Feature Article with Geoff Coughlin
In-box Here Now kit review
INCLUDES VIDEO DEMOS
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New Civil Aircraft section in SMN
Given the increase in civilian aircraft builds in SMN we have given this important area of scale modelling its own dedicated section within the Aircraft area in SMN. As I’m expecting some heavyweight spinal surgery in early September I wanted a project that should be do-able in the time available between now and then. I expect to be out of action for a month at least and Francis will be keeping everything moving when I’m out of service!
LOOK AT OUR CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT SECTION
Not one for taking the easy route though, I have elected to build the recent re-release by Revell of their Boeing 737-800 series airliner and it seems like a nice choice and one we haven’t yet featured in SMN. However, the Turkish Airlines decals included in the kit, very good as they are, doesn’t quite click for me and so what scheme to choose?
As luck (or not) would have it I saw this amazing decal sheet from Skyline Decals…
The quality looks superb, much like the Revell (Cartograf) decal sheet in the kit and so I am hopeful of a good result.
Obviously the markings will create quite a challenge in a number of ways:
- The size of some of the decals – they are huge!
- The accuracy of the painting and masking required to allow accurate placement of the decals
- The sheer number of decals included.
I am always looking for a challenge to help build my confidence and what I think I can achieve the next time around and so although the actual build looks like it’ll be straightforward enough, the decaling will certainly be a project and the main focus of this build – hope you enjoy the journey!
The Plan…
The plan is to get on with the build and focus on the painting and decal process as outlined above. I will try to include a few videos along the way to highlight different stages of the build.
Reference…
The aftermarket Skyline Decals instruction sheet has some useful tips, especially about the way to go about painting and when to apply different decals and so I strongly suggest having a good look at that before you get started. Secondly, I want to look at several photos to try and get a clear sense of what is paint and what are decals – this isn’t totally clear at this early stage and I found the following images really helpful…
(Photo: EI-DCL Ryanair B737 “Dreamliner” 26 August 2013. Courtesy RHL Images)
(Photo: Boeing 737 “Dreamliner”, landing at runway 09 of Sevilla Airport, 26 May 2012. Courtesy Curimedia)
(Photo: Boeing 737-8AS “Dreamliner”, departure runway 25L in course to Seville LEZL/SVQ. 7 June 2012. Courtesy Curimedia)
One of the features of the later Boeing 737s are the winglets – Split Scimitar winglets (apparently) and these are featured in the kit. The 800/8AS series has the stretched fuselage and so the model is a nice size and much longer than the early Airfix 737 released in Lufthansa colours if you are old enough to remember that!
(Photo: Ryanair UK Boeing 737-800 featuring Split Scimitar winglets. Photo courtesy Aviation404)
The Revell kit…
I have done a Here Now video in-box browse of this most recent release by Revell in its Turkish Airline markings (July 2025) and so do take a look at that if you want to see the whole model as supplied.
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