A Paddy from o'er the water

Adrian · 10-12-2012, 07:06 AM

Being very pleasantly surprised when Aeroclassics released one of my Holy Grails this month – the Aer Lingus Fokker F27 Friendship – is probably an understatement. I think ecstatic would best describe my emotion! I have wanted one so badly that I had nearly finished making a custom one.
At long last we have probably the most important F27 ever built, being the first to enter airline service.
Aer Lingus was the first airline to order the F27 as a replacement for its DC-3s. They operated seven Friendships of which the model depicts the first one, EI-AKA which first flew on 23^rd March 1958 and was delivered to Aer Lingus on 19 November 1958 and was named “St.Fintan” (they were all named after Irish Saints).
The fleet gave faithful service mainly between the UK and Ireland and EI-AKA was withdrawn from use and returned to Fokker in June 1966. After refurbishmernt, it was sold to New Zealand National Airways Corporatiion, who subsequently became Air New Zealand on 1^st April 1978.

>
Now on to the model. EI-AKA was a Series 100 Friendship and I think the Aeroclassics mould represents a 400 Series with slightly longer fuselage, but really in 1/400 the difference is negligible. The only slight annoyance is that the stripes on the tail fin are not printed quite horizontal on my model, but otherwise the livery is very accurate and that includes the wing markings, which sometimes AC fail to get right!
Overall a superb model – now can we have a Viscount and DC-3 in this lovely green-roof Aer Lingus scheme?

Lufthansaboy · 10-12-2012, 08:06 AM

That looks as though it could actually be Ireland. Very very green. Where's the Guiness bar?

Gunship01 · 10-12-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lufthansaboy

That looks as though it could actually be Ireland. Very very green. Where's the Guiness bar?

In the Co-pilots Pro gear.

Big Al · 10-12-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lufthansaboy

That looks as though it could actually be Ireland. Very very green. Where's the Guiness bar?

Probably Donegal, look at the size of that peat bog !

Adrian · 10-12-2012, 04:04 PM

The location is actually Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, but plausable, as within easy reach of Aer Lingus's F27s.

Big Al · 10-12-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian

The location is actually Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, but plausable, as within easy reach of Aer Lingus's F27s.

So where's your Loganair F27 campaign Mr ?

Ty-114 · 10-12-2012, 11:23 PM

So, how many did you get?
A little decal action on the registrations and you could get a small fleet of these nice little birds!

Andy · 10-13-2012, 04:49 AM

Very disappointing model... Where's the short/ blunt nose? Yet again some folks are content to blow sunshine up AC's *** just because it's AC, whereas similar errors from other manufacturers would be trashed.

Adrian · 10-14-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Very disappointing model... Where's the short/ blunt nose? Yet again some folks are content to blow sunshine up AC's *** just because it's AC, whereas similar errors from other manufacturers would be trashed.

Contrary to your belief, what you highlight is not an 'error', but no different from the AC Comet 4/4B/4C fuselage or the BEA Herald 100 Series on a 200 Series mould in that few people complain about the 'one size fits all' knowing that it is not worth creating a separate mould for a few models that many find quite acceptable. They are happy to have the variety of liveries on the mould available and in this case I consider the F27 Friendship mould would quite happily please many collectors if it represents any variant between 100-400 series as long it doesn't portray a FH-227.

Kitty Hawk 1903 · 10-14-2012, 11:11 AM

Thanks for the history lesson. Love the photo.

Alaska Fan · 10-14-2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian

Contrary to your belief, what you highlight is not an 'error', but no different from the AC Comet 4/4B/4C fuselage or the BEA Herald 100 Series on a 200 Series mould in that few people complain about the 'one size fits all' knowing that it is not worth creating a separate mould for a few models that many find quite acceptable. They are happy to have the variety of liveries on the mould available and in this case I consider the F27 Friendship mould would quite happily please many collectors if it represents any variant between 100-400 series as long it doesn't portray a FH-227.

yes it is an 'error' ... whether one accepts it or not doesn't negate the fact

fazeman · 10-14-2012, 06:21 PM

Honestly Adrian, your nonsexual man love for Aeroclassics spoils what is otherwise an excellent thread on Aer Lingus.

Adrian · 10-15-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazeman

Honestly Adrian, your nonsexual man love for Aeroclassics spoils what is otherwise an excellent thread on Aer Lingus.

Thanks Steve. Okay it's a few millimetres too long for a F27 100 Series, but still looks the part. I now have an Aer Lingus Friendship and as a 'registered nit-picker', I'm not complaining! I may get a second one and change the reg.

fazeman · 10-15-2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian

Thanks Steve. Okay it's a few millimetres too long for a F27 100 Series, but still looks the part. I now have an Aer Lingus Friendship and as a 'registered nit-picker', I'm not complaining! I may get a second one and change the reg.

It wasn't the mm comment you made, but your response to Andy that had me make my tongue-in-cheek remark.

With new model threads, I read or chime in on flaws that are found. But for presentations like yours and other members, the nit-picking is out the door. At that point, I'm interested in your experience with the airline, the airline's history and diorama pictures.

I may not comment on all these threads, but I still appreciate ones like yours.