SPA Modeler

Oh nice! Odd set of skis though. I love building oddball and unique subjects. Haven’t done one in awhile.

The use of skis and sleds was developed concurrently by bush pilots in Alaska. Pilots like Mr Reeves here were independent contractors who worked the government contracts; Reeves came from Wisconsin, bolted on a pair of what he called “mud flaps” and started landing on glacier ice. The late 1920s until the Second World War were a grand time for adventure here as well.

Thanks Kari - I figured there was function to this form.

Very interesting! I've seen kits like this in the model magazines and wondered who actually built them. Glad to see you building one.

Medicman71 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2026 9:13 am Very interesting! I've seen kits like this in the model magazines and wondered who actually built them. Glad to see you building one.

Thanks Mike, quite funny, but that's true what you say!

- Kari

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 4:00 pm Oh nice! Odd set of skis though. I love building oddball and unique subjects. Haven’t done one in awhile.

Thanks Tom!

- Kari

speedgraflex wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 4:47 pm The use of skis and sleds was developed concurrently by bush pilots in Alaska. Pilots like Mr Reeves here were independent contractors who worked the government contracts; Reeves came from Wisconsin, bolted on a pair of what he called “mud flaps” and started landing on glacier ice. The late 1920s until the Second World War were a grand time for adventure here as well.

Interesting Bruce, but I think those skis in the pictures seem to be the regular ones, not these chunky ones.

- Kari

keavdog wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 5:03 pm Thanks Kari - I figured there was function to this form.

Thought so,

- Kari

And voila, the decal set of FAF letter type I had was indeed also for scale 1/72.




The instruction sheet is very basic, though the number of parts is very limited as well, about 30:ish +/- a few.



Since short-run kits usually have few or no alignment pins, I often glue few small plastic strips along the inner seams to guarantee better alignment, especially when mating the fuselage.



Coincidently, one of those plastic strips actually "landed" under the cockpit floor. I added one strip more and suddently I have a rather steady floor already in this phase of the build. Easy to add all the details... all = 2, the stick and the seat!



Let's see what next!

- Kari

Had forgot what short run kits also tend to have, fit issues..

The upperwing halves are not equally sized.



Luckily this is an easy fix, just some sanding and voila, no one even knows..



Fuselage halves attached, no detail pictures of the rather basic cockpit.



Next steps... wings wings wings

- Kari

Yeah… those AZModel kits do lack some details. Some have fit issues but with a little work, they come out good. I’ve done one and have a MIG-17 in my stash.