The Duke's Civilian Aircraft in 1/72 Scale

Duke!  Those are some great builds!  The rigging on the Wright Flyer is awesome!  Thanks for sharing!

Eagle90

Was that the Lindberg Spirit?  That was sure one beautiful kit!

On the other hand, it is a shame there is not a better kit of the Tri-motor.  Neither the Airfix nor the Revell/Monogram kits are very good, and that is a shame for such an important aircraft.  Civil airplanes just get no respect.  Wish kitmakers would treat civil subjects like they do 109s and P-51  :-(

Thanks guys! I appreciate that.

Eagle, most of the rigging was done with one continuous thread. I found that was much easier to do for me.

Don, the Spirit of St. Louis is actually the 1/752 scale Testor's kit. I don't know if they got the molds from Lindbergh or not, but that came in a Testor's box.

Thanks again for the great comments guys!

Those look a lot like the ones on my shelf.  I started with my 1/48 builds and will be putting up some of my 1/72 planes later.

What kit is the Apache? I don't think I have ever seen tat one.

Excellent. Looking forward to seeing them.

I'm working on another 1/72 scale civilian aircraft; this one is the Aurora Jet Commando. I'll post here when I get it done.

Thanks! I've been spending a lot of time polishing this in preparation for the coat of white it's gonna need. I hope to be able to slap some paint on it soon.

Really nice seeing those civilian aircraft; really clean builds.

I did not even know kits were available in 1/72 scale.

What company produces 1/72 civil light aircraft? 

Sprue-ce Goose

Really nice seeing those civilian aircraft; really clean builds.

I did not even know kits were available in 1/72 scale.

What company produces 1/72 civil light aircraft? 

 

There is a company- I think it is AModel- that does a few homebuilts/acro bipes in 1:72, like the Pitts and the Skybolt.  They are tiny!

Don Stauffer

 

 

Sprue-ce Goose

Really nice seeing those civilian aircraft; really clean builds.

I did not even know kits were available in 1/72 scale.

What company produces 1/72 civil light aircraft? 

 

 

 

 

There is a company- I think it is AModel- that does a few homebuilts/acro bipes in 1:72, like the Pitts and the Skybolt.  They are tiny!

 

Like Don says, A-model seems to be the only company out there doing civilian light aircraft. All the ones seen in this Thread are ancient Aurora kits that I acquired. I've built all of the old Aurora kits so far, with the Jet Commando being the last one to complete the whole set.

Thanks.

I will check for the A-Model kits.

I built the AURORA  twin engine Piper and Monogram Ford Tri-motor during my childhood but they did not survive it.

Another light civilian plane in 1:72 to look for is the Beechcraft Bonanza made by Arii

Ozmac

Another light civilian plane in 1:72 to look for is the Beechcraft Bonanza made by Arii

 

Yep, I have one of those completed too. You should be able to see it in the first pic showing all my civilian aircraft together. It's the V-tail one.

Just remembered another one I have built. It's a resin kit in 1/72 of the Cessna 195, made by the Serbian company, Lift Here. As it was my first ever resin kit I made a bit of a mess of the build but I often think I should buy another kit and have another go, as I like the Cessna 195 a lot.

Ozmac

Just remembered another one I have built. It's a resin kit in 1/72 of the Cessna 195, made by the Serbian company, Lift Here. As it was my first ever resin kit I made a bit of a mess of the build but I often think I should buy another kit and have another go, as I like the Cessna 195 a lot.

 

Tthat's good to know. I never knew there was a resin kit of a Cessna out there. I usually don't do resin as I have a tendency to bury my Exacto blade to the hilt in one of my digits, but this may be something to consider. Thanks for the info. I'd say go for it and get another one and build it. I know I'd like to see it built.

These are great,but the Wright flyer is amazing, is that the old box scale Revell kit?

I primarily stick to 1/72 for aircraft, but I've thought about getting that kit a few times as it is really about the only option for that aircraft, and it is a rather significant piece of aviation history.

As to others out there in 1/72 Arii has a few, the already mentioned Beechcraft, a Cessna 172 with or without floats, Cessna 337 / O-2 Skymaster in civilian and military versions, and an Aero Subaru maybe others. I understand these are all actually originally Otaki kits so searching under that name may turn up some as well.

1/48 adds a few more, Academy / Minicraft did a Cessna 150 and Revell did a Mooney.   

Aaronw

These are great,but the Wright flyer is amazing, is that the old box scale Revell kit?

 

I primarily stick to 1/72 for aircraft, but I've thought about getting that kit a few times as it is really about the only option for that aircraft, and it is a rather significant piece of aviation history.

