Ricks' Ramblings

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, guys.

IIRC the hull & turret hatches were available, but there was also a trench (not depicted) which ran to the lower hull engine door, as access/egress.
As I said, they were part of an integrated network, not just stuck on their lonesome in the middle of nowhere.

I think sometimes there was also a crew rest space in the former engine bay, though that would have been somewhat cramped...

[Old Wombat]

OK, so if the engines had been removed that does give good rear access/egress ... I can live with that!

[Rick Lowe]

Yeah, there's only a small donkey engine to power the electrics and hydraulics.
Hence also the replacement flat plate over the compartment.

[Rick Lowe]

1/200 RNZAF Boeing 727 **Real World**

Another one I made for the Brother in Law, who is former Air Force.

I'm not sure who originally put the kit out; it's pretty old and basic with open windows and a rudimentary undercarriage, but no gear doors and the legs just slot into the lower wing/fuselage. (Though as the main doors close up after the wheels deploy, this is probably ok in that scale.)

The windows were filled and the whole aircraft sanded smooth to remove the panel lines.
Spray white primer, then IIRC it was Humbrol USAF SEA Light Grey underneath and Aluminum for the coroguard panels.
Other colours as appropriate, where required.

I wasn't about to try and scribe the panel lines in, so the ailerons, flaps & etc were drawn on with a sharp pencil and the whole thing given a coat of gloss for the transfers.

Which are Old Models Decals ones. These went on well, and I managed to find just enough side windows to complete the job this time.
The blue sections had to be patched in a couple of areas, but there was enough of the alternate stripe sections to accommodate this.
The cockpit windows however, had to be cut down, as did one or two of the doors and hatches; they were simply too large – more like they were 1/144 not 1/200.

A matt clear coat applied and then final assembly was done.

I scratch built a stand, making the base hollow so I could emplace some flattened lead nail heads to stabilize the model.

An amusing story I heard one time concerns the fact that the 727s had a greater top speed than the Skyhawks; so, when they had occasion to form up together, the 727 Drivers would slooowly open the throttles and gradually pull away from the Squawks; at which time there would be other 'squawks', over the radio, to the general effect of 'Cut it Out!'
Ah, the Military sense of humour...

[Rick Lowe]

And some pics...
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[Wardukw]

Even tho it's not my sort of thing ..bloody nice job Rick mate ..bloody nice indeed 😁

[NARSES2]

That's really nice mate. Particulary like the "pose" 

[PR19_Kit]

Great job there Rick, that RNZAF scheme looks really smart.

And I've not heard of that kit either, the Hase 1/200 727 has sealed over windows, so it's not that one.

[Nick]

1/200 RNZAF Boeing 727 **Real World**

Another one I made for the Brother in Law, who is former Air Force.

I'm not sure who originally put the kit out; it's pretty old and basic with open windows and a rudimentary undercarriage, but no gear doors and the legs just slot into the lower wing/fuselage. (Though as the main doors close up after the wheels deploy, this is probably ok in that scale.)

That is a very nice scheme.

Could it have been this kit from the 1970s which was released by Kitset with RNZAF 40 Squadron markings?
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mun-ruc-ding-boeing-727--1583952

[PR19_Kit]

Good detective work there Nick, that looks spot on compared to Rick's description. 

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, fellas - and Nick, yeah that looks like it.

It was a freebie at a show one time, so bagged, no transfers and a 40 Sqn header leaflet with instructions on the reverse, in true retro Airfix fashion.

[Rick Lowe]

So I found an appropriate description on the latest episode of 'James May and the Dull Men':

SWOLE
Stash Will Outlast Life Expectancy.

That about covers it, I think...  

[Rick Lowe]

1/300 Seaview Submarine **Sci Fi**

From the Irwin Allen TV series 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'.

The ancient Aurora kit in, I believe, 1/300 scale (my estimate, based on the size of the hatches); found at a friends' disposal sale, half-built.

I cleaned up what had been done, and glued in a blanking plate for the front windows as the original clear part was badly warped and ill-fitting.
Frames from 10thou.
I replaced the rear fins with 20thou bits and made new fairings from kit runner. 
The front searchlight was a large diameter piece of clear runner, shaped and polished.

Spray can Grey and brushed darker Grey for the front windows.

Scratch periscopes and I mounted them on a 10thou plate, used to avoid trying to fill the gap in the conning tower floor.

The base is part of a large-scale toy tree stump, with the peak part being milliput over a foam core.
Screwed onto a wooden base and the screw head covered by more milliput.

Painted in various test pot browns and tans.

Sections of wire for the mountings and some badges printed out from the net, glued to card and mounted on card frames onto the base.

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[NARSES2]

That's terrific      I particularly like the mounting 

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, Chris.