Atlas, not the book or the Greek Titan

[RayS]

Since my airliner/civil builds are on the back burner at the moment, I thought I would share what is on the bench

I had plans to do this one for a while, just did not have the motivation, I am attempting Revell's A400M as ZM406 in 70SQN 100th Anniversary markings. Decals are from Babibi



Since I was in the throws of decoding Revell colour callouts to paints I can source here (and to see if I already had the equivalents in my paint racks and draws) I have started with the externals rather than the cockpit and internals which will need a bit of painting and masking.

Not that I can build anything truly OOB box these days I had to make some modifications. I have started with the flying surfaces. I am separating the control surfaces to show them in their powered off position when the aircraft is parked.







The wing has also been assembled and flap track fairings fitted



I added some paint to the cockpit and interior parts







Not totally accurate colours but they will do.

The deflected control surfaces are refitted and faired in



As well as the ailerons

[RayS]

So after a great day at the Warbirds Downunder airshow on Saturday last, it is back to the bench to recuperate

I finished painting and decalling the cockpit




I also added a decal from the spares box for the load master's station


Then some paint for the cargo bay


The wheel wells and sponsons were assembled and started to paint


Sink marks a plenty which I won't worry about since they won't be seen (I hope)


Then to some masking of the cargo bay floor and ramp


they got some more paint, with some further masking to come.


The engines were then attacked with some paint and glue


And then I started to separate the prop blade assemblies from the sprues, I did not pay enough attention and managed to hack on of the blades


One prop assembled and others to go


I have found there is a fair bit of flash on a lot of the parts, something I did not expect for a newish kit such as this. Also, the sprue attachment points are quite chunky on a lot of parts and you need to be patient when removing them and then there is a bit of clean up required post removal.

The cargo bay floor and ramp were then painted.

After laying down the paint for the main floor colour, masking that and then the metallic strips, I had to mask those off to paint the tie down points.

Part done


Finished masking


Black down


And masking removed


Fun fact of the day, it took me about an hour and a half to lay down 426 little bits of tape to cover the silver bits. Painting took about 3 minutes and tape removal about 5 minutes.
was it worth the effort considering most of it will be down a dark cavern when it put it all together?

And to add tonight's update.

The cockpit assembly has been attached to the cargo bay floor




and the walls have gone up around the flooring




Some random wiring


Let there be light


and one for the cockpit for good measure


So there it is at the moment, I seem to be powering along with the build. I hope I can keep my attention ion it to completion.

I have another 3 of these in the stash and have seen some great civil cargo What-Ifs. So some research will be happening and maybe one of these will pop up onthe Expo civil table

[Ansett A330]

Wow! Very nice work. Will look AMAZING alongside your C-17!

And what's this bit about "another 3 of these in the stash"? To paraphrase that Kid in the Jeep Ad : "I think yer gonna need a bigger House!".

[Ansett A330]

... and have seen some great civil cargo What-Ifs.

How about a Turbofan instead of Turboprop powered version as a Whiff?

[RayS]

... and have seen some great civil cargo What-Ifs.

How about a Turbofan instead of Turboprop powered version as a Whiff?

Hmmm, I have seen this done on a UK model club table some years ago. I do have a set of spare E-3 CFMs as well.....

[Graeme H]

Ok satisfying your yearning for big stuff, but a major distraction from the C-17, good to see this though

[Ansett A330]

Hmmm, I have seen this done on a UK model club table some years ago. I do have a set of spare E-3 CFMs as well.....

Ooh missed that. Whereabouts was it?

Initially when I read 4 x CFM56s I thought "Oh no Belfast reborn because like the A340 only get off the ground because of the curvature of the Earth!" but then I looked at all the figures and I think you are pretty well spot on to use 4 x CFM56s. Probably about 30 to 40 percent better Thrust to Weight than a C141B.

And remember this too :







A CFM56 on one of the YC-15s.

[RayS]

Hmmm, I have seen this done on a UK model club table some years ago. I do have a set of spare E-3 CFMs as well.....

Ooh missed that. Whereabouts was it?

...............

One of the British Forums not long after the kit came out, don't recall now.

How about this one then

[Ansett A330]

Yes that would have to be from the one and only Kit.

And a couple of pages on what about this for a C-17 scheme (or even replicated on an A400M)?

[RayS]

I saw that Rob, which got me thinking about one in Roulette support aircraft markings!