Douglas DC-8-63 - Air Canada [CF-TIK 867]

Model: Douglas DC-8-63
Airline: Air Canada CF-TIK 867

Scale: 1/144

Kit: Minicraft  [14684]
Decals: TwoSix Decals [STS4472]

Accessories:

ExtraTech Douglas DC-8-63 [EX14420]

GALLERY>>

Background:

The Douglas DC-8 (also known as the McDonnell Douglas DC-8) is a four-engine long-range narrow-body jet airliner built from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Launched after the competing Boeing 707, the DC-8 nevertheless kept Douglas in a strong position in the airliner market, and remained in production until 1972 when it began to be superseded by larger wide-body designs, including the Boeing 747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. The DC-8's design allowed it a slightly larger cargo capacity than the 707 and some re-engined DC-8s are still in use as freighters.

The Series 63 was the final new-build variant and entered service in June 1968. It had the long fuselage of the -61, the aerodynamic refinements and increased fuel capacity of the -62 and JT3D-7 engines.When Trans-Canada Air Lines introduced DC-8's on transcontinental routes on April 1, 1960 and overseas on June 1, 1960, it cut flying time by nearly 50 per cent. Air Canada operated the type from 1960 until 1983, when the last of the passenger type were withdrawn from use. It operated the 40, 50 and 60 versions. Commencing in 1983, six aircraft where re-engined into -70 freighters and operated until 1994.

Fin 867, CF-TIK, was delivered to Air Canada in 1969. It was one of the six aircraft to be converted to a freighter with the -73F conversion being done in 1984. It was sold to Nationsbanc Leasing in 1994, where it was leased to DHL Worldwide Express from 1994 until 2007. It was bought by ASTAR Air Cargo and withdrawn for service and store in 2012.

Construction:

After the final assembly of the model, detailed pieces from the photo-etched accessory and the antennas were added to the model. On the above pictures, the very distinctive pitot tubes below the cabin windows can be seen. The model is ready for its primer coat. Using the Silhouette Cameo cutting printer, masks were made for the cockpit windows which can be seen above.

Primer applied:

Model Master #1730 Flat Gull Gray applied to the engine pylons, under and above the wings and horizontal stabilizer. 

Wing masked for white painting, and the nose area was painted flat black. The window masks were taken off to show the windows.

The model on the painting table just before applying the white. First, 3 coats of Mode Master #1768 Flat White were applied, followed by 2 coats of Model Master # 2720 Classic White to give it a crisp gloss white.

The nose masks were taken off to reveal the completed look on the nose. Some paint bleed is noticed, but that is easy to fix after all the airbrushing it complete. The model was then masked again and painted with Tamiya X-1 Black to prep for the Alclad II.

The Alclad II ALC-119 Airframe Aluminum was applied and the results are wonderful. All the masking was taken off to reveal the completed painted model.

After painting the small details such as the beacon lights, nav lights, landing gear, engines and any paint bleed, the model was coated in Tamiya X-22 Clear to prepare it for the decals. As well, the remaining clear parts on the wingtips and the wing root representing lights were added.

The beginning of decaling. At this stage, the upper and under side of the wings have been completed and the cheatline along with the windows was added. Just the tail logo and lettering are missing.