NZFF

I'm looking for a 144 scale727-200 ...I know Airfix did one, but I've looked everywhere and found nothing. I was hoping one of you kit bashers might have one sitting in a corner somewhere.
I could go to a 1/200 scale if it's necessary.

Is this any help.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363592985080?h ... olid=10049

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333951903336?_ ... olid=10049

les

I've several AIRFIX 1/144 B727-200's .... but .... all spoken for in regard to decals/livery options though I'm afraid.

"IWIK's" links are probably your best bet Marty.

That 1/144 AIRFIX B727 in LH livery is a -100 (original shorter fuselage like those the RNZAF had in combi/QC form) .... no longer available though .... it's actually a very rare kit now (a few of which i have in captivity). The only other B721 available is the 1/144 REVELL offering (in GERMANAIR livery) which is even older than the AIRFIX release but was readily available until fairly recently from BNA in MEL/AU.

That 1/144 AIRFIX B722 in PA livery "IS" the -200 you want though. That particular boxing of it is the first AIRFIX release from the 1980's (the state of its decals .... and those for the above B721 too which is from the 70's .... might be of concern by now). This kit was much more recently released, by AIRFIX, in AIR CANADA and IBERIA livery .... and the UK/EU market might have seen other options marketed too as AIRFIX sually did up there.

Didn't know you were into kits Marty.

Some of our work might interest you ....
https://tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thre ... ng-project

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Further in regard to B727-200 kits there's also the following to options also Marty ....

1/125 (slightly larger scale) B727-200 by HELLER (was also marketed as HELLER/HUMBROL when last released) as follows ....







AND ALSO .... 1/100 (even larger) B727-200 by DOYUSHA as follows ....







The DOYUSHA kit is (sadly for it's size) full of inaccuracies and probably best avoided.

The AIRFIX and HELLER versions are "the best" that can be obtained (of one can now locate them) .... unless one goes to the much smaller 1/200 scale HASEGAWA options which are probably even more difficult to obtain by now.

I actually have "all of these" in captivity.

Tell ya what Marty .... "IF" you're really stuck, then, get back to me per PM (or email) and I'll see what I can do/sacrifice from my own personal stock .... but .... given the scarcity of these kits now it could be a sales negotiation akin to purchasing "the real thing" .... LOL

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Mark, the mind completely boggles at the patience and dexterity of those creating these amazing models.
Absorbing as it is to scroll through the images, I always wish there were something to relate the model scale and size to.
You're not always going to want to create a diorama for scale to illustrate this, so how about a scale block in one pic, and then the remainder to show off the model.

Auckland's lockdown produces some strange urges, so here's one I doodled:



While one could in theory just paste onto the photo as below, a physical scale block would give a much better sense of it.



I'm sure there is a master modeller who could knock up a series of these for your photo spreads... your taste in figurine might differ.

We thought about adding items to convey some sense of scale, but, just as quickly thought it'd be a distraction, if not a detraction too, so, avoided it

FYI .... the above linked armor is all 1/35 scale .... and the aircraft are each 1/48 scale.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Brussells probably has a diktat that scales must be expressed as percentages - a bureaucracy that can require user manuals for gumboots is capable of anything.

Wow, I didn't expect such detailed responses ....thank you very much.
Will be in touch.

emfrat wrote:Brussells probably has a diktat that scales must be expressed as percentages - a bureaucracy that can require user manuals for gumboots is capable of anything.

The hubris of a company electing to produce 1/35th scale, so that the 100's of existing models at 1/32nd can't sit on the same shelf!
And not as if 35th is a number that has anything to do with anything at all.
Maybe Brussels has a point...

EDIT: Now you mention it:
2 feet to the inch makes historical sense, so too 4,6, and 12.
Where on earth did 1/32nd scale come from?

As you say Charl, 1/35 does not relate to anything. Most modelling scales originated in the UK, where Model Engineering was a popular hobby.
So 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128 is a logical progression - but where did 1/144 come from, apart from being half 1/72 ?
With model railways, the old 'O' gauge used 7mm=1 ft and HO (half O) used 3.5mm /ft . Triang modelled to that, but Hornby 'OO' was modelled at 4mm / ft, although both used the same track gauge of 16.5mm.
In olden days, a draughtsman would use a device called a pantograph to copy and resize a known good design ( look at DeHavilland tails) so maybe the calibration of those was based on the 1/2, 1/4 sequence?
4mm / ft comes out to a tad over 1/76, and 3.5mm /ft is about 1/87, which does not help either

ATB, Mike

In olden days, a draughtsman would use a device called a pantograph

Harumph... I own a pantograph, and have used it in anger!
Also a sliderule, and planimeter, which just needs a tiny drop of lubricant every 5,000 hours.