 

As to others out there in 1/72 Arii has a few, the already mentioned Beechcraft, a Cessna 172 with or without floats, Cessna 337 / O-2 Skymaster in civilian and military versions, and an Aero Subaru maybe others. I understand these are all actually originally Otaki kits so searching under that name may turn up some as well.

 

1/48 adds a few more, Academy / Minicraft did a Cessna 150 and Revell did a Mooney.   

 

Thanks Aaron! Yes, the Wright Flyer is the old Revell boxing. It even came with a color insert showing ways to improve the model to improve it's appearance, and some of those techniques were used by me on this one. I also only build in 1/72 scale, but I decided to build this Wright Flyer because; as you said, it is such an iconic aircraft and just needs to be done.

Every one of the following aircraft you mentioned in 1/72 scale has been built by me. You should be able to see them all in the above pics. If not, I'll have to update my post. I didn't post any pics of my Cessna 172 on floats as the decals went south on me and I royally messed up on the dry transfers I attempted to do for the replacement registration numbers. I did complete the one on wheels though. I like the offerings in 1/48, but since they are not in my chosen scale, I'll admire other's work on those. I do hope that someday someone shrinks them down to my scale so I can add them to my collection.

Thanks again for posting. Stay tuned as I have the wings, engine and tail finally installed on the Jet Commando and the windows are masked; it is ready for paint. As soon as I can clear my paint booth, I'll start painting. 

Super nice collection!

Airfix has/had some 1/72 civilian Aircraft including a nice DHC Beaver and a Grumman Widgeon. HobbyCraft Canada had a Beaver, Otter, and Twin Otter. All of these are common bush planes in the north. Airfix has a 01 Bird Dog that has been used in civilian service. It can also be made into a Cessna 170. Matchbox had a Noorduyn Norseman that is also a north country bush plane.

Thanks Thosmosis!

Thanks Heepey. That nis all good information to know. I'll be on the lookout for those aircraft to add to my civilian aircraft line.

I have a Piper Super Cub in the kit queue. I think an old Aurora kit I built was a Cessna 310. Someone put out a kit of the Mooney Mite that I think is still on e-bay sometimes. 

Very nice. I only build aircraft in 1/72 scale but I love to see other's models of civilian aircraft, no matter what scale they are.

Thinking of the comments on the Wright Flyer.  That of course was not the only plane the Wrights built.  Too bad no one has ever kitted later Wright planes, the the A or B, or the Baby Grand Racer.

Hi , Duke :

    I gotta say , Nice group of birds . I only have the Monogram Piper and the Cessna float and wheeled planes . My little collection of unbuilts went bye-bye in a car wreck while I was moving from one state to another .

    I do also have some nice Paper planes in 1/24 ! There are few but the fellow I got them from is out of business now .Made in America and definitely not for the faint - hearted !

     They have full interiors even ! I used to build as many civil aircraft as I could get my hands on , But , like cars they got too look - alike for my tastes . Just got back to them about two years ago .

      I seem to have a block in my brain . If it doesn't have a twirly thingy on the front or both wings , it don't look right -LOL.LOL.  Good job my friend !    T.B.

I agree Don, I would love to see subsequent Wright aircraft as well. I guess noboidy ever remembers number 2 or later; only the first.

T.B. thanks! That had to hurt losing all of those back in the day. I kinda know how you feel since I had to replace three of these due to theft myself.

This paper planes sound interesting but I'll stick with my 1/72 scale plastic. I do still have one more aircraft to finish; my Jet Commndo. Hopefully soon.

Stay tuned and thanks for commenting!

Duke Maddog

 

 

 

Like Don says, A-model seems to be the only company out there doing civilian light aircraft. All the ones seen in this Thread are ancient Aurora kits that I acquired. I've built all of the old Aurora kits so far, with the Jet Commando being the last one to complete the whole set.

 

Minicraft does a lot of private/light planes, and still doing new kits.  Indeed the newer ones are a real step up in detail from their older offerings.

Very impressive, and nice to see some civvies for a change. The Wright's a knockout.

Don Stauffer

 

 

Duke Maddog

 

 

 

Like Don says, A-model seems to be the only company out there doing civilian light aircraft. All the ones seen in this Thread are ancient Aurora kits that I acquired. I've built all of the old Aurora kits so far, with the Jet Commando being the last one to complete the whole set.

 

 

 

 

Minicraft does a lot of private/light planes, and still doing new kits.  Indeed the newer ones are a real step up in detail from their older offerings.

 

 

Thanks Don. Yeah, I remember them now that you mention it. However, I don't build any of them because they are in 1/48 scale. I like to keep my collection at a consistent 1/72 scale, hence all the Aurora kits. They do look great and are an excellent addition to anyone's collection.

Thank Templar! I had fun with the Wright Flyer. What I liked about my kit was that they included a little flyer inside showing ways to improve the model. I did most of them here to make mine look a little better.