Miles Aerovan

kitbasher · January 04, 2021, 01:36:34 AM

The Aerovan doesn't appeal as a subject (and Kit's experience with this kit reinforces that), but it's got me hoping that Airfix at some point repops their Skyvan as a 'Vintage Series' offering.

Never owned one but really fancy building an Omani AF example.

So Mr Airfix, if you're reading this can you reissue the Skyvan, and while you're at it the Islander, please?

Rant/thread hijack over.

PR19_Kit · January 04, 2021, 02:09:31 AM

I'm with you there Dave, the Skyvan's a lovely little kit, and has an RW connection with the Aerovan too.

The ultra-long span Hurel-Dubois winged HDM.105 Aerovan was to be developed into the larger HDM.106 Caravan, but that project was shelved and the design passed to Shorts. They then SHORTENED the wings (Heretics!) and turned it into the Skyvan.

Naturally I'm tempted to get a Skyvan kit and put the proper Caravan wings on it.

Rheged · January 04, 2021, 05:39:24 AM

I'd like to be associated with Dave Kitbasher's plea for Airfix to re-do the Skyvan and Islander...............a trislander would be nice, too.

PR19_Kit · January 04, 2021, 06:28:26 AM

Quote from: Rheged on January 04, 2021, 05:39:24 AM

..............a trislander would be nice, too.

As I said to Dave, a Trislander's a no brainer, they could recut thee existing moulds for some of it, and with careful design they could make either type from the same kit. What's not to like?

PR19_Kit · January 05, 2021, 01:35:26 AM

After a LOT of cutting and filing and sanding and gluing I've at last got the wings in position. The joint areas, particularly the one on the right hand rear corner, are anything BUT pretty, as you can see in the pic.

It's going to need a fair amount more packing and filing and sanding etc. Maybe even adding some thin styrene sheet over the top of the kit panels. Maybe even the use of a G-cramp to pull the right side of the rear door into position!

[Sigh]

Oh yes, I did have one plus point doing this. I managed to pull the tail boom back down into the correct position by chopping off the entire rear end of the funny looking box thing! It obviously didn't need to be there in the first place!

Gondor · January 05, 2021, 03:05:39 AM

Looks a bit like one of those EGG Planes

Gondor

PR19_Kit · January 05, 2021, 03:53:12 AM

Quote from: Gondor on January 05, 2021, 03:05:39 AM

Looks a bit like one of those EGG Planes

It is, but for real.

Dizzyfugu · January 05, 2021, 04:02:46 AM

That looks like one of those kits when you think that carving it from wood might have been the better option... $:-\$

PR19_Kit · January 05, 2021, 04:25:12 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on January 05, 2021, 04:02:46 AM

That looks like one of those kits when you think that carving it from wood might have been the better option... $:-\$

Hysterical laughter here over that Thomas, but you're dead right.

NOTHING on it fits anything else!

Rheged · January 05, 2021, 07:15:58 AM

Having seen the picture, Madame R says that the aerovan looks " like a fat hamster with over-full cheek pouches!"

Tophe · January 05, 2021, 07:32:27 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on January 04, 2021, 01:36:34 AM
The Aerovan doesn't appeal as a subject

Uh? As far as I am concerned, I love the Aerovan cockpit shape inside the fuselage curve. So much that maybe I am going to draw a F-16/Aerovan mix, thanks!

Tophe · January 05, 2021, 09:08:40 AM

Yes, I've been inpired, thanks!

PR19_Kit · January 05, 2021, 09:13:22 AM

I LOVE the Aerovan twin, and it'd look great as a model, but there's NO way I'm building an other one of these heaps of rubbish.

loupgarou · January 05, 2021, 10:53:43 AM

I think it would need a center engine too.

PR19_Kit · January 05, 2021, 11:24:45 AM

Or more.

The Aerovan was woefully underpowered even with two on the existing airframe.

IIRC there was a singelton four engined version, but no-one bought it.