3D Blitz models
Pilatus PC-21 in 1/72 scale
To train the next generation of military pilots, Pilatus developed the next generation trainer: the PC-21, a high performance turboprop trainer. On the PC-21, pilots destined to fly fighter aircraft do not need to transition to jets until much later than those flying conventional trainer aircraft, reducing cost and training time. First flight was in 2002. It has zero-zero ejection seats and can pull op to 8 g.
This 1/72 model is of 3D Blitz Models, this kit #72101 was released in 2013. It was the first injection moulded kit in this scale and till today the only kit of 3D Blitz. There are about 60 parts and a clear canopy. The details are nice with good instructions.
For a first time kit, I was was quite pleased as it enabled building a nice model!
Kit decals are for 3 Swiss aircraft:
Demonstrator HB-IZA in silver scheme, demonstrator HB-IZB in drak grey and Schweizer Flugwaffe A-107 in a red scheme.
The model was made as suggested in the instructions with a few enhancements.
And I opted to make the model in a scheme of the Qatar Air Force aerobatic team with my home made decals. More about that later on.
The cockpit is basic but with decals for the instrument panels. The interior is mainly a light grey-blue mix, the cushions were painted gloss black. Details and seats are installed later on.
The ailerons were inscribed a bit deeper. Before assembling the wing, remove the inside mould stubs. At the wing tip edges I also made cut-out notches for lights.
The fuselage and wing were joined. NOTE: I forgot to add enough nose weight!
Some sanding an a minimal amount of putty were needed.
Before proceeding further, the model would get its paint scheme. The model got first a base grey coat with Revell 75 grau airbrushed. Any flaws were corrected.
The choosen scheme was customized for a Qatar Emiri Air Force PC-21 which has a complex scheme of Red-brown and white.
For white a mat coat was airbrushed, followed by acrylic Gunze Sangyo Mr.Hobby H1 gloss white. Masking was done which took considerable time with fine tape.
Than the Red-brown mix was airbrushed with Revell Aqua acrylic paints: 90% Revell 34 Rot with 10% Revell 83 Rost.
The waterslide decals were home designed and laser printed in full colour. If you want a decal print, let me know as described on the decal page here...
Decalling was done with the complex stripes below the canopy.
The gears and bays are gloss white and were installed.
The cockpit interior was painted in a light grey-blue mix. Decals are set for the panels.
The seats are nice but I added asymmetric canopy breakers on their headrests. Cushions were painted gloss black.
Inside the canopy I added a blast screen between from transparant sheet. Also, a detonator chord was inscribed with a scriber, it is not easy to inscribe symmetric. Some canopy locks were also set.
The propeller blades were twisted to a neutral setting. The blades were painted black with white-red-white striped tips.
Various smaller antennas were set from card, these may vary depending on user. The lights in the wing tip edges were suggested with red (port) and blue (starboard) paint in the cut-out notches and filled with Micro Kristal Kleer.
Many static dischargers are seen on the PC-21. These were made from wire (use black stretched sprue or EZ Line bits) and set with super glue.
The final thing to do was airbrushing a final gloss acrylic varnish with the usual technique: Johnson Future/Pledge thinned with 10% Gunze Sangyo Mr.Color Levelling Thinner acrylic.
I had forgotten to add adequate nose weight so.. tail sitter. Thus a transparant sprue was set below the fuselage.
That completed this nice model and great that 3D Blitz released it.
QATAR
[ area: 11,580 sq.km | capital: Doha | population 2,6 million | nom GDP 68,000 USD per capita ]
Before the 1970s there was a British military presence in the Gulf and in 1968 for the Gulf States including Qatar set up a security force. The Emir declared independence in September 1971 and the Qatar Emiri Air Force was established in 1974.
Some 24 PC-21 were acquired and used for aerial demonstrations also by the Al Zaeem Air Academy from 2014. For more information about the Qatar Emiri air force, look at my Mirage 2000 page here...
- Air international magazine, Key publishing, Vol 70 no.5
- International Air Power Review, David Donald, Winter 2002, no.7 page 18
- Web:
https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-21
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Created this page July 10, 2024