Airfix Short Skyvan 1/72.

[PatW]

An old kit from ebay but with all parts still in sealed bags

 

[Tommergun]

Sweet vintage Airfix.

 

[PatW]

Yes thanks Tommergun.

 

[mustang1989]

Very unusual looking aircraft and should make for a swell conversation piece when it's all finished up Pat. Thanks for sharing.

 

[PatW]

It was a very important aircraft in it's day transport for families and some cargo on holiday to the islands around the UK coast. They were also used in a skydiving role! Some seats in today.

 

[BarleyBop]

skydiving role!

Must have been something to run right out the back ramp!

 

[PatW]

Yes passengers and luggage and some small freight.

 

[Tommergun]

Plenty of leg room!

 

[PatW]

Ah I've only put 50% up to now as they are very small to put in!

 

[Glenn S]

Must have been something to run right out the back ramp!

We used to jump out of the back at Sky Dive Arizona. It was a very basic configuration in the back with folding wooden bench seats along the sides, with seat belts. The ramp, and everything else possible, was removed to save weight so that more parachutists could get on board.
It always reminded me of jumping out of a sea container.
Our pilot was a very nice older lady who looked like she was a school bus driver. She was always calm and very professional. She never got frazzled and always dropped us in the right spot.

 

[PatW]

Wow!

 

[PatW]

All of the seats in and painted. plus as the window plastics are small and separate I have used retail clear plastic to cover all window openings.

 

[PatW]

Next:

 

[Glenn S]

Next:

View attachment 166625

In a way I wish you didn't start this post about the Skyvan. Now I want to build one!

 

[PatW]

OK Glenn S. A bit more tomorrow perhaps!

 

[PatW]

Two more views.. It says in the destructions to put a heavy weight in the nose to keep the front down but not having found anything small enough I put a secret piece of clear plastic under the tail. Oh I shouldn't have told you that!

 

[Glenn S]

Two more views.. It says in the destructions to put a heavy weight in the nose to keep the front down but not having found anything small enough I put a secret piece of clear plastic under the tail. Oh I shouldn't have told you that!

View attachment 166789

View attachment 166790

That's a pretty stealth piece of clear plastic! Well done!

 

[PatW]

I have just found out that the decal strip to run along the side of the aircraft has no openings for the windows! Looking back it says lay up the decals then when dry use part number X to punch holes in the decal etc. What I thought? I have ordered some narrow masking tape to paint round the windows!
Test fit wings with engines attached. Not cemented on as yet due to having to paint fuselage sides.

 

[Glenn S]

I have just found out that the decal strip to run along the side of the aircraft has no openings for the windows! Looking back it says lay up the decals then when dry use part number X to punch holes in the decal etc. What I thought? I have ordered some narrow masking tape to paint round the windows!
Test fit wings with engines attached. Not cemented on as yet due to having to paint fuselage sides.

View attachment 167021

I kid you not. I dropped in on a local model show yesterday. Guys could sell off parts of their stash and/or swap kits. I kept my eyes open for a Skyvan, to no avail.
Then, last night I was on the Above and Beyond website, ordering some decals, and I noticed they had a lot of different decal sets for the Skyvans.
I don't know... maybe a Skyvan will be in my future?

 

[PatW]

Wow I certainly hope so!

 

[PatW]

Another test fit on the tail whilst I wait for masking tape to be delivered.

 

[PatW]

A bit more! Not impressed with my painting instead of solid (Without window holes) side decals.

 

[Tommergun]

A bit more! Not impressed with my painting instead of solid (Without window holes) side decals.

As long as you're having fun with it. It's looking good.

 

[BarleyBop]

Not impressed

Funny, I was going to comment on how the side stripe really added to the overall build!
Transformed from shoebox to plane!

 

[PatW]

Thanks guys I feel a lot better now! Just paint the tail uprights and perhaps some decals later!

 

[PatW]

Today some paint!

 

[PatW]

With decals! The End!

 

[Airborne01!]

Must have been something to run right out the back ramp!

It was! Not as bad as some other aircraft though! Quite a stable airframe for jumping purposes!
Steve

 

[BarleyBop]

The End!

"All's well that ends great!"

jumping

... not sure if this is the craft that was used, but I had friends who'd go down to Florida to jump on vacation, and they would literally run up the ramp after the plane had barely landed just to take off again with a new bunch of skydivers!

 

[PatW]

Thanks guys!