Subject: Re: Modelsvit Antonov An-124 'Ruslan'
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Ken Duffey" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 23:47:34 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ken Duffey 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 8:02 AM
  Subject: Modelsvit Antonov An-124 'Ruslan'

  Gallery Article Template

  "1/72 scale An-124 from Modelsvit" 

  by "Ken Duffey (Flankerman)" 

  Please include your ARC Discussion Forum Name with your submission 
  -------------------- 

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  This is the huge 1/72 scale Antonov An-124 'Ruslan' (NATO Condor) from the Ukrainian firm of Modelsvit.

  The main parts (fuselage, wings, fin and tail planes) are made in fibreglass resin - with all the other parts (cockpit, engines and wheels) in injection moulded plastic.

  It is the same type of kit as made by Amodel in their 'Amonster' series - and I think it's the same guys making it.

  The nose visor is separate - but there is no interior detail, so it has to be fitted in the closed position - and the cross-section does not quite match - so lots of filler was needed to blend the nose visor into the forward fuselage.

        Fibreglass resin parts

         03.jpg Lots of filler around the nose visor

         04.jpg Nose visor and cockpit blended in

         05.jpg Injection moulded engine parts

        06.jpg 

  The injection-moulded cockpit is fully detailed - although not much of it can be seen on the finished model.

  The wings are designed to be detachable for transport - and two metal tubes are supplied, although I reinforced mine with brass tube and rod.

  The engines are small models in their own right - with fully detailed interiors, front fan and 'hot' section.  

          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  The biggest problem I had was with the wheels - 20 main and 4 nose wheels. The undercarriage is fully detailed - but very delicate and no way able to support the 1.7 kg (3.11lb) weight of the finished model.

  I made a support trestle from thick acrylic sheet - and this is more-or-less hidden under the fuselage.

  This enabled me to get all 20 main wheels to touch the ground - after filing flats on the bottoms to give an impression of weight.

  Although Modelsvit supply massive decal sheets for six options, I chose to model mine as a machine from Russian Air Force 224 Sqn that I had photographed in 2012 during the RusAF 100th Anniversary flypast - the decals for which were very kindly made by Begemot

  The finished model is huge - and dwarfs the Revell A-400M next to it (model kindly provided by Alan Firbank)

  "Ken Duffey"

        The model is painted with acrylic car 'rattle cans'

         07.jpg Finished engine nacelle

         08.jpg All the parts ready for assembly

         09.jpg This view shows the main wheels and support trestle

        10.jpg 

        Finished model

         11.jpg Finished model showing the engines

         12.jpg Mainwheels - they all touch the ground!

         13.jpg Comparison with Revell A-400M in the same scale.

        14.jpg 

        

  Photos and text © by "Ken Duffey"