NZFF

I haven't had a lot of time off over the festive season, but I have been building up my 747 model collection....they range from 1/400 through to the latest addition in 1/144, with a few 1/200 in between.
The 1/144 one is number 11, and the only one I have to build... it's a 747-8F, and the livery is to be decided, but more than likely it will be one of the Atlas paints.
I spent most of the weekend just doing the landing gear....tiny parts, big hands, not a good combo.

If I get brave I'll post some photos later. There is something nice about building something....good for the brain, and hand /eye coordination.

Good on you. Stick some photos on the modeling thread, I'm keen to see

Cheers Nick, I'll get onto it.
Along modeling lines, I must say I've had a win...my quest for a DC-8 has been sorted.
Found a guy in the states who is selling 1/144 Minicraft DC-8s that can be cut down(if needed) to any variant you need, and with all the after-market parts...engines etc, I no longer have to bow down to the stash monsters and their ramped up pricing.

MINICRAFT offer the best 1/144 DC-8 option .... if it can be gotten.

Their current kits have had a good reviews ....


https://modelingmadness.com/review/civil/thomdc8.htm

https://ipmsusa.org/reviews/Kits/Aircra ... 44_dc8.htm

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/ind ... t-dc-8-61/


Think MINICRAFT only marketed the SUPER 63 and SUPER 71 though. The interior fuselages of these kits are marked with cutting points .... to enable modification to either a SUPER 62 or -50 versions .... but which requires some "precision fuselage surgery" if undertaken. And then one still needs to acquire the correct after-market engines and pylons too. Think the MINICRAFT kits also come with alternative wing tips .... enabling one to specifically represent the SUPER 61/71 or SUPER 63/73 wing since there "is" a difference between both. Think there's also after-market CFM-56 engine nacelles for the SUPER 73 (specifically) too featuring strakes that the SUPER 71's don't have.

Given MINICRAFT did a good job tooling their SUPER 63 and SUPER 71 kits (as they did also in regard to their B707 SERIES) it's a pity the line was never further extended to enable the 10/20/30/40, -50, and SUPER 62 versions .... with the correct parts customized for each and without requiring fuselage cutting. There "IS" a market for all versions of the DC-8 in 1/144 scale and it would work .... "if marketed properly" .... and which could result is success akin to that of their B707 series.

You should enjoy that kit Marty


The only other 1/144 DC-8 options are the originally REVELL/REVELL GERMANY tooled/marketed options .... for the the -10 and SUPER 61 ....




.... and the SUPER 61 ....




.... but both of the above kits are getting wee a bit long in the tooth now .... if they can still be acquired at all. The old REVELL -10 kit can be modified to a -50 using after-market engine nacelle parts (a relatively simple conversion). Their SUPER 61 kit is "reasonably good" and features correct engines and pylons parts for that version (and which can also be used to convert their -10 to a -50), but, this kit has in the past been incorrectly marketed as a SUPER 63 (unfortunately) as evidenced here ....







Note the engines and pylon features evident in box art for each of each of the above and which are correct "for a DC-8 SUPER 63", but, both kits actually contain "DC-8-50/SUPER 61" engines and pylons parts

Both the SUPER 61 and SUPER 63 are "quite different" in respect of these particular details .... given the SUPER 63 (specifically) requires different engines and pylons .... plus different/extended wing tips too .... most of which is (or was) available as independently marketed after-market products.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

Mark, sorry for the delay...great post thank you.
The guy at Draw Decals and Hannants have a stock of the Minicraft DC-8s, some of which are heading my way now.
I did manage to pick up a part-built version of the old Revell/Lodela kit, with the correct ANZ engines included.
Thanks again for the detailed post.