A400M, MSN1, 1:144
The VMU pad, and the two mounting tubes for the stand
Upper nose after priming.
Lower nose after priming. MSN1 had a pyrotechnically armed hatch, through which the crew would have bailed out if needed, which I modeled with a raised piece of card.
This device was only present on MSN1 and thankfully was never used.
This device was only present on MSN1 and thankfully was never used.
Painted with Vallejo acrylics. Custom mix of Gunship Gray and white. MSNs 1 and 2 were painted a lighter gray than the series aircraft.
Wings on MSNs 1 to 4 had copious amount of speed tape. I tried to replicate the pattern seen in MSN1's pictures, using aluminum gaffer tape.
The "A400M" logos are not really right for MSN1, but those are what came with the kit. Kit markings were suitable for MSN6.
Propeller #3 had some thin black rings... which you can see in the pictures of the real thing and which I did not finally replicate. I tried but was not able to get a good result...so no rings for me.
Blades of propeller #3 were numbered. I think the markings on this propeller are somehow related to the simulated ice shapes test campaign, but that is just an assumption.
The tail was instrumented with air data probes, a trailing cone (not modeled, only present during the first flights), and some simulated ice shapes.
VMU pad and ramp/cardo door. These were in a darker grey.
More speed tape on the wing lower surfaces. FTI camera fairings are visible on the wingtips.
More simulated ice shapes on the outer wing.
#2 engine had a replacement lower cowl which was left in primer.
When you are flight testing, you don't really have time for cosmetics!
When you are flight testing, you don't really have time for cosmetics!
More cameras on the outer cowl doors of engines #1 and #2.
Some propeller blades were instrumented with strain gauges.
There are more camera fairings on the wing to fuselage fairing and some extra antennaes.
The crew are some aftermarket figures from Heroes Models. They flew with orange jumpsuits, typical from Airbus.
Hozzászólások
8 13 February, 22:38
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The A400M in 1:144 from Revell, done as MSN1 during the last part of its career.
Some artistic license has been used, as the configuration of the different appendages that comprised the Flight Test Instrumentation suite hugely varied depending on what was being tested at the moment. Lots of orange things, lots of speed tape...
References are the pictures found on the internet, mainly in Airliners.net.
Currently the aircraft is retired and looked after in the Aeroscopia museum, in Toulouse, France.
The model was done as a commision for one of the former Test Flight Engineers who operated the real thing.
