1/72 A model Beechcraft 1900 D

Gallery Article by Chris Parsons on Apr 25 2018

 

      

This is the "short run" Amodel Beechcraft 1900D issued with Air Labrador decals. My employer also flies some of these aircraft which inspire me to build a small fleet of 4 D models and 1 C model. The decals were produced for me by Mika Jernfors of Arctic Decals and are a work of art in themselves. 

Being a short run kit there are a few challenges to work around but nothing a bit of patience and persistence cannot overcome. This was to be the final model in my stash of this type of aircraft to be built and in so doing decided to do something a little different with it, hence the wheels up in a fairly dramatic if unrealistic, rotation and hard bank over the runway threshold. The kit was never designed with the thought of a "wheels up" construction so some surgery was required of the gear legs, wheels, and engine nacelles to get everything tucked up. I also added a pilot to the model, a military figure with his legs amputated below the waist and his shirt painted white.

The cockpit windows are kit supplied clear plastic the rest are made from scotch (or similar) clear acetate tape, including the wing tip nav. light fairings. I added some small details here and there around the model such as windshield wipers etc. the exhaust stacks were made from solder bent around a paintbrush handle and drilled out. The prototype is still in service at Westwind Aviation.

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When I discovered that my longtime great friend and the director of maintenance (DOM) at Westwind was leaving for the last time I put the model on a scrap sheet of .030" aircraft aluminum had all his employees sign it and offered it up as a sentiment of our appreciation of his 22 years of hard work and commitment to the company.

This little model, in my opinion, is a very nice (for short run and even a good competitor for mainstream) kit.

I hope it meets approval
.

Chris Parsons

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Photos and text © by Chris Parsons