![]() ![]() Fokker F-27 model in 1/72 scale |
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DUTCH Readers... kijk hier voor een Nederlandse F-27 model pagina... The Fokker F-27 Friendship was the most successful commuter regional airliner built after 1945. Designed with a modern fuselage and wing using modern manufacturing techniques such as glued sandwich panels and equipped with turboprops, the aircraft was efficient, easy to maintain and reliable. It flew in all continents and was flying from sand strips out in Africa. Many are still in use today. Many commercial airlines and airforces used the F-27 with a number of variants. Look here for some real aircraft photos on my site... More detail information on
the Airfix models issued and other F-27 kits like ESCI and REVELL
can be found here.... |
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![]() The old Airfix model
is still by far the best model of the F-27 available in 1/72. It needs some
refinement but can be built in a nice model. It appeared in various boxes:
Here, the major parts are seen:
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The usual old Airfix kit is for
a "short nose"model; However, the model issued 2009 has optional parts for
a "long nose" as well. The standard kit fuselage is otherwise OK for older
variants. (see picture above with separate sprue). The latest issued box/kit has new decals as weel, with nice schemes seen here: ![]() ![]() ![]() OK, what about the Airfix kit? The biggest flaw is the absence of the double curved fuselage cross section, the slightly not high enough fuselage cross section, and the much too small dorsal fin. When using the Airfix F-27 model as the kit to start with, the fuselage extensions are for the other variants as follows: 1/72 fuselage
extensions relative to the (short fuselage) Airfix F-27 model:
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The fuselage can be
corrected by applying pieces of 1 mm thick card to the bottom of the fuselage.
Use putty, and sand smooth. Apply several putty layers until you get a nice
shape with the kink and the also more "higher" cross section.
![]() The kit's windows also need refinements for all versions. The kit windows are way too small. They are located too low in the fuselage, by enlarging each window can be improved as well. Oval shaped F-27 windows sizes are: 542 mm x 368 mm (height x width) (hole in metal). Within the windows, 17 mm edge of fibre plastic. All the windows were enlarged
and reshaped with a file and set a bit higher in the process.
The cockpit glazing has a terrible fit, so assemble and fit/fill as needed with carefull sanding. The doors vary in size as well depending on the particular plane. On many planes larger cargo doors were fitted and regular height passenger entry doors. The dorsal fin (fwd of the vertical tail) is also not large enough. It should be "twice as high" at the fin-vertical tail junction. The length is correct. Use card and filler here. Add also the two stabilizer actuator fairings at the base of the vertical tail, these are missing in the kit. The wing surfaces are separate
parts, which is quite good as there are slots and gaps on the real thing
for both the F-27 and Fokker 50/60. You will need to make some small corrections
here. The wing-fuselage junction fit is very weak; it is strongly advised to add a metal spar here in the model. The engine nacelles can be detailed with the wheel bay details and the missing smaller intakes and flush aerodynamic exhausts. The newer F-27 versions sometimes do not have the heat panels cool ribs (as in kit). The kit's main undercarriage
parts need refinement and the leg should be somewhat longer.
You can add some 4 mm card in the main bay to get a better result and "higher
sit" on the ground.
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![]() The Airfix model can be built, when corrected, straight into a nice representation of the real F-27-200/300/400 ![]() Note the added scoops on the nacelles and dark exhaust panel. |
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Several F-27's were (retro-)fitted
with the radar nose, so add this as desired by lengthening in this 1/72 scale
the nose 6 mm. The older Airfix model made has no radar nose. (NOTE: Summer
2009 the Airfix kit was re-issued with also optional parts for the radarnose
and other props as well). ![]() Also seen on some planes, so add on the left aft fuselage an extra air intake fairing, made from thick sprue. The wingtips and the aileron
hinges were given some extra details as well: |
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![]() Also the wing flap panel recessed line should be quite heavy. Fill the kit's incorrect lower flap double line with putty as a single flap is used. The rudder should be refined somewhat with the fairing actuators of the elevators at the base of the fin added made from spare part "bomb halves." Further suggestions:
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The F-27 was the basis
of the Fokker 50 / 60 family, these aircraft
also being used by the RNethAF.
The model depicts a F-27-300
of the Royal Netherlands AF without radar nose but with high-visibility painting.
Nice touches are the walkways and the added squadron markings
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![]() ![]() SCALE DRAWINGS FOKKER F-27 Print out the two parts
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REFERENCES RECOMMENDED:
IPMS NEDERLAND F-27 walk around pages... IPMS Nederland real F-27 info pages... My own
F-27 walk round here...
Photos of the "real thing" can be found on this site also... here |
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![]() ![]() (c) Copyright Meindert "designer"/ All rights reserved. Your comments are welcomed by webmaster |
![]() page created September 14, 2002; updated Feb 2017 |