Ansett B727-200 LR

[Capt NG]

VH-ANA, first of the LR series Ansett got.. They only had 4 LR's which were able to fly non-stop Sydney-Perth. They were part of an order for 737-200's and 767-200's in 81.

Minicraft kit, Hawkeye decals. White used was Tamiya rattle can pure white. Oil stains done with Tamiya powders and some water..

[hrtpaul]

Nicely done mate. What were the differences between a standard -200 and the LR?

[Capt NG]

Bigger range and bigger engines, if memory serves me correct the JT8-17 engines.

[hrtpaul]

Thanks man. So no differences airframe wise as in length etc? Can I build an LR from the Airfix kit? Ta in advance

[Capt NG]

No mate, most of the changes internal.. Increase in MTOW, bigger engines, some cabin changes. The wingspan same as 727-100 by the way.

Air fix kit needs a bit of work to accurately reflect the jet, once done it builds up ok. Minicraft my pick mate.

[VH-WAL]

Lovely model.

I have "gone off" 1/144..not that I built that many in that scale anyway.. I have sold all the 144 stuff off. The Thumper aka 727 is a personal favourite.. there is a resin 1/72 kit available from a guy in Germany, it is a bit exxy, I was tempted but realistically I have enough kits now and not enough room to display made anyway. So mais regrets I dont think I'll ever have a Thumper gracing my shelves again (except maybe that Nitto 1/100 kit hiding under the bench ..though I am thinking of offloading this as well.
Loved the triple 7 as well
cheers
wal

[Capt NG]

Thanks and g'day Wal...hope your enjoying yourself.

Would be a fair thing to say that every modeller has his/her favourite subject... For me I can't go past the thumpa or three holer. If you want to offload your into girl I'm happy to take her off your hands..

You probably saw me talking to Paul about it, but I'm in the process of making a 727 in every scheme used in Australia with AN and TAA.. Including the 100 series as well. It's taken me about 5 years to collect the required amount of 727-100/200 kits!

Take care, keep posting pictures of your lovely trips down memory lane!!

[Knotty]

Nicely done mate. What were the differences between a standard -200 and the LR?

G,day Paul , like Stu said the main difference was the engines and range ........aka ....Fuel !!
The 727 -200LR had 5 fuel tanks . One in each wing , around 12,000 lbs in each if I remember , a centre tank 24,000lbs , a forward aux tank 3500lbs , and a rear aux tank 3500 Lbs also . Don't quote me but I think it was about 55,000 lbs of fuel when full . You had to be very careful fuelling them ,as they could be sat on there arse very quickly if you did'nt know what you were doing . From memory , the wings and centre had to have the same amount in them .......up to 36,000 lbs . Then the rest went in the centre ......then the forward aux , so it did'nt sit on it's arse, then the rear aux was last . They often vented fuel out the wing vents when going to full wings . If it was a big spill ......the fire service was called to hose it away , a far cry from today's response . Every night when they had to go to the hanger for work , they required tow fuel , usually fuel in the centre tank to stop it from tail sitting on the way to the hanger . Standard fuel was 24,000 for SYDNEY . 27,000 lbs to 33.....36 for BNE and full tanks for PER . I miss them heaps ,they were great to fuel , two hose's could be connected , for around 2000 ltrs per minute . And I will never forget the deep rumble of the APU boring away in the wing . Ahh they were the days . Unfortunately the Airport is a different place these days . One day I remember seeing one on gate 7 at MEL with the nose wheel off the ground while being defuelled ,no rear step down , it was solved by flicking a switch and putting the fuel back on until the steps could be lowered .

[Capt NG]

See, that's why this site will do well.. Blokes like knotty who have the knowledge to answer these kind of questions with fact.

Thanks knotty, I was going to pull out my old 727 flight planning manual and check the figures tonight.. You saved me!!

[Knotty]

See, that's why this site will do well.. Blokes like knotty who have the knowledge to answer these kind of questions with fact.

Thanks knotty, I was going to pull out my old 727 flight planning manual and check the figures tonight.. You saved me!!

Thanks Stu, don't quote me ,but I think those figures are correct . The last 727 we fuelled was the Heavy lift one , a 100 series. Had leaking manifolds and every thing .........not very well looked after the poor old girl . I think they scrapped it in CNS a while back now. They were fantastic the 727s ,the crackel out of the exhaust on a cold morning was something I will never forget ..........

Lovely model by the way Stu , very nicely done .