Bristol 170 Freighter
Discussion
Now that the Dyna -Soar is out of the way, thoughts turn to my next project. In line with one of my normal modelling themes - classic airliners , I've always wanted to have a go at a 1/144 Bristol 170 Freighter/Wayfarer. I always thought they were the most charismatic airliners. I have fond memories of Aer Turas' EI-APC chugging out over my house ferrying horses and newspapers out of Dublin to the UK in the early 1970s.
In recent years, a number of kits have emerged that allow this topic to be pursued - and as luck would have it, Frsin has produced a kit of EI-APC, although it's in slightly earlier colour scheme to what I was more used to seeing it in.
Here were the choices available -
I've plumped for the Aer Turas example but would like to do the other ones before too long.
Frsin kits are extremely crude so there is a lot of work required to tidy them up before assembly. Also, the colours on the decal sheet aren't particularly accurate. The colours on the tail should, of course, being an Irish airline, be green white and orange, not green white and red. The green is a bit on the dark side too. I will paint these rather than use the decals. The other markings are OK.
In recent years, a number of kits have emerged that allow this topic to be pursued - and as luck would have it, Frsin has produced a kit of EI-APC, although it's in slightly earlier colour scheme to what I was more used to seeing it in.
Here were the choices available -
I've plumped for the Aer Turas example but would like to do the other ones before too long.
Frsin kits are extremely crude so there is a lot of work required to tidy them up before assembly. Also, the colours on the decal sheet aren't particularly accurate. The colours on the tail should, of course, being an Irish airline, be green white and orange, not green white and red. The green is a bit on the dark side too. I will paint these rather than use the decals. The other markings are OK.
I've already stocked up on Humbrol filler for this project.
Somebody did do a short nose conversion to allow you to convert the old Airfix 1/72 Mk32 Freighter into a short nose Mk31.
I would like to do the Mk21 soon as well because those early versions didn't survive much beyond the early 1960s. I certainly don't remember ever seeing one in real life (no, I'm not THAT old).
A Mk.31 was delivered to the new museum at Filton from New Zealand a year or so ago. It will be restored to static condition.
Somebody did do a short nose conversion to allow you to convert the old Airfix 1/72 Mk32 Freighter into a short nose Mk31.
I would like to do the Mk21 soon as well because those early versions didn't survive much beyond the early 1960s. I certainly don't remember ever seeing one in real life (no, I'm not THAT old).
A Mk.31 was delivered to the new museum at Filton from New Zealand a year or so ago. It will be restored to static condition.
Eric Mc said:
I've already stocked up on Humbrol filler for this project.
Somebody did do a short nose conversion to allow you to convert the old Airfix 1/72 Mk32 Freighter into a short nose Mk31.
I would like to do the Mk21 soon as well because those early versions didn't survive much beyond the early 1960s. I certainly don't remember ever seeing one in real life (no, I'm not THAT old).
A Mk.31 was delivered to the new museum at Filton from New Zealand a year or so ago. It will be restored to static condition.
I grew up in Wellington NZ in the late 60's and the Bristol Freighter was the first plane I could recognise. I hitched a few rides on Fieldair Frieght's DC3 in the late 80s out of Wellington when a couple of school friends worked there.Somebody did do a short nose conversion to allow you to convert the old Airfix 1/72 Mk32 Freighter into a short nose Mk31.
I would like to do the Mk21 soon as well because those early versions didn't survive much beyond the early 1960s. I certainly don't remember ever seeing one in real life (no, I'm not THAT old).
A Mk.31 was delivered to the new museum at Filton from New Zealand a year or so ago. It will be restored to static condition.
Some progress on the Bristol 170.
As expected, filler has been made use of to a great extent. You can see from the pictures the rather crude aspect of the mouldings. However. with a bit of care and attention, it is going together OK.
The tail fin is designed to be a simple butt joint - which in my experience is always asking for trouble. I've drilled and pinned the fin so that it will locate more securely on top of the rear fuselage.
As expected, filler has been made use of to a great extent. You can see from the pictures the rather crude aspect of the mouldings. However. with a bit of care and attention, it is going together OK.
The tail fin is designed to be a simple butt joint - which in my experience is always asking for trouble. I've drilled and pinned the fin so that it will locate more securely on top of the rear fuselage.
A bit more progress to report. I have the wings and tail components attached. As can be seen - there are gaps everywhere so once the glue has hardened off, it will be out with the filler again.
I was looking for some plans to give me an idea as to what type of wing dihedral there was on the Freighter. The nearest drawings I had to hand was my old 1967 edition of "The Observer's Book of Civil Aircraft". I've had this since I was 9 years old.
I was looking for some plans to give me an idea as to what type of wing dihedral there was on the Freighter. The nearest drawings I had to hand was my old 1967 edition of "The Observer's Book of Civil Aircraft". I've had this since I was 9 years old.
A lot of my model building friends are claiming that this period of self isolation is giving them loads of free time to up their model building rate. I have to say, that's not the case in my situation. In fact, I've been working quite hard over the past couple of weeks, partly because of the lock down and the various government schemes that have been introduced to help businesses. I've been doing a lot of research and "what if" type scenarios for my clients which has taken up quite a bit if my time.
However, despite all that, I've been able to make some progress on the Bristol Freighter. It is a bit of a rough and ready kit in many ways and needs a lot of subduing. I've started on the painting now so hopefully, progress will be steady.
This was it assembled, filled and rubbed down but waiting for paint -
And as of today, this is what it looks like. It's been primed, given a bit of pre-shade and the upper fuselage has been given its white coat. Next up will be painting the Irish tricolour tail fin. Decals are provided but the green and "orange" provided don't look right to me so I will be painting the colours instead -
However, despite all that, I've been able to make some progress on the Bristol Freighter. It is a bit of a rough and ready kit in many ways and needs a lot of subduing. I've started on the painting now so hopefully, progress will be steady.
This was it assembled, filled and rubbed down but waiting for paint -
And as of today, this is what it looks like. It's been primed, given a bit of pre-shade and the upper fuselage has been given its white coat. Next up will be painting the Irish tricolour tail fin. Decals are provided but the green and "orange" provided don't look right to me so I will be painting the colours instead -
When an apprentice at BAC during the latter half of the 1960s I was given the job of making replacement fuel tank dip-stick for a Bristol Freighter 170 then being flown somewhere in S. America. It seems the dip-sticks were different for each aircraft's fuel tanks. BAC had a file of the original drawings. The dip-sticks was just a strip of ally with capacity lines & text stamped into them.
I would assume that, like many British aircraft of that era, the Bristol Freighter would have been mostly hand built - so lots of variations between individual aircraft.
Sadly, there are currently no airworthy Bristol Freighters although there is one in taxiable condition in New Zealand (where else).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFXn5JzGljc
Sadly, there are currently no airworthy Bristol Freighters although there is one in taxiable condition in New Zealand (where else).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFXn5JzGljc
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