Mike 1/72nd is simply 6ft to the inch, ergo 144th is 12.
What's all this mixed mm and feet business?
Did the Europeans have a hold on the rolling stock?

Charl wrote:Mike 1/72nd is simply 6ft to the inch, ergo 144th is 12.
What's all this mixed mm and feet business?
Did the Europeans have a hold on the rolling stock?

At one time I had a book which went into this subject; I think it went to a nephew. After WW II, manufacturers stopped making scale models and started making toy trains, so a lot of compromises were made facilitate mass production. Airfix apparently chose 1/72 so that all their original range would fit in the same size cardboard box, which was readily available and therefore cheap. For years, Hornby only made models of ex-LMS carriage stock, which were shorter than that of other companies and again, needed only one size of box. Wheels and rails were made hugely oversize, so that the toy trains would reliably stay on the track.
Once you got down to Gauge O ( 1/4" / ft ) and less, track gauge was rounded up to 5' instead of 4' 8 1/2" and that was when the mm crept in.

Well, I've given up on any type of 727-200 in my price range. I found one in the states, but they don't ship to NZ (Might be a way around that). But thanks to Mark and iwik for the input.
I have managed to find an old Airfix 737-200 (ANZ/Ansett) version, and thanks to " Oldmodels decals"... https://www.oldmodelsdecals.com/ I have, and will be getting some decal sheets to replicate dear old ZK-NQC in one of her many guises before leaving NZ.
I'm now looking for aftermarket replacement JT-8D engines with the hush kits ...maybe at https://www.authentic-airliners.de.
Really starting to wonder what the hell I've got myself into ...but it's fun. Should be in lockdown here again within the week, so I will need something to do.

Re the shipping to NZ thing, I recall a few years ago when I was collecting replica watches, NZ POST has a thing that gives you a US postal address, which is run by NZ Post ...they receive it, do the customs thing and send it home to NZ.
The savings are negligible, but it gets around those that won't ship down here....not sure if it's still available.

Just an addon to the post prior .... I notice that Oldmodels decals do 1/72 and 1/200 decals for the 737-200 ....who made these kits? A 1/72 737 is a big model.

NZ Post You Shop is what you are looking for https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/youshop
I have used it in the past and found it very good for buying things that they don't ship to NZ

Cheers Doug, that's it. I found my old account ...I have a postal address in Portland Oregan

I notice that Oldmodels decals do 1/72 and 1/200 decals for the 737-200 ....who made these kits?

HASEGAWA did the B732 in 1/200 ....

https://www.google.com/search?q=hasegaw ... NZ951NZ951

I believe HASEGAWA have also since done the B733 and B734.


NITTO and DOYUSHA released the B732 in 1/100 ....






BPK released the B737-200 in 1/72 ....

I'm now looking for aftermarket replacement JT-8D engines with the hush kits

You'd need the NORDAM type HK Marty .... for an ANZ 1990's era mod ....



Not sure any kit manufacturer have ever produced such a conversion parts for B732's of any scale.

"If available" .... then .... such HK mods could be "A " to fit as (unless completely new/replacement nacelle parts are provided) as it'd otherwise be necessary to cut the aft section of the nacelle.

AFAIK .... the AUTHENTIC AIRLINERS modification represents improved B737-100/200 engin nacelle shape, but, doesn't actually represent the NORDAM type HK's.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Thanks Mark ...you are a veritable mine of information. I'm starting to think I'll build a ship instead

Been on the modeling scene since Adam was inch high to a grasshopper/the 60's .... and never left it

I'm starting to think I'll build a ship instead

In that case try either of "THESE" .... not mine incidentally ....

1/200
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwE-9G4jVOo

1/350
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QlnnrmJ39w

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Splitpin wrote:Thanks Mark ...you are a veritable mine of information. I'm starting to think I'll build a ship instead

Honestly Marty, start with simple stuff. Don't try to jump in the deep end with complex builds like some of these airliner projects. Start with something that doesn't require any modification and goes together well. Something new from Airfix is a good start, even if it's a little away from your field of interest. That little Airfix JP4 that I built was a delight, didn't require anything other than putting in seatbelts.