, 2015, 02:49:28 PM

They weren't all for me ;-) I only kept four, one of which I sold last week. I had to get 20 paid orders for the kit to be produced, I think I ended up with 35.

Pyro - the kit is very short-run, garage resin. It takes a lot of work to build...that said, it's only my second ever resin kit! Re the real one - yes, I built a model of a machine the owner flew in the 60s, a while after he gave the thing to me!

Photos sorted

PR19_Kit · February 01, 2015, 02:57:31 PM

Which goes a long way to explain your avatar of course.

Nice job on the model so far.

Captain Canada · February 01, 2015, 03:43:36 PM

Now that is just wicked ! Good stuff Zac !

Flyer · February 01, 2015, 05:08:35 PM

I like anything Ag Aviation, I've done loading work a few years back while I was flight training with the aim of getting into the cockpit of a Thrush or Airtractor but it all fell through when money ran out of course. I enjoyed every second I spent there though and I have some good pics and video from it to enjoy for the rest of time. I like your model, and the 1:1 example.

Where can I find one of these kits?

The Rat · February 02, 2015, 04:46:03 AM

Showing up now, and looking good!

NARSES2 · February 02, 2015, 07:14:31 AM

Quote from: KiwiZac on February 01, 2015, 02:49:28 PM
They weren't all for me ;-) I only kept four, one of which I sold last week. I had to get 20 paid orders for the kit to be produced, I think I ended up with 35.

Now that's interesting. Igor takes commissions, never knew that

KiwiZac · February 02, 2015, 01:29:53 PM

That he does - convince him there's a market (even better, get the orders) and you're away. If he's keen :-) He was my last port of call after emailing (I'm sure) every single model manufacturer in the world over the previous two years, and starting a scratchbuild for use as a resin master.

Flyer - they're available from Igor directly via his website: http://www.unicraft.biz/on/fu24/fu24.htm There's also a handful of retailers which carry it, Google is your friend with that

.

CBG as recovered: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000695033.